What does "betty" mean?
A short bar used by thieves to wrench doors open; a jimmy.
Betty
/ˈbɛti/ name, noun, verb, slang
name, noun, verb, slang ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A short bar used by thieves to wrench doors open; a jimmy.
- Grammar: betty is listed as name, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: bettie, bettye, forename, given name.
- Useful contrasts: nameless person, unnamed person.
- Usage evidence: Betty can't tell right from wrong.
How to use "betty"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "betty" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "betty" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "betty" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "betty" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "betty" is acting as name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "bettie" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "betty", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A short bar used by thieves to wrench doors open; a jimmy. slang
"No modern Lycæum vvill ever equal thy Glory, […] deſcribing the povverful Betty, or the artful Picklock, […]"
- 2 A girl who hangs out with skateboarders or surfers. derogatory, slang
- 3 A picklock, skeleton key; a tool for opening locks. slang
"After a quick meal at a tea shop, we found ourselves in the hallway at the Midland Hotel, where he removed a skeleton key, or “betty” as he called it, from his pocket and inserted it in the keyhole. […] Once they were out of sight, I fumbled about with the betty for a few moments before the lock finally clicked open."
- 4 A man who performs tasks that traditionally belong to a woman; (originally) an effeminate or gay man. archaic, derogatory
- 5 A pear-shaped bottle covered with straw, in which olive oil is sometimes brought from Italy; a Florence flask. US, archaic
"On olive oil in casks, twenty cents per gallon; olive salad oil in bottles or betties, thirty per centum ad valorem"
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 A baked dessert made with alternating layers of sweetened fruit and buttered bread crumbs.
"A pie-size betty is traditional, but if you like, assemble the recipe in individual ovenproof ramekins."
- 7 An attractive woman; a babe. slang
"Isn't my house classic? The columns date all the way back to 1972. Wasn't my Mom a betty? She died when I was just a baby. A fluke accident during a routine liposuction. I don't remember her, but I like to pretend she still watches over me."
Verb
- 1 To pick a lock, to open with a betty.
"“Well then,” he said. “Let’s say you can betty the lock, hang on a rope, and break the drum, and then lock up again with nobody the wiser. How do I get on in the first place, past the Scots jack, with his sharp cool?”"
- 2 To be overly attentive to someone or something. archaic
"“I’m perfectly well, thank you, Miss Hester,” she said, coldly. “I detest being bettied.”"
Proper Noun
- 1 A diminutive of the female given name Elizabeth.
"People in the last century weren't afraid of homely names; now we are all so smart and fine: no more "Lady Bettys" now."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
nameless personunnamed person
Example
"Betty can't tell right from wrong."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "betty"?
Common synonyms include: bettie, bettye, forename, given name.
How do you use "betty" in a sentence?
Betty can't tell right from wrong.
How do you pronounce "betty"?
Pronounced /ˈbɛti/.
Etymology
From Betty (nickname for “Elizabeth”). In thieves’ cant a tool for wrenching locked doors is also called a Bess (from “Elizabeth”) or a Jenny. The “attractive woman” sense may relate to the character Betty Rubble in the cartoon The Flintstones.