Old Bill, noun phrase
- Origin:
- EnglishShow more Special sense of general English Old Bill a veteran, an old soldier, from the name of a cartoon character created by British cartoonist Bruce Bairnsfather during World War I.
The title given to a regional leader of the Moth (sense a) ex-servicemen’s organization. See also Lady Billie (lady sense 2), Wee Bill.
1973 Weekend Post 14 Apr. 8The ex-servicemen’s organisation, the Memorable Order of the Tin Hats (Moths) would not die ‘for many years’, Mr R.J. Palframan, Provincial Old Bill of the Eastern Province, said this week.
1979 Daily Dispatch 15 Mar. 3Moths elected Mr MacEwan, the former Wee Bill, as the new Old Bill. Mr Fraser Finlaison was elected the new Wee Bill.
The title given to a regional leader of the Moth (sense a) ex-servicemen’s organization.
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