benny?

[Jesse Sheidlower]

On Wed, Jun 15, 2005 at 03:04:39PM -0500, Rachel Shuttlesworth wrote:
> From a story in the Chicago Tribune, located at
> http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/health/chi-0506150258jun15,1,6069459.story?page=2
>
>  "We don't really talk about healthy anywhere in our restaurant,"
> Hirshberg said. "That's very intentional. Not because it isn't. We want
> them to enjoy the food for the food, and then to feel that health is a
> benny."
>
> I can find "benny" in the OED meaning overcoat and Benzedrine. Trying to
> find other examples of this usage online brings up Benny's Hinn, Hill,
> Goodman, etc. I found one case of British slang where "benny" is defined
> as losing one's temper
> (http://www2.foxsearchlight.com/fullmonty/def/benny.htm).  What is its
> meaning above? Is it being used to mean "added benefit" or something else?

Yes, it's "benefit". HDAS has this with a Military label, first example
1970, though Ben or Bill will now post an example from 1915.

<tapping_foot_and_whistling/>

Jesse Sheidlower
OED