British Army
Preserved but no longer current.
In 1808 a process of browning was introduced, but the term was common long before this, and probably referred to the colour of the stock. Bess is unexplained; but may be a counterpart to Bill (see below).
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “British Army” mean?
In 1808 a process of browning was introduced, but the term was common long before this, and probably referred to the colour of the stock. Bess is unexplained; but may be a counterpart to Bill (see below).
Is “British Army” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.