The ladies say I am bewitching,
In fact I'm a real belvidere.
In bar-room, in parlour, in kitchen,
Oh, this is the language I hear.
Bemuse, to (common), to fuddle oneself with drink.
Ben (journalistic and theatrical), short for benefit.
Benefit to Jack Burke.—This well-known boxer, who has had the misfortune to break his leg in two places, is to be accorded a benefit at the Mason's Hall, Bow Common Lane, on Monday, December 5. A capital programme has been organised, and we hope that his fellow pro's will rally round him on the occasion, and give his ben a good send off. M.C.'s Jack Fay, and T. Sands.—Sporting Life.
(Common), an abbreviation for "Benjamin," a waistcoat (see Benjamin); to stand ben, to treat one to liquor.
Benamee (Anglo-Indian, also old gypsy), anonymous. Hindu, bēnāmī.
A term specially applied to documents of transfer and other contracts in which the name entered as that of one of the chief parties is not that of the person interested.—Anglo-Indian Glossary.
Benat, benar (old cant), better.
Ben cull (thieves), a friend, a comrade, a "pal." Cull meant formerly a man, a fool; ben, an abbreviation of the cant term bene, good.
Bend (common), "that's above my bend," i.e., beyond my power, too expensive or too difficult to perform (Hotten). This has nothing in common with the "Grecian bend," an affected style of walking assumed by some ladies as a flattery to royalty, in keeping with the "Alexandra limp."
Bender (common), a sixpence, so called because it is easily bent; also "kick," a very old word. In old cant "half-a-borde," and now a "tanner," and in thieves' lingo a "cripple."
"What will you take to be paid out?" said the butcher. "The regular chummage is two-and-six; will you take three bob?" "And a bender," suggested the clerical gentleman.—Charles Dickens: Pickwick Papers.
(American), a frolic, relaxation, spree, or "party." Probably from the Dutch bende, an assembly, party, or band.
I led her through the festal hall,
Her glance was soft and tender;
She whispered gently in my ear,
"Say, Mose, ain't this a bender?"
Hans Breitmann joined de Turners,
November in de Fall,
Und dey gived a boorsten bender
All in de Turner Hall.
Also a leg.
Young ladies are not allowed to cross their benders in school.—Longfellow: Kavanagh.
(Thieves and roughs), the arm; over the bender means over the arm, over the left, i.e., not really. In the same way schoolboys said, "I'll do it—fain," meaning that they will not.
Vaux, in his Memoirs, says:—"Bender is an ironical word used in conversation by flash people; as where one party affirms or professes anything
