English

Noun

brown-bill ‎(plural brown-bills)

1. (historical) A type of halberd used by mediaeval foot-soldiers.

   • 1819: The tramp of horses was now heard, and the Lady Rowena appeared, surrounded by several riders, and a much stronger party of footmen, who joyfully shook their pikes and clashed their brown-bills for joy of her freedom. — Walter Scott, Ivanhoe