1. An instrument for bending; a pair of pliers.
1496. Bk. St. Albans, Fysshynge, 14. For makynge your hokis … a bender, a payr of longe and smalle tongys.
1598. Florio, Piegatoie, a paire of benders that goldsmithes vse, called bowing pincers or plyers.
1833. J. Rennie, Alph. Angling, 69. The artist, of [fish-hooks] requires a hammer, a knife, a pair of pincers … a bender.
† 2. A mechanical contrivance for bending, ‘drawing up,’ or setting cross-bows. Obs.
1684. R. Waller, Nat. Exper., 146. Cros-bows that are bent with a Bender.
3. One who bends.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., I. i. 9. The eugh, obedient to the benders will.
1833. Medwin, in Fraser’s Mag., VII. 18. He … leads on the benders of the bow.
† 4. A flexor muscle. Obs.
1615. Crooke, Body of Man, 791. This muscle with the second and third benders of the thumb.
1668. Culpepper & Cole, Barthol. Anat., IV. viii. 165. Two Benders of the Cubit.
† 5. Sc. A hard drinker. Obs. (Cf. BEND v. 23.)
1728. Ramsay, Poems (1848), III. 162. Now lend your lugs, ye benders fine, Wha ken the benefit of wine.
1810. Tannahill, Poems (1846), 53. Or benders, blest your wizzens weetin’.
6. slang. A sixpence. (? Because it bends easily.)
1836. Dickens, Sk. Boz (1850), 68/2. ‘Niver mind the loss of two bob and a bender!’ Ibid. (1837), Pickw., xlii. (D.). ‘Will you take three bob?’ ‘And a bender,’ suggested the clerical gentleman.
1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, xi. ‘A half-crown, Honeyman? By cock and pye it is not worth a bender.’
