| Billao | |
|---|---|
 A billao shortsword. | |
| Type | Shortsword or long dagger |
| Place of origin | Horn of Africa |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Somali |
| Wars | Dervish resistance (1896–1920) |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 9 oz (260 g) |
| Length | 17 to 25 in (43 to 64 cm) |
| Width | (2.5 in (6.4 cm) (blade) |
| Blade type | iron or steel; pointed, double-edged |
| Hilt type | horn |
| Scabbard/sheath | sheepskin |
A billao (Somali: billaawe), also known as a belawa, is a horn-hilted Somali shortsword or long dagger depending on blade length. It served most notably as a close-quarters weapon in the Dervish State, at the turn of the 20th century.