BEEF EATER. A yeoman of the guards, instituted by Henry VII. Their office was to stand near the bouffet, or cupboard, thence called Bouffetiers, since corrupted to Beef Eaters. Others suppose they obtained this name from the size of their persons, and the easiness of their duty, as having scarce more to do than to eat the king's beef. BEETLE-BROWED. One having thick projecting eyebrows. BEETLE-HEADED. Dull, stupid. BEGGAR MAKER. A publican, or ale-house keeper. BEGGAR'S BULLETS. Stones. The beggar's bullets began to fly, i.e. they began to throw stones. BEILBY'S BALL. He will dance at Beilby's ball, where the sheriff pays the music; he will be hanged. Who Mr. Beilby was, or why that ceremony was so called, remains with the quadrature of the circle, the discovery of the philosopher's stone, and divers other desiderata yet undiscovered. BELCH. All sorts of beer; that liquor being apt to cause eructation. BELCHER. A red silk handkerchief, intermixed with yellow and a little black. The kiddey flashes his belcher; the young fellow wears a silk handkerchief round his neck. BELL, BOOK, AND CANDLE. They cursed him with bell, book, and candle; an allusion to the popish form of excommunicating and anathematizing persons who had offended the church. TO BEAR THE BELL. To excel or surpass all competitors, to be the principal in a body or society; an allusion to the fore horse or leader of a team, whose harness is commonly ornamented with a bell or bells. Some suppose it a term borrowed from an ancient tournament, where the victorious knights bore away the BELLE or FAIR LADY. Others derive it from a horse-race, or other rural contentions, where bells were frequently given as prizes. BELLOWS. The lungs. BELLOWER. The town crier. BELLOWSER. Transportation for life: i.e. as long. BELLY. His eye was bigger than his belly; a saying of a person at a table, who takes more on his plate than he can eat. BELLYFULL. A hearty beating, sufficient to make a man yield or give out. A woman with child is also said to have got her belly full. BELLY CHEAT. An apron. BELLY PLEA. The plea of pregnancy, generally adduced by female felons capitally convicted, which they take care to provide for, previous to their trials; every gaol having, as the Beggar's Opera informs us, one or more child getters, who qualify the ladies for that expedient to procure a respite. BELLY TIMBER. Food of all sorts. BELL SWAGGER. A noisy bullying fellow. BELLWETHER. The chief or leader of a mob; an idea taken from a flock of sheep, where the wether has a bell about his neck. BENE. Good--BENAR. Better. Cant. BENE BOWSE. Good beer, or other strong liquor. Cant. BENE COVE. A good fellow. Cant. BENE DARKMANS. Goodnight. Cant. BENE FEARERS. Counterfeiters of bills. Cant. BENE FEAKERS OF GYBES. Counterfeiters of passes. Cant. BENESHIPLY. Worshipfully. Cant. BEN. A fool. Cant. BENISH. Foolish.