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They are two words for the same thing. Fr. bec (Fr.
- They are two words for the same thing.
- Fr.
- bec (Fr.
- , related to 'bill', a poetic word for "a kind of sword" (especially one with a hooked blade), from a common Germanic word for cutting or chopping weapons (cf.
- G.
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3 Answers
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They are two words for the same thing.
BEAK: early 13c., "bird's bill," from O.Fr. bec (Fr. bec)
BILL: "bird's beak," O.E., related to 'bill', a poetic word for "a kind of sword" (especially one with a hooked blade), from a common Germanic word for cutting or chopping weapons (cf. O.H.G. bihal, O.N. bilda "hatchet," O.S. bil "sword")
BEAK: early 13c., "bird's bill," from O.Fr. bec (Fr. bec)
BILL: "bird's beak," O.E., related to 'bill', a poetic word for "a kind of sword" (especially one with a hooked blade), from a common Germanic word for cutting or chopping weapons (cf. O.H.G. bihal, O.N. bilda "hatchet," O.S. bil "sword")
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Hmm. I hesitate to question Mr. Micawber, but I would have said that a beak is pointy and a bill is flat and rounded. I would say that a chicken has a beak and a duck has a bill.
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Good point: in the case of flat and rounded, only 'bill' serves, but songbirds have either a bill or a beak.
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