Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/bilją

This Proto-Germanic entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Germanic

Etymology

From Proto-Indo-European *bʰeyH- (“to strike; beat”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbil.jɑ̃/

Noun

*bilją n

1. a cutting implement; blade; axe; sword
2. spike; peg; nail

Inflection

neuter ja-stemDeclension of *bilją (neuter ja-stem)
	singular	plural
nominative	*bilją	*biljō
vocative	*bilją	*biljō
accusative	*bilją	*biljō
genitive	*biljas, *bilis	*biljǫ̂
dative	*biljai	*biljamaz
instrumental	*biljō	*biljamiz

Related terms

• *biþlą

Descendants

Note: In some daughter languages, *bilją was conflated with another similar word with a long ī, also meaning "axe"; see German Beil for more.

• Old English: bill, bil n
  • Middle English: bil, bille, bill
    • Scots: bill
    • English: bill
• (Old Frisian: *bile)
  • (West Frisian: bile)
• Old Saxon: bil n; (*bīhal; *bīhala)
  • Middle Low German: bil n; (bīl n; bīle f)
    • (German Low German: Biel n or f)
    • → Danish: bil (“axe”)
    • → Swedish: bila (“axe”)
• Old Dutch: *billi; (*bīal; *bīala)
  • Middle Dutch: bille; (bīle, bijl)
    • Dutch: bil, (bijl)
• Old High German: billi n; (bīhal n; bīhala f)
  • Middle High German: bille, bil n; (bīhel, bīel, pīel, bīl, bīle n)
    • German: Bille f; (Beil n)