bill of health


noun

a certificate, carried by a ship, attesting to the presence or absence of infectious diseases among the ship's crew and at the port from which it has come.

Idioms for bill of health

    clean bill of health, an attestation of fitness or qualification; a commendation: The investigating committee gave him a clean bill of health.

Origin of bill of health

First recorded in 1635–45

British Dictionary definitions for bill of health

bill of health

noun

a certificate, issued by a port officer, that attests to the health of a ship's company
clean bill of health informal
  1. a good report of one's physical condition
  2. a favourable account of a person's or a company's financial position

Medical definitions for bill of health

bill of health

n.

A certificate stating whether there is infectious disease aboard a ship or in a port of departure, given to the ship's master to present at the next port of arrival.
An attestation as to condition, especially a favorable one.