What does Billet mean?

I've seen several threads refer to "billet shifter knob" or "billet side covers" or "billet grill." In context, I always assumed it just meant "aluminum". Is there another more technical definition?

It means machined from a solid block of .... fill in the blank. It is common to see billet aluminum parts like shift knobs etc.

As used here, billet generally means the part was machined from a solid block of material, as opposed to being stamped from a sheet or cast into a mould.

oops, Ryan beat me to it!

Parts made of millet are usually found on the farm! :)

Thanks, Derek. Corrected. Could have been worse, could have been mullet parts.

Don't want those. I think the owners might get a bit upset, too!

http://tinyurl.com/c8ovgp

It's usually used to describe a part that they are charging more for than they think they could if they simply said "machined from bar stock"; which is all it really means............

Billet is code for "EXPENSIVE". As in the "EXPENSIVE" shift knob.

These days it is as much a marketing term as a description as those above have said already.
Have a look through any of the hot rod magazines and just about every car part is "billet" now.

In days past it was the term for a particular piece of metal made for further processing to distinguish it from the ingot which was the term for a single block of metal cast in a particular shape for some reason.

Pete.

stupid post deleted