Billy-o

[Vivkins3]

In the phrase "run like Billy-o" - who is Billy?

[MarkRae]

What rather than who: http://en.wikipedia.o...ng_Billy_(locomotive)

[sandyRoe]

King Billy. William 3rd

[sandyRoe]

Ignore that.^^^ Markrae's answer seems more likely

[Vivkins3]

Thanks for your answers.

Yes the train thing seems more likely. Still don't get the "O" though.

[MarkRae]

"-o" used to be a very common vocable suffix, cf "Oh my dearie-o" etc...

[guilliebrougues]

When i was a child there used to be a rhyme that went like this-
Puffing Billy went to Stoke, when he came back he had no smoke. So yes, I agree with Markrae it is a steam engine.

[guilliebrougues]

the 0 seems to be part of a phrase especially in the song green grow the rushes 0

[HowardKennitby]

Cassell's Dict of Slang gives

Like billy-o/billy-ho - a general intensifier and expression of energy or effort, most enthusiastically, strenuously, speedily. [dialect euphemism for 'bloody hell']. Current from late C19.

[Quizmonster]

Have a look here http://www.worldwidew...icalwords/tw-bil1.htm for the possibilities as researched by an expert etymologist and lexicographer.