Also 7–8 bett. Pa. t. and pple. bet; also betted. [See prec.] trans. To stake or wager (a sum of money, etc.) in support of an affirmation or on the issue of a forecast.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., III. ii. 50. Iohn of Gaunt loued him well, and betted much Money on his head.
a. 1600[?]. Rob. Hood (Ritson), II. xii. 105. Said the bishop then, Ile not bet one peny.
1727. Pope, etc., Bathos, 110. These on your side will all their fortunes bet.
1849. Dickens, Dav. Copp., ii. (C. D. ed.), 16. I’ll as good as bet a guinea … that she’ll let us go.
1876. O. W. Holmes, How Old Horse won Bet, Poems (1884), 309. I’ll bet you two to one I’ll make him do it.
b. absol. To lay a wager. You bet (slang, chiefly in U.S.): be assured, certainly.
1609. Rowlands, Knaue Clubbes, 4. At Bedlem-bowling alley late, Where Cittizens did bet: And threw their mony on the ground.
1628. Earle, Microcosm., xlviii. 101. He enjoys it [gambling] that looks on and bets not.
1711. Act 9 Anne, in Lond. Gaz., No. 4863/2. If such Person … shall … at any one time … Play or Bett for any Sum.
1857. Hughes, Tom Brown (1860), 166. Brandy punch going, I’ll bet.
1858. Thackeray, Virgin., II. xv. 114. I don’t bet on horses I don’t know.
1868. O. W. Holmes, Once More, Poems (1884), 224. ‘Is it loaded?’ ‘I’ll bet you! What doesn’t it hold?’
1882. A. E. Sweet, Sketches fr. ‘Texas Siftings,’ 131. ‘Are you drunk?’
‘You bet.’
‘Then you move off from here.’
