noun
- coarse, abusive, or profane language
Usage: literary; somewhat archaic
Examples
- The angry customer unleashed a stream of billingsgate at the store manager.
- His speech was filled with such billingsgate that many listeners walked out.
- The politician’s opponents accused him of resorting to billingsgate instead of reasoned debate.
- She was shocked by the billingsgate that erupted during the heated argument.
- The coach’s billingsgate toward the referees earned him a technical foul.
- Literary critics noted the author’s use of billingsgate to characterize the villain.