A billycan, more commonly known simply as a billy or occasionally as a billy can (billy tin in Canada), is a lightweight cooking pot which is used on a campfire or a camping stove.
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The term billy or billycan is particularly associated with Australian usage, but is also used in the UK and Ireland [1]. Elsewhere, there is no special term for a pot designed for camping use.
It is commonly accepted that the term "billycan" is derived from the large cans used for transporting bouilli or bully beef on Australia-bound ships or during exploration of the outback, which after use were modified for boiling water over a fire.[2][3]
In Australia, the billy has come to symbolise the spirit of exploration of the outback. To boil the billy most often means to make tea. "Billy Tea" is the name of a popular brand of tea long sold in Australian grocers and supermarkets[4]. Billies feature in many of Henry Lawson's stories and poems. Banjo Paterson's most famous of many references to the billy is surely in the first verse and chorus of Waltzing Matilda: "And he sang as he watched and waited 'til his billy boiled..."
In recent years, conscious of the important role played by billies in lightweight backpacking and mountaineering, much research and innovation has gone into improving their design and performance. Issues include:
General-purpose pot handles, often called billy-grips, can be bought separately. These have a hinged pliers-like construction and can be used to grip almost any pot which has a lipped rim. The term "spondonicle" has also been applied to these handles by some Australian users.[8]