billet
BIL-it
/ˈbɪlɪt/
To lodge soldiers in a particular place, especially in civilian houses or non-military buildings; also, the lodging itself.
Often carries a historical connotation of forcing civilians to host troops, which was a major source of political tension.
The story behind the word. From Anglo-Norman 'billette', a diminutive of 'bille' (a log or note). Originally, a billet was a small slip of paper given to a soldier, directing a private citizen to provide them with lodging and food.
Word relationships
- quarter: Quarter is a broader term for providing lodgings, while billet specifically implies assigning soldiers to temporary, often civilian, quarters via an official order.
- lodge: Lodge is a general term for staying somewhere, whereas billet is strictly an official military assignment of housing.
Commonly confused with
- bullet: A bullet is a projectile fired from a firearm, while a billet is a lodging assignment for a soldier.
Word family
- billeting (noun): The act of assigning lodgings to soldiers.
Collocations
- billet troops
- temporary billet
- civilian billet
Example sentences
- "The Quartering Act allowed British officers to billet their troops in private colonial homes." A history of the American Revolutionary War.
- "We were billeted in a drafty old barn just behind the secondary lines." A soldier's letter home during WWI.
Memory hook
Think of a 'bill' or a 'ticket' (billet) that you hand to a homeowner to get a bed for the night. A ticket for a bed.
When not to use
Do not use for standard hotel bookings or voluntary civilian house-sharing.
Fun facts
- The Third Amendment to the US Constitution directly addresses billeting, stating that 'No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner.'
Related words
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