billingsgate
[ bil-ingz-geyt or, esp. British, -git ]
/ ˈbɪl ɪŋzˌgeɪt or, esp. British, -gɪt /
noun
coarsely or vulgarly abusive language.
Words nearby billingsgate
billing, billing cycle, billing machine, billings, billings method, billingsgate, billion, billionaire, billiton, billman, billon
Origin of billingsgate
First recorded in 1645–55; orig. the kind of speech often heard at Billingsgate, a London fish market at the gate of the same name
SYNONYMS FOR billingsgate
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Examples from the Web for billingsgate
British Dictionary definitions for billingsgate (1 of 2)
billingsgate
/ (ˈbɪlɪŋzˌɡeɪt) /
noun
obscene or abusive language
Word Origin for billingsgate
C17: after Billingsgate, which was notorious for such language
British Dictionary definitions for billingsgate (2 of 2)
Billingsgate
/ (ˈbɪlɪŋɡzˌɡeɪt) /
noun
the largest fish market in London, on the N bank of the River Thames; moved to new site at Canary Wharf in 1982 and the former building converted into offices
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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