[f. BILL sb.1 + MAN.] a. A soldier armed with a bill. b. A watchman similarly armed. c. A laborer using a bill.

1

1530.  Palsgr., 198. Bylman in a batayle, halebardier.

2

1552.  Huloet, Byll man, falcarius.

3

1581.  Savile, Tacitus’ Hist., I. xxiv. (1591), 15. Cocceius Proculus, a bilman of the Garde.

4

1604.  Dekker, Honest Wh., Wks. 1873, II. 163. Enter Constable and Bilmen.

5

1606.  Sylvester, Captaines, 242. A sort of lusty Bill-men, set … to fell a Cops.

6

1801.  Strutt, Sports & Past., II. i. 62. Four thousand whifflers and billmen.

7

1861.  Dixon, Bacon, iv. § 17. The Bowmen of Cressy, the billmen of Boulogne.

8