or biddy, subs. (Winchester College).—A bath. Juniors fill these for Præfects. The Winchester term is the French BIDET, the name given to the low narrow bedroom bathing stools, used principally by women, but more frequently on the Continent than in England. They are of such a shape that they can be bestridden: cf. Fr. slang BIDET = ‘a small horse’ or ‘pony.’
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. BIDET, commonly pronounced biddy, a kind of tub, contrived for ladies to wash themselves, for which purpose they bestride it like a little French poney, or post horse, called in France BIDETS.
