Bess

Bess is a short form of the forename Elizabeth. There are two main types of such shortenings: they are convenient for writing, e.g. in lists; or they are essentially spoken pet-names, and thus informal. (See Conventional abbreviations for forenames.)

Short form	Long form	Informal or written	Other short forms	Remarks
Bess	Elizabeth	Informal	Bessy; Betty; Eliza; Libby; Lisa; Liz; Liza; Tetty	Elsie, Elspeth

There is a list of similar names at Conventional abbreviations for forenames, as well as the category:short names

Note that any informal form may be spelled in different ways. Notably, any spelling listed that ends in '-ie' may be written with the ending '-y', and vice versa.|Queen Elizabeth I was known, as one of her nicknames, as Good Queen Bess.

The Brown Bess was the standard musket used in the British army for over a hundred years, from 1722 until 1838. It was a smooth bore flintlock.