DictionarybillBird's beak
noun

bill

A bird's beak.

The duck dips its broad bill beneath the water.

Etymology

The Old English word already names a bird’s beak. This inherited anatomical word remains separate from the word for written notices or amounts owed.

More examples

  • The heron grips a fish in its long bill.
  • A finch cracks seeds with its sturdy bill.
  • The bird wipes its bill against a branch.

Forms

bill · bills

Similar words

beak
The usual alternative, often suggesting a pointed or curved shape.
snout
The projecting nose and mouth of certain mammals.