billmen

Medieval hook warriors

Billmen were soldiers armed with bills—long-handled weapons combining a hooked blade with a spike, evolved from agricultural tools.

The term appears mainly in historical contexts about medieval and early modern warfare: The billmen formed the front rank of the infantry.

The bill was a common weapon for English foot soldiers before firearms became standard.

medieval

pikeman

Spear-armed infantry soldier

  • man-at-armsArmed medieval combatant
  • levyCompulsory government charge
  • yeomanIndependent cultivator or naval clerk

mercenary · squire · footman · knight · archer · longbowman · crossbowman · sergeant · retinue · garrison

weaponry

halberd

Axe-headed infantry pike

  • pikeLong battlefield spear
  • polearmLong-shafted combat weapon
  • glaiveBladed polearm weapon

partisan · poleaxe · spear · cleaving · slashing · thrusting

formation

regiment

Colonel-led military unit

brigade · division · corps · rank · file · drill · volley · flank · vanguard · rearguard

Opposites
weapon type

billmenarchers

People who shoot bows

longbowmen · crossbowmen · bowmen · musketeers · gunners

combat role/mobility

billmencavalry

Mounted military force

cavalrymen · horsemen · knights · men-at-arms · dragoons

military status

billmenknights

Titled warriors on horseback

nobles · men-at-arms · gentry · lords · commanders

Family

bill, men, billhook, halberdier

Familiarity
Top 1,000,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G