*bilją

Runic: ᛒᛁᛚᛃᚨ Pronunciation: /ˈbil.jɑ̃/

noun · neuter · ja-stem

Meanings

a cutting implement; blade; ax; sword
spike; peg; nail

Etymology

Probably from pre-Germanic *bʰih₂-tló-yo-m, an instrumental formation formed from the zero-grade Proto-Indo-European root of *bʰeyh₂- (‘to strike, hit; hew, cut’), perhaps, originally meaning ‘striking/cutting implement’. Cognates are Old Irish biáil (‘axe, hatchet’), Welsh bwyell (‘axe’).

Declension

Case	Singular	Plural
Nom.	bilją	biljō
Acc.	bilją	biljō
Gen.	biljas, bilis	biljǫ̂
Dat.	biljai	biljamaz
Inst.	biljō	biljamiz
Voc.	bilją	biljō

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Descendants

bil, bill (Old English)
- bil, bille, bill (Middle English)
  - bill (English)
  - bill (Scots)
*bile (Old Frisian)
- bile (West Frisian)
bil (Old Saxon)
- bil, bīl, bīle (Middle Low German)
  - bil (Danish)
  - Biel (Low German)
  - bila (Swedish)
*billi, *bīal, *bīala (Old Dutch)
- bille, bīle, bijl (Middle Dutch)
  - bil, bijl (Dutch)
    - byl (Afrikaans)
bīhal, bīhala, billi (Old High German)
- bille, bil, bīhel, bīel, pīel, bīl, bīle (Middle High German)
  - Bille, Beil (German)

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