billy goat
A male goat, the farm kind with the beard and the attitude.
Also called billygoat, billy-goat.
Updated September 21, 2026
billy goat pronunciation
/BIL-ee goht/
Meaning
On a farm or in rural talk, a billy goat is a male goat. Folks pair it with nanny goat for the female. Billies are known for the beard, the horns, and a smell that carries when they are in rut. Kids get told they smell like one after a long day outside.
How folks use it
- “Keep that billy goat away from the clothesline or he'll eat every sock on it.”
- “He came in from the barn smelling like a billy goat.”
Origin and etymology
English speakers started calling male goats billy goats in the early 1800s, using Billy as a familiar nickname for William. Nanny goat for females showed up around the same time. The pair stuck hard in rural American speech, including the South and Appalachia.
Frequently asked questions
Is a billy goat the same as a buck?
Pretty much. Buck is the livestock term. Billy goat is the everyday farm word most people say.