Why is Bill the shorthand for William?
110759
William is a very old name in the English language, which has Germanic roots.  In the old English, the letter W sounded more similar to German, where they pronounce W's with a V sound.  The shape of the mouth to create a V and B are very similar.  When the English language became a written as well as a spoken language, people used phonetic spellings of words. Therefore some people's names were listed as Will and some were listed as Bill depending on how the listener thought it was pronounced.\n\nNow, people choose which one they like better or that suits their person more.\n\nWhy is Dick short for Richard? That's the one I never understood.
751501
Bill is still number one
944460
Plain logic would tell me if it has to do with government, it almost HAS to stand for Louisiana State Assembly.\n\nWHY?? It's because every state has a 'House' and an 'Assembly' just like the U.S. Congress does!\n\nDon't you just LOVE figuring out what all these "acronyms" mean to what company or what government branch we're talking about? It makes a person do what more and more American people are getting too LAZY to do.\n\nThat is, exercise their brains so they don't have to depend on someone else to "do it FOR them". Sorry if that sounds too harsh!! How much truth did I just speak? Only =YOU= know the -honest- answer to that!!\n\nDon't you wish we could BUY brain power in the frozen food section at the store just like we can buy ready-made meals or waffles or french toast? I much prefer the exercise myself. :))
568914
(1) Noooooo!  The Lawd giveth, and the Lawd taketh away.\n\n(2) Are you kidding?  It would be Monica, Bill's second in command of his....  You know....  That we know about anyway.\n\n(3) Internally, externally, and eternally.
424674
Bill\nEnglish: altered short form of William, not used before the 19th century. The reason for the change in the initial consonant is not clear, but it conforms to the pattern regularly found when English words beginning with w- are borrowed into Gaelic; the nickname “King Billy” for William of Orange is an early example from Ireland which may have influenced English usage. Pet forms: English: Billy, Billie. Gaelic: Builidh.\n\nJim\nEnglish and Irish: short form of James, already common in the Middle Ages.
678813
He looks like the deer caught in the headlights to me. When is this term going to end, can't come soon enough. Sure people had bad things to say about Bill, but at the very least the guy presented himself with some charisma. This \nbird looks like he doesn't have a clue.
32771
Wh only comes at the beginning of words. It has too much air to come at the end of a word. It would be too difficult to pronounce.
13961
The letter W\nBecause it makes ill will
641274
the name is mixed up?\nMatt,kind of western abbreviation,\nazimi,is an eastern family name,\nmay that's why,he is not up to your expectations.
380858
It's sometimes short for "C deez nuts?"\n\nSorry to be vulgar, but that's the truth.
258550
how do you get dick from richard, or bill from william or jack from john?\nim sure theres more.
245319
The name "Will" is in there.\nIs there a Will Pactan?
1044323
A and W. The letters are the first letters of the words in the question. And Why :)
421874
Andrew Jackson. \n\nOur president was illiterate, and when having to sign on a bill, he would have to have someone approve it in writing for him. \n\nOne day, the person hired to do it was unavailable, and when he signed the document he wrote "OLL KORRECT" which is how he though all correct was spelled, and ever since OK has been adapted as an all correct statement.
54917
There is no reason, it is just an idiosyncrasy of the language.  If memory serves, this is called a plural tantum (sp?), a strange type of noun which is always addressed in the plural, yet has no singular. Scissors, shorts and clothes are other examples of this bizzare phenomeneon.   Regards :)
183581
I don't mind Bush being in Office but I hope that Hillary does not get in.  Something wrong with Bill getting back into the White House did't he do enoth to the U.S.'s good name the first time he was in?
372385
Because he got a bill?