[‘ Esp. of a friend: best; favourite. Freq. in bezzie mate; cf. best friend n.']
Pronunciation: Brit. /ˈbɛzi/, U.S. /ˈbɛzi/
Forms: 18– *bezzy*, 19– *bessie*, 19– *bessy*, 19– *bezzie*.
Etymology: < /bes-/ (in best adj.) + -y suffix6. Compare bestie n.
/colloq./ (chiefly Eng. regional (esp. north-west.)).
*A.* adj.
Esp. of a friend: best; favourite. Freq. in bezzie mate; cf. best friend n.
1865 ‘A. Ward’ /Travels/ ii. ii. 107 The young ladies would carry me round in their arms, sayin I was muzzer’s bezzy darlin and a sweety ‘eety ittle ting.
1995 /Irish Times/ 21 Jan. (Weekend Suppl.) 5/6 He’s eaten up by guilt too, of course, because he killed his bessie mate’s wife and child.
2000 M. Lee /Girl from Barefoot House/ 245, I got done up in me bezzie clothes, so’s not to feel at a disadvantage, like.
2012 J. Trollope /Soldier’s Wife/ xi. 173 Can’t have my bezzie mate falling to pieces just when my world goes to buggery.
*B.* n.
*1.* In pl. A person’s most respectable clothes; best clothes.
1966 F. Shaw et al. /Lern Yerself Scouse/ 36/2 At the Outfitters… Dese are me bezzies. These are my best clothes.
2012 S. Angus /Soldier Dog/ i. 32 Why wasn’t Da in his Sunday bezzies?
*2.* A person’s favourite or closest friend; a best friend.
1997 /Independent on Sunday/ 9 Feb. (Real Life section) 7/1 ‘Be my bezzie’ eh? And let me use all your felt tip pens? Thank you but no thank you, I have a best friend already and splendid she is too.
2000 K. Flynn /Polly’s Angel/ 481, I want you to be me girl, not just me bezzie, like you have been.
2012 /Sunday Mirror/ (Nexis) 3 June 10 The socialite is said to be desperate to become bezzies with Bey, who is, of course, married to Kanye’s hip hop bud Jay-Z.