billingsgate
[ bil-ingz-geyt or, esp. British, -git ]
/ ˈbɪl ɪŋzˌgeɪt or, esp. British, -gɪt /
noun
coarsely or vulgarly abusive language.
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
Words nearby billingsgate
billing,
billing cycle,
billing machine,
billings,
billings method,
billingsgate,
billion,
billionaire,
billiton,
billman,
billon
Example sentences 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