Benjamin, coat. Formerly termed a JOSEPH, in allusion, perhaps, to Joseph’s coat of many colours.—See [UPPER-BENJAMIN].
Ben Joltram, brown bread and skimmed milk; a Norfolk term for a ploughboy’s breakfast.
Benjy, a waistcoat, diminutive of BENJAMIN.
Beong, a shilling.—See [SALTEE].—Lingua Franca.
Bess-o’-Bedlam, a lunatic vagrant.—Norfolk.
Best, to get the better or BEST of a man in any way—not necessarily to cheat—to have the best of a bargain. BESTED, taken in, or defrauded, in reality worsted. Bester, a low betting cheat, a fraudulent bookmaker.
Better, more; “how far is it to town?” “Oh, BETTER ’n a mile.”—Saxon and Old English, now a vulgarism.
Betting Round, laying fairly and equally against nearly all the horses in a race so that no great risk can be run. Commonly called getting round. See [BOOK], and BOOKMAKING.
Betty, a skeleton key, or picklock.—Old Prison Cant.