Betty

See also: betty and Bettý

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbɛti/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛti

Proper noun

Betty

1. A diminutive of the female given name Elizabeth.
   • 1864 August – 1866 January, [Elizabeth] Gaskell, chapter 10, in Wives and Daughters. An Every-day Story. […], volumes (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Smith, Elder and Co., […], published 1866, →OCLC:

     People in the last century weren't afraid of homely names; now we are all so smart and fine: no more "Lady Bettys" now.

   • 1991, Peter Hedges, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Simon & Schuster, published 1999, →ISBN, page 60:

     But Mrs. Betty Carver respects tradition, and this, I'm afraid, is ours. - - - She smells like expensive soap and her teeth are shiny-white. She does not in any way look like her name. It's not her fault that she was born in a time when people believed in names like Wanda, Dottie and Betty. She's more of a Vanessa or Paulina.

Usage notes

• A popular given name in the early 20th century, often in the form Betty Lou.

Derived terms

• Betty Boop
• Betty lamp

Translations

female name

• Catalan: Bet
• Latvian: Betija f
• Maori: Peti
• Norman: Betté f (Jersey)

Noun

Betty (plural Betties)

1. (slang, derogatory) A girl who hangs out with skateboarders or surfers.

Anagrams

• TBYTE, tbyte

Cebuano

Etymology

Borrowed from English Betty.

Proper noun

Betty

1. a female given name from English

Danish

Proper noun

Betty c

1. a female given name from English borrowed from English Betty

Tagalog

Etymology

Borrowed from English Betty.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbeti/, [ˈbɛ.tɪ]
• Syllabification: Be‧tty

Proper noun

Betty (Baybayin spelling ᜊᜒᜆᜒ)

1. a female given name from English