A "billy goat" refers to a male goat. In the context of the given clue, it is referencing the fairy tale story "The Three Billy Goats Gruff." In this story, the billy goats encounter a bridge troll that they must try to outsmart in order to safely cross the bridge. The term "billy goat" is used to represent the main characters of the story who attempt to outsmart the troll.
Note: The provided meaning of the answer is for the latest New York Times crossword puzzle clue: One attempting to outsmart a bridge troll, in a classic fairy tale. Explanations are generated by AI and may be inaccurate.