billingsgate
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bil·lings·gate
(bĭl′ĭngz-gāt′, -gĭt)n.
Foul, abusive language.
[After Billingsgate, a former fish market in London, England.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Billingsgate
(ˈbɪlɪŋɡzˌɡeɪt)n
(Placename) 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
billingsgate
(ˈbɪlɪŋzˌɡeɪt)n
obscene or abusive language
[C17: after Billingsgate, which was notorious for such language]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
bil•lings•gate
(ˈbɪl ɪŋzˌgeɪt; esp. Brit. -gɪt)n.
coarse or vulgar abusive language.
[1645–55; orig. the kind of speech said to be heard at Billingsgate, a London fish market at the gate of the same name]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
billingsgate
coarse, vulgar, violent, or abusive language. [Allusion to the scurrilous language used in Billingsgate market, London.]
See also: Language-Ologies & -Isms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Noun | 1. | billingsgate - foul-mouthed or obscene abuse contumely, insult, revilement, vilification, abuse - a rude expression intended to offend or hurt; "when a student made a stupid mistake he spared them no abuse"; "they yelled insults at the visiting team" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
billingsgate
nounHarsh, often insulting language:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.