---
title: billy — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «billy» in the school dictionary: A metal can with a lid and handle, used to boil water or make tea over a campfire; also a billycan. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# billy

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** We, billy goat, Goats Gruff, swagman, Billy, female goat · **What happens:** use, boil, make, carry, butt, cross · **To what, where:** lid, water, tea, campfire, short wooden stick, billy

<!-- .vabout -->
«billy» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [billy in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/billy.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: Australia, New Zealand — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A metal can with a lid and handle, used to boil water or make tea over a campfire; also a billycan.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:billy:m1:1
# text = A metal can with a lid and handle, used to boil water or make tea over a campfire; also a billycan.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	metal	metal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	lid	lid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	handle	handle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	boil	boil	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
13	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	conj	_	_
16	tea	tea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	_
17	over	over	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	campfire	campfire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
21	also	also	ADV	RB	_	23	advmod	_	_
22	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	billycan	billycan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  | a lid and handle and a billycan *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **boil** | to-infinitive |  | water |  |  |  |  | vn cooking-45.3 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent water=Patient |
| 3 | **make** | infinitive |  | tea |  | a campfire |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset tea=Product |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A billy goat: a male goat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:billy:m2:1
# text = A billy goat: a male goat.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	billy	billy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	goat	goat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	male	male	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	goat	goat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: US — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A billy club: a short wooden stick carried by police.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:billy:m3:1
# text = A billy club: a short wooden stick carried by police.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	billy	billy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	club	club	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	wooden	wooden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	stick	stick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	_
9	carried	carry	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl	_	_
10	by	by	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **carry** | participle |  | a short wooden stick *not said here* |  |  |  | by police | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Short for the name William (Billy).

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:billy:m4:1
# text = Short for the name William (Billy).
1	Short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
2	for	for	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
5	William	William	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	_
6	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	Billy	Billy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We boiled the billy and made tea at the camp.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:billy:x1:1
# text = We boiled the billy and made tea at the camp.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	boiled	boil	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	billy	billy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
7	tea	tea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	camp	camp	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **boil** | past | We | the billy |  |  |  |  | vn cooking-45.3 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent billy=Patient |
| 2 | **make** | past | We *not said here* | tea |  | the camp |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset tea=Product |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The billy goat butted the fence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:billy:x2:1
# text = The billy goat butted the fence.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	billy	billy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	goat	goat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	butted	butt	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	fence	fence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **butt** | past | the billy goat | the fence |  |  |  |  | vn hit-18.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fence=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Three Billy Goats Gruff crossed the bridge.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:billy:x3:1
# text = The Three Billy Goats Gruff crossed the bridge.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	Three	Three	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
3	Billy	Billy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	Goats	Goat	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	5	compound	_	_
5	Gruff	Gruff	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	crossed	cross	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	bridge	bridge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cross** | past | the Goats Gruff | the bridge |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bridge=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The swagman waited till his billy boiled.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:billy:x4:1
# text = The swagman waited till his billy boiled.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	swagman	swagman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	waited	wait	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	till	till	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	billy	billy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	boiled	boil	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wait** | past | the swagman |  |  |  | till swagman's billy |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **boil** | participle |  | swagman's billy *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn cooking-45.3 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Billy is my best friend's name.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:billy:x5:1
# text = Billy is my best friend's name.
1	Billy	Billy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
3	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	5	amod	_	_
5	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Billy | my best friend's name |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A female goat is a nanny goat; a male is a billy goat.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:billy:x6:1
# text = A female goat is a nanny goat; a male is a billy goat.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	female	female	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	goat	goat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	nanny	nanny	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	goat	goat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	male	male	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	billy	billy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	goat	goat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a female goat | a nanny goat and a billy goat |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a male | a billy goat |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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