Page:Farmer - Slang and its analogues past and present - Volume 1.pdf/196

 Ben-Flake, subs. (thieves').—A steak.

Bengal Tigers, subs. (military).—The Seventeenth Foot; so nicknamed from its badge of a royal tiger granted for services in India from 1804-1823. Also called 'The Lily-Whites' from its facings.

1874. Chambers' Journal, p. 801. The 17th the Bengal Tigers, from their badge—a tiger.

Bengi, subs. (military).—An onion.

Bengy.—See Benjy.

Benish, adj. (old cant.)—Foolish.—See Ben, sense 2.

Benjamin, subs. (Winchester College).—1. A small ruler.

2. (thieves'.)—A coat. It is said to have been derived from a well-known London advertising tailor of the same name. Formerly this garment was called a Joseph, but for synonyms, see Capella. An upper Benjamin = a great coat.

1815. T. Peacock, Nightmare Abbey, p. 159. His heart is seen to beat through his upper Benjamin, [m.]

1836. M. Scott, Tom Cringle's Log, ch. ii. Benjamins, and great-coats, and cloaks of all sorts and sizes.

1851. G. Borrow, Lavengro, ch. lix., p. 181 (1888). The coachman with narrow-rimmed hat and fashionable Benjamin.

1865. Pall Mall Gazette, 7 March, p. 3, col. 2. [Quoting East-end slang.]

Ben Joltram, subs. (provincial).—Brown bread and skimmed milk; a Norfolk term for a ploughboy's breakfast.—Hotten.

Benjy, subs. (nautical).—1. A low crowned straw hat having a very broad brim.

1883. W. Clark Russell, Sailors' Language, p. 14. Benjie, the name of a straw hat worn by sailors.

2. (common.)—A waistcoat. Also ben (q.v.). For synonyms, see Fan.

1821. D. Haggart, Life, Glossary, p. 171. Benjy, a vest.

Bens, subs. (American).—A workman's slang term for his tools. In England called alls.

Benship or Beenship, subs. (old cant).—Worship; goodness. This word, evidently from beneship (q.v.), is given by Bailey in his Dictionary [1728], and by Coles in 1724.

Adv. (old cant).—Very good.

1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 65. Benship, very good.

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 37 (H. Club's Repr.). Benship, very good.

1665. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. v., p. 47 (1874). Benshiply, very well.

Beong, subs. (thieves' and costermongers').—A shilling. [From Italian bianco, white; also the name of a silver coin.] For full list of synonyms, see Deaner.

Beray, verb (old cant).—To defile; to befoul; to abuse.

Berkeleys, subs. (common).—A woman's breasts. [It may be noted that in the gypsy, berk, or burk = breast; plural, berkia.] For synonyms, see Dairies.

Bermudas, subs. (old).—A district in London, similar to Alsatia in Whitefriars (q.v.), and the Mint in Southwark, privileged against arrests. The Bermudas are thought to have been certain