Old Bill

English Etymology en. Suggested sources for the police officer and police force terms include: Old Bill, comic character created by Bruce Bairnsfather. Music hall song "Won't you come home, Bill Bailey", which references the Old Bailey criminal court. William IV (reigned 1830-37), who became king the year after the Metropolitan Police were founded (1829). Wilhelm I, Prussian Kaiser who visited the UK around the same time the custodian helmet was adopted (1863). en bill cutting instrument or en billhook, weapons carried by constables of the watch. en bill written note of services rendered, allegedly presented by a police officer to solicit a bribe. en bill draft of a law, laid in Parliament. en number plate Number plates for all public services, including police, registered by London County Council with the letter "BYL". Specifically, the cars of the Flying Squad. Bill Smith, a popular police sergeant in Limehouse circa 1860s. Pronunciation en En-au-Old Bill.ogg AU Noun en noun the Old Bill en British slang law enforcement A police officer. en bobby PC Plod rozzer Thesaurus:police officer en British slang frequently with the The police force. en Bill esclop plod Thesaurus:police en British slang dated A soldier, especially one who resembles the cartoon character of the same name created by Bruce Bairnsfather in 1914. en squaddie sweat Tommy Thesaurus:soldier Further reading Old Bill (comics) Old Bill n 130960 March 2004 en 2006 The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English Eric Partridge Tom Dalzell; Terry Victor Taylor & Francis 2 9780415259385 en Collectives People