Forms: 6 bilboa, 6–7 bilboe, -bowe, 7 bilbow, 6– bilbo. [App. (as stated by Blount in 1656) from Bilbao in Spain, long called in Eng. Bilboa. ‘Bilbow blades’ were, according to a marginal note to Drayton, Agincourt (1631), p. 10, ‘blades accounted of the best temper.’ Cf. Damascus blade, Toledo blade. The swords of Bilbao, according to Moll’s Geogr., 1701, ‘are famous over all Europe.’]
1. A sword noted for the temper and elasticity of its blade. Now only Hist.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., III. v. 112. Compass’d like a good Bilbo in the circumference of a Pecke, hilt to point.
1603. Drayton, Odes, xvii. 81. Downe their Bowes they threw And forth their Bilbowes drew.
1625. Markham, Souldiers Accid., 2. Sharpe and broad Swords (of which the Turkie or Bilboe are best).
1826. Scott, Woodst., iii. My tough old Knight and you were at drawn bilbo.
1839. J. P. Kennedy, Rob of Bowl, xv. (1860), 174. We shall come to bilbo and buff before long.
b. Often used as the proper name of a sword personified; esp. that of a bully or swash-buckler.
1676. Shadwell, Libertine, I. Wks. 1720, II. 106. Stand, you dog!… I’ll put Bilbo in your guts.
1749. Abp. Rhys, Spain (1760), 20. Bilbo is an humourous term for a Bully’s Sword.
c. Phrase. Bilbo’s the word.
1687. Congreve, Old Bach., III. vii. Bilbo’s the word and slaughter will ensue.
1713. Guardian, No. 145. Bilbo is the word, remember that and tremble.
1859. Thackeray, Virgin., xxxvii. 294.
2. transf. ? One who bears a bilbo. (Doubtful.)
1598. Shaks., Merry W., I. i. 165. I combat challenge of this Latine Bilboe.
1690. Crowne, Eng. Frier, V. 41. This bilboe has shew’d more brains then our Statesmen do.
3. Attrib. and Comb., as bilbo-blade, -man, -mettle, -smith; bilbo-lord, a bully, swash-buckler.
1592. Greene, Disput., Wks. (Grosart), X. 236. Let them doe what they dare with their *bilbowe blades.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., *Bilbo blade from Bilboa … in Spain where the best blades are made.
1621. Fletcher, Wild-G. Chase, III. i. That this *bilbo-lord shall reap that maidenhead That was my due.
1611. Beaum. & Fl., King & No K., V. 59. You are much bound to your *Bil-bow-men.
1632. B. Jonson, in Brome, North. Lasse, Pref. Verses. An honest *Bilbo-Smith would make good blades.
