Ben-Flake, subs. (thieves').—A steak.
Bengal Tigers, subs. (military).—The
Seventeenth Foot; so
nicknamed from its badge of a
royal tiger granted for services
in India from 1804-1823. Also
called 'The Lily-Whites' from
its facings.
1874. Chambers' Journal, p. 801. The 17th . . . the Bengal Tigers, from their badge—a tiger.
Bengi, subs. (military).—An onion.
Bengy.—See Benjy.
Benish, adj. (old cant.)—Foolish.—See
Ben, sense 2.
Benjamin, subs. (Winchester
College).—1. A small ruler.
2. (thieves'.)—A coat. It is said to have been derived from a well-known London advertising tailor of the same name. Formerly this garment was called a Joseph, but for synonyms, see Capella. An upper Benjamin = a great coat.
1815. T. Peacock, Nightmare Abbey, p. 159. His heart is seen to beat through his upper Benjamin, [m.]
1836. M. Scott, Tom Cringle's Log, ch. ii. Benjamins, and great-coats, and cloaks of all sorts and sizes.
1851. G. Borrow, Lavengro, ch. lix., p. 181 (1888). The coachman . . . with narrow-rimmed hat and fashionable Benjamin.
1865. Pall Mall Gazette, 7 March, p. 3, col. 2. [Quoting East-end slang.]
Ben Joltram, subs. (provincial).—Brown
bread and skimmed milk;
a Norfolk term for a ploughboy's
breakfast.—Hotten.
Benjy, subs. (nautical).—1. A
low crowned straw hat having
a very broad brim.
1883. W. Clark Russell, Sailors' Language, p. 14. Benjie, the name of a straw hat worn by sailors.
2. (common.)—A waistcoat. Also ben (q.v.). For synonyms, see Fan.
1821. D. Haggart, Life, Glossary, p. 171. Benjy, a vest.
Bens, subs. (American).—A workman's
slang term for his tools.
In England called alls.
Benship or Beenship, subs. (old
cant).—Worship; goodness.
This word, evidently from beneship
(q.v.), is given by Bailey
in his Dictionary [1728], and
by Coles in 1724.
Adv. (old cant).—Very good.
1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 65. Benship, very good.
1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 37 (H. Club's Repr.). Benship, very good.
1665. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. v., p. 47 (1874). Benshiply, very well.
Beong, subs. (thieves' and costermongers').—A
shilling. [From
Italian bianco, white; also the
name of a silver coin.] For full
list of synonyms, see Deaner.
Beray, verb (old cant).—To defile;
to befoul; to abuse.
Berkeleys, subs. (common).—A
woman's breasts. [It may be
noted that in the gypsy, berk, or
burk = breast; plural, berkia.]
For synonyms, see Dairies.
Bermudas, subs. (old).—A district
in London, similar to Alsatia in
Whitefriars (q.v.), and the Mint
in Southwark, privileged against
arrests. The Bermudas are
thought to have been certain
