noun
Common
betty
BEH-tee
Betty (noun) means a short metal bar used to force open a lock or door; a burglar's jimmy. Example: “The police found a betty in his bag, along with several other burglary tools.”
noun
1
A short metal bar used to force open a lock or door; a burglar's jimmy.
"The police found a betty in his bag, along with several other burglary tools."
"He slipped the betty between the door and the frame and forced it open."
"The thief pried the window open with a betty."
2
A baked dessert made of layered fruit and buttered breadcrumbs.
"For pudding we had a pear betty with a crisp, buttery crumb topping."
"She baked a warm apple betty and served it with cream."
"Grandma's apple betty was the highlight of the harvest dinner."
name
1
A pet form of the female name Elizabeth.
"Betty was the most popular girl's name of its era."
How to use betty
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost commonly a nickname for Elizabeth; in older slang, also a tool for forcing locks or a fruit-and-breadcrumb dessert.
Common pairings
apple betty
crack a lock with a betty
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Word forms
- Plural
- betties
- Third person singular
- betties
- Past tense
- bettied
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The police found a _____ in his bag, along with several other burglary tools.
Etymology
From the nickname Betty for Elizabeth. Thieves' slang later borrowed the name for a lock-picking bar, much as it borrowed "Bess" for the same tool.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for betty
See all rhymes for betty →Frequently asked questions
What does “betty” mean?
The word “betty” means a short metal bar used to force open a lock or door; a burglar's jimmy. In plain terms, most commonly a nickname for Elizabeth; in older slang, also a tool for forcing locks or a fruit-and-breadcrumb dessert.
How do you pronounce “betty”?
“Betty” is pronounced BEH-tee (/ˈbɛti/ in IPA).
How do you use “betty” in a sentence?
Here is “betty” used in a sentence: “The thief pried the window open with a betty.”
What part of speech is “betty”?
Depending on how it is used, “betty” can be a noun and a name.
Is “betty” a common word?
“Betty” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “betty” have?
“Betty” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a short metal bar used to force open a lock or door; a burglar's jimmy.
What is the difference between a betty and a jimmy?
In burglary slang, a betty is essentially the same tool as a jimmy: a short metal bar used to force open a lock or door. 'Betty' is simply an older or regional term for this kind of pry bar.
What is a brown betty or apple betty?
A betty is a baked dessert made of layered fruit and buttered breadcrumbs. It is most often seen in the names 'brown betty' and 'apple betty,' where sliced fruit is baked between layers of sweetened crumbs.
Is Betty a nickname for Elizabeth?
Yes. Betty is a traditional pet form of the female name Elizabeth, alongside related short forms such as Beth, Bess, and Betsy.
When is 'betty' written with a capital B?
As the personal name, Betty is capitalized. When it refers to the burglar's tool or the baked dessert, it is normally written in lowercase, as in 'brown betty.'
