billycan

UK: /ˈbɪlɪkæn/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

bil•ly /ˈbɪli/   n. [countable] , pl. -lies. 

1. a heavy wooden stick used by the police:
   Swinging their billy clubs, the police waded into the crowd.
   Also called ˈbil•ly ˌclub.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

bil•ly  (bil′ē), n., pl. -lies. 

1. Also called billy club. a police officer's club or baton.
2. a heavy wooden stick used as a weapon; cudgel.
3. Scottish Terms comrade.
Also called bil•ly•can  (bil′ē kan′). [Australian.] any container in which water may be carried and boiled over a campfire, ranging from a makeshift tin can to a special earthenware kettle;
any pot or kettle in which tea is boiled over a campfire.
4. Textiles (in Great Britain) a roving machine.

• for Australian sense compare Scots dialect, dialectal billy-pot cooking pot perh. all independently derived generic uses of Billy (male name)

Bil•ly  (bil′ē), n. 

1. a male given name, form of William. 
2. Also, Bil′lye. a female given name.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

billy / ˈbɪlɪ/, billycan / ˈbɪlɪˌkæn/ noun ( -lies, -lycans)

1. a metal can or pot for boiling water, etc, over a campfire
2. (as modifier): billy-tea
3. boil the billy ⇒ to make tea

Etymology: 19th Century: from Scot billypot cooking vessel