Page:Dictionary of Slang, Jargon & Cant (1889) by Barrere & Leland.djvu/134



Bemuse, to (common), to fuddle oneself with drink.

Ben (journalistic and theatrical), short for benefit.

(Common), an abbreviation for "Benjamin," a waistcoat (see ); to stand ben, to treat one to liquor.

Benamee (Anglo-Indian, also old gypsy), anonymous. Hindu, bēnāmī.

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."

(American), a frolic, relaxation, spree, or "party." Probably from the Dutch bende, an assembly, party, or band.

Also a leg.

(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