bender

Etymology

Hypotheses: * bend + -er. In sense of “heavy drinking”, originally generally “spree”, from 1846, of uncertain origin – vague contemporary sense of “something extraordinary”, connection to bend (e.g., bending elbow to drink) or perhaps from Scottish sense of “strong drinker”. * In Britain, for about four centuries, a sixpence was known as a bender because its silver content made it easy to bend in the hands. This was commonly done to create ‘love tokens’, many of which survive in collections to this day. The value of a sixpence was also enough to get thoroughly inebriated as taverns would often allow you to drink all day for two pence. This gave rise to the expression ‘going on a bender’. * (interjection): From over the bender, referring to a person's arm (and sometimes accompanied by a gesture of the thumb backward over the shoulder); compare over the left shoulder.

noun

1. One who, or that which, bends.
2. A device to aid bending of pipes to a specific angle.
3. (slang) A bout of heavy drinking.
   He's been out on a bender with his mates.
   A couple of students of Williams College went over to North Adams on a bender. This would have been serious matter under the best of circumstances, but each returned with a “brick in his hat,” etc. 1857, Newspaper, April
4. (chiefly UK, slang, derogatory) A homosexual man.
5. A simple shelter, made using flexible branches or withies.
6. (UK, slang) A suspended sentence.
   'Oh and Gary, what happened in Ahmed?' 'Not guilty, sir.' 'Oh no! And Tredwell?' 'Bender.' 'Suspended sentence? So both walked. […] 2015, Olly Jarvis, Death by Dangerous, page 81
   He anticipated a prison sentence though he thought there was a slight possibility of 'getting off on a bender' (suspended sentence). 2019, Howard Williamson, Youth and Policy: Contexts and Consequences
7. (obsolete, UK, slang) A sixpence.
   What will you take to be paid out?’ said the butcher. ‘The regular chummage is two–and–six. Will you take three bob?’ ‘And a bender,’ suggested the clerical gentleman. ‘Well, I don’t mind that; it’s only twopence a piece more,’ said Mr. Martin. ‘What do you say, now? We’ll pay you out for three–and–sixpence a week. Come!’ 1836, Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers 42
8. (obsolete, slang, US) A spree, a frolic.
9. (obsolete, slang, US) Something exceptional.

intj

1. (obsolete, British slang) Used to express disbelief or doubt at what one has just heard.
2. (obsolete, British slang) Used to indicate that the previous phrase was meant sarcastically or ironically.
   O yes, I'll do it — bender!