Chapter Ben Jochanan' to Benshie, Benshee of B by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Benevolence A “forced” gratuity, under the excuse of a loan, exacted by some of the Plantagenet kings. First enforced in 1473, it was declared illegal by the Bill of Rights in 1689.

“Royal benevolences were encroaching more and more on the right of parliamentary taxation.”-Green: History of the English People, vol. ii. book vi. chap. i. p. 197.

Benevolus in Cowper's Task, is John Courtney Throckmorton of Weston Underwood.

Bengal Tigers The old 17th Foot, whose badge, a royal tiger, was granted them for their services in India (1802-23). Now the Leicester Regiment.

Bengalese (3 syl.) for Bengalis or Bengalees. Natives of Bengal. (Singular, Bengali or Bengalee.)

Bengodi A wonderful country where “they tie the vines with sausages, where you may buy a fat goose for a penny and have the giblets given into the bargain. In this place there is a mountain of Parmesan cheese, and people's employment is making cheesecakes and macaroons. There is also a river which runs Malmsey wine of the very best quality. (Boccaccio: Eighth Day, Novel iii.)

Benicia Boy John C. Heenan, the American pugilist, who challenged and fought Tom Sayers for “the belt” in 1860; so called from Benicia in California, his birthplace.

Benjamin The pet, the youngest. Queensland is the Benjamin of our colonial possessions. The allusion is to Benjamin, the youngest son of Jacob (Gen. xxxv. 18).

Benjamin A smart overcoat; so called from a tailor of the name, and rendered popular by its association with Joseph's “coat of many colours.”

Benjamin's Mess The largest share. The allusion is to the banquet given by Joseph, viceroy of Egypt, to his brethren. “Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs” (Gen. xliii. 34).

Bennaskar A wealthy merchant and magician of Delhi, in Ridlay's Tales of the Genii.

“Like the jeweller of Delhi, in the house of the magician Bennaskar, I at length reached a vaulted room dedicated to secrecy and silence.”-Sir W. Scott.

Benshie, Benshee (see Banshee ). The Scotch Bodach Glay, or Grey Spectre, is a similar superstition; and the Pari-Banou (Nymph of the Air) of the Arabian Nights is also a sort of Benshee.

“How oft has the Benshee cried!” [How busy death has been of late with our notables.]-T. Moore: Irish Melodies, No. ii.