The AI-powered English dictionary
plural betties
(slang) A short bar used by thieves to wrench doors open; a jimmy. quotations
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, […]
(slang) A picklock, skeleton key; a tool for opening locks. quotations
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
(archaic, derogatory) A man who performs tasks that traditionally belong to a woman; (originally) an effeminate or gay man.
(US, archaic) A pear-shaped bottle covered with straw, in which olive oil is sometimes brought from Italy; a Florence flask. quotations
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
A baked dessert made with alternating layers of sweetened fruit and buttered bread crumbs. quotations examples
A pie-size betty is traditional, but if you like, assemble the recipe in individual ovenproof ramekins.
2021 November, “Apple-Almond Brave Betty”, in Midwest Living
(slang, slightly pejorative) An attractive woman; a babe. quotations
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)
third-person singular simple present betties, present participle bettying, simple past and past participle bettied
To pick a lock, to open with a betty. quotations examples
“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
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
(archaic) To be overly attentive to someone or something. quotations
“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
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