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Bell Wether (Grose 1811 Dictionary)

Bell Wether

The chief or leader of a mob; an idea taken from a flock of sheep, where the wether has a bell about his neck.

Definition taken from The 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, originally by Francis Grose.

Bell Swagger * Bene

Nearby

Nathan Bailey's 1736 Dictionary of canting and thieving slang

John S. Farmer's collection of canting songs and slang rhymes

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About

Francis Grose was independently wealthy, having inherited money from his father, a jeweller. Finding himself overspending, he published a number of books; his Provincial Glossary seems to have been the starting-point for the Vulgar Tongue reproduced here.

To bear the Bell
Bellows
Bellower
Bellowser
Belly
Bellyfull
Belly Cheat
Belly Plea
Belly Timber
Bell Swagger
Bell Wether
Bene
Bene Bowse
Bene Cove
Bene Darkmans
Bene Feakers
Bene Feakers of Gybes
Beneshiply
Ben
Benish
Benison