1848. J. F. Cooper, The Oak Openings. It would be above my bend to attempt telling you all we saw among the red skins.
Grecian bend (popular).—A craze amongst women which had a vogue from about 1872 to 1880. It consisted in walking with the body bent forward.
1876. Chambers' Journal, No. 629. Your own advocacy for the Grecian bend and the Alexandra limp—both positive and practical imitations of physical affliction.
On the bend, phr. (common).—In an underhand, oblique, or crooked way—not 'on the square.'
1863. J. C. Jeaffreson, Live It Down, II., 152. I never have paid anything yet on the square, and I never will. When I die, I'll order my executor to buy my coffin off the square. He shall get it on the bend somehow or other.
Bender, subs. (popular).—1. A six-pence.
Thought to be an
allusion to the ease with which
these coins were liable to be
bent in use. At one time the
currency was not of such good
quality as now.
1789. Geo. Parker, Life's Painter, p. 178. Sixpence. A bender.
1836. Dickens, Pickwick, ch. xlii., p. 367. 'Will you take three bob?' 'And a bender,' suggested the clerical gentleman. . . . 'What do you say, now? We'll pay you out for three-and-sixpence a week. Come!'
1869. Whyte Melville, M. or N., p. 66. A ragged boy established, at the crossing, who had indeed rendered himself conspicuous by his endeavours to ferry Puckers over dry-shod, was accosted by a shabby-genteel and remarkably good-looking man, in the following vernacular—'On this minnit, off at six, Buster; two bob an' a bender, and a three of eye-water, in?' 'Done for another joey,' replied Buster, with the premature acuteness of youth foraging for itself in the streets of London.
Among synonymous terms for this coin may be mentioned cripple; bandy; crookback; downer; fyebuck; lord of the manor; tanner; sprat; kick; half a borde; tizzy.
2. (Scotch.)—A hard and persistent drinker; a tippler. This should be compared with bend.
1728. Ramsay, Poems (1848), III., 162. Now lend your lugs, ye benders fine, wha ken the benefit of wine.
1810. Tannahill, Poems (1846), 53. Or benders, blest your wizzens weetin'.
3. (public schools'.)—In public school phraseology a bender is a stroke of the cane administered by the master while the culprit bends down his back.
4. (common.)—The arm. In connection with this see the following, and for synonyms, see Chalk Farm.
5. (American.)—A drinking bout or spree, in the course of which, to use another slang expression, 'the town is painted red,' and the participants decidedly unbent. This is possibly derived from any one of the three following sources:—(1) from the Scotch usage; (2) from the facetious name given to the arm, which becomes a bender from being so frequently bent or 'crooked' to lift the glass to the mouth; (3) from the Dutch bende, an assembly, party, or band.
1854. Putnam's Monthly, Aug. I met her at the Chinese room; She wore a wreath of roses, She walked in beauty like the night, Her breath was like sweet posies. I led her through the festal hall, Her glance was soft and tender; She whispered gently in my ear, 'Say, Mose, ain't this a bender?
1864. Richmond Dispatch, 3 Jan. 'Most of the owners of these names had
