verb. (common).—1. To get the better of; TO FLOOR (q.v.): really ‘to work,’ and, in this sense not necessarily to cheat.
1863. TRAFFORD, World in Ch., II., 77. As I am a staunch Churchman I cannot stand quiet and see the Dissenters BEST the Establishment.
1876. C. HINDLEY, ed. The Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, 69. You must settle and do away with him, or I must ‘dry up,’ for the fellow’s BESTED me.
1884. HAWLEY SMART, From Post to Finish, 92. It was a current saying that no one had ever BESTED him.
2. (common).—To cheat; to swindle.
1876. C. HINDLEY, ed. The Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, 234. His game was BESTING everybody, whether it was for pounds, shillings, or pence.
1879. J. W. HORSLEY, ‘Autobiography of a Thief,’ in Macmillan’s Magazine, XL., 502. When I went to the fence he BESTED (cheated) me because I was drunk, and only gave me 8l. 10s. for the lot.
1883. HENRY MAY, in Fortnightly Review, Oct., 578. The quack broker … who piles up money by ‘BESTING’ his clients.
TO GIVE ONE BEST, verb. phr. (thieves’).—1. To leave one, sever companionship. 2. To acknowledge superiority.
1879. J. W. HORSLEY, ‘Autobiography of a Thief,’ in Macmillan’s Magazine, XL., 501. It was while using one of these places [concerts] I first met a sparring bloke (pugilist), who taught me how to spar, and showed me the way to put my dukes up. But after a time I GAVE HIM BEST (left him) because he used to want to bite my ear (borrow) too often.
TO BEST THE PISTOL, verb phr. (sporting).—To get away before the signal for starting is actually given.
1889. Polytechnic Magazine, 7 July, 330. The third man from scratch was evidently in too great a hurry; twice he tried to BEST THE PISTOL, and as often the whole start had to be made afresh.
THE BEST (or THE BEST IN CHRISTENDOM, subs. phr. (old).—The female pudendum: see MONOSYLLABLE: a common 18th century toast in this sense.
THE BEST LEG OF THREE, subs. phr. (venery).—The penis: see PRICK.
