Also 7–8 bett. [Of uncertain origin; nor is it clear whether the sb. or the vb. was the starting-point; if the sb., we may perhaps see in it an aphetic form of ABET sb. in the sense of ‘instigation, encouragement, support, maintaining of a cause’: see the quotation from Spenser under ABET sb. 2. The vb. would then be derived from the sb., as in the case of WAGER sb. and v. It is less easy to get from the sense of ABET v. to that of BET v., since the original construction ought then to be, not ‘to bet money on a champion,’ etc., but ‘to bet (i.e., abet) a champion with money,’ of which no trace is found. See however ABET v. 4 in sense of ‘to bet that.’
(The suggestion that bet is:—early ME. BEOT, ‘vow, promise, threat,’ has no support in the history or phonology.)]
The backing of an affirmation or forecast by offering to forfeit, in case of an adverse issue, a sum of money or article of value, to one who by accepting, maintains the opposite, and backs his opinion by a corresponding stipulation; the staking of money or other value on the event of a doubtful issue; a wager; also, the sum of money or article staked. An even bet (fig.): an equal chance, a balance of probabilities.
(The first quotation is quite uncertain in meaning.)
[c. 1460. Towneley Myst., 87. Ye fyshe before the nett, And stryfe on this bett, Siche folys never I mett.]
1592. Greene, Art Conny catch., II. 7. Certaine old sokers, which are lookers on, and listen for bets, either euen or od.
c. 1614. Drayton, Mis. Q. Margaret (1748), 151. For a long time it was an even bet Whether proud Warwick or the Queen should win.
1646. Buck, Rich. III., II. 60. Might have brought the odds of that day to an even bet.
1735. Pope, Mor. Ess., I. 86. His pride was in Piquette, Newmarket fame, and judgment at a Bett.
1818. Byron, Beppo, xxvii. And there were several offer’d any bet, Or that he would, or that he would not come.
1871. Kingsley, in Life & Lett. (1879), II. 271. Plenty of bets pass on every race, which are practically quite harmless.
2. A challenge contest.
1843. Proc. Berw. Nat. Club, II. xi. 59. A great bet, as a game [at bowls] was called, came off on Cockburnspath Green in 1807 or 1808.
