Brown bill, brown-bill

[See BILL sb.¹ 2.] A kind of halberd painted brown, formerly used by foot-soldiers and watchmen.

1589.  Pappe w. Hatchet, C iij b. All weapons, from the taylors bodkin to the watchmans browne bil.

1678.  Butler, Hud., III. II. 541. Brown Bills levied in the City Made Bills to pass the Grand Committee.

1823.  Scott, Peveril, III. ii. 38. A constable with three or four assistants, armed with the old-fashioned brown-bills.

1870.  Morris, Earthly Par., I. I. 316. There the porter stood, brown-bill in hand.