Bess (Grose 1811 Dictionary)

Bess

Betty

A small instrument used by house-breakers to force open doors. Bring bess and glym; bring the instrument to force the door, and the dark lantern. Small flasks, like those for Florence wine, are also called betties.

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

See also the definition in Nathan Bailey's 1736 dictionary of canting and thieving slang.

Bermudas * Bess-1

Nearby

Nathan Bailey's 1736 Dictionary of canting and thieving slang

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

Buy a modern reprint of this book from Amazon CA; US;

Bene Bowse
Bene Cove
Bene Darkmans
Bene Feakers
Bene Feakers of Gybes
Beneshiply
Ben
Benish
Benison
Bermudas
Bess
Bess-1
Best
Bet
Betty Martin
Betwattled
Bever
Beverage
Bible
Bible Oath
Biddy