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noun

billet

BIH-liht

Billet (noun) means Temporary lodging assigned to a soldier or, more generally, a guest staying with a private family. Example: “The soldiers were given a billet in a farmhouse outside town.”

noun
1
Temporary lodging assigned to a soldier or, more generally, a guest staying with a private family.
"The soldiers were given a billet in a farmhouse outside town."
2
A short, semi-finished bar of metal.
"The factory rolled steel billets into rods."
verb
1
To assign lodging to soldiers or guests, typically in private homes.
"Local families billeted refugees during the crisis."

How to use billet

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA place assigned for someone (often soldiers) to stay, or the act of assigning such lodging.

Common pairings
billet soldiers a comfortable billet

Word forms

billeted past tense, billetted past tense, billets plural, billets plural, billets plural, billets singular

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The soldiers were given a _____ in a farmhouse outside town.

Etymology

From Middle English bylet, via Anglo-Norman billette ("list, schedule"), ultimately from Latin bulla ("document").

Origin: Latin

Related words

Rhymes for billet

See all rhymes for billet →

Frequently asked questions

What does “billet” mean?

The word “billet” means temporary lodging assigned to a soldier or, more generally, a guest staying with a private family. In plain terms, a place assigned for someone (often soldiers) to stay, or the act of assigning such lodging.

How do you pronounce “billet”?

“Billet” is pronounced BIH-liht (/ˈbɪlɪt/ in IPA).

How do you use “billet” in a sentence?

Here is “billet” used in a sentence: “The soldiers were given a billet in a farmhouse outside town.”

What part of speech is “billet”?

Depending on how it is used, “billet” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “billet” come from?

The word “billet” comes from Latin. From Middle English bylet, via Anglo-Norman billette ("list, schedule"), ultimately from Latin bulla ("document").

How many meanings does “billet” have?

“Billet” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: temporary lodging assigned to a soldier or, more generally, a guest staying with a private family.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial