Bender, subs. (common).—The bow-shaped segment of a kite.
1873. Dr. Blackley, Hay Fever, p. 145. The first kite was six feet in length by three feet in width, and was made of the usual form, namely, with a central shaft or “standard,” and a semicircular top or BENDER.
Bene-book, subs. (Charterhouse).—See quot.
1900. Tod, Charterhouse, 131. Besides prizes, BENE-BOOKS are awarded to the Sixth Forms on the following system: Every boy generally does four classical exercises a week, viz., Greek and Latin prose, Greek and Latin verse, and one mathematical exercise; these are marked, according to their merit, B, b, sb, s, vs, m, M; that is to say, Big bene, bene, satis bene, satis, vix satis, male, Big male.... A BENE-BOOK (value 12s. 6d.) is earned by the winner of two BENES a week throughout the quarter. There used to be a yet higher mark, i.e., B†, or a Write-out, which counted four. A B† denoted that the composition to which it was attached was worthy of being written out in a book kept with a view to forming a new edition of “Sertum Carthusianum.” There are many volumes of old Write-out books on the shelves of the library, but for years no addition has been made to them. The Write-out is quite obsolete.
Bevers, subs. (general).—An afternoon meal or refreshment; a snack between meals. Whence (Winchester) BEVERS (or BEVER-TIME) = an interval from 4.30 to 5 in afternoon school, observed (says Wrench) long after the distribution of bread and beer had ceased on whole school-days. [See Beaumont and Fletcher, i. 20; Ford, i. 392; Florio, in v. Merénda; Cooper, in v. Antecænium; Stanihurst’s Descr. of Ireland, p. 18; Nomenclator, p. 79; Sir John Oldcastle, p. 42; Howell, sect. 43; Middleton’s Works, iv. 427, v. 141.]
1580. Lingua [Dodsley, Old Plays (Reid, 1825), v. 148]. Appetitus. Your gallants never sup, breakfast, nor BEVER without me.
1585. Nomenclator, p. 79. A middaies meale: an undermeale: a boire or BEAVER: a refreshing betwixt meales.
1597. Harrison, Desc. of England. Of old we had breakfastes in the forenoone, BEUARAGES or nuntions after dinner, and thereto reare suppers, generallie when it was time to go to rest, a toie brought into England by hardie Canutus; but nowe these are very well past, and each one, except some young hungrie stomach, that cannot fast till dinner-time, contenteth him self with dinner and supper.
1598. Florio, Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Merenda, Plauto. Propriè olim prandium dicebatur quod meridie daretur. Nonius cibum qui post meridiem sumitur interpretatur. ἑσπέρισμα. Le reciner.
1604. Marlowe, Dr. Faustus. Thirty meals a day and ten BEVERS.