Meaning of Betty | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A short bar used by thieves to wrench doors open; a jimmy.
   slang
2. A diminutive of the female given name Elizabeth.
3. A girl who hangs out with skateboarders or surfers.
   derogatory, slang
4. A picklock, skeleton key; a tool for opening locks.
   slang
5. A man who performs tasks that traditionally belong to a woman; (originally) an effeminate or gay man.
   archaic, derogatory
6. A pear-shaped bottle covered with straw, in which olive oil is sometimes brought from Italy; a Florence flask.
   US, archaic
7. A baked dessert made with alternating layers of sweetened fruit and buttered bread crumbs.
8. An attractive woman; a babe.
   slang

Equivalents

Examples

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

“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⟳.”

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

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

“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.”

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

“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.”

CEFR level