betty

plural betties · alternative bettee · alternative Betty

1. slangA short bar used by thieves to wrench doors open; a jimmy.First known use 17th century

   No modern Lycæum vvill ever equal thy Glory, […] deſcribing the povverful Betty, or the artful Picklock, […]

   1712, Humphry Polesworth [pseudonym; John Arbuthnot], “The Preface”, in Lewis Baboon Turned Honest, and John Bull Politician. Being the Fourth Part of Law is a Bottomless-Pit. […], London: […] John Morphew, […], →OCLC

2. slangA picklock, skeleton key; a tool for opening locks.First known use 18th century

   1 more example

   After a quick meal at a tea shop, we found ourselves in the hallway at the Midland Hotel, where he removed a skeleton key, or “betty” as he called it, from his pocket and inserted it in the keyhole. […] Once they were out of sight, I fumbled about with the betty for a few moments before the lock finally clicked open.

   1958, Will Thomas, To Kingdom Come, page 161

3. archaicderogatoryA man who performs tasks that traditionally belong to a woman; (originally) an effeminate or gay man.First known use 17th century

   Synonyms: cot-betty, cot-quean, henhussy, molly

4. USarchaicA pear-shaped bottle covered with straw, in which olive oil is sometimes brought from Italy; a Florence flask.First known use 17th to 19th century

   On olive oil in casks, twenty cents per gallon; olive salad oil in bottles or betties, thirty per centum ad valorem

   1841, Acts and Resolutions Passed at the First Session of the Twenty-Seventh Congress of the United States

5. A baked dessert made with alternating layers of sweetened fruit and buttered bread crumbs.First known use 19th century

   A pie-size betty is traditional, but if you like, assemble the recipe in individual ovenproof ramekins.

   2021 November 28, “Apple-Almond Brave Betty”, in Midwest Living

6. slangslightly pejorativeAn attractive woman; a babe.First known use 20th century

   Isn't my house classic? The columns date all the way back to 1972. Wasn't my Mom a betty? She died when I was just a baby. A fluke accident during a routine liposuction. I don't remember her, but I like to pretend she still watches over me.

   1995, Amy Heckerling, Clueless, spoken by Cher (Alicia Silverstone)

   Synonyms: beautiful woman

present singular third person betties · participle present bettying · participle past bettied · past bettied · alternative bettee · alternative Betty

1. To pick a lock, to open with a betty.First known use 19th century

   The forty quid! Gone! ’Ow could she ’ave gotten in there? The peter ain’t broke, no sign of it bein’ bettied, and I the only one w’ the key.

   2013, Zack Wentz, “Simplicity itself”, in Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine, volume 10, page 161

   1 more example

   “Well then,” he said. “Let’s say you can betty the lock, hang on a rope, and break the drum, and then lock up again with nobody the wiser. How do I get on in the first place, past the Scots jack, with his sharp cool?”

   1976, Michael Crichton, The Great Train Robbery, page 185

2. archaicTo be overly attentive to someone or something.

   “I’m perfectly well, thank you, Miss Hester,” she said, coldly. “I detest being bettied.”

   1877 August 16, Julia Dartman, “Aunty Di”, in The Youth’s Companion, page 1

   1 more example

   If anything on earth is reprehensible in a man and disgusting to a woman, it is to have said man hen-hussying and bettying about the kitchen

   1897, W.H. Rudd, “Johnny cakes”, in The Poultry Monthly, volume XIX, page 371

1. A diminutive of the female given name Elizabeth.

   People in the last century weren't afraid of homely names; now we are all so smart and fine: no more "Lady Bettys" now.

   1864 August – 1866 January, [Elizabeth] Gaskell, chapter 10, in Wives and Daughters. An Every-day Story. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Smith, Elder and Co., […], published 1866, →OCLC

   1 more example

   But Mrs. Betty Carver respects tradition, and this, I'm afraid, is ours. - - - She smells like expensive soap and her teeth are shiny-white. She does not in any way look like her name. It's not her fault that she was born in a time when people believed in names like Wanda, Dottie and Betty. She's more of a Vanessa or Paulina.

   1991, Peter Hedges, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Simon & Schuster, published 1999, →ISBN, page 60

plural Betties

1. derogatoryslangA girl who hangs out with skateboarders or surfers.