billingsgate

noun

Etymology

From the London, England fishmarket Billingsgate: "Billingsgate is the market where the fishwomen assemble to purchase fish; and where, in their dealings and disputes they are somewhat apt to leave decency and good manners a little on the left hand." (Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, 1811).

Definitions

1
Profane, abusive language
Profane, abusive language; coarse words.
- You wouldn't have believed the billingsgate which poured forth from that boy's mouth.
- These "flytings" consisted of alternate torrents of sheer Billingsgate poured upon each other by the combatants.
2
To use profane, abusive language towards.
- On the other hand, the Englishman has the satisfaction of Billingsgating to his heart's content the highest officials: they accept objurgation with spaniel fawning.
3
A ward of the City of London, Greater London, England.
- And vppon fridaye the morowe after brought it vpp to Billynges gate in London

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for billingsgate. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA