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 And yourself on the shelf a neglected old maid, Troth, your conscience will sting you, I'm greatly afraid.

Bedder, subs. (Cambridge University).—A charwoman; one who makes the beds and performs other necessary domestic duties for residents in college.

Bed-Fagot, subs. (familiar).—1. Applied contemptuously to a woman; Cf., 'hussy,' 'witch,' etc.

2. Synonymous with prostitute. For full list of analogous terms, see Barrack-hack.

Bedfordshire, subs. (familiar).—humorous term for bed. There are several other phrases of a kindred character; as, for example, Sheet Alley (q.v.); Blanket Fair (q.v.); The Land of Nod (q.v.), etc.

1665. Cotton, Poet. Wks. (1765), 76. Each one departs to Bedfordshire. And pillows all securely snort on. [m.]

1738. Swift, Polite Conversation (conv. iii.). Lady Ans. I'm sure 'tis time for all honest folks to go to bed. Miss. Indeed my eyes draw straws (she's almost asleep) Col. I'm going to the Land of Nod. Ner. Faith, I'm for Bedfordshire.

1845. Hood, Miss Kilmansegg. The time for sleep had come at last, And there was the bed, so soft, so vast, Quite a field of Bedfordshire clover.

Bed-House, subs. (common).—A place of assignation where beds can be hired for a longer or shorter period as required—hence the name. For synonyms generally, see Nanny shop.

Bedoozle, verb (American).—To confuse; to bewilder. Probably a corrupt form of the old English verb 'bedazzle,' used by Shakspeare in Taming of the Shrew, iv., 5, 46. [1593.]

Bedpost. In the twinkling of a bedpost, phr. (familiar).—Instantaneously; with great rapidity. Originally in the twinkling of a bedstaff. This phrase has given rise to not a little speculation; first, as to what use the bedstaff was put; and, secondly, as to its possible connection with rapidity of motion. The generally received explanation is that the staff referred to was, as Johnson puts it, 'a wooden pin stuck anciently on sides of the bedstead to hold the cloaths from slipping on either side.' Dr. Murray, however, points out that the great lexicographer gave no authority, and also that 'no corroborative evidence has been found.' Still it seems certain that bedstaffs were used and kept near beds for some purpose by our ancestors. Bobadil, in Every Man in his Humour [1596], uses one to display his skill with the rapier, and the following explanation has been suggested by Mr. Thomas Boys [Notes and Queries, 2 S., vi., 437]. The bedstaff was an upright peg, fixed into the side of the bedstead after the manner of a pin, and projecting upwards to keep the bed clothes in their place. Consequently, as offering the means of exhibiting the use of the rapier, the wooden bedstaff may have afforded a very available as well as harmless implement. Suppose then the bedstaff to have been an upright peg or pin fitting into a hole or socket in the side of