Yes, both terms 'bill' and 'check' I've heard used here, ( but I suppose I'm just stingy and would rather get money than give it), still one should never give notes to a waiter here unless one was fishing for something. A more generous slice of cake perhaps?
But I nearly fell out of my chair yesterday when I went looking for the precise definition of 'biosphere' in the Webster's dictionary, there was
'billhook' right on the opposite page! I can't even say, "if only I had seen it a few days before"! I'm sure I would have passed by it, since they don't sell them at our hardware store.
Hookbill, I'd heap you with laurels if I could, both for your witty paper and for the time you spend on it, but writing an article might take a bit longer for me.