Bill comes from the Latin word bulla, a seal used on documents during the Middle Ages. Gradually the word came to be used for the paper itself. In England and France, the similar words bill and billet meant less formal writing as well. In English, the term refers to many written or printed papers. These are bills of attainder, exchange, health, rights, and sale. Posters and theater programs are called bills. In the United States, a bill also means paper money. Important forms of bills include:
In bookkeeping,
a company may receive promissory notes, drafts, and bills of exchange. If these are made payable to the company, the bookkeeper records them as bills receivable. Notes given or drafts accepted by the firm are entered as bills payable.
In commerce,
after goods are sold, the buyer receives a statement (bill of money due). An invoice (bill of goods) is also usually sent. It contains a list of the goods sold, the price of each item, and the terms of the sale, such as discounts and shipping charges.
In law,
a person is formally accused of crime in a written statement known as a true bill or a bill of indictment. Several other legal statements are also called bills.
In lawmaking,
a legislator proposes a new law by introducing a bill. Once passed, the bill becomes an act.
In transportation,
the bill of lading is the principal document in the transaction between carrier and shipper. It acts as a receipt, as routing instructions, and as evidence of ownership of the goods. Another document, the waybill, is issued by land and air carriers. It accompanies the shipment and contains a detailed description of the goods. In water transportation, waybills are often called manifests.
