1. a long iron bar with sliding shackles used to confine prisoners’ feet
Usage: archaic; historical
2. a flexible sword blade of superior quality
Usage: archaic; historical

Examples

• The prisoner’s feet were secured in a heavy bilbo.
• Medieval dungeons often contained bilbos for restraining captives.
• The swordsmith forged a fine bilbo with exceptional flexibility.
• Spanish bilbos were renowned throughout Europe for their quality.
• The museum displayed an antique bilbo used in colonial prisons.