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Betty
Definitions
- 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."
- 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"
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- 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."
- 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.”"
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.
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.
See also for "betty"
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