A cylindrical metal container or pot used for boiling water or cooking outdoors, especially while camping or traveling.
Australian English from the late 1800s, possibly from 'billy' (a container) and 'can.' Some theories suggest it comes from the Aboriginal Australian word 'billa' meaning water, or from a person named Billy who made them.
The billycan is practically the national symbol of Australian bush camping—early settlers and explorers could boil water and make tea in the outback with minimal equipment, and this simple pot became an icon of Australian outdoor life!
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