(UK, Australia, South Africa) A lightweight pot for cooking or boiling water, used in camping.
(UK, Australia, South Africa) A lightweight pot for cooking or boiling water, used in camping.
The filling of the billycan, cutting the supports to hang it over the fire, was a public show, but many times he would do this anyway to entertain himself. He unpacked the billycan from his old rucksack and I got out the tea and sugar. H…
Billycan means: A lightweight pot for cooking or boiling water, used in camping.. It is mainly South African English and may not be understood outside that context. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. This is a food-related word and harmless in itself. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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(Australia) A billycan used to boil tea.
(Scottish) A cooking pot.
(AU, NZ) As much as a billy will hold.
A billyful is a classic Australian and New Zealand measure of quantity — as much liquid or loose material as a billy (a metal camp cooking pot) can hold. Used mostly in outdoor and bush-cooking contexts, it's a charmingly practical unit of measurement rooted in camping culture. If someone says they brewed up a billyful of tea, picture a full tin can of the stuff bubbling over a campfire.
Billycan means: A lightweight pot for cooking or boiling water, used in camping.. It is mainly South African English and may not be understood outside that context. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. This is a food-related word and harmless in itself. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
billycan means: A lightweight pot for cooking or boiling water, used in camping.. Register: informal, South African English. Often not understood outside its region; gloss the word on first use when writing for an international audience. Common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; always check the context before producing it yourself.
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(UK, slang, obsolete) The refuse ammoniacal lime from gas factories.