Hypotheses:
* bend + -er. In sense of “heavy drinking”, originally generally “spree”, from 1846, of uncertain origin – vague contemporary sense of “something extraordinary”, connection to bend (e.g., bending elbow to drink (bend one's elbow)) or perhaps from Scottish sense of “strong drinker”.
* In Britain, for about four centuries, a sixpence was known as a bender because its silver content made it easy to bend in the hands. This was commonly done to create ‘love tokens’, many of which survive in collections to this day. The value of a sixpence was also enough to get thoroughly inebriated as taverns would often allow you to drink all day for two pence. This gave rise to the expression ‘going on a bender’.
* (interjection): From over the bender, referring to a person's arm (and sometimes accompanied by a gesture of the thumb backward over the shoulder); compare over the left shoulder.
Meanings
(British, obsolete, slang) Used to express disbelief or doubt at what one has just heard.
(British, obsolete, slang) Used to indicate that the previous phrase was meant sarcastically or ironically.
Hypotheses:
* bend + -er. In sense of “heavy drinking”, originally generally “spree”, from 1846, of uncertain origin – vague contemporary sense of “something extraordinary”, connection to bend (e.g., bending elbow to drink (bend one's elbow)) or perhaps from Scottish sense of “strong drinker”.
* In Britain, for about four centuries, a sixpence was known as a bender because its silver content made it easy to bend in the hands. This was commonly done to create ‘love tokens’, many of which survive in collections to this day. The value of a sixpence was also enough to get thoroughly inebriated as taverns would often allow you to drink all day for two pence. This gave rise to the expression ‘going on a bender’.
* (interjection): From over the bender, referring to a person's arm (and sometimes accompanied by a gesture of the thumb backward over the shoulder); compare over the left shoulder.
Meanings
One who, or that which, bends.
A device to aid bending of pipes to a specific angle.
(slang) A bout of heavy drinking or drug use.
"Wait, is this about the other night when you two lightweights totally went on that bender?" 2005 August 23, Haley Hazelton, Misfile (webcomic), 2005-08-23:
We can have a mad one, we can have a bender / Order what you want from the bartender / Come back to mine and all be splender / I'll give you a night to remember 2016 February 14, Joseph Adenuga, Darren Dixon, Tariq Devega, “Ladies Hit Squad” (track 6), in Konnichiwa, performed by Skepta ft. D Double E and ASAP Nast, Boy Better Know:
He's been out on a bender with his mates.
I've really been on a bender and it shows 2006, My Chemical Romance, “The Sharpest Lives”, in The Black Parade:
A couple of students of Williams College went over to North Adams on a bender. This would have been serious matter under the best of circumstances, but each returned with a “brick in his hat,” etc. 1857, Newspaper, April
(UK, derogatory, slang) A homosexual man.
“So they're easy about having a bender in the house, are they, their lordships?” 2004, Alan Hollinghurst, chapter 6, in The Line of Beauty […], London: Picador, →ISBN:
A simple shelter, made using flexible branches or withies.
(UK, slang) A suspended sentence.
He anticipated a prison sentence though he thought there was a slight possibility of 'getting off on a bender' (suspended sentence). 2019, Howard Williamson, Youth and Policy: Contexts and Consequences:
'Oh and Gary, what happened in Ahmed?' 'Not guilty, sir.' 'Oh no! And Tredwell?' 'Bender.' 'Suspended sentence? So both walked. […] 2015, Olly Jarvis, Death by Dangerous, page 81:
(UK, obsolete, slang) A sixpence.
What will you take to be paid out?’ said the butcher. ‘The regular chummage is two–and–six. Will you take three bob?’ ‘And a bender,’ suggested the clerical gentleman. ‘Well, I don’t mind that; it’s only twopence a piece more,’ said Mr. Martin. ‘What do you say, now? We’ll pay you out for three–and–sixpence a week. Come!’ 1836, Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers 42
fr beuverie (slang: bout of heavy drinking) · nl zuippartij (slang: bout of heavy drinking) · ru пья́нка (slang: bout of heavy drinking) · grc καμπτήρ (one who, or that which, bends) · it frocio (slang: homosexual man) · fi taivutin (device to help bending) · el πούστης (slang: homosexual man) · es curvadora (device to help bending) · es doblador (one who, or that which, bends) · de Schwuler (slang: homosexual man) · el καμπτήρας (one who, or that which, bends) · ca gresca (slang: bout of heavy drinking) · ru попо́йка (slang: bout of heavy drinking) · nl nicht (slang: homosexual man) · nl doorzakfeestje (slang: bout of heavy drinking) · de Schwuchtel (slang: homosexual man) · fr soûlerie (slang: bout of heavy drinking) · bg пиянство (slang: bout of heavy drinking) · fr pédale (slang: homosexual man) · ru трубогибочный стано́к (device to help bending) · nl boemelpartij (slang: bout of heavy drinking) · bg огъвач (one who, or that which, bends) · de Sauftour (slang: bout of heavy drinking) · de Biegevorrichtung (device to help bending) · fr muflée (slang: bout of heavy drinking) · fi hintti (slang: homosexual man) · fi dokaamassa (slang: bout of heavy drinking) · bg педераст (slang: homosexual man) · it sbronza (slang: bout of heavy drinking) · tr bükücü (one who, or that which, bends) · fr biture (slang: bout of heavy drinking) · fr murge (slang: bout of heavy drinking) · ru трубогиб (device to help bending) · de Saufgelage (slang: bout of heavy drinking) · bg гуляй (slang: bout of heavy drinking) · es dobladora (one who, or that which, bends) · de Biegegerät (device to help bending) · fr tarlouze (slang: homosexual man) · de Besäufnis (slang: bout of heavy drinking) · pl popijawa (slang: bout of heavy drinking) · es dobladora (device to help bending) · nl buigtang (device to help bending) · fr cuite (slang: bout of heavy drinking) · ca borratxera (slang: bout of heavy drinking) · nl poot (slang: homosexual man) · no skeiv (slang: homosexual man) · bg огъвач (device to help bending)