Billet vs. Barracks — What's the Difference?

A billet is a living-quarters to which a soldier is assigned to sleep. Historically, a billet was a private dwelling that was required to accept the soldier.

Barracks are usually a group of long buildings built to house military personnel or laborers. The English word comes via French from an old Spanish word "barraca" (hut), originally referring to temporary shelters or huts for various people and animals, but today barracks are usually permanent buildings for military accommodation.

Lodging for troops.

To house (soldiers, for example) in quarters.

A written order directing that such lodging be provided.

Chiefly British To jeer or shout at a player, speaker, or team.

A position of employment; a job.

(Australian) To shout support for a team.

(Archaic) A short letter; a note.

To shout against; jeer at.

A short, thick piece of wood, especially one used as firewood.

A building or group of buildings used to house military personnel.

One of a series of regularly spaced, log-shaped segments used as an ornamental motif on moldings in Norman architecture.

A large, unadorned building used for temporary occupancy.

A small, usually rectangular bar of iron or steel in an intermediate stage of manufacture.

Plural of barrack.

A small ingot of nonferrous metal.

(military) A group of buildings used by military personnel as housing.

The part of a harness strap that passes through a buckle.

A loop or pocket for securing the end of a buckled harness strap.

To lodge (soldiers).

To serve (a person) with a written order to provide lodging for soldiers.

To assign lodging to.

To be quartered; lodge.

A short informal letter.

A written order to quarter soldiers.

A sealed ticket for a draw or lottery.

A place where a soldier is assigned to lodge.

Temporary lodgings in a private residence, such as is organised for members of a visiting sports team.

An allocated space or berth in a boat or ship.

(figurative) Berth; position.

(metallurgy) A semi-finished length of metal.

A short piece of wood, especially one used as firewood.

A short cutting of sugar cane produced by a harvester or used for planting.

(heraldry) A rectangle used as a charge on an escutcheon.

(architectural element) An ornament in Norman work, resembling a billet of wood, either square or round.

(saddlery) A strap that enters a buckle.

A loop that receives the end of a buckled strap.

To lodge soldiers, or guests, usually by order.

To lodge, or be quartered, in a private house.

(transitive) To direct, by a ticket or note, where to lodge.

A small paper; a note; a short letter.

A ticket from a public officer directing soldiers at what house to lodge; as, a billet of residence.

Quarters or place to which one is assigned, as by a billet or ticket; berth; position. Also used fig.

A small stick of wood, as for firewood.

A short bar of metal, as of gold or iron.

An ornament in Norman work, resembling a billet of wood either square or round.

A strap which enters a buckle.

A bearing in the form of an oblong rectangle.

To direct, by a ticket or note, where to lodge. Hence: To quarter, or place in lodgings, as soldiers in private houses.

A short personal letter;

Lodging for military personnel (especially in a private home)

A job in an organization;

Provide housing for (military personnel)