& * A\\EUNIVER/A jAcUB-AHCHfiU *^ * G is -^"k. - 'Si " : *- 9 I ^/OJIIVD-JO^ ^/OJIIVD-JO^ ^5130NV-SO^ %J13AIN(1 2\\^ ^OF-CAIIFO/?^ ^E-UNIVER% .^clOS ANCElfj^ ^OF-CAUFOftfe/ ^ui vfuiiun/i^ ^A ^^V% &* ^^ * S 4*J -o^-UBRARY^, % Innrllnrrl A\\MINIVER% s lor-! irri 5J\E-UNIVER% ARGOT AND SLANG A NEW FRENCH AND ENGLISH DICTIONARY CANT WORDS, QUAINT EXPRESSIONS, SLANG TERMS AND FLASH PHRASES USED IN THE HIGH AND LOW LIFE OF OLD AND NEW PARIS ALBERT BARRERE OFFICIER DE I/INSTRUCT1ON PUBLIQUE NEW AND REVISED EDITION LONDON WHITTAKER AND CO., WHITE HART STREET PATERNOSTER SQUARE 1889 Stack Annex PREFACE. THE publication of a dictionary of French cant and slang demands some explanation from the author. During a long course of philological studies, extending over many years, I have been in the habit of putting on record, for my own edification, a large number of those cant and slang terms and quaint expressions of which the English and French tongues furnish an abundant harvest. Whatever of this nature I heard from the lips of .persons to whom they are familiar, or gleaned from the perusal of modern works and newspapers, I carefully noted down, until my note-book had assumed such dimensions that the idea of completing a collection already considerable was suggested. It was pointed out to me, a's an inducement to venture on so arduous an undertaking, that it must prove, from its very nature, not only an object of curiosity and interest to the lover of philological studies and the public at large, but also one of utility to the English reader of modern French works of fiction. The fact is not to be ignored that the chief works of the so-called Naturalistic School do certainly find their way to this country, where they command a large number of readers. iv Preface. These productions of modern French fiction dwell with com- plaisance on the vices of society, dissect them patiently, often with power and talent, and too often exaggerate them. It is not within my province to pass a judgment upon their analytical study of all that is gross in human nature. But, from a philological point of view, the men and women whom they place as actors on the stage of their human comedy are interesting, whatever they may be in other respects. Some of them belong to the very dregs of society, possessing a language of their own, forcible, picturesque, and graphic. This language sometimes embodies in a single word a whole train of philo- sophical ideas, and is dashed with a grim humour, with a species of wit which not often misses the mark. Moreover, these labourers, roughs, street arabs, thieves, and worse than thieves these Coupeaus, Bee-Sales, Mes-Bottes, Lantiers are not the sole possessors of a vernacular which, to a certain extent, is the exponent of their idiosyncrasies. Slang has invaded all classes of society, and is often used for want of terms sufficiently strong or pointed to convey the speaker's real feelings. It seems to be resorted to in order to make up for the shortcomings of a well-balanced and polished tongue, which will not lend itself to exaggeration and violence of utterance. Journalists, artists, politicians, men of fashion, soldiers, even women talk argot, sometimes unawares, and these as well as the lower classes are depicted in the Naturalistic novel. Now, although the study of French is daily acquiring more and more importance in Eng- land, the professors of that language do not as a rule initiate their pupils and very naturally so into the mysteries of the vernacular of the highest and lowest strata of society, into the cynical but pithy and humorous jargon of the voyou from the heights of Montmartre or Me"nilmontant, nor even into the lisp- Preface. ing twaddle of the languid gommeux who lolls on the Boulevard des Italiens. Hence English readers of EAssommoir and other similar works find themselves puzzled at every line, and turn in vain for assistance to their dictionaries. The present volume aims at filling the vacant space on the shelves of all who read for something besides the passing of an idle hour. An English slang equivalent of the English rendering has been inserted whenever that was possible, and because the meaning of a term is better conveyed by examples, as many quotations as the limits of the Dictionary would admit have been reproduced from different authors. A few words on the manner in which the work has been compiled are due to the reader. In order to complete my own private information, specially with reference to old cant, I have drawn as freely as seemed to me legitimate on works of a similar character Michel's, Delvau's, Rigaud's, Lore'dan Larchey's excellent Didionnaire Historique d' Argot, Vilatte's Parisismen, a very complete work on French argot rendered into German. But by far the most important portion of my collection has been gathered from Vidocq's productions, Balzac's works, The Memoirs of Monsieur Claude, formerly superintendent of the detective department in Paris, and from other works to be men- tioned hereafter. To an inspector of the detective force in Paris, Monsieur Lagaillarde, I am indebted for many of the terms of the phraseology used by the worthies with whom his functions have brought him in contact. Again, newspapers of both countries have also brought in their contingent, but the most interesting sources of information, as being the most original, have been workpeople, soldiers, pickpockets, and other malefactors having done their " time," or likely to be " wanted " at a short notice. The members of vi Preface. the light-fingered gentry were not easily to be got at, as their natural suspicions precluded their realizing at once my object, and it required some diplomacy and pains to succeed in en- listing their services. In one particular instance I was deprived of my informants in a rather summary manner. Two brothers, members of a family which strongly reminded one of E. Sue's Martials, inasmuch as the father had mounted the scaffold, the mother was in prison, and other members had met with similar accidents, had volunteered to become my collaborators, and were willing to furnish information the more valuable, it seemed to me, as coming from such distinguished individuals. Un- fortunately for the Dictionary the brothers were apprehended when coming to my rendez-vous, and are now, I believe, far on their way to the penal settlement of New Caledonia. I have to thank numerous correspondents, French and English officers, journalists, and artists, for coming to my assistance and furnishing me with valuable information. My best thanks are due also to M. Godefroy Durand for his admirable etching. As regards the English part, I am considerably indebted to the Slang Dictionary published by Messrs. Chatto and Windus, to the History and Curious Adventures of Bampfylde- Moore Carew, King of the Mendicants, as well as to the various journals of the day, and to verbal inquiries among all classes of people. I have not attempted, except in a few cases, to trace the origin of words, as an etymological history of cant would be the work of a lifetime. It is somewhat difficult to know exactly where to draw the line, and to decide whether a word belongs to slang or should be rejected. I have been guided on this point by Littre, and any terms mentioned by him as having passed into the language Preface, vii I have discarded. I have introduced a small number of what might be termed eccentricities of language, which, though not strictly slang, deserve recording on account of their quaintness. To the English reader I need not, I trust, apologize for not having recoiled, in my desire for completeness, before certain unsavoury terms, and for having thus acted upon Victor Hugo's recommendation, " Quand la chose est, dites le mot." AUTHORITIES CONSULTED AND QUOTED. About (Edmond). Trente et Qua- rante. Paris. Almanack Chantant, 1869. Ami4scmens a la Grecque ou les Soirees de la Halle par un ami de feu Vade. Paris, 1764. Amitsemem rapsodi-poetiques. 1 773. Apothicaire (T 5 ) empoisonne, dans les Maistresd'HostelauxHalles. 1671. Audebrand (Philibert). Petits Me- moires d'une Stalle d'Orchestre. Paris, 1885. Balzac (Honore de). La Cousine Bette. La derniere Incarnation de Vautrin. La Physiologic du Mariage. Les Chouans. Le Pere Goriot. Paris, 1884. Banz-ilh (Theodore de). La Cui- siniere poetique. Bonnetain (Paul). L'Opium. Paris, 1886. Au Tonkin. Paris, 1885. Boutmy (Eugene). Dictionnaire de 1'Argot des Typographes. Paris, 1883. Brantome (Pierre de). Vie des Dames galantes. Paris, 1822. Canler. Memoires. Paris. Caylns (Comte de). Les Ecosseuses ou les CEufs de Paques. 1739. Champfleury. La Mascarade de Ja Vie parisienne. Chatillon (Auguste de). Poesies. Paris, 1866. dm (Albert). Institution de De- moiselles. Paris, 1887. Citrons (les) de Javotte. Histoire de Carnaval. Amsterdam, 1756. Claude. Memoires. Paris. Courteline (Georges). Les Gaites de 1'Escadron. Paris, N. D. Daudet (Alphonse). Les Rois en Exil. Paris, 1 886. Dcbans (Camille). Histoire de tous les Diables. Paris, 1882. Delcourt (Pierre). Paris Voleur. Paris, 1887. Delvau. La Langue Verte. Paris. Drapeau (/#/r recevant. 15 Me credant,/or me croyant. 3 Marpaut, host. 16 Morfie, eat. * Galiere, mare. 17 Ornion, capon. 5 Grivolant, name for a soldier. . 18 Morne, mutton. 8 Flambe, sword. 19 Oygna.n,for oignon. 1 Trimart, road. 20 Artois blanchemin, white bread. 8 Gille, name for a runaway. 21 Riflant chouart, fiery penis. 9 Girouart, patron. 22 Rive, refers to coition. 10 Mette, wine-shop; morning; thieves* 23 Andrumelle gaudie, jolly girl, meeting-place. 2 * Ne ronce point du sabre, do not lay 11 Lura, will see. the stick on. 12 Biotte, steed. 2fi Mion, toy, waiter. 18 Conie, dead. Cant, Sixteenth Century. xxvii Qui n'aille au Gaulfarault, 1 gergonant de tesis, 2 Que son journal 3 o flus * n'empoupe ta fouillouse.* N'embiant 6 on rouillarde, 7 et de noir roupillant, 8 Sur la gourde fretille, 9 et sur le gourd volant, 10 Ainsi tu ne luras 1'accolante tortouse. 11 SIXTEENTH CENTURY. DIALOGUE BETWEEN A HEADMAN IN THE CANTING CREW AND A VAGABOND. (From Thomas Barman's Caveat or Wareningfor Common Cursetors, vulgarly called Vagabones, 1568.) Upright Man. Bene Lightmans 12 to thy quarromes, 13 in what lipken 1 * hast thou lypped 15 in this darkemans, 18 whether in a lybbege 17 or in the strummel ? 18 Roge. I couched a hogshead 19 in a Skypper 20 this darkemans. Man. I towre 2l the strummel trine 22 upon thy nachbet 23 and Tog- man. 24 Roge. I saye by the Salomon 25 I will lage it of 26 with a gage of bene bouse ; 27 then cut to my nose watch. 28 Man. Why, hast thou any lowre 29 in thy bonge 30 to bouse? 31 1 Gaulfarault, master of a bawdy house. If Lybbege, bed. 2 Gergonant de tesis, complaining of 18 Strummel, straw. thee. 19 Couched ahogshead,/ay<&7f^ Ruffemans, hedges. 44 Lagge of dudes, parcel of clothes. Cant, Seventeenth Century. xxix SEVENTEENTH CENTURY. DIALOGUE DE DEUX ARGOTIERS. 1 L'UN POLISSON 3 ET L'AUTRE MALINGREUX, 3 QUI SE RENCONTRENT JUSTE A LA LOURDE* D*UNE VERGNE. 6 (Extrait du Jargon de I' Argot.) Le Malingreux. La haute 6 t'aquige 7 en chenastre 8 sante. Le Polisson. Et teziere 9 aussi, fanandel ; 10 ou trimardes n -tu? Le Malingreux. En ce pasquelin la de Berry, on m'a rouscaille l3 que trucher u etait chenastre ; efc en cette vergne fiche-t-on la thune 15 gourde- ment? 18 Le Polisson. Quelque peu, pas guere. Le Malingreux. La rousse l7 y est-elle chenastre ? Le Polisson. Nenni ; c'est ce qui me fait ambier ' 8 hors de cette vergne ; car si je n'eusse eu du michon, 19 je fusse cosni* de faim. 1 Argotiers, members of ike "canting H Trimardes, going. crew." 12 Pasquelin, country. 2 Polisson, half-naked beggar. !3 Rouscailld, told. 3 Malingreux, maimed or sick beggar. 14 Trucher, to beg. * Lourde, gate. 15 Fiche-t-on la thune, do they give alms. 5 Vergne, town. !6 Gourdement, much. 6 La haute, the Almighty. !7 La rousse, the police. 1 Aquige, keep. 18 Ambier, go. 8 Chenastre, good. 19 Michon, money. 9 Teziere, thee. 2 Cosni, died. 10 Fanandel, comrade. xxx Cant, Seventeenth Century. Le Malingreux. Y a-t-il un castu T dans cette vergne. Le Polisson. Jaspin. 2 Le Malingreux. Est-il chenu ? 3 Le Polisson. Pas guere ; les pioles 4 ne sont que de fretille. 5 . . . Le Malingreux. Veux-tu venir prendre de la morfe 6 et piausser 7 avec meziere 8 en une des pioles que tu m'as rouscaille'es ? Le Polisson. II n'y a ni ronds, 9 ni herplis, 10 en ma felouse ; u je vais piausser en quelque grenasse. 12 Le Malingreux. Encore que n'y ayez du michon, ne laissez pas de venir, car il y a deux menees 13 de ronds en ma henne, 14 et deux ornies 15 en mon gueulard, 16 que j'ai e'graillees 1T sur le trimar ; 18 bions 19 les faire riffoder, 20 veux-tu ? Le Polisson. Girole, 21 et beni soit le grand havre, 22 qui m'a fait rencontrer si chenastre occasion ; je vais me rejouir et chanter une petite chanson. . . . Le Malingreux. Si tu veux trimer 23 de compagnie avec meziere, nous aquigerons grande chere, 24 je sais bien aquiger les luques, 23 engrailler 1'ornie, casser la hane aux fremions, 26 pour epouser la fourcandiere, 27 si quelques rovaux 2S me mouchaillent. 29 Le Polisson. Ah ! le havre garde meziere, je ne fus jamais ni fourgue 30 ni doubleux. 31 Le Malingreux. Ni meziere non plus, je rouscaille 3a tous les luisans 33 au grand havre de 1'oraison. 1 Castu, hospital. 19 B ! ns . *** ** - 2 Jaspin, yes. x Riffoder, cook. 3 Chenu, good. 21 Circle, so be it. 4 Pioles, rootns. 22 Havre, God. 5 Fretille, straw. L ' 3 Trimer, to walk. 6 Morfe,/iW. 24 Aquigerons grande chere, will live ' Piausser, to sleep. well. 8 Meziere, me. 25 Aquiger les luques, prepare pictures. 9 Ronds, halfpence. 26 Casser la hane aux fre"mions, steal 10 Herplis,Sart/tings. purses at fairs. 11 Felouse, pocket. 27 Epouser la fourcandiere, to throw 12 Grenasse, barn. away the stolen property. 13 Metises, dozen. 28 Rovaux, police. 14 Henne, purse. *& Mouchaillent, see. 15 Ornies, hens. 3 Fourgue, receiver of stolen property. 16 Gueulard, wallet. 3l Doubleux, thief. 17 Egraille'es, hooked. 32 Je rouscaille, I pray. 18 Trimar, road. ^ Tous les luisins, every day. Cant, Seventeenth Century. xxxi SEVENTEENTH CENTURY. ENGLISH GIPSIES' OATH. (Extract from Bampfylde-Moore Carew, King of the Mendicants.') WHEN a fresh recruit is admitted into this fraternity, he is to take the following oath, administered by the principal maunder, 1 after going through the annexed form : First a new name is given him, by which he is ever after to be called ; then, standing up in the middle of the assembly, and directing his face to tke dimber damber, or principal man of the gang, he repeats the following oath, which is dictated to him by some experienced member of the fraternity : " I, Crank Cuffin, do swear to be a true brother, and that I will in all things obey the commands of the great tawny prince, 2 keep his counsel, and not divulge the secrets of my brethren. " I will never leave or forsake the company, but observe and keep all the times of appointment, either by day or by night, in every place whatever. " I will not teach anyone to cant ; nor will I disclose any of our mysteries to them. " I will take my prince's part against all that shall oppose him, or any of us, according to the utmost of my ability ; nor will I suffer him, or anyone belonging to us, to be abased by any strange abrams, 3 ruffles, 4 hookers, 5 palliardes, 6 swaddlers, 7 Irish toyles, 8 swigmen, 9 whip Jacks, 10 Jarkmen, 11 bawdy baskets, 12 dommerars, 13 clapper dogeons, 14 patricoes, 15 or cur- tails ; 16 but I will defend him, or them, as much as I can, against all other outliers whatever. I will not conceal aught I win out of libkins, 17 or from 1 Maunder, beggar. 9 Swigmen, beggars. 2 Tawny prince, Prince Prig, the head 10 Whip Jacks, beggars who sham the of the gipsies. shipwrecked sailor. 3 Abrams, half-naked beggars. n Jarkmen, learned beggars, begging- * Ruffles, beggars who sham the old letter impostors. soldier. 12 Bawdy baskets, prostitutes. 5 Hookers, thieves -who beg in the day- 13 Dommerars, dumb beggars. time and steal at night from shops with 1* Clapper dogeons, beggars by birth, a hook. 1* Patricoes, those who perform the 6 Palliardes, ragged beggars. marriage ceremony. 1 Swaddlers, Irish Roman Catholics 16 Curtails, second in command, with who pretend conversion. short cloak. 8 Toyles, beggars -with pedlar's pack. W Libkins, lodgings. xxxii Cant, Eighteenth Century. the ruffmans, ' but will preserve it for the use of the company. Lastly, I will cleave to my doxy, 2 wap 3 stiffly, and will bring her duds,,* mar- gery praters, 5 gobblers, 6 grunting cheats, 7 or tibs of the buttery, 8 or any- thing else I can come at, as winnings for her wappings." 3 EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. JERRY JUNIPER'S CHANT. {From Ainsworth 's Rook-wood.} IN a box 10 of the stone jug 11 I was born, Of a hempen widow 13 the kid 13 forlorn, Fake away ! And my father, as I've heard say, Fake away ! Was a merchant of capers gay, Who cut his last fling with great applause, Nix my doll pals, fake away ! 14 To the tune of hearty choke with caper sauce. Fake away ! The knucks 15 in quod 16 did my schoolmen 17 play, Fake away ! And put me up to the time of day, 18 Until at last there was none so knowing, No such sneaksman 19 or buzgloak 20 going, Fake away ! 1 Ruffmans, bushes or woods. 13 Kid, child. 2 Doxy, mistress. u Nix my doll pals, fake away ! never- 3 Wap, to lie with a woman. mind, friends, work away ! * Duds, clothes. 15 Knucks, thieves. 5 Margery praters, hens. 16 Quod, prison. 6 Gobblers, ducks. l&. 7 Fogle-hunters, pickpockets. * Ogles, eyes. 8 Morning fake, morning thieving. Cant, Nineteenth Century. xli NINETEENTH CENTURY. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A THIEF IN THIEVES' LANGUAGE. BY J. W. HORSLEY, Chaplain of H. M. Prison, Clerkenwell. I WAS bom in 1853 at Stamford Hill, Middlesex. My parents re- moved from there to Stoke Newing- ton, when I was sent to an infant school. Some time afterwards I was taken by two pals (companions) to an orchard to cop (steal) some fruit, me being a mug (inexperienced) at the game. This got to my father's ears. When I went home he set about me with a strap until he was tired. He thought that was not enough, but tied me to a bedstead. You may be sure what followed. I got loose, tied a blanket and a coun- terpane together, fastened it to the bedstead, and let myself out of the window, and did not go home that TRANSLATED INTO THE LANGUAGE OF FRENCH THIEVES. JE suis ne en 1853 a Stamford Hill, Middlesex. Mes parents, de logo, allerent se pioler a Stoke Newington, et Ton m'envoya a une ecole mater- nelle. Peu de temps apres, deux de mes fanandels me menerent a un verger pour grinchir c'es fr.iits, mais je n'etais qu'un sinve a ce flanche. Mon dab apprit la chose, et quand je rentolai a la caginolte il me refila une purge avec une courroie/^w' plus soif. Pensant que ce n'etait pas assez, il me ligota au pieu. Vous vous doutez de ce qui arriva. Je me debarrassai des ligotes, attachai un embarras a une couverture que je fixai au pieu, et je me laissai glis- ser par la vanterne. Je ne rappli- xlii Cant, Nineteenth Century. night, but met my two pals and dossed (slept) in a haystack. Early next morning my pals said they knew where we could get some toke (food), and took me to a terrace. We went down the dancers (steps) to a safe, and cleared it out. Two or three days after I met my mother, who in tears begged of me to go home ; so I went home. My parents moved to Clapton, when they sent me to school. My pals used to send stiffs (notes) to the schoolmaster, saying that I was wanted at home ; but instead of that we used to go and smug snowy (steal linen) that was hung out to dry, or rob the bakers' barrows. Things went from bad to worse, so I was obliged to leave home again. This time I palled in with some older hands at the game, who used to take me a parlour-jumping (robbing rooms), putting me in where the windows was open. I used to take anything there was to steal, and at last they told me all about wedge (silver- plate), how I should know it by the ramp (hall-mark rampant lion?) ; we used to break it up in small pieces and sell it to watchmakers, and afterwards to a fence down the Lane (Petticoat Lane). Two or three times a week I used to go to the Brit. (Britannia Theatre) in Hoxton, or the gaff (penny music-room) in Shoreditch. I used to steal anything to make money to go to these places. Some nights I used to sleep at my pals' houses, sometimes in a shed where there was a fire kept burning night and day. All this time I had quai pas d la niche cette nogue-la, mais j'allai retrouver mes deux fanandes et je pioncai dans une meule de foin. Au matois mes fanandels me bonnirent qu'ils cono- braient ou nous pouvions acquiger de la tortillade et me menerent a une rangee fapioles. Nous degringolons \esgrimpants. Nous embardons dans un garde-manger et nous le rincons. Deux ou trois reluis apres, je me casse le mufie sur ma dabuche, qui, en chialant, me supplie de rappliqiter a la niche, ce que j'ai fait. Mes parents alors ont demenage et sont alles a Clapton. Alors on m'a envoye a 1'ecole. Mes camerluches balanfaietit des lazagnes au maltre d'ecole disant qu'on me demandait a la niche, mais au lieu de cela nous allions deflorer la pictouse ou rincer les bagnoles des lartonniers. Les choses allerent de mal en pis et je fus oblige de rede- carrer de la niche. Cette fois je me mis avec des fanandes plus affran- chis, qui me menaient avec eux rin- cer les cambriolles, me faisant enquil- ler par les vanternes ouvertes. Je mettais la pogne sur toute la camelote bonne a grinchir, et enfin ils me firent entraver tout le true de la blanquette, et comment je la recono- brerais par la marque ; nous la frangissiom en petits morceaux et nous la fourgattions chez des bo- guistes et ensuite chez un fourgue qui demeurait dans la Lane. Deux ou trois fois par semaine je suis alle au Brit, de Hoxton ou au beuglant de Shoreditch. Je grinchissais n'im- porte quelle camelote pour affurer de la thune afin d'aller a ces endroits. Cant, Nineteenth Century. xliii escaped the hands of the reelers (police), but one day I was taken for robbing a baker's cart, and got twenty-one days. While there I made pals with another one whc came from Shoreditch, and promised to meet him when we got out, which I did, and we used to go together, and left the other pals at Clapton. At last one day we was at St. John's Wood. I went in after some wedge. While picking some up off the table I frightened a cat, which upset a lot of plates when jumping out of the window. So I was taken and tried at Marylebone Police Court and sent to Feltham Industrial School. I had not been there a month before I planned with another boy to guy (ran away), and so we did, but was stopped at Brentford and took back to the school, for which we got twelve strokes with the birch. I thought when I first went there that I knew a great deal about thieving, but I found there was some there that knew more, and I used to pal in with those that knew the most. One day, while talking with a boy, he told me he was going home in a day or so. He said his friends was going to claim him out because he was more than sixteen years old. When my friends came to see me I told them that they could claim me out, Des sorgues, je pion^ais dans let pioUs de mes fanandels, quelquefoia sous un hangar oil il y avait un rif qui riffodait jorne et sorgue. Ce- pendant, j'avais echappe aux pinces de la rtftette, mais un reltiis j'ai ete pomaque pour avoir rince une bag- nole de lartonnier et enflacqtte pen- dant vingt et un reluis. Lago j'ai eu pour amarre un autre qui venait de Shoreditch et je lui ai promis un rendez-vous pour quand nous serions defourailles ; alors noussommes deve- nus amarres (fattaques et nous avons- laisse les autres zigues a Clapton. Enfin, un jour nous nous trouvions a St. John's Wood et j'etais a soulever de la blanquette. Pendant que je met- tais la pogne dessus, je coquai le tafz. un grejfier qui fit degringoler un tas- de morfiantes en sautant par la van- terne. De cette fa9on, je iv& poma- que, mis en gerbement au carre des gerbes de Marylebone et envoye au penitencier de Feltham. Y avait pas une marque que j'y etais que je me preparai avec un autre z.faire la cavale. Apres avoir dtcarre, nous fumes engrailles a Brentford et ren- fiacques au penitencier oil 1'on nous donna douze coups de la verge. Je croyais, quand j'y avals ete enfou- raille tout d'abord, que j'etais un pfgre bien affranchi, mais je trouvai la des camerluches qui en conobraient plus que mezigue et j'avais pour amarres ceux qui etaient les plus- mariolles. Un reluis en jaspinant avec un gosselin, il me jacte que dans un luisant ou deux il allait rappliquer a la niche. II me bonnit que ses parents allaient le reclamer xliv Cant, Nineteenth Century. and with a good many fair promises that I would lead a new life if they did so. They got me out of the school. When I got home I found a great change in my father, who had taken to drink, and he did not take so much notice of what I done as he used. I went on all straight the first few moons at costering. One day there was a " fete " at Clap- ton, and I was coming home with my kipsy (basket) ; I had just sold all my goods out. I just stopped to pipe (see) what was going on, when a reeler came up to me and rapped (said), " Now, , you had better go away, or else I shall give you a drag (three months in prison)." So I said "all right ;" but he rapped, "It is not all right ; I don't want any sauce from you or else I shall set about (beat) you myself." So I said, "What for? I have done nothing ; do you want to get it up for me ? " Then he began to push me about, so I said I would not go at all if he put his dukes (hands) on me. Then he rammed my nut (head) against the wall and shook the very life out of me. This got a scuff (crowd) round us, and the people ask him what he was knocking me about for, so he said, "This is young just come home from a schooling (a term in a reformatory)." So he did not touch me again ; so I went home, turned into kip (bed) and could not get up for two or three days, because he had given me such a shaking, him being a great power- ful man, and me only a little fellow. I still went on all straight until things parcequ'il avail plus de seize bris- ques. Quand mes parents sont venus me voir je leur bonnis qu'ils pouvaient me faire defourailler, et leur ayant fait de belles promesses de rengracter s'ils y consentaient ils m'ont fait defourailler. Quand j'ai aboule a la kasbah, j'ai trouve du changement chez mon dab qui s'etait mis a se poivrer, et il n'a pas fait autant d'attention que d'habitonguea. mvaflanches. Range des voitures pen- dant les premieres marques comme marchand des quatre saisons. Un reluis il y avait une fete a Clapton et je rappliquais avec mon panier. Je venais de laver toute ma camelote et de m'arreter pour rechasser ce qui se passait quand un roussin aboule a moi et me bonnit, "Allons, de- campe d'ici, ou je te nuts a F ombre pour trois marques." Je lui bonnis " c'est bien ; " mais il me jacte, ' ' C'est pas tout ca, tache de filer doux, autrement je te passe a tra- cers tocquardement." Que je lui bonnis, "Pourquoi? Je n'ai rien fait ; c'est une querelle d'allemand que vous me cherchez la." Alors il se met a me refiler des poussees et je lui dis que je ne le suivrais pas s'il me harponnait. Alors il me sonne la tranche centre le mur et me secoue tocquardemenl. Le trepe s' assemble autour de nouzailles et les gonces lui demandent pourquoi il mebouscule. Alors, qu'il dit, "C'est le jeune qui vient de sortir du penitencier." Puis, il me laisse tran- quille, de sorte que j'ai rappliqitlz. la niche, et je me suis mis au pucier ou je suis reste deux ou trois reluis, Cant, Nineteenth Century. xlv got very dear at the market. I had been down three or four days run- ning, and could not buy anything to earn a deaner (shilling) out of. So one morning I found I did not have more than acaser (five shillings) for stock- pieces (stock-money). So I thought to myself, " What shall I do ? " I said, ' ' I know what I will do. I will go to London Bridge rattler (rail- way) and take a deaner ride and go a wedge-hunting (stealing plate)." So I took a ducat (railway ticket) for Sutton in Surrey, and went a wedge-hunting. I had not been at Sutton very long before I piped a slavey (servant) come out of a chat (house), so when she had got a little way up the double (turning), I pratted (went) in the house. When inside I could not see any wedge lying about the kitchen, so I screwed my nut in the washhouse and I piped three or four pair of daisy roots (boots). So I cla-imed (stole) them, and took off the lid of my kipsy and put them inside, put a cloth over them, and then put the lid on again, put the kipsy on my back as though it was empty, and guyed to the rattler and took a brief (ticket) to London Bridge, and took the daisies to a Sheney (Jew) down the gaff, and done (sold) them for thirty blow (shillings). The next day I took the rattler to Forest Hill, and touched for (suc- car il m'avait harponne tocquarde- ment, lui qui etait un grand balouf et moi un pauvre T?Z.\\\. gosselin . Tout a marche chouettement pendant quelque temps mais la camelote est devenue tres chere au marche. Depuis trois ou quatre reluis je n'avais pas le moyen d'abloquer de quoi affurer un shilling. Alors un reluis je me suis apercu que je n'avais pas plus de cinq shillings comme fonds de commerce et je me suis demande: quel true est- ce que je vais maquiller? Je me bonnis, je connais bien monflanche. facquigei-ai le rotilantvif&e. London Bridge pour un shilling et je tacherai de mettre la pogne sur de la blan- quette. Alors je prends une breme pour Sutton en Surrey et je me mets en chasse pour la blanquette. Y avait pas iongtemps que j'etais a Sutton quand }'allume une cambrousitre qui decarrait d'une piole. Des qu'elle a tourne le coin de la rue, fembarde dans la piole. Une fois dedans je n'ai pas re- mouche de blanquette dans la cui- sine, et, passant ma sorbonne dans 1'arriere-cuisine, j'ai mouchaille trois ou quatre paires de ripatons. J'ai mis la pogne dessus, et otant le cou- vercle de mon panier, je les y ,ai plaques avec une piece d'etofife par dessus et j'ai remis le couvercle, puis j 'ai plague mon panier sur mon andosse comme s'il etait vide, et je me suis cavalt jusqu'au roulant vif; acquige un billet pour London Bridge, porte les ripatons a un youtre pres du beu- glant etfaurgue pour trente shillings. Le lendemain j'ai acquige 'le rou- lant f/jusqu'a Forest Hill, et j'ai xlvi Cant, Nineteenth Century. ceeded in getting) some wedge and a kipsy full of clobber (clothes). You may be sure this gave me a little pluck, so I kept on at the old game, only with this difference, that 1 got more pieces for the wedge. I got three and a sprat (3-r. 6d. ) an ounce. But afterwards I got 3-f. 9ides qui bonnissent, "Eh bien, qu'est-ce qu'il y a ; tu as une sale bobinette ? " Alors \ejacte, " Je suis tocquard. " " Alors viens avec nous te rincer la dalle, $a te ragaillardira." Je suis alle avec eux, et j'ai commence spider d\it- taque pour noyer le chagrin. Le lundi matin d'apres, je me suis senti comme & habitongue et pret a. rappliquer au tnrbin. Je suis alle a Hoxton, et quelques-uns de la gance WiQi&faitlajactance, "Eh bien, oil as-tu e'te pendant tous ces reluis nous pensions que tu t'etais fait em- ballerl " Je leur re'ponds que j'avais etc tocquard. Le lendemain j e suis alle a Maiden- head, y 3.1 fait de la blanquette et une filoche qui contenait plus de cinq sigues. Peu apres, je suis alle avec deux fanandels a Muswell Hill oil il y avait des courses. Quand nouzailles y avons devale, il y avait des roussins qui me conobraient et mes fanandes mejactent, " Tu ferais mieux de te cavaler; si nous rincons, tu auras ton fade tout de meme." Alors j'allai me plaquer sur 1'herbe. Pendant que j'y etais, je remout/ieun rousse que je conobrais. II etait accompagne d'une Cant, Nineteenth Century. iv policeman's spy) with him. So I went and looked about for my two pals and told them to look out for S. and his nark. About an hour after this they came to me and woke me up, and they said, " Come on, we have had a lucky touch for a half century in pap " ($o m paper, i.e. notes). I thought they was only kidding ^deceiving) at first, so they said, " Let us guy from here, and you will see if we are kidding to you." When we got into the rattler they showed me the pap ; yes, there it was, fifty quids in double finns (jio notes). We did them for ^9 icxr. each to a fence. I took the rattler one day to Rei- gate and worked my way to Red Hill. So I went into a place and see some clobber hanging up, so I thought to myself, I will have it and take the rattler home at once; it will pay all expense. So while I was looking about I piped a little peter (parcel). When I took it up it had an address on it, and the address was to the vicarage ; so I came out and asked a boy who lived there, and he said " Yes," but to make sure of it I went back again. This time I looked to the clobber more closely, and I see it was the same as clergy- men wear, so I left it where it was. I always made it a rule never to rob a clergyman's house if I knew one to live there. I could have robbed several in my time, but I would not. So I took the rattler to Croydon and touched for some wedge, and come home. I used to go to Henley most every year when the rowing matches riflette. Je cherche alors mes deux fanandes et leur dis, "Acresto, atten- tion a S. et a sa riflette I " \3neplombe apres, environ, ils aboulent vers mezigue, m'eveillent, et me jactent, "Aboule, nousavons barbate schpille, nous avons acquige cinquante livres enfaffes," Je croyais qu'ils me col- laient des vannes mais ils me jactent, " Devalons d'icigo et tu verras si nous te gotirrons." Quand nous nous sommes plaques dans le ronlant vif ils m'ont montre les faffes ; gy, il y avait bien cinquante sigues en faffes de dix livres. Nous les avons laves pour ^"9 i or. a \mfonrgue. Je prends unjorne le roulant pour Reigate et je trimarde jusqu'a Red Hill. Puis yembarde en une/w/t? et je remouche des harnais suspendus. Je mejacte, je vais \zspegrer et acquiger aussit6tler0/rt/;celacouvriratoutes mes depenses. Alors en gaffinant par ci par la je remouche un petit pacsin. Je mets la pogne dessus et je reluque une adresse. Celle du cure. Alors je decarre et je demande a un gosse si ce n'estpas \inrattckon qui de- meure/tfftf? ".gjV'qu'ildit. Maispour qu'il n 'y ait pas d'erreur, je retourne. Cette fois, je gaffine de plus pres le harnais, je vois que c'etait celui d'un pretre, et alors je 1'ai laisse ou il etait. J'ai toujours eu soin de ne jamais barboter une cambriolle de pretre quand je savais que e'en etait une. J'aurais pu en barboter mais je n'ai pas voulu. Alors j'ai pris le roulant vif pour Croydon, j'ai effa- rouche de la blanquette et rapplique a la kasbah. J'allais a Henley Ivi Cant, Nineteenth Century. was on which used to represent Ox- ford and Cambridge, only it used to be boys instead of men. The day the Prince of Wales arrived at Ports- mouth when he came home from India, me and two pals took the rattler from Waterloo at about half- past six in the morning. When we got to Portsmouth we found it was very hot, there was on every corner of a street bills stuck up, " Beware of pickpockets, male and female," and on the tramcars as well. So one of my pals said, "There is a reeler over there who knows me, we had better split out " (separate). Me and the other one went by ourselves ; he was very tricky (clever) at getting a poge or a toy, but he would not touch toys because we was afraid of being turned over (searched). We done very well at poges ; we found after we knocked off we had between sixty or seventy quid to cut up (share), but our other pal had fell, and was kept at the station until the last rattler went to London, and then they sent him home by it. One day after this I asked a screws- man if he would lend me some screws, because I had a place cut and dried. But he said, " If I lend you them I shall want to stand in " (have a share); but I said, "I can't stand you at that ; I will grease your duke, if you like." But he said, "That would not do;" so I said, "We will work together then;" and he said, " Yes." So we went and done the place for fifty - five quid. So I worked with him until I fell for this stretch and a half. presque chaque btrge pendant les regattes qui etaient comme celles entre Oxford et Cambridge, seule- ment c'etait des gosses au lieu de gonces. Le reluis oil le linspre de Galles a devale a. Portsmouth quand il a renquille des Indes, mezigue et deux fanandes, nous avons acquige le roulant vif vers six plombes et trente broquilles au matois. Quand nous avons devatt a Portsmouth nous avons trouve qu'il faisait tres chaud ; il y avait aux coins des tnmes des babilles, " Prenez garde aux filous, males et femelles," et aussi sur les trains de vache. De sorte qu'un de mes fanandes jacte, " II y a un roussin labago qui conobre man gniasse, et il vaut mieux nous separer." Mezigue et 1'autre nous nous debinons de notre cote ; il n'etait pas tres mariolle pour faire vmefiloche ou \mbogue, mais il ne voulait pas grinckir de bogues parce- qu'il avait le /Vz/"d'etre rapiote. Nous avons eu de la bate pour les mor- ningues ; nous avons trouve, apres avoir turbine, que nous avions de soixante a soixante-dix sigues a fader, mais notre autre fanande avait etc pige et garde au bloc jusqu'au dernier roulant vif pour Londres, puis ren- voye chez lui par ce roulant. Un reluis apres zzflanche, jedemande a un caroubletir s'il voulait me preter des carmibles parceque j'avais un poupard nourri. Mais \\bomtit, "Si je les prete, je veux monfade. " Que je reponds, "Ca fait nib dans mes blots, mais je te carmerai tout de meme, sit\\\'asalabonne" Mais qu'il/w*;V, " Ca fait nib dans mes blots aussi." Alors je jacte, "Nous tttrbinerons Cant, Nineteenth Century. Ivii He was very tricky at making twirls, and used to supply them all with tools. Me and the screwsman went to Gravesend and I found a dead 'un (uninhabited house), and we both went and turned it over and got things out of it which fetched us forty-three quid. We went one day to Erith ; I went in a place, and when I opened the door there was a great tyke (dog), laying in front of the door, so I pulled out a piece of pudding (liver prepared to silence dogs) and threw it to him, but he did not move. So I threw a piece more, and it did not take any notice ; so I got close up to it, and found it was a dead dog, being stuffed, so I done the place for some wedge and three overcoats ; one I put on, and the other two in my kipsy. We went to Harpenden Races to see if we could find some dead 'uns ; we went on the course. While we was there we saw a scuff, it was a flat that had been welshed, so my pal said, " Pipe his spark prop " (dia- mond pin). So my pal said, "Front me (cover me), and I will do him for it." So he pulled out his madam and done him for it. After we left the course, we found a dead 'un and got a peter (cashbox) with very near a century of quids in it. Then I carried on a nice game, what with the trips and the drink I very near went balmy (mad). It is no use of me telling you every place I done, or else you will think I am telling you the same things over again. ensemble," et il me rentasse "gy." Alors nous avons rince la piole et acquige cinquante-cinq sigues. J'ai Affftm/ensoite avec lui puis j'ai etc pige et safe a ces dix-huit marques. II etait tres mariolle pour maquiller les caroubles et il fournissait des alenes a toute la gance. Mezigue et le caroubleur nous sommes alles a Gravesend ou nous avons trouve une piole vide. Nous avons embarde dedans et 1'avons rincee ce qui nous a affure quarante-trois sigues. Nous sommes alles un reluis a Erith. J'ai enquire dans \mt piole, et quand j'ai debacle" la lourde il y avail un gros tambour couche devant, de sorte que j'ai tire de m&profonde un morceau de bidoche et je la lui ai balancee, mais il n'a pas bouge. Je lui en ai jete un autre morceau mais il est reste tranquille. Alors je m'approche et je vois que c'etait un cab empaille. J'ai rince la piole pour la blanquette et trois temples, j'en ai peausse un et plaque les deux autres dans mon panier. Nous sommes alles ensuite aux courses de Harpenden pour voir si nous pouvions trouver des pioles sans lonsgue ; nous aliens sur la piste. Pendant que nous y sommes, nous remouchons une tigne, c'etait un gonsse qui venait d'etre refatt, alors mon fanande me jacte, " Gaffine son epingle. Couvre- moi, et je vais la \\i\faire." Alors il tire son blavin et la lui poisse. Apres avoir quitte la piste, nous trou- vons une piole vide et no\is/aisons un enfant qui contenait une centaine de sigues. A partir de ce jour je me suis mis a la rigolade et a force Iviii Cant, Nineteenth Century. I will now tell you what happened the day before I fell for this stretch and a half. Me and the screwsman went to Charlton. From there we worked our way to Blackheath. I went in a place and touched for some wedge which we done for three pounds ten. I went home and wrung myself (changed clothes), and met some of the mob and got very near drunk. Next morning I got up about seven, and went home to change my clobber and put on the old clobber to work with the kipsy. When I got home my mother asked me if I was not a going to stop to have some breakfast? So I said, "No, I was in a hurry." I had promised to meet the screwsman and did not want to stick him up. We went to Willesden and found a dead 'un, so I came out and asked my pal to lend me the James and some twirls, and I went and turned it over. I could not find any wedge. I found a poge with nineteen shil- lings in it. I turned everything over, but could not find anything worth having, so I came out and gave the tools to my pal and told him. So he said, " Wasn't there any clob- ber ? " Sol said, " Yes, there's a cartload." So he said, "Go and get a kipsy full of it, and we will guy home." So I went back, and as I was going down the garden, the gardener it appears had been d'aller avec les chamegues et fopitan- cher,]e suis presque devenu louffoque. II est inutile de vous raconter toutes les pioles que j'ai rinctes, ce serait toujours la meme histoire. Je vous raconterai maintenant ce qui est arrive juste la veille du reluis oil j'ai etc enfouraille pour dix-huit marques. Mezigue et le caroubleur nous aliens a Charlton. De logo nous trimardons jusqu'a Blackheath. yenqitille en \mt piole et '-feffarouche de la blanquette que nous fourguons pour trois livres dix. Je rapplique a la niche et je change de fringues, je rencontre quelques fanandes de la gance et je va& poivrotte presque. Le lendemain matin je me leve vers sz\>tploibes pour changer &e fringues et je me peausse du vieux harnais pour aller turbiner avec le panier. Quand je rapplique a la niche ma dabuche me jacte de rester pour la refaite du matois. Je bonnis, "Non, j'ai d me partner." J'avais promis de rencontrer le grinchisseur au fric- frac et je ne voulais pas fiancher. Nous sommes alles a Willesden et j'ai trouve une/z'0/&som, prostitute, or " bed-fagot ; " de plume, bed, ' ' doss. " Auteur, m. (familiar), father or mother, "governor,"o\ "mater;" beurrier, unsuccessful author whose works are sold as wrapping- paper for tradesmen. Autor (familiar and popular), jouer d' , to play cards without pro- posing. Travailler d' et d'achar, to work with energy. Autor, d' (thieves'), in a peremp tory manner ; deliberately. Dis done, fourline, la premiere fois que noustrouverons la Pegriotte, fautl'emmener d'autor. EUGENE SUE. Autre, adj. (popular), cet chien, that chap. Eire 1' , to be duped, or " bamboozled ;" to be the lover ; the mistress. L' cote, appella- tion given by Paris students to that part of the city situated on the right bank of the river. Femme de 1' cote, woman residing in that part of Paris. Auvergnat, m. (popular), avaler 1' , to take communion. A uverpin A voir. Auverpin, m. (popular), native of Auvergne. Appellation given to commissionnaires, charcoal-dea- lers, water-carriers, &c. , who gene- rally hail from Auvergne. Et Ik settlement vous trouverez les bals- musette, les vrais, tenus par des* Auverpins a la fois mastroquets et charbonniers, hantes par des Auverpins aussi, porteurs d'eau, commissionnaires, frotteurs, cochers. RICHEPIN, Le Pav. Auverpinches, m. pi. (popular), clumsy shoes usually worn by Auvergnats. Aux (popular), petits oignons, in first-rate style, excellently. Etre petits oiseaux, to be comfort- able, smig. Auxiliaire (prisoners'), prisoner act- ing as servant, or " fag." Avale (popular), avoir le pepin, to be pregnant, or "lumpy.' An allusion to the apple. Avoir une chaise percee, to have an offensive breath. Avoir un sabre, to be stiff, " to have swal- lowed a poker. " Avoir le bon Dieu en culotte de velours, to have swallowed some excellent food or drink. Et toujours le patron doit terminer sa lampee par un hum engageant et satisfait comme s'll avait avale le bon Dieu en cu- lotte de velours. RICHEPIN, Le Pav. Avaler (thieves'), le luron, to receive the Host at communion. (Popular) Avalersacuiller;safour- chette ; sa gaffe ; sa langue ; ses baguettes ; to die. In other words, " to lay down one's knife and fork ;" " to kick the bucket;" "to croak;" "to stick one's spoon in the wall," &c. ; son poussin, to be dismissed, ' ' to get the sack ; son absinthe, to put a good face on some disagreeable matter. (Familiar) Avoir 1'air de vouloir tout , to look as though one were going- to do mighty things ; to look savage and threatening. Avale-tout-cru, m. (popular), braggart, or " swashbuckler ; " (thieves') thief who conceals jewels in his mouth. Avaloir, m. (popular and thieves'), throat, "peck alley," or "gutter lane." A vantages, m. pi., avant-cceur, m., avant-main, /., avant- postes, m. pi., avant-scenes, f. pi. (popular and familiar), bosoms, "Charlies," "dairies," or ' ' bubbles. " Avantageux, adj. (popular), con- venient, roomy. Des souliers , easy shoes. Avant-courrier, m. (thieves'), auger. Avaro, m. (popular), damage. From avarie. Avergot, m. (thieves'), egg. Avertineux, adj. (popular), of a suspicious, gruff disposition ; of a forbidding aspect. Avocat becheur, m. (printers'), backbiter ; (thieves') public prose- ciitor. Avoine, f. (military), brandy. (Popular) Avoir encore 1' , to have still one's maidenhead. (Coachmens') Donner 1' , to whip ; to thrash, or " flush." Avoir (popular), a la bonne, to like, to love, " to be sweet upon ; " campo, to have leave to go out ; celui, for avoir 1'honneur de ; dans le nez, to have a strong dislike for a person or thing ; (familiar) dansle ventre, ceque quelqu'un a dans le ventre, what stuff one is made off ; (popular) de ce qui sonne, to be well off ; in 20 Avoir. other words, to have plenty of beans, ballast, rhino, the need- ful, blunt, bustle, dust, coal, oof, stumpy, brass, tin ; de hi chance au batonnet, to be unlucky. Le jeu de batonnet is the game of nap the cat ; de la glu aux mains, to steal, " to nibble ; " de la ligne, to have a nice figure ; de 1'anis dans une ecope : tu auras , don't you wish you may get it ; de 1'as de Carreau dans le dos, to be humpbacked ; des as dans son jeu, to have an advantage, to be lucky, to have " cocum ; " des mots avec quel- qu'un, to fall out with one, to have a tiffitnth one ; des mots avec la justice, to be prosecuted ; des mots avec les sergots, to have some disagreement with the police ; des oeufs sur le plat, to havj black eyes, ' ' to have one's eyes in mourning ; " des petits pois a ecosser en- semble, to have a bone to pick with one ; des planches, to be an ex- perienced actor ; du beurre sur la tete, to have some misdeed on one's conscience; du chien, to possess dash,' f go ;" du chien dans le ventre, to have pluck, endurance, or " stay ; " du pain sur la planche, to have a competency ; du poll au cul, to possess courage, or " hackle, "energy; duplombdans 1'aile, to be -wounded ; du sable dans les yeux, to feel sleepy ; du toupet, to have audacity, cool impudence; fume dans une pipe neuve, to be tipsy, or " ob- iuscated ; " la flemme, to be afraid ; to feel lazy, or " Mon- dayish ; " 1'arche, to have credit, or "jawbone;" 1'assiette au beurre, to be fortunate in life ; la cuisse gaie is said of a female of lax morals ; le pot de cham- bre dans la commode, to have an offensive breath ; le caillou de- plume, le coco deplume, to be bald, to have "a bladder of lard ;" le casque, to fancy a man ; le compas dans 1'oeil, to possess a sharp eye, with respect to judging of distance or quantity ; le front dans le cou, to be bald, or "stag-faced;" le nez creux, to be clever at foreseeing, guessing ; le pouce long, to be skilful, ta be a " dab " at something ; le trac, to be afraid, "funky;" les calots poches, to have black- eyes ; les cotes en long, to be lazy, a " bummer ; " 1'estomac dans les talons, dans les mollets, to be ravenous, very "peckish ; "" 1'etrenne, to be the first to do, or be done to, to have the " wipe of ; " le sac, to be wealthy, or "well ballasted;" mal au brechet, to have the stomach-ache, or " botts ; " mal aux cheveux, to have a headache caused from overr night potations ; mange de 1'oseille, to be sour - tempered, peevish, or "crusty;" - sa cotelette, in theatrical language, to obtain great applause ; (popu- lar) sa pointe, to be slightly tipsy, " fresh ; " son caillou, to be on the verge of intoxication, or "muddled;" son coke, to- die; son cran, to be angry, " to have one's monkey up ; " -T- son pain cuit. Properly to have an income, to be provided for. The expression is old. Vente, gresle, gelle, j'ai mon pain cuit. VILLON. (Also) to be sentenced to death ; son sac de quelqu'un, to be- tired of one ; un coup de mar- teau, to be cracked, "queer;" un federe dans la casemate, or un polichinelle dans le tiroir, to> be pregnant, or " lumpy ; " un poil dans la main, to feel lazy ; un pot de chambre sous le nez, to- have an offensive breath; un Avoir Azor. 21 rat dans la trompe, to feel irritated, provoked, exasperated, " bad- gered ; " une chambre a louer, to be eccentric, even to insanity; "to have apartments to let ;" to be minus one tooth; une crampe au pylore, to be blessed with a good appetite, or " twist ; " une table d'hote dans 1'estomac, to have an Xtraordinary appetite ; vu le loup is said of a girl who has been seduced. En la farce, to be able to procure a thing. Pour deux sous on en a la farce, a penny will get it for you. En sa claque, to have eaten or drunk to excess, to have had a " tightener." Avoir une belle presse is said of an actor or author who is lauded by the press. Avoir (popular and familiar), la boule de'traquee ; le coco fele ; le trognon detraque ; un asticot dans la noisette ; un bceuf gras dans le char ; un cancrelat dans la boule ; un hanneton dans le reservoir ; un hanneton dans le plafond ; un moustique dans la boite au sel ; un voyageur dans 1'omnibus ; une araignee dans le plafond ; une ecrevisse dans la tourte ; une ecrevisse dans le vol- au-vent ; une grenouille dans 1'aquarium ; une hirondelle dans le soliveau ; une Marseillaise dans le kiosque ; une punaise dans le soufflet ; une sardine dans 1'ar- moire a glace ; une trichine dans le jambonneau ; une sauterelle dans la guitare Parisian expres- sions which may be rendered by to be mad, or cracked, crazy, touched, to have rats in the upper story, a bee in one's bonnet, a tile loose, to have apartments to let, to be wrong in the upper storey, to be off one's thump, &>c., &*c. L' encore, Rigaud says, "Avoir ce qu'une jeune fille doit perdre seulement le jour de son mariage. " Avoir, n' , pas de toupet, to show cool impttdence ; (popular) pas invente le fil a couper le beurre is said of a man of poor ability, not likely " to set the Thames on fire ; " pas le cul dans une jupe, to be manly, or "spry ; " pas sa langue dans sa poche, to have a ready tongue ; rien du cote gauche, or sous le teion gauche, to be heartless ; rien dans le ventre, to be devoid of abi- lity, to be made of poor stuff ; plus sa grille d'egout, plus sa piece de dix ronds is said of Sodomites ; plus de chapelure sur le jambonneau, plus de crin sur la brosse, plus de fil sur la bobine, plus de gazon sur le pre, plus de mousse sur le cail- lou, or sur la plate-bande, plus de paillasson a la porte, to be bald, or "to have a bladder of lard," "to be stag- faced, "&c. ; (thieves') pas la trouille, le flubart, or le trac, to have no fear. Azor, m. (popular), dog ; (military) knapsack, or "scran-bag" (an allusion to the hairy covering of soldiers' knapsacks). Eire a cheval sur , to shcndder the knapsack. Tenir en laisse is said of a discharged soldier who on leaving the barracks, with a view to showing that " Azor " is no longer his master, drags him ig- nominiously along the ground at- tached to a strap. (Theatrical) Appeler, or sifHer , to hiss, or "to goose." Qu'est-ce que c'est ? Est-ce qu'on appelle Azor tMusee Philit>on. 22 Bab a Bachotteu r. B '. (popular), dumb-founded, abashed, "blue," or "flabber- gasted." From ebahi, astounded. Babillard, m. (thieves'), confessor ; book ; newspaper. Griffonneur de , journalist. It also means a petition. Ma largue part pour Versailles, Aux pieds d'sa Majeste, Elle lui fence un babillard Pour m'faire defourailler. V. HUGO, Dernier Jour (fun Condamne. Babillarde, / (thieves'), watch, or "jerry;" letter, " scree ve," or "stiff." Babillaudier, m. (thieves'), book- seller. Babille,/. See Babillarde. Babiller (thieves'), to read. Pro- perly to prattle, to chatter. Babines, /. //. (popular), mouth, ' ' muzzle. " S'en dormer par les , to eat voraciously, "to scorf." S'en lecher les , to enjoy in ima- gination any kind of pleasure, past or in store. Babouine, f. (popular), mouth, "rattle-trap," "kisser," "dub- ber," or "maw." See Plomb. Babouiner (popular), to eat. Bac, for baccarat or baccalau- reat. Ce serait bien le diable s'il parvenait a organiser de petits bacs a la raffinerie. VAST-RICOUARD, Le Tripot. Bacchantes (thieves'), the beard ; but more especially the whiskers. From a play on the word bache, an awning, covering. Baccon, m. (thieves'), /?, or "sow's baby ; " pork, or " sawney." Bachasse,/ (thieves'), hard labour; convict settlement. Bache, f. (thieves' and cads'), cap, or " tile ; " stakes ; bed, or "doss." Se mettre dans la , to go to bed. Bache, properly a cart tilt or an awning. Bacheliere, f., female associate of students at the Quarticr Latin, the headquarters of the University of France. Herein are situated the Sorbonne, College de France, Ecole de Medecine, Ecole de Droit, &c. Bacher, pagnotter, or percher (thieves' and popular). Se , to go to bed. Bachot, m. (students'), baccalau- reat, or examination for the degree of bachelor of arts or science con- ferred by the University of France. Etre , to be a bachelor. Faire son , to read for that examina- tion. Bachotier, m. (students'), tutor who prepares candidates for the baccalaureat, a "coach," or a Bachotter (sharpers'), to swindle at billiards. Bachotteur, m. (sharpers'), a con- federate of blacklegs at a four game of billiards. The " bnchotteur " Bacler Bagon. arranges the game, holds the stakes, &<:., pretending mean while to be much interested in the vic- tim, or "pigeon." His associates are "l'emporteur,"or "buttoner," whose functions consist in enter- ing into conversation with the in- tended victim and enticing him into playing, and " la bete," who feigns to be a loser at the outset, so as to encourage the pigeon. Bacler, boucler (thieves'), to shut, to arrest. Baclez la lourde ! shut the door ! " dub the jigger." (Popular) Bacler, to put, to place. Baclez- vous la \placeyourself (here! Bacreuse, f. (popular), pocket. From creuse, deep. Badaudiere,y., the tribe ofbadatids, people whose interest is awakened by the most trifling events or things, and who stop to gape won- der ingly at such events or things. Parmi tons les badauds de la grande badaudiere parisienne, qui est le pays du monde ou Ton en trouve le plus, parmi tous les flaneurs, gacheurs de temps . . . bayeurs aux grues. RICHEPIN, Le Pavt. Badigeon, m. (popular), paintingof the face ; paint for the face, " slap." Se coller du , to paint one's face, ' ' to stick on slap. " Badigeonner, la femme au puits, to lie, " to cram." An allusion to Truth supposed to dwell in a well. Se , to paint one's face. Badigoinces,^//. (popular), lips, mouth, " maw." Jouer des , orsecaler les ,/o^/,"togrub." S'en coller par les , to have a good fill, "to stodge." See Mastiquer. Badinguiste, badingateux, ba- dingouin, badingueusard, ba- dingouinard, terms of contempt applied to Bonapartists. " Badin- guet," nickname of Napoleon III., was the name of a mason who lent him his clothes, and whose cha- racter he assumed to effect his es- cape from Fort Ham, in which he was confined for conspiracy and rebellion against the government of King Louis Philippe. Badouillard, m., badouillarde, f. (popular), male and female habitues of low fancy balls. Badouille, f. (popular), henpecked husband, or " stangey ; " fool, or "duffer." Badouiller (popular), to frequent low public balls; to wander about without a settled purpose, "to scamander ; " to have drinking revels, " to go on the booze." Badouillerie, f. (popular), dissi- pated mode of living. Baffre,y. (popular), a blow in the face with the fist, a " bang in the mug." Bafouiller, (popular), to jabber ; to splutter ; to sputter. Bafouilleur, bafouilleux, ;., bafouilleuse,/., one who sput- ters. Bagniole, f. (popular), carriage, " trap," or "cask." Bagnole, f. (popular), diminutive ofbagne, convict settlement, hulks ; wretchedroom or house, or "crib ;" coster mo tiger's hand - barrow, " trolly," or "shallow." La maigre salade . . . que les bonnes femmes poussent devant elles dans leur bagnole a bras. RICHEPIN, Le Pave. Bagou, bagoGt, m. (familiar) (has passed into the language), facility of speech (used disparag- ingly). Quel mes amis ! well, he is the one to talk ! Avoir un tier , to have plenty of jaw. On se laissa bientot aller a la joie ravive sans cesse au bagout du vieux, qui n'avait jamais ete aussi bavard. RICHEPIN, La Gin. 2 4 Bagoulard Baissier. (Thieves') Bagou, name, "mon- niker," "monarch." Bagoulard, m. (popular), a very talkative man, a " clack-box," or " mouth-all-mighty." C'est un fameux , " He's the bloke to slam." Bagouler (popular and thieves'), to prattle, to do the "Poll Par- rot ; " to give one's name, or " dub one's monniker." Bague, f. (thieves'), name, "mon- niker," "monarch."' Baguenaude (thieves' and cads'), pocket, " cly," "sky-rocket," or ' ' brigh ; " a sec, empty pocket ; ronflante, pocket full of money. Fairela retourne desbaguenaudes, to rob drunkards who go to sleep on benches. . . . Une bande de filous, vauriens ayant travaille les baguenaudes dans la foule. RICHEPIN, Le Pave. Baguenots, m. pi. (popular), faire les , to pick pockets, " to fake a cly." Baguettes,///. Properly rods, or drum- sticks. (Military) Avaler ses , to die. (Familiar) Baguettes de tambcur, thin legs, spindle-shanks ; lank hair. Bahut, m. (popular), furniture, "marbles." Properly large dresser, or press ; (cadets') special, the military school of Saint-Cyr ; (stu- dents') fatemel, paternal house. Bahut, a crammer's establishment ; college, or boarding-school. Eux, les pauvres petits galeriens, ils con- tinuent a vivre entre les murs le'preux du bahut. RICHEPIN, Le Pave. Bahute (Saint-Cyr cadets'), ceci est , that is smart, soldier-like. Une tenue bahutee, smart dress or appearance. Bahuter (Saint-Cyr cadets'), to create a disturbance, " to kick up a row; " (schoolboys') to go from one educational establishment to another. Bahuteur, m., one fond of a " row ;" unruly scholar ; pupil who patronizes, willingly or not, diffe- rent educational establishments. Baigne-dans-le-beurre (popu- lar), women? bully, or "pen- sioner." An allusion to " maque- reau," or mackerel, a common ap- pellation ior such creatures. See Poisson. Baigneuse, /. (thieves' and cads'), head, or "block," "canister," "nut." See Tronche. Baignoire a bon Dieu,/. (cads'), chalice. Bailler au tableau (theatrical), to have an insignificant part in a new play. Terme de coulisses qui s'applique a un acteur, qui voit au tableau la mise en repetition d'une p ece dans laquel e il n'a qu'un bout de role. A. BOU_HAKD, La Langue theatrale. Baimbain (Breton cant), potatoes. Bain de pied (familiar), the over- flow into the saucer from a cup of coffee or glass of brandy ; third help of brandy after coffee, those preceding being " la rincette " and " la surrincette." Bain-Marie, m. (popular), a per- son with a mild, namby-pamby disposition allied to a weakly con- stitution, a " sappy "fellow. Bain qui chauffe, m. (popular), a rain cloud in hot weather. Baiser (popular), lacamarde, to die, "to kick the bucket," " to snuff it;" (gamesters') le cul de la vieille, not to score, to remain at "love." Baissier, m., man on ''Change who speculates for a fall in the funds, "bear." See Haussier. Ba ite Balayer. Baite, f. (thieves'), house, "crib." Bajaf, m. (popular), a stout, ple- thoric man. Gros , "forty guts." Bajoter (popular), to chatter, "to gabble." Bal, m. (military), extra ^'//(called a " hoxter " at the Royal Military Academy). Baladage, balladage, m. (popu- lar), chanteur au , street singer, "street pitcher." Balade, ballade, f. (popular and familiar), "walk, stroll, lounge, "miking." Canot de , plea- sure boat. Faire une , se payer une , to take a walk. Chanteur a la , itinerant singer, "chaun- ter." (Thieves') Balade, or ballade, pocket ; also called "fouillouse, pro- fonde, valade," and by English rogues, "sky-rocket, cly, orbrigh." Balader (thieves'), to choose ; to seek. (Popular) Se , to take a walk ; to stroll ; "to mike ;" to make off ; to run away, " to cut one's lucky." See Patatrot. Baladeur, m. (popular), one who takes a walk. Baladeuse, /. (popular), woman with no heart for work and who is fond of idly strolling about. Balai, m. (hawkers'), police officer, or gendarme, "crusher:" (mili- tary) a plumes, flumes of shako. (Popular) Balai, the last 'bus or tramcar at night. Donner du a quelqu'un, to drive one away. Balancement, m. (clerks'), dis- missal, " the sack." Balancer (popular), to throw at a distance ; quelqu'un, to dismiss from one's employment, " to give the sack ;" to get rid of one ; to make fun of one ; to hoax, " to bamboozle ; " (thieves') la rous- caillante, to speak, or "to rap ; " sa canne is said of a vagrant who takes to thieving, of a convict who makes his escape, or of a ticket- of-leave man who breaks bounds ; sa largue, to g< t rid of one's mis- tress, "to bury a Moll;" ses alenes, to turn honest ; to forsake the burglar's implements for the murderer s knife ; ses chasses, to gaze about, " to stag ; " son chiffon rouge, to talk, " to wag one's red rag ; " une lazagne, to send a letter, " screeve," or "stiff." Balanceur, m. (thieves'), de braise, money changer. An allusion to the practice of weighing money. Balancier, m. (popular), faire le , to wait for one. Balangoir, balangon, m. (thieves'), window-bar. Balangoire, /. (familiar), fib, "flam;" nonsense; stupid joke. Envoyer a la , to get rid of one , to invite one to make himself scarce, or to send one to the deuce. Balangon, m. (thieves'), iron ham- mer ; window-bar. Balandrin, m. (popular), parcel made up in canvas ; a small ped- lar's pack. Balauder (tramps'), to beg, " to cadge." Balayage, m. Properly siueeping ; used figuratively wholesale getting rid of. On devrait faire un ba- layage dans cette administration, there ought to be a wholesale dis- missal of officials. Balayer (theatrical), les planches, to be the first to sing at a con- cert. 26 Balayez-moi-qa Balthazar. Balayez-moi-ga, ;//. (popular), wo- man's dress. Literally you just sweep that away. Balcon, m. (popular), il y a du monde, or il y a quelqu'un au , an alhision to well-developed breasts. Balconnier, m., orator who makes a practice of addressing the crowd from a balcony. Baleine,^ (popular), disreputable woman, "bed-fagot." Rire comme une , to laugh in a silly manner with mouth wide open like a whale's. Baliverneur, m. (popular), monger of " twaddle," of tomfooleries, of "blarney." Ballade, /. (popular), aller faire une a la lune, to ease oneself. Balle, f. (thieves'), secret; affair; opportunity. Ca fait ma , that just suits me. Manquer sa , to miss one's opportunity. Faire , to be fasting, Faire la , to act according to instructions. (Popu- lar) Balle, one-franc piece ; face, "mug;" head, "block." II a une bonne , he has a good-na- tured looking face, or a grotesque face. Rond comme , is said of one who has eaten or drunk to excess ; of one who is drunk, or "tight." Un blafard de cinq balles, a five-franc piece. (Familiar) Enfant dela ^actor's child; actor; one who is of the same profession as his father. (Prostitutes') Balle d'amour, handsome face. Rude , energetic countenance, with harsh features. Balle de coton, a blow with the fist, a "bang," "wipe," " one on the mug," or a "cant in the gills." Ballomanie, f., mania for balloon- ing. Ballon, m. (popular), glass of beer; the behind, or " tochas." Enlever le a quelqu'un, to kick one in the hinder part of the body, "to toe one's bum," "to root," or " to land a kick." En , in prison, " in quod." Se donner du , to make a dress bulge out. Se lacher du , to make off rapidly, " to brush." Ballonne, adj. (thieves'), impri- soned, " in limbo." Ballot, m. (tailors'), stoppage of work. Balloter (tailors'), to be out of work, "out of collar;" (thieves') to throw. Bal-musette, m., dancing place for workpeople in the suburbs. Les bals-musette au plancher de bois qui sonne comme un tympanon sous les talons tambourinant la bourree montag- narde . . . que la niusette remplit de son chant agreste. RICHEPIN, Le Pave. Balochard, balocheur, m. (popu- lar), one who idles about town care- lessly and merrily. Aussi j'laisse 1'chic et les chars, Aux feignants et aux galupiers, Et j'suis 1'roi des Balochards, Des Balochards qui va-t-a pieds. RICHEPIN, Gueux de Paris. Balocher, (popular), to be an habittte of dancing halls; to be- stir oneself; to fish in troubled waters ; to have on hand any un- lawful bttsiness ; to move things ; to hang them up ; to id/e about carelessly and merrily, or "to mike." Balots, m. pi. (thieves'), lips. Se graisser les , to eat, "to gruh." Balouf (popular), very strong, "spry." Balthazar, m. (familiar), a plentiful meal, "a tightener." Baluchon Banque. 27 Baluchon, m. (popular), parcel, or " peter." Bambino, bambochino, m. (popu- lar), term of endearment for a child. Bamboche, adj. (popular), etre , to be tipsy, or " to be screwed." Banban, m. and f. (popular), lame person, " dot and go one ; " small stunted person, "Jack Sprat." Bane, m. (convicts'), camp bed ; (Parisians') de Terre-Neuve, that part of the Boulevard between the Madeleine and Porte Saint- Denis. Probably an allusion to the ladies of fishy character, termed " monies," or codfish, who cruise about that part of Paris, and a play on the word Terre-Neuve, cftw- fenndland, where the real article is fished in large quantities. (Military) Pied de , sergeant. See Pied. Bancal, m. (soldiers'), cavalry S~ii'OI'd. Et, je me sens fier, ingambe, D'un plumet sur mon colbac, D'un bancal, et du flic-flac De ce machin sur ma jambe. A. DE CHATILLON. Bande. Properly cushion of bil- liard table. Coller sous , to get one in a fix, in a " hole." Bande d'air, f. (theatrical), frieze painted blue so as to represent the sky. Bande noire,/!, a gang of sivind- lers who procure goods on false pretences and sell them below their value, ' ' long firm. " La Bande Noire comprises four categories of swindlers working jointly : " le courtier a la mode," who, by means of false references, gets himself appointed as agent to important firms, generally wine merchants, jewellers, provision dealers. He calls on some small tradesmen on the verge of bank- ruptcy, denominated " petits fai- sans," or "freres de la cote," and offers them atavery low price mer- chandise which they are to dispose of, allowing him a share in the pro- fits. The next step to be taken is to bribe a clerk of some private information office, who is thus in- duced to give a favourable answer to all inquiries regarding the sol- vency of the " petit faisan." The courtier a la mode also bribes with a like object the doorkeeper of his clients. At length the goods are delivered by the victi- mized firms ; now steps in the " fusilleur " or " gros faisan," who obtains the merchandise at a price much below value a cask of wine worth 170 francs, for instance, being transferred to him at less than half that sum the sale often taking place at the railway goods station, especially when the "pe- tit faisan " is an imaginary indi- vidual represented byadoorkeeper in confederacy with the gang. Translated from the " Repttbliqiie franfaise " newspaper, February, 1886. Bander (popular), la caisse, to ab- scond with the cash-box. Properly to tighten the drum ; 1'ergot, to run away, " to crush." Bannette (popular), apron. Banniere,/ (familiar), etre en , to be in one's shirt, in one's "flesh bag." Banque, f. (popular), falsehood, imposition, "plant." (Hawkers') La , the puffing up of goods to allure purchasers ; the confrater- nity of mountebanks. (Showmens') True de , passwordwhich obtains aiimission to booths or raree-shows. 28 Banquet Barbot. (Printers') Banque, pay. La a fouaille expresses that pay has been deferred. Etre bloque a la , or faire bleche, to receive no pay. Banquet, m. (freemasons'), dinner. Banquette,/, (popular), chin. Banquezingue, m. (thieves'), ban- ker, "rag-shop cove." Banquiste (thieves'), one who pre- pares a swindling operation. Bapteme, m. (popular), head, "nut." Baquet, m. (popular), washer- woman ; insolent, same mean- ing (an allusion to the impudence of Parisian washerwomen) ; de science, cobbler's tub. Barant, m. (thieves'), gutter, brook. From the Celtic baranton, foun- tain. Baraque, f., disparaging epithet for a house or establishment ; (servants') a house where masters are strict and particular; a " shop ; " neivspaper of which the editor is strict with respect to the productions ; (schoolboys') cup- board ; (soldiers') a service stripe ; (sharpers') a kind of swindling game of pool. Barbaque,orbidoche,/.(popular), mtat ) or "carnish." Barbe, /. (students'), private coach- ing. (Popular) Avoir de la is said of anything old, stale. (Thea- trical) Faire sa , to make money. (Familiar) Vieille , old-fashioned politician. (Printers') Barbe, in- toxication, the different stages of the happy stale being " le coup de feu, " "la barbe simple," "la barbe in- digne." Prendre une , to get in- toxicated, or "screwed." (Popular) Barbe, women's bully, or "pen- sioner." Barbe a poux, m., an insulting expression especially used by cab- bies, means lousy beard. Also a nickname given sometimes to the pioneers in the French army on account of their long beards. Barbeau, m. (popular), prostitute's bully. Properly a barbel. Barbeaudier (thieves'), doorkeeper ; turnkey, "dubsman," or "jigger dubber ; " de castu, hospital overseer. Concerning this ex- pression Michel says : Cette ex- pression, qui nous est donnee par le Dictionnaire Argotique du Jar- gon, a ete formee par allusion a la tisane que 1'on boit dans les hopi- taux, tisane assimilee ici a la biere. En effet, barbaudier avait autrefois le sens de brasseur, si 1'on peut du moins s'en rapporter a Roquefort, qui ne cite pas d'exemple. En voici un, malheureusement peu concluant. Tais-toi, putain de barbaudier : Le coup d'oeil purin. Barberot, ;;/. (convicts'), barber, a "strap." Barbet, m. (thieves'), the devil, "old scratch," or "ruffin." Barbichon,w. (popular), monk. An allusion to the long beard generally sported by the fraternity. Barbille, barbillon, m., girl's bully, young hand at the business. Barbillons, m. pi. (popular), de Beauce, vegetables (Beauce, for- merly a province) ; de Va- renne, turnips. Barbot, m. (popular), duck; girl's bully, "ponce." See Poisson. Barbotage Bassiner. 29 (Thieves')Vol au Jacket-picking, or " buz-faking." Fairele , to pick pockets, " to buz," or " to fake a cly." Barbotage, m., theft, "push." From barboter, to dabble. Barbote, /. (thieves'), searching of prisoners on their arrival at the prison, " turning over." Barboter (thieves'), to search on the person, ' ' to turn over ; " to steal, " to clift ;" to purloin goods and sell them ; les poches, to pick pockets, " to buz ; " (familiar) la caisse, to appropriate the contents of a cashbox. Barboteur, ;;/. (thieves'), de cam- pagne, night thief. Barbotier, m., searcher at prisons. Barbotin, m. (thieves'), theft ; pro- ceeds of sale of stolen goods, ' ' swag. " Apres mon dernier barbotin, J'ai flasque du poivre a la rousse. RICHEMN. Barbue,/. (thieves), pen. Bar-de-tire, m. (thieves'), hose. Baril de moutarde (cads'), breech. See Vasistas. Barka (military), enough (from the Arabic). Baron, m. (popular), de la crasse, man ill at ease in garments which are not suited to his station in life, and which in consequence give him an awkward appearattce. Barre,/. (thieves'), needle; (popu- lar) compter a la , primitive mode of reckoning by making dashes on a slate. Barre, adj. (popular), dull-witted, " cabbage-head." Barrer (popular), to leave off work ; to relinquish an undertaking; to scold. Se , to make off, "to mizzle ; " to conceal oneself. Barres,///. (popular), ja ws. Se rafraichir les , to drink, "to wet or whet one's whistle." Barrique,/. (freemasons'), decanter or bottle. Bas (popular), de buffet, a person or thing of no consequence ; de plafond, du cul, short person. Vieux de buffet, old coquette. Basane, or bazane, /. (popular), skin, or "buff." Tanner la , to thrash," totan." (Military) Tailler une , is to make acertaincontemp- tttous gesture the nature of which may best be described as follows : Un tel, quatre jours de salle de police, ordre du sous-officier X ... a repondu a ce sous-officier en lui taillant une bazane ; la main appl'quee sur la braguette du pan- talon, et lui faisant decrire une conversion a gauche, avec le pouce pour pivot. Quoted by L. MERLIN, La Langue Verte du Troiipier. Bas-bleuisme, m. (literary), mania for -writing. Used in reference to those of the fair sex. Bascule,/, (popular), guillotine. Basculer (popular), to guillo- tine. Bas-off, m. (Polytechnic School), under-officer. Basourdir (thieves'), to knock down; to stun ; to kill, ' ' to give one his gruel." See Refroidir. Basse,/, (thieves'), the earth. Bassin, m., bassinoire,/. (fami- liar), superlatively dull person, a bore. Bassinant, adj. (familiar), dull, annoying, boring. Bassiner (familiar), to annoy, to bore. Bassinoire Batons de chaise. Bassinoire,/, large watch, "tur- nip." See Bassin. Basta (popular), enough; no more. From the Spanish. Bastimage (thieves'), work, " graft." Bastringue, m. (popular), low dan- cing- hall ; noise, disturbance, "rumpus ;" (prisoners') a fine steel saw used by prisoners for cutting through iron bars. Bastringueuse, f. (popular), fe- male habituee of bastringues, or low dancing- saloons. Bataclan, m. (popular), set of 'tools ; (thieves') house - breaking imple- ments, or "jilts." J'ai deja prepare tout mon bataclan, les fausses clefs sont essayees. VIDOCQ, Me- ntoires. Bataille,/. (military), chapeau en , cocked hat worn crosrwise. Chapeau en colonne, the opposite of'en bataille." Batard, m. (popular), heap of any- thing. Bate, f. (popular), etre de la , to be happy, fortunate, to have "cocum." Bateau, m. (popular), meneren , to swindle, to deceive. Monter un , to impose upon ; to attempt to deceive. Bateaux, m. pi. (popular), shoes, "carts;" large shoes; shoes that let in water. Bateaux-mouches, m. pi. (popu- lar), large shoes. Batelee, f. (popular), concourse of people. Bath, or bate (popular), fine; ex- cellent ; tip-top ; very well. The origin of the expression is as fol- lows : Towards 1848 some Bath note-paper of superior qua- lity was hawked about in the streets of Paris and sold at a low price. Thus "papier bath" be- came synonymous of excellent paper. In a short time the qualify- ing term alone remained, and re- ceived a general application. Un foulard tout neuf, ce qu'il y a de plus bath ! RICHEPIN. C'est rien , that is excellent, " fizzing." C'est aux pommes, it is delightful. (Thieves') Du , gold or silver. Faire , to arrest. Batiau, m. (printers'), jour du , day on which the compositor makes out his account for the week. Par- ler , to talk shop. Batif, m. (thieves'), bative, bati- fonne,/., new ; pretty, or " clim- ber." La fee est bative, the girl is pretty, she is a " dimber mort. " Batimancho (Breton), wooden shoes. Batiment (familiar), etre du , to be of a certain profession. Batir (popular), sur le devant, to have a large stomach; to have something like a "corporation" growing upon one. Baton, m. (thieves'), creux, musket, or "dag;" de cire, leg ; de reglisse, police officer, ' ' crusher, " " copper, "or ' ' reeler ; " priest, or "devil dodger;" (mounte- banks') de tremplin, leg. Pro- perly tremplin, a spring board ; (familiar) merdeux, man whom it is not easy to deal with, who cannot be humoured; (thieves') rompu, ticket-of-leave convict who has bro- ken bounds. Term ed also "canne, trique, tricard, fagot, cheval de retour. " Batons de chaise, m. pi. (popu- lar), noce de , grand jollifica- tion, " flare up," or " break down." Batouse Baudrouiller. Batouse, batouze, /. (thieves'), canvas ; toute battante, new canvas. Batousier, ;. (thieves'), weaver. Battage (popular), lie, "gag ;" im- position ; joke ; humbug; damage to any article. Battant, m. (thieves'), heart, "pan- ter;" stomach; throat, "red lane;" tongue, "jibb." Un bon , a nimble tongue. Se pousser dans le , to drink, "to lush." Faire trimer le , to eat. Battante, /. (popular), bell, or "ringer." Battaqua, m. (popular), slatternly woman, doivdy. Batterie, / (popular), action of lying, of deceiving, "cram;" the teeth, throat, and tongue ; douce, joke. (Freemasons') Bat- terie, applause. Batteur, m. (popular and thieves'), liar, deceiver ; d'antif, thief who informs another of a likely " job ; " de beurre, stockbroker; dedig dig, thief who feigns to be seized with an apoplectic Jit in a shop so as to facilitate a confede- rate's operations by drawing the attention to himself ; (popular) de flemme, idler. Battoir, m. (popular), hand, " flip- per ; " large hand, " mutton fist." Battre (thieves'), to dissemble ; to deceive ; to make believe. Ne t inquiete pas, je battrai si bien que je defie le plus malin de ne pas me croire Diballe pour de bon.--ViDOCQ. Battre a laParisienne, tocheat, " to do ; " a mort, to deny ; comtois, to play the simpleton ; to act in confederacy ; de 1'ceil, to be dying ; entifle, to be a confe- derate, or "stallsman ;" Job, to dissemble ; 1'antif, to walk, "to pad the hoof;" to play the spy, " to nark ; " morasse, to call out "Stop thief!" "to give hot beef; " en ruine, to visit. Drilles ou narquois sont des soldats qui . . . battent en ruine les entiffes et tous les creux des vergnes. Le Jargon de I 'Argot. (Popular) Battre la muraille, to be so drunk as " not to be able to see a hole in a ladder," or not to be able "to lie down without holding on ; " la semelle, to play the vagrant ; le beurre, to speculate on 'Change ; to be" fast ; to dis- semble ; le briquet, to be knock- kneed ; sa fleme, or flemme, to be idle, to be " niggling ; " son quart is said of prostitutes who walk the streets. Des yeux qui se battent en duel, squinting eyes, or " swivel-eyes." S'enbattrel'oeil,la paupiere, or les fesses, not to care a straw. (Familiar) Battre son plein, to be in all the bloom of beauty or talent, " in full blast ; " (military) la couverte, to sleep ; (sailors') un quart, to invent some plau- sible story ; (printers') le bri- quet, to knock the type against the composing-stick when in the act of placing tt in, Batture. See Batterie. Bauce,bausse,w.(popular),za.f&r, employer, "boss ;" (thieves') rich citizen," rag-splawger ; " fondu, bankrupt employer, " b rosier." Bauceresse, f. (popular), female employer. Baucher (thieves'), se , to deride ; to make fun of. Baucoter (thieves'), to teaze. Baude, f. (thieves'), venereal dis- ease. Baudrouillard, m. (thieves'), ///> five. Baudrouiller (thieves'), to decamp, "to make beef." See Patatrot. 3-2 Ban dron tiler B dear re. Baudrouiller, or baudru, m. (thieves'), whip. Bauge, f. (thieves'), box, chest, or "peter;" belly, "tripes." Baume, ;. (popular), d'acier, sur- geons' ami dentists' instruments ; de porte-en-terre,/0w0. Bausser (popular), to work, "to graft." Bavard, m. (popular), barrister, lawyer, "green bag;" (military) punishment leaf in a soldier's book. Bavarde, f. (thieves'), month, " muns," or " bone box." Une main autour de son colas et 1'autre dans sa bavarde pour lui arquepincer le chiffon rouge. E. SUE. Baver (popular), to talk, "to jaw ; " des clignots, to weep, " to nap a bib ; " sur quel- qu'un, to speak ill of one, to back- bite. Baver, also to chat. The expression is old. Venez-y, varletz, chamberieres, Qui sgavez si bien les manieres, En disant mainte bonne bave. VILLON, isth century. Baveux, m. (popular), one who does not know -what he is talking about. Bayafe, m. (thieves'),//'^*?/, "bark- ing iron," or "barker." Bayafer (thieves'), to shoot. Bazar, m. (military), house of ill- fame, "flash drum;" (servants') house where the master is par- ticular, " crib ; " (popular) any house ; (prostitutes') furniture, " marbles ; " (students') college or school, " shop." Bazarder (popular), to sell off any- thing, especially one's furniture ; to barter ; (military) to pillage a house ; to wreck it. Bazenne,/. (thieves'), tinder. B6, m. (popular), wicker-basket which rag-pickers sling to their shoulders. Bear, adj. (popular), laisser quel- qu'un , to leave one in the lurch. Beau, m., old term for s^vell ; ex- , superannuated nvell. Beau blond (thieves'), a poetical appellation for the sun. Beauce,/ (thieves'), plume de , straw, or "stromrnel." Beauce, m., beauceresse, /', se- cond-hand clothes-dealers of the Quartier du Temple. Beauge, m. (thieves'), belly, "guts." Beausse, m. (thieves'), wealthy man, " rag-splawger," or one who is " well-breeched." Bebe, m. (popular), stunted man ; female dancer at fancy public balls in the dress of an infant ; the dress itself; term of endearment. Mon gros ! darling! ducky ! Bec,w. (popular), motith, "maw;" sale, a thirsty mortal. Claquer du , to be fasting, "to be bandied." Rincer le a quel- qu'un, to treat one to some drink. Se rincer le , toivet one's whistle. Tortiller du , to eat, " to peck." Casser du , to have an offensive breath. Avoir la rue du mal pavee, to have an irregular set of teeth. Ourler son , to finish one's work. (Sailors') Se calfa- ter le , to eat or drink, ' ' to splice the mainbrace." (Thieves') Bee de gaz, bourrique, flique, cierge, arnif, peste, laune, vache, police-officer- or detective, " pig, v "crusher," "copper," "cossack," " nark," &c. Becane, f. (popular), steam engine, " puffing billy ; " small printing machine. B6carre is the latest title for Pari- sian dandies ; and the term is Becasse Belle. 33 also used to replace the now well- worn expression "chic." The"be- carre " must be grave and sedate after the English model, with short hair, high collar, small moustache and whiskers, but no beard. He must always look thirty years of age ; must neither dance nor affect the frivolity of a floral button-hole nor any jewel- lery ; must shake hands simply with ladies and gravely bend his head to gentlemen. " Be'carre being translated is ' natural ' in a musical sense." Graphic, Jan. 2, 1886. The French dandy goes also by the appellations of " coco- des, petit creve, pschutteux," &c. See Gommeux. Becasse, f. (popular), female guy. Eh ! va done, grande b^casse ! Becfigue decordonnier,;/*. (popu- lar), goose. Be"chage, m, (familiar), sharp cri- ticism . Beefier (familiar), to criticize, to run down; (popular) tobeat, " tobash." Se , to fight, " to have a mill." Becheur, m. (thieves'), beggar, " mumper ; " juge (f instruction, a magistrate whose functions are to make outacase, and examine apri- soner before he is sent up for trial. Avocat , public prosecutor. Becheuse, f. (thieves'), female thief. Becot, m. (popular), mouth, "kis- ser ; " kiss, " bus." Becoter (popular), to kiss; to fondle, " to firkytoodle." Becquant, m. (thieves'), chicken, " cackling cheat," or "beaker." Becquetance, f. (popular), food, " grub." Becqueter (popular), to eat, "to peck." Dis-donc ! viens-tu becqueter ? Arrive clampin ! Je paie un canon de la bouteille. ZOLA. Bedon, m. (popular), belly, "tripes," or "the corporation." Bedouin, m. (popular), harsh man, or ' ' Tartar ;" one of the card- sharper tribe. Beek (Breton), -wolf. Gwelet an euz ar beek is equivalent to elle a vu le loup, that is, she has lost her maidenhead. Beffeur, m., beffeuse,/; (popular), deceiver, one who " puts on." Begue, f. (thieves'), oats ; also ab- breviation of bezigue, a certain game of cards. Begum, m. (popular), head, ' ' nut ; " a fancy. Avoir un pour quelqu'un, " to fancy someone, " to cotton on to one." Beigne, f. (popular), cuff or blow, " bang." Belant, m. (thieves'), sheep, "wool- bird." Belet, m. (horse-dealers'), sorry horse, "screw." Belette, f. (popular), fifty-centime piece. Beige, f. (popular), Belgian clay- pipe. Belgique (familiar), filer sur , to abscond with contents of cash-box, is said also of absconding fraudu- lent bankrupts, who generally put the Belgian frontier between the police and their own persons. Belier, m. (cads'), cuckold. Bellander (tramps'), to beg, " to cadge. " Belle,/! (popular and familiar), at- tendre sa , to wait ons't oppor- D 34 Benard Berdouillard. tunity. Jouer la , to play a third and decisive game. La per- dre , to lose a game which was considered as good as won ; to lose an opportunity. (Thieves') Etre servide , to be imprisoned through mistaken identity ; to be the vic- tim of a false accusation. (Popu- lar) Belle a la chandelle, /., ugly ; de nuit, female habituee of balls and cafes ; (familiar) petite, a young lady of the demi-monde, a " pretty horse-breaker." Benard, m. (popular), breeches, "kicks," or " sit-upons." Belief, /., for benefice, profit. Benevolo, m. (popular), young doc- tor in hospitals. Beni-coco (military), etre de la tribu des , to be a foci. Beni-Mouffetard(popular),fl'7w//d'r of the Quartier Mouffetard, the abode of rag-pickers. B6nir (popular), has, to kick one in the lower part of the back, " to toe one's bum," " to root," or " to land a kick;" (popular and thieves') des pieds, to be hanged, " to cut caper-sauce," or "to be scragged. " Benisseur, m. (familiar), one who puts on a dignified and solemn air, as if about to give his blessing, and ivho delivers platitudes on virtue, &c. ; one ivho makes fine but empty promises ; political man who professes to believe, and seeks to make others believe, that everything is for the best. An historical illus- tration of this is General Changar- nier thus addressing the House on the very eve of the Coup d'Etat which was to throw most of its members into prison, " Repre- sentants du peuple, deliberez en paix ! " Benolt, m. (popular), woman's bully, "ponce." See Poisson. La vrai' verite, C'est qu' les Benoits toujours lichent Et s'graissent les balots. Vive eul' bataillon d' la guiche, C'est nous qu'est les dos. RICHEPIN, CAanson des Gueux. eccentric in their ways and style of dress. From a play of Sardou's, La f ami lie Benetton. Benoitonner, to live and dress after the style of the Benoitons (which see). Benoitonnerie, f., style and 'ways of the Benoitons. Beq, m. (engravers'), work. Bequet, m. (shoemakers'), patch of leather sewn on a boot ; (wood engravers') small block ; (printers') a composition of a few lines ; paper prop placed under a forme. Bequeter (popular), to eat, "to peck," or " to grub." Be quillard, m. (popular), old man, old "codger;" (thieves') execu- tioner. Bequillarde, / (thieves'), guillo- tine. B6quille, / (thieves'), gallows, " scrag." Properly crutch. Bequille, m. (thieves'), hanged per- son, one who has " cut caper sauce." Bequiller (popular), to hang; to eat, " to grub." Bequilleur, m. (thieves'), execu- tioner ; man who eats. Berce. Chevalquise ,horsewhich rocks from side to side when trot- ting, which " wobbles." Berdouillard (popular), man with a fat paunch, " forty guts." Berdouille Beurlot. 35 Berdouille, f. (popular), belly, " tripes." T'as bouffe des haricots que t'as la ber- douille gonfle. RICHEPIN, Le Pavl. Berge, /., or longe (thieves'), year ; one year's imprisonment, " stretch." Bergere, f. (popular), s-Meetheart, " poll ; " last card in a pack. Eerioono, bericain (thieves'), silly fellow easily deceived, a "flat," a "go along." Berlauder (popular), to lounge about, " to mike ; " logo the round of all the wine-shops in the neigh- bourhood. Berline de commerce,/, (thieves'), tra /estnan's clerk. Berlu, in. (thieves'), blind, or "hoodman." From avoir la ber- lue, to See double. Berlue, /. (thieves'), blanket, " woolly." Bernard, m. (popular), allervoir , or aller voir comment se porte mad am e , to ease oneself, " to go to Mrs. Jones." Bernards, m. pi. (popular), poste- riors, ' ' cheeks. " Berniquer (popular), to go away with the intention of not returning. Berri, m. (popular), rag-picker's basket. Berry, m. (Ecole Polytechnique), fatigue tunic. Bertelo, m. (thieves'), one-franc piece. Bertrand, m. (familiar), a swindler who is swindled by his confederates, who acts as a cat's-paw of other rogues. Berzelius, m. (college), watch. Besoin, m. (popular), autel de , house of ill-fame, or " nanny- shop." Besouille,/ (thieves'), belt. From bezzi, Italian, small coin kept in a belt. Bessons, m. pi. (popular), the breasts, "dairies." Properly twins. Bestiasse,/. (popular), arrant fool; dullard, ' ' buffle-head. " BSte, f. and adj. (thieves'), confe- derate in a swindle at billiards. See Bachotter. (Popular) a bon Dieu, harmless person (pro- perly lady-bird) ; a cornes, fork ; lithographic press ; a deux fins, walking-stick ; a pain, a man; also a man who keeps a woman ; comme ses pieds, arrant fool ; comme chou, extremely stupid ; very easy ; epaulee, girl who has lost her maidenhead (this expression has passed into the language). Une rouge, an advanced Republican, a Radical. Thus termed by the Conser- vatives. Called also " democ- soc. " Betises, /. pi. (popular), question- able, or " blue," talk. Bettander (thieves'), to beg, " to mump," or " cadge." Betterave,/. (popular), drunkard's nose, a nose with " grog blossoms,'* or a " copper nose," such as is possessed by an "admiral of the red." Beuglant, m. (familiar), low music hall ; music hall. Beugler (popular), to weep, " to nap one's bib." Beugne,/! (popular), blow, "clout," " bang," or " wipe." Beurloquin, m. (popular), proprie- tor of boot warehouse of a very in- ferior sort. Beurlot, m. (popular), shoemaker in a small way. Beurre Bicker. Beurre, m. (familiar), coin, "oof;" more or less laivful gains. Faire son , to make considerable pro- Jits. Mettredu danssesepinards, to add to one's means. Y aller de son , to make a large outlay of money in some business. C'est un , it is excellent, "nobby." Avoir 1'assiette au beurre. See Avoir. Au prix ou est le . See Au. Avoir du sur la tete. See Avoir. Beurre demi-sel, m. (popular), girl or -woman already tainted, in a fair way of becoming a prostitute. Beurrier, m. (thieves'), banker, ' ' rag-shop cove. " Bezef (popular), much. From the Arabic. Biard (thieves'), side. Probably from biais. Bibard, m. (popular), drunkard, or "mop;" aebauchee, or "sad dog." Bibarder (popular), to grow old. Bibarderie, /. (popular), old age. Bibasse, birbasse, adj. and subst. , f. (popular), old ; old woman. Moi j'suis birbass', j'ai b'soin d'larton. RICHEPLN, Chanson des Gueux. Bibasserie. See Bibarderie. Bibassier, m. (popular), sulky grumbler ; over-particular man ; drunkard, " bubber," or "lush- ington." Bibelot (familiar), any object ; (sol- diers' ) belongings ; knapsack or portmanteau ; (printers') sundry small jobs. Properly any small articles of artistic workmanship ; knick-knacks. Bibeloter (popular), to sell one's belongings, one's " traps ; " une affaire, to do some piece of business. Se , to make oneself comfortable ; to do something to one's best advan- tage. Bibeloteur, m. (familiar), a lover of knick-knacks ; one who collects knick-knacks. Bibelotier, m., printers' man who works at sundry small jobs. Bibi, m. (popular), term of endear- ment generally addressed to young boys ; woman's bonnet out of fashion. C'est pour , that's for me, for " number one. " La Muse a , the title of a collection of poems by Gill, literally my own muse. A ! (printers') to Bed- lam ! abbreviation of Bicetre, Paris depdtfor lunatics. (Thieves' ) Bibi, skeleton key, or " betty ; " (military) infantry soldier, .' ' mud- crusher," " wobbler," or " beetle- crusher." Bibine,/., the name given by rag- pickers to a wine-shop, or ' ' booz- ing-ken." Biboire, /. (schoolboys'), small leather or india-rubber cup. Bibon, m. (popular), disreputable old man. Bicarre, m, (college), fourth year pupil in the class Jor higher mathe- matics. Biceps, m. (familiar), avoir du , to be strong. Tater le , to try and insinuate oneself into a per- son's good graces, " to suck up." Bich, kornik, or kubik (Breton), devil. Biche, /. (familiar), term of endear- ment, ' ' ducky ! " ; girl leading a gay life, or " pretty horse-breaker." Bicheganego (Breton), potatoes. Bicher (popular), to kiss. (Rod- fishers') C^a biche, there's a bite ; and in popular language, all right. Bicherie Bigardt. Bicherie, f. (familiar), the world of " biches" or "cocottes." Haute , the world of fashionable pros- titutes. C'est la ou ... on voit defiler avec un frou-frou de sole, la haute et la basse bi- cherie en quete d'une proie, quserens quern devoret. FRBAULT, La Vie a Paris. Bichon, m., term of endearment. Mon ! darling. (Popular) Un , a Sodomist. Bichonner coco (soldiers'), to groom one's horse. Bichon<5, m. pi. (popular), shoes with bows. Bichot, m. (thieves'), bishop. Pro- bably from the English. Bidache,/. See Bidoche. Bidard, m. (popular), lucky. Bidet, m. (convicts'), string which is contrived so as to enable pri- soners to send a letter, and receive the answer by the same means. Bidoche, or barbaque.y; (popu- lar), meat, "bull;" (military) piece of meat. Bidon dezinc,*w. (military), block- head. Properly a can, flask. Bidonner (popular), to drink freely, "to swig;" (sailors') k la cambuse, to drink at the canteen, " to splice the mainbrace." Bie (Breton cant), beer ; water. Bien (popular), panse, intoxicated, ' ' screwed. " Mon , my husband, or " old man ; " my wife, or " old woman." Etre du dernier avec, to be on the most intimate terms with. Etre , to be tipsy, " screwed." Etre en train de faire, to be eating. Un homme , une femme , means a person of the middle class ; well-dressed people. Bienseant, m. (popular), the be- hind, or "tochas." See Vasistas. Bier (thieves'), to go. Us entrant dans le creux, doublent de la batouze, des limes, de 1'artie et puis douce- ment happent le taillis et bient attendre ceux qui se portaient sur le grand trimar. Le jargon de CA rgot. Biere,/. (popular), domino box. Biffe, f. (popular), rag-pickers' trade. Biffer (popular), to ply the rag- pickers' trade ; to eat greedily, "to wolf." Biffeton, m. (thieves'), letter, "screeve," or "stiff;" (popular) counter-mark at theatres. Donner sur le , to read an indictment ; to give information as to the prisoner's character. Biffin, or bifin, m. (popular), rag- picker,or " bone-grubber ; " afoot soldier, or " wobbler, " his knap- sack being assimilated to a rag- picker's basket. Biffre, m. (popular), food, "grub." Passer a , to eat. Passer a a train express, to bolt i,own one's food, "to guzzle." Bifteck, m (popular), a maquart, filthy, " chatty " individual (Ma- quart is the name of a knacker) ; de chamareuse, fiat sausage (chamareuse, a working girl) ; de grisette, fiat sausage. Faire du , to strike, " to clump ;" to ride a hard trotting horse, which sometimes makes one's breech raw. Bifteckifere, adj., that which pro- cures one's living, om's "bread and cheese." Bifurque. At the colleges of the University students may, after the course of " troisieme," take up science and mathematics instead of continuing the classics. This is called bifurcation. Bigard, m. (thieves'), hole. Bigarde (thieves'), pierced. Bige Binwio. Bige. bige ois, bigeot, m. (thieves'), blockhead, ' ' go along ;" dupe, or "gull." Bigorne, m. (thieves'), jaspiner or rouscailler , to talk cant, " to patter flash." Bigorneau, m. (popular), police officer, or " crusher ; " marine, or "jolly." Bigorniau, m. (popular), native of Auvergne, Bigornion, m. (popular), falsehood, " swack up." Bigoter (thieves'), to flay the re- ligious hypocrite, Bigoteur, m. (thieves'), devout per- son. Bigotter, (popular), to pray. Bigrement (familiar), a forcible ex- pression, extremely, " awfully." Bijou, m. (popular), broken victuals, or " manablins ; " (freemasons') badge ; de loge, badge worn on the left side; de 1'ordre, emblem. Bijouter (thieves'), to steal jewels. Bijouterie,/! (popular), money ad- vanced on wages, "dead -horse." Bijoutier, m., bijoutiere, /. (popular), retailer of " arlequins " (which see) ; bijoutiersurlegenou, en cuir, shoemaker, or " snob." Bilboquet, m. (popular), person with a large head ; man who is made fun of; a laughing-stock ; a litre bottle of ivine. Bilboquet, properly cup and ball. (Printers') sundry small jobs. Billancer (thieves'), to serve one's full term of imprisonment. Billancher. (popular), to pay, "to fork out," "to shell out." Billard, m. (popular), devisser son, to die, or "to kick the bucket. " Bille, f. (thieves), money, or " pieces " (from billon) ; (po- pular) head, "tibby," "block," "nut," "canister," "chump," "costard," "attic," &c. ; a chataigne, grotesque head (it is- the practice in France to carve chestnuts into grotesque heads) ; de billard, bald pate, " bladder of lard ; " de bceuf, chitterling. Billemon, billemont, m. (thieves'), bank-note, "soft," "rag," or " flimsy." Billeoz (Breton), money. Billeozi (Breton), to pay. Biller (thieves'), to pay, " to dub." Billet, m. (popular), direct pour Charenton, absinthe taken neat. Prendre un de parterre, to fall, " to come a cropper." Je vous en fous or fiche mon , / assure you if is a fact, " on my Davy," " 'pon my sivvy," or " no flies." Billez (Breton), girl ; peasant wo- man. Bince, m. (thieves'), knife, "chive."' Malheur aux pantres de province, Souvent larde d'un coup de bince, Le micheton nu se sauvait. RICHEPIN, Gueux de Paris. Binelle,/. (popular), bankruptcy. Binellier, m. (popular), bankrupt, " brosier. " Binellophe, / (popular), fraudu- lent bankruptcy. Binette,/. (familiar), face, "phiz ;'* a la desastre, gloomy face. Prendre la a quclqu'un, to take one's portrait. Quelle sale , what an ugly face ! a regular "knocker face." Une drole de , queer face. Binomes, chums working together at the Ecole Polytechniqtie. It is customary for students to pair off for work. Binwio (Breton), male organs of generation. Literally tools. Biqtte Blafarde. 39 Bique, /. (popular), old horse; et bouque, hermaphrodite (equiva- lent to "chevre et bouc "). Birbade, birbasse, birbe, bir- bette, birbon, m. and adj. (thieves' and popular), old ; old man j old woman. Birbassier. See Bibassier. Birbe (popular), old man, old " cod- ger ;" (thieves') dab, grand- father. Birbette, m. (popular), a very old man. Biribi, m. (thieves'), short crowbar used by housebreakers, "James," "the stick," or "jemmy." Termed also "pince monseigneur, rigolo, 1'enfant, Jacques, sucre de pomme, dauphin." Birlibi, m. (thieves'), game played by swindling gamblers with wal- nut shells and dice. Birmingham (familiar), rasoir de (superlative of rasoir), bore. Bisard, m. (thieves'), bellows (from bise, wind). Biscaye (thieves'), Bicetre, a prison. Biscayen (thieves'), madman, one who is " balmy." (Bicetre has a depot for lunatics.) Bischoff, m. drink prepared with white wine, lemon, and sugar. Biscope, orviscope, f, (cads'), cap. La viscope en arriere et la trombine au vent, L'oeil marlou, il entra chez le zingue. RICHEPIN, Gueux de Paris. Biser ('"amiliar), to kiss, Bismarck, couleur ,broivn colour; - en colere, malade, are various shades of brown. Bismarcker (gamesters'), to mark twice ; to appropriate by fair or foul means. It is to be presumed this is an allusion to Bismarck's alleged summary ways of getting possession of divers territories. Bisquant, adj. (popular), provok- ing, annoying. Bissard, m. (popular), brown bread. Bistourne, m. (popular), hunting horn. Bistro, bistrot, m. (popular), land- lord of wine-shop. Bitte et bosse (sailors'), carousing exclamation. Laisse arriver ! voiles largues, et rem- plissez les boujarons, vous autres ! Tout a la noce ! Bitte et bosse ! RICHEPIN. La Glu. Bitter cuirasse, m. (familiar), mix- ture of bitters and curafoa. Bitume, m. foot-pavement. De- moiselle du , street-walker. Faire le , to walk the street. Fouler, or polir le , to saunter on the boulevard. Bitumer is said of women who walk the streets. Biture, f. (familiar), excessive in- dulgence in food or drink, " scorf. " Biturer (popular), se , to indulge in a " biture " (which see). Blackboulage, m. (familiar), black- balling. Blackbouler (familiar), to blackball. The expression has now a wider range, and is used specially in re- ference to unreturned candidates to Parliament. Un blackboule du suffrage universel, an unre- turned candidate. Blafard (cads'), silver coin. II avait vu sauter une piece de cent sous, Se cognant au trottoir dans un bruit de cyinbales, Un ecu flambant neuf, un blafard de cinq balles. RICHEPIN, Chanson des Gueux. Blafarde (cads'), death. Blague Blanchir. Blague, f. Literally facility of speech, not of a very high order ; talk ; humbug; fib ; chaff; joke. Avoir de la , to have a ready tongue. N'avoir que la , to be a facile utterer of empty words. Avoir la du metier, to be an adept in showing off knowledge of things relating to one 's profession. Nous avons fait deux heures de , we talked together for two hours. Pas de ! none of your nonsense ; let tts be serious. Pousser une , to cram up; to joke. Sans , / am not joking. Une bonne , a good 'joke ; a good story. Une mauvaise , a bad, ill natured joke ; bad trick. Quelle , what humbug! -what a story ! Ne faire que des blagues is said of a literary man whose pro- ductions are of no importance. (Popular) Blague sous 1'aisselle ! no more humbugging! I am not joking! dans le com\ joking apart ; seriously. Blaguer (familiar), to chat ; to talk ; to joke ; not to be in earnest ; to draw the long-bow; to quiz, to chaff, to humbug one, " to pull the leg;" to make a jaunty show of courage. Tu blagues tout le temps, you talk all the time. II avail 1'air de blaguermaisil n'etait pas a la noce, he made a show of bravery, but he was far from being comfortable. Blagues a tabac, /. (popular), withered bosoms. Blagueur, blagueuse (familiar), humbug; story-teller ; one who rails at, scoffer. Blaichard (popular), clerk, or " quill-driver." Et les ouvriers en vidant a midi une bonne chorine, la trogne allumee, les re- gards souriants, se moquent des dejetes, des blaichards. RICHEPIN, Le Pav(. Blair, blaire, m. (popular), nose, "boko," "smeller," "snorter," or "conk." Se piquer le , to get tipsy. See Se sculpter. Si les prop' a rien . . . Ont 1'drojt de s'piquer 1'blaire, Moi qu'ai toujours a faire . . . J'peux boire un coup d'bleu. RICHEPIN, Chanson des Guenx. Blaireau, m. (military), recruit, or " Johnny raw ; " a broom ; foolish young man who aspires to literary honours and who squanders his money in the company of journa- listic Bohemians. Blanc, m. (popular), street-walker ; white wine ; white brandy ; one- franc piece. (Printers') Jeter du , to interline. (Thieves') N'etre pas , to have a misdeed on one's conscience; to be liable to be "wanted." (Military) Faire faire a quelqu'un de sa bourse, to draw freely on another's purse ; to live at another's expense in a mean and paltry manner, " to spunge." (Familiar) Blanc, one of the Legitimist party. The appellation used to be given in 1851 to Monarchists or Bona- partists. Enfin pour terminer 1'histoire, De mon boeuf blanc ne parlons plus. Je veux le mener a la foire, A qui le veut pour dix e"cus. De quelque sot fait-il Paffaire, Je le donne pour peu d'argent, Car je sais qu'en France on prefere Le rouge au blanc. PIERRE BARRERE, 1851. Blanchemont, m. (thieves'), pivois de , white wine. Blanches, / //. (printers'). The different varieties of type are : " blanches, grasses, maigres, al- longees, noires, larges, ombrees, perlees, 1'Anglaise, 1'Americaine, la grosse Normande. " Blanchi, adj. (popular), mal , negro, or " darkey." Blanchir (journalists'), to make many breaks in one's manuscript, m uch fresh -a- lining. Blanchisseur Blonde. Blanchisseur, m. (popular), bar- rister ; (literary) one who revises a manuscript, who gives it the proper literary form. Blanchisseuse de tuyaux de pipe (popular), variety of prosti- tute. See Gadoue. Blanc-partout, m. (popular), pas- try-cook's boy. Phis generalement connu sous le nom de gate-sauce, de'signe aussi sous le nom de blanc-partout, le patronnet est ce petit bout d'homme que Ton rencontre environ tous les cinq cents pas. RICHEPIN, Le Pave. Blancs, m. pi. (familiar), d'Eu, partisans of the D' Orleans family; d'Espagne, Carlists. Blanc-vilain, m. (popular), man whose functions consist in throwing poisoned meat to wandering dogs. Blanquette, f. (thieves'), silver coin; silver plate. II lira de sa poche onze cpuverts d'ar- gent et deux montres d'or qu'il posa sur le gueridon. 400 balles tout cela, ce n'est pas cher, les bogues d'Orient et la blan- quette r aliens aboule du carle. VIDOCQ, idimoirts. Blanquetter (thieves'), to silver. Blanquettier (thieves'), silverer. Blard, or blavard, m. (thieves'), shawl. Blase, e, adj. (thieves'), swollen* From the German blasen, to blow. Blave, blavin, m. (thieves'), hand- kerchief, " muckinger" (from the old word blave, blue} ; necktie, "neckinger." Blavin, m. (thieves'), pocket- pistol, "pops." An allusion to blavin, pocket-handkerchief. Blaviniste, m. (thieves'), pickpocket who devotes his attention to hand- kerchiefs, " stook hauler. " Ble, ble battu, m. (popular), money, ' ' loaver. " Bleche, adj. , middling ; bad ; ugly. Faire banque , not to get any pay. Faire , to make a " bad " at a game, such as the game of fives for instance. Bleu, m. (military), recruit, or " Johnny raw ; " new-comer at the cavalry school of Saumur ; (thieves') cloak ; also name given to Republican soldiers by the Roya- list rebels of Brittany in 1793. After 1815 the Monarchists gave the appellation to Bonapartists. (Popular) Petit , red wine. Avoir un coup d' , to be slightly tipsy, "elevated." See Pom- pette. Quand j'siffle un canon . . . C'est pas pour faire 1'pantre. C'est qu' j'ai plus d'cceur au ventre . . . Apres un coup d'bleu. RICHEI-IN, Chanson des Gueux. (Familiar) Bleu, adj. astounding; incredible ; hard to stomach. En etre ; en bailler tout ; en rester tout , to be stupefied, much annoyed or disappointed, "to look blue;" to be suddenly in a gi-eat rage. (Theatrical) Etre , to be utterly worthless. Bleue (familiar), elle est celle-la; en voila une de ; je la trouve , refers to anything incredible, dis- appointing, annoying, hard to stomach. Une colere , violent rage. Blezimarder (theatrical), to inter- rupt an actor. Bloc, m., military cell, prison, "mill," "Irish theatre," "jigger." Blockaus, m. (military), shako. Blond, m. (popular), beau , man who is neither fair nor handsome; (thieves') the sun. Blonde, / (popular), bottle of white wine; sweetheart, or "jomer;" glass of ale at certain cafes, ' ' brune " being the denomination for porter. Bloqut Bceuf. Bloque, adj. (printers'), etre a la banque, to receive no pay. Bloquer (military), to imprison, confine; (popular) to sell, to for- sake ; (printers') to replace tem- porarily one letter by another, to use a " turned sort." Bloquir (popular), to sell. Blot, m. (popular and thieves'), price ; affair; concern in anything; share, or "whack." Ca fait mon , that suits me. Nib dans mes blots, that is not my affair ; that does not suit me. L'turbin c'est bon pour qui qu'est mouche, A moi, il fait nib dans mes blots. RICHEPIN, Chanson des Gueux. Bloumard, m., bloume, /. (popu- lar), hat, "tile." Blouse, f. (familiar), the working classes. Mettre quelqu'un dans la , to imprison, or cause one to fall into a snare. Une blouse is properly a billiard pocket. Blousier, m. (familiar), ccui, 1 ' rank outsider. " Bobe, m. (thieves'), watch, "tat- tler." Fairele , to ease a drunkard of his watch, " to claim a canon's red toy." Bobechon, m. (popular), head, "nut." Se monter le , to be enthusiastic. Bobelins, m. pi. (popular), boots, " hock -dockies," or "trotter- cases." See Ripatons. Bobinasse, /. (popular), head, ' ' block. " Bobine,yl (popular), face, "mug" (old word bobe, grimace). Une sale , ugly face. Plus de fil sur la . See Avoir. Se richer de la k quelqu'un, to laugh at one. Un cocher passe, je 1'appelle, Et j'lui dis : dites done 1'ami ; Via deux francs, j'prends vot' berline Conduisez-moi Pare Monceau. Deux francs ! tu t'fiches d'ma bobine, Va done, eh ! fourneau ! Parisian Song. Bobino. See Bobe. Bobonne, for bonne, nursery- maid ; servant girl, or "slavey." Bobosse, /. (popular), humpback, "lord." Bobottier, m. (popular), one who complains apropos of nothing. From bobo, a slight ailment. Boc, m. (popular), house of ill-fame, "nanny-shop." Bocal, m. (popular), lodgings, "crib;" stomach, "bread basket." Se coller quelque chose dans le , to eat. Se rincer le , to drink, "to wet one's whistle." (Thieves') Bocal, pane, glass. Bocard, m. (popular), cafe ; house of ill-fame, " nanny-shop ; " panne, small coffee-shop. Bocari, m. (thieves'), the town of Beaucaire. Boche, m. (popular), rake, " rip," " molrower."or "beard splitter." Tete de , an expression applied to a dull-witted person. Literally wooden head. Also a German. Bocker (familiar), to drink bocks. Bocotter, to grumble ; to mutter. Literally to bleat like a bocquotte, goat. Bocque, bogue, m. (thieves'), watch, "tattler." Bocson (common), house of ill- fame, ' ' nanny-shop ; " (thieves') lodgings, " dossing-ken." Montron ouvre ta lourde, Si tu veux que j'aboiile Et piausse en ton bocson. VIDOCQ, Mf moires, Bceuf, m. (popular), king of play- ing cards ; shoemaker's workman, or journeyman tailor, who does rough jobs. Avoir son , to get angry, " to nab the rust." Etre le , to work without profit. Se mettre dans le , to be reduced in Bceitfier Bolero. 43 circumstances, an allusion to bceuf bouiili, very plain fare. (Printers') Boeuf, composition of a few lines done for an absentee. Boeuf, adj. extraordinary, " stunning;" enor- mous ; synonymous of "chic " at the Ecole Saint-Cyr ; (cads') plea- sant. Bceufier, m. (popular), man of choleric disposition, one prone "to nab his rust." Boffete,/, box on the ear, "buck- horse. " From the old word buffet. Bog, orbogue,/ (thieves'), watch; en jonc, d'orient, gold watch, " red 'un," or " red toy;" en platre, silver watch, "white *un." J'enflaque sa limace, Son bogue, ses fiusques, ses passes. VIDOCQ. Boguiste (thieves'), watch-maker. Boire (printers'), de 1'encre is said of one who on joining a party of boon companions finds all the liquor has been disposed of. He will then probably exclaim, Est-ce que vous croyez que je vais boire de lencre? BOUTMY. (Familiar) dans la grande tasse, to bearcnvned ; (actors') du lait, to obtain applause ; line goutte, to be hissed, " to be goosed." Bois, m. (cads'), pourri, tinder ; (thieves') tortu, vine. (Thea- trical) Avoir du , or mettre du , to have friends distributed here and there among the spectators, whose applause excites the enthu- siasm of the audience. Literally to put on fuel. Boisseau, m. (popular), shako; tall hat, "chimneypot." For synonyms see Tubard ; litre wine bottle. Boissonner (popular), to drink heavily, " to swill." Boissonneur (popular), assiduous frequenter of wine-shop, a " lush- ington." Boissonnier (popular), one who drinks heavily, a " lushington. " Boite, f. (familiar and popular), mean house, lodging-house, or re- staurant ; trading establishment managed in an unbusiness-like manner ; one's employer's establish- ment ; workshop ; crammer's es- tablishment ; disorderly household; carriage, or " trap ;" a comes, hat or cap ; a dominos, coffin, " cold meat box ;" a gaz, sto- mach ; a surprises, the head of a learned man; a violon, coffin ; au sel, head, " tibby ;" aux cailloux, prison, "stone-jug;" d'echantillons, latrine tub; (thieves') a Pandore, box con- taining soft wax for taking im- prints of keyholes ; (military) guard-room, "jigger;" aux reflexions, cells. Boulotter de la , coucher a la , to get fre- quently locked up. Grosse , prison. (Printers') Bolte, printer's shop, and more particularly one of the inferior sort. " C'est une boite," dit un vieux singe ; " il y a toujours meche, mais hasard ! au bout de la quinzaine, banque bleche." Faire sa , to distribute into one's case. Pilleur de , or fricoteur, one who takes on the sly type from fellow compositor's case. Bolter (popular), des calots, to squint, to be " boss-eyed ; " (thieves') des chasses, to squint, to be " squinny-eyed." Bolero, m. (familiar), a kind of lady's hat, Spanish fashion. 44 Bolivar Bonique. Bolivar, m. (popular), hat, "tile." Bombe, f. (popular), wine measure, about half a litre ; (military) de vieux oint, bladder of lard. Gare la ! look out for squalls ! Bombe, m. (popular), hunchback, "lord." Bon, man to be relied on in any circumstance ; one who is " game ;" man wanted by the police. Etre le , to be arrested, or the right man. Vous etes vous ! you amuse me! -well, that's good ! (Printers') Bon, proof which bears the author's intimation, " bon a tirer," for press. Avoir du , to have some composition not entered in one's account, and reserved for the next. (Familiar) Bon jeune homme, candid young man, in other terms greenhorn ; (popular) pour cadet is said of a dull paper, or of an unpleasant letter ; sang de bon sang, mild oath elicited by astonish- ment or indignation. (Popular and familiar) Etre des bons, to be all right, safe. Nous arrivons a temps, nous sommes des bons. Le endroit, posteriors. Donner un coup de pied juste au en- droit, to kick one's behind, to "hoof one's bum." Arriver premier, to surpass all rivals, " to beat hollow." Bonbon, m. (popular), pimple. Bonbonniere, f. (popular), latrine tub ; a filous, omnibus. Bonde (thieves'), central prison. Bon-Dieu (soldiers'), sword. (Popu- lar) II n'y a pas de , that is, il n'y a pas de qui puisse empecher cela. (Convicts') Short diary of fatigue parties at the hulks. Bondieusard, m. (familiar), bigot ; dealer in articles used for worship in churches. Bondieusardisme,^, bigotry. Bondieuserie, /, article used for worship ; dealing in such articles. Bonhomme, m. (thieves'), saint. (Familiar and popular) Un , an individual, a " party. " Mon , my good fellow. Petit de chemin, see Aller. Bonicard, m., bonicarde, f. (thieves'), old man, old woman. Boniface, m. (popular), simple- minded man, " flat," or " green- horn." Bonifacement (popular), with simplicity. Boniment, m. (familiar), puffing speech of quacks, of mountebanks, of shopmen, of street vendors, of three-card-trick sharpers, and generally clap-trap speech in re- commendation or explanation of anything. Richepin, in his Pave, gives a good specimen of the " boniment " of a " maquil- leur de bremes," or three-card- trick sharper. Accroupi, les doigts tripotant trois cartes au ras du sol, le pif en 1'air, les yeux dan- sants, un voyou en chapeau melon glapit son boniment d'une voix a la fpis trainante et volubile : . . . . C'est moi qui perds. Tant pire, mon p'tit pere ! Rase', le ban- quier ! Encore un tour, mon amour. Via le coeur, cochon de bonheur ! C'est pour finir. Mon fond, qui se fond. Trefle qui gagne. Carreau, c'est le bagne. Coeur, du beurre, pour le voyeur. Trefle, c'est tabac ! Tabac pour papa. Qui qu'en veut ? Un peu, mon neveu ! La v'la. Le trifle gagne ! Le coeur perd. Le car- reau perd. Voyez la danse ! Ca recom- mence. Je le mets Ik. II est ici, merci. Vous allez bien ? Moi aussi. Elle passe. Elle de'passe. C'est moi qui trepasse, helas ! . . . Regardez bien ! C'est le coup de chien. Passe" ! C'est assez ! Enfonce ! II y a vingt-cinque francs au jeu ! &c. Bonique, m. (thieves'), white-haired old man. Bon ir Bordelier. 45 Bonir (thieves'), to talk ; to say, " to patter ;" au ratichon, to con- fess to a priest. Le dardant riffaudait ses lombes, Lubre il bonissait aux palombes, Vous grublez comme un guichemard. RICHEPIN, Chanson des Gueux. Bonisseur, m., one who makes a "bonhnent"( which see); (thieves') barrister ; de la bate, -witness for the defence, Bonjour, m. (thieves'), voleur au , bonjourier, or chevalier grimpant, thief who, at an early hour, enters a house or hotel, walks into a room, and appropriates any suit- able article. If the person in bed wakes up, the rogue politely apologises for his pretended error. Other thieves of the same descrip- tion commence operations at din- ner-time. They enter a dining- room, and seize the silver plate laid out on the table. This is called "goupiner a la desserte." Bon motif, m. (familar). Faire la cour a une fille pour le , to make love to a girl with honourable intentions. Bonne, adj. (familiar), amusing, or the reverse. Elle est bien , what a good joke ! what a joke ! Elle est , celle-la ! well, it is too bad ! what next? (Popular) Etre a la , to be loved. Etre de la , to be lucky. Avoir a la , to like. Bonne fortanche, female sooth- sayer ; grace, cloth used by tailors as wrappers. Bonnet, m., secret covenant among printers. Espece de ligue offensive et defensive que forment quelques compositeurs em- ployes depuis longtemps dans une maison et qui ont tous, pour ainsi dire la tete sous le raeme bonnet. Rien de moins fraternel que le bonnet. II fait la pluie et le beau temps dans un atelier, distribue les mises en page et les travaux les plus avantageux a ceux qui en font partie. E. BOUTMY, A rgot des Typographes. (Thieves') carre,/wai?, or "cove with the jazey ; " vert a per- pete, one sentenced to penal sen-i- tude for life, or " lifer ;" (popular) de colon, lumbering, weak man, or " sappy ; " mean man, or "scurf;" de nuit sans coiffe, man of a melancholy disposition, or ' ' croaker ;" d'eveque, rump of a fowl, or "parson's nose." (Familiar) Bonnet, small box at theatres ; jaune, twenty-franc coin ; (military) de police, recruit, or "Johnny raw." Bonneteau, m., jeu de , card- sharping game ; three-card trick. Bonneteur, m., card-sharper, or "broadsman." Bonnichon, m. (popular), working girl's cap. Bono (popular), good, middling. Bons, m. (military), la sonnerie des de tabac, (ironical) trumpet call for those confined to barracks. Borde (cocottes'), etre , to have renounced the pleasures of love, "si/a sponte," or othenvise. Lite- rally to be lying in bed with the bed-clothes tucked in. Bordee, f. (familiar and popular), unlawful absence. Tirer une , to absent oneself for some amuse- ment of a questionable character ; to go "on the booze." La paie de grande quinzaine emplissait le trottoir d'une bousculade de gouapeurs tirant une bordee. ZOLA. Bordee de coups de poings, rapid delivery of blows, or " fibbing." Bordel, m. (popular), small f aggot ; tools ; ambulant, hackney coach. Bordelier(popular), libertine, "mol- rower," or "mutton-monger." Borgne Boucher. Bouant, m. (cads'), /^, or "angel." From boue, mud. Boubane,/ (thieves'), wig, " peri- winkle." Boubouar (Breton), ox; cattle in general. Boubouerien (Breton), threshing machine. Boubouille (popular), bad cookery. Bouc, m. (popular), husband whose wife is unfaithful to him, a "cuckold." Properly he-goat; (familiar) beard on chin, "goatee." Boucan, m., great uproar, "shindy." J'ai ma troupe, je distribue les r61es, j 'organise la claque. . . . J'etablis la contre- partie pour les interruptions et le boucan. (Popular) Donner un a quel- qu'un, to give a blow or " clout " to one. Boucanade, / (thieves'), bribing or ' ' greasing " a witness. Coquer la , to bribe. Literally to treat to drink. In Spain wine is in- closed in goatskins, hence the expression. Boucaner (popular), to make a great uproar ; to stink. Boucaneur, m. (popular), one fond of women, who goes "molrow- ing," or a " mutton-monger." Boucaniere, f. (popular), woman too fond of men. Boucard, m. (thieves'), shop, "chovey." Boucardier, m. (thieves'), thief who breaks into shops. Bouche-l'ceil, m. (prostitutes'), a five, ten, or twenty -franc piece. Boucher (thieves'), surgeon, " nim- gimmer ; " (familiar) un trou, to pay part of debt ; (popular) la lumiere, to give a kick in the Borgne, m. (cads'), breech, or "blind cheek;" ace of cards ; de cceur, ace of hearts, ' ' pig's eye." Borgner (cads'), to look. Borgniat (popular), one-eyed man, " boss-eyed." Borne de vieux oint,/. (popular), bladder of lard. Bos (Breton), well ; well done! Bosco, boscot, boscotte, stunted man or woman ; hunchback. Bosse,/ (familiar), excessive eating and drinking ; excess of any kind. Se donner, se flanquer une , to get a good fill, " a tightener." Se faire des bosses, to amuse oneself amazingly. Se donner, se flanquer une de rire, to split with laughter. Rouler sa , to go along. Tomber sur la , to attack, to "pitch into." Bosselard, m. (familiar), silk hat, " tile." Bosser (popular), to laugh ; t amuse oneself. Bossmar, m. (thieves'), hunchback, "lord." Bossoirs, m. pi. (sailors'), bosoms. Gabarit sans , thin breasts. Botte, f. (popular), de neuf jours, or en galte, boot out at the sole. Jours, literally days, chinks. Du jus de , kicks. (Sailors') Jus de premier brin, rum of the first quality. Better (popular), to suit. Ca me botte, that just suits me, just the thing for me. Bolter, to kick one's breech, or " to toe one's bum," "to root," or " to land a kick." Bottier (popular), one who is fond of kicking. Bouche-trou Bousrre. 47 breech, " to hoof one's bum," or "to land a kick." Lumiere, properly touch-hole. Bouche-trou, m. The best scho- lars in all University colleges are allowed to compete at a yearly examination called "grand con- cours." The " bouche-trou " is one who acts as a substitute for anyone who for some reason or other finds himself prevented from competing. (Literary) Lite- rary production used as a make- shift ; (theatrical) actor whose functions are to act as a substi- tute in a case of emergency. Bouchon, m. (thieves'), purse, "skin," or " poge ; " (popular) a younger brother ; bottle of wine with a waxed cork ; quality, kind, " kidney." Etre d'un bon , to be an amusing, good-humoured fellow, or a "brick." S'asseoir sur le , to sit on the bare ground. Bouclage, m. (thieves'), handcuffs, or ' ' bracelets ; " bonds ; imprison- ment. Boucle (thieves'), imprisoned, or "slowed." Boucler (thieves'), to shut, "to dub ; " to imprison. Bouclez la Jourde ! shut the door! Boucle zoze, m. (thieves'), brown bread. Bouder (literally to be sulky) is said of a player who does not call for fresh dominoes when he has the option of doing so ; (popular) a 1'ouvrage, to be lazy ; au feu, to show fear ; aux dominos, to be minus several teeth. Boudin, m. (thieves'), bolt; stomach. Boudine, m. (familiar), swell, or "masher." At the time the ex- pression came into use, dandies sported tight or horsey-looking clothes, which imparted to the wearer some vague resemblance with a boudin, or large sausage. For list of synonymous expres- sions, see Gommeux. Boudins, m. pi. (popular), fat fingers and hands. Boueux, m. (popular), scavenger. Bouffard, m. (popular), smoker. Bouffarde, / (popular), pipe, or "cutty." Bouffarder (popular), to smoke, to " blow a cloud." Bouffardiere, f. (popular), an estaminet, that is, a cafe where smoking is allowed ; chimney. Bouffe,/. (popular), box on the ear, " buckhorse." Bouffe -la-Balle, m., gormandizer, or " stodger ; " man with a fat, puffed- up, dumpling face. Bouffer (military), la botte, to be bamboozled by a woman, in what circumstances it is needless to say. (Popular) Bouffer, to eat. Se le nez, to fight. Bouffeter (popular), to chat. Bouffeur, m. (popular), de blanc, prostitute's bully, " pensioner ; " de kilometres, a nickname for the " Chasseurs de Vin- cennes," a picked body of rifles who do duty as skirmi'hers and scouts, and who are noted for their agility. Bouffiasse, m. (popular), man with fat, puffed-tip cheeks. Bougie,/, (popular), walking-stick; a blind man's stick ; grasse, candle. Bougre, m. (popular), stalwart and plucky man, one who is " spry ; " a poils, dauntless, resolute man. Bon , a good fellow, a "brick." Mauvais , man of a snarling, evil-minded disposition. The word 4 8 Bougrement Boulendos. is used often with a disparaging sense, Bougre de cochon, you dirty pig ; de serin, you ass. Littre derives the word bougre from Bulgarus, Bulgarian. The heretic Albigeois, who shared the religious ideas of some of the Bul- garians, received the name of " bougres." Bougrement (popular), extremely. C'est difficile, it is awfully hard. Boui, m. (popular), house of ill- fame ', "nanny-shop." Bouiboui, bouisbouis, m. puppet ; small theatre; low music-hall; ga m bling place. Bouif, m. (popular), conceited "priggish" person; bad work- man. Bouillabaisse (popular), confused medley of things, people, or ideas. Properly a Provencal dish made up of all kinds of fish boiled toge- ther, with spicy seasoning, garlic, &c. Bouillante,y; (soldiers'), soup. Bouillie, f. (popular), pour les chats, unsuccessful undertaking. Faire de la pour les chats, to do any useless thing. Bouillon, ;. (familiar and popu- lar), rain; unsold numbers of a book or newspaper ; financial or business losses ; aveugle, thin broth ; de canard, water ; de veau, mild literature ; d'onze heures, poison; drowning; gras, sulphuric acid (an allusion to a case of vitriol-throwing by a woman named Gras) ; pointu, bayonet thrust; clyster ; qui chauffe, rain-cloud. Boire le , to die. ( Fishermens') Bouillon de harengs, shoal of herrings. Bouillonner (popular), to suffer pecuniary losses consequent on the failure of an undertaking- ; to have a bad sale ; to eat at a bouillon restaurant. Bouillonneuse, f., female who prepares bouillon at restaurants. Bouillote, / (popular), vieille , old fool, "doddering old sheep's head." Bouis, m. (thieves'), whip. Bouiser, to whip, "to flush." Boulage, m. (popular), refusal; snub. Boulange,/r, for boulangerie. Boulanger, m. (thieves'), charcoal dealer; the devil, "old scratch," or "Ruffin." Le qui met les damnes au four, the devil. Remer- cier son , to die. Boulangers, m. pi. (military), formerly military convicts (an allusion to their light-coloured vestments). Boule,/ (popular), head, "block." Avoir la detraquee, a 1'envers, to be crazy, " wrong in the upper storey." Boule de jardin, bald fate, ' ' bladder of lard ;" de Siam, grotesque head ; de singe, ugly face. Bonne , queer face, " rum phiz." Perdre la , to lost- one's head. Boule de neige, negro ; rouge, gay girl of the Quar- tier de la Boule Rouge, Faubourg Montmartre. Yeux en de loto, goggle eyes. (Military) Boule de son, loaf, bread. (Thieves') Boule, a fair ; prison loaf ; de son e'tame, white bread; jaune, pumpkin. Bouleau, m. See Bucherie. Boule-Miche, m., abbreviation of Boulevard Saint-Michel. Boulendos, m. (boule en dos), (popular), humpback, or "lord." Bolder Bourbon. 49 Bouler (popular), to thrash, " to whop ;" to beat at a game, to de- ceive, to take in. Envoyer , to send to the deuce (old word bouler, to roll along). Boulet, m. (popular), bore ; a cotes, a queue, melon ; jaune, pumpkin. Boulette, f. (popular), de poiv- rot, bunch of grapes (poivrot, slang term for drunkard). Bouleur, m., bouleuse, / (thea- trical), actor or actress who takes the part of absentees in the per- formance. Bouleux, m. (popular), skittle player. Boulevarder, to be a frequenter of the Boulevards. Boulevardier, m., one who fre- quents the Boulevards ; journalist who is a frequenter of the Boule- vard cafes. Esprit , kind of wit peculiar to the Boulevardiers. Boulevardiere, f. (familiar), pros- titute of a better class who walks the Boulevards. Depuis cinq heures du soir la Boulevar- diere va du grand HStel a Brebant avec la regularite implacable d'un balancier de pendule. PAUL MAHALIN. Boulin, m. (thieves'), hole. Caler des boulins aux lourdes, to bore holes in the doors. Bouline,/". (swindlers'), collection of money, " break," or " lead." Bouliner (thieves'), to bore holes in a wall or shutters ; to steal by means of the above process. Boulinguer (thieves'), to tear; to conduct an affair ; to manage. Se , to know how to conduct oneself ; to behave. Bouloire, / (popular), bowling- green. Boulon, m. (thieves'), vol au , theft by means of a rod and hook passed through a hole in the shutters. Boulonnaise (popular), girl of in- different character who walks the Bois de Boulogne. Boulots, m. (popular), round shaped beans. Boulotter (thieves'), to assist a com- rade ; (popular) to be in good health ; to be prosperous ; to eat, "to grub;" de la galette, to spend money. Et tout le monde se disperse, vivement, excepte les trois comperes et le mome, qui rentrent d'un pas tranquille dans Paris, pour y fricoter 1'argent des imbeciles, y boulotter la galette des sinves. RICHEPIN, Le Pavt. Eh ! bien, ma vieille branche ! comment va la place d'armes ? Merci, 9a boulotte. Well, old cock, how are you ? Thanh, I am all right. Boum ! a high-sounding, ringing word bawled out in a grave key by cafe waiters in order to emphasize their call for coffee to the attendant whose special duty it is to pour it out. Versez a 1'as ! Boum ! This peculiar call was brought into fashion by a waiter of the Cafe de la Rotonde at the Palais Royal, whose stentorian voice made the fortune of the establish- ment. Bouquet, m. (cads'), gift, present. Bouquine,/, beard grown on the chin, or "goatee." Bourbe,/. (popular), the hospital of "la Maternite." Bourbon (popular), nose, "boko." From nez a la Bourbon, the members of that dynasty being distinguished by prominent thick noses verging on the aquiline. Bourdon Bourre-coqnins. Bourdon, m. (thieves'), prostitute, " hunter ;" (printers') words left out by mistake in composing. Bourdonniste, m. (printers'), one in the habit of making bourdons (which see). Bourgeois, m. (thieves'), forbourg, a large village. Literally man of the middle class. The peasants give this appellation to the towns- people; a coachman to his "fare;" workmen and servants to their employer ; workpeople to the master of a house ; soldiers to civilians ; artists and literary men use it contemptuously to denote a man with matter-of-fact, unartistic tastes, also a man outside their profession ; the anarchists apply the epithet to one who does not share their views. (Popular) Mon , my husband, "my old man." Eh! dites done, , I say, gover- nor. (Officers') Se mettre en , to dress in plain clothes, in "mufti." (Familiar) C'est bien , it is vulgar, devoid of taste. Bourgeoisade, f., anything, -whe- ther it be deed or thought, which savours of the bourgeois' ways ; a vulgar platitude* The bourgeois, in the disparaging sense of the term of course, is a man of a singularly matter-of-fact, selfish disposition, and one incapable of being moved by higher motives than those of personal interest. His doings, his mode of life, all his surroundings bear the stamp of an unrefined idiosyncrasy. Though a staunch Conservative at heart, he is fond of indulging in a timid, mild opposition to Government, yet he even goes so far sometimes as to send to Par- liament men whose views are at variance with his own, merely to give himself the pleasure of ' ' teach- ing a lesson " to the " powers that be." A man of Voltairian ten- dencies, yet he allows his wife and daughters to approach the perilous secrecy and the allurements of the confessional When he happens to be a Republican, he rants furiously about equality, yet he protests that it is a shocking state of affairs which permits of his only son and spoilt child being made to serve in the ranks by the side of the workman or clod- hopper. By no means a fire- eater, he is withal a bloodthirsty mortal and a loud-tongued Chau- vinist, but as he has the greatest respect for the integrity of his person, and entertains a perfect horror of blows, he likes to see others carry out for him his pug- nacious aspirations in a practical way. Bourgeoise,/! (popular), the mis- tress of a house or establishment. Ma , my wife, "my old woman. " Bourgeron, m. (popular), small glass of brandy; (soldiers') a civilian. Properly a kind of short smock-frock. Bourguignon (popular), the sun. Bourlingue, m. (popular)), dis- missal, " the sack." Bourlinguer, to dismiss; to get on with difficulty in life. From a naval term. Bourlingueur, m. (popular), master, " boss ; " foreman. Bourrasque, /. (thieves'), raid by the police. Bourreau des cranes, ;//. (mili- tary), bully, fire-eater. Bourre-boyaux, m. (popular), eat- ing-house, "grubbing crib." Bourre-coquins, m. pi. (popular), beans. Beans form the staple food of convicts. Bourre-de-soie Bout. Bourre-de-so ; e, f. (cads'), kept girl, " poll." Bourree, f. (popular), hustling, " hunch." Bourrer (familiar), en une, to smoke a p'pe, " to blow a cloud." Bourreur, m. (thieves'), de pegres, penal code : (printers') de lignes, compositor of the body part of a composition, a task generally entrusted to unskilled compositors, unable to deal with more intricate work. Bourriche, f. (popular), blockhead, " cabbage - head. " Properly hamper. Bourrichon, m. (popular), head. See Tronche. Se monter, or se charpenterle , to entertain strong illusions, to be too sanguine. Bourricot (popular), c'est , that comes to the same thing ; it is all the same to me. Bourrier, ;;/. (popular), dirt, dung. Bourrique, f. (popular), tourner en , to become stupid, or crazy. Faire tourner quelqu'un en , to make one crazy by dint of badger- ing or angering. Get enfant est toujours a me tourmenter, il me fera tourner en , this naughty child-will drive me mad. (Thieves') Bourrique, informer, " nark ; " 9\W police officer, Bourrique a Robespierre (popu- lar), comme la , corresponds to the simile like blazes. Saoul comme la , awfully drunk. Bourser (popular), se , to go to bed, to get into the ' ' doss. " Boursicoter (familiar), to speculate in a small way on the stocks. Boursicoteur,/, boursicotier, m. (familiar), speculator in a small way. Boursicotierisme, m. (familiar), occupation of those who speculate on 'Change. Boursillonner (popular), to "club" for expenses by each contributing a small sum. Bouscaille,/. (thieves'), mud. Bouscailleur, street-sweeper, sca- venger. Bouse, f. (popular), de vache, spinach. Bousiller (popular), to work rapidly but carelessly and clumsily. Bousilleur (popular), careless, clumsy -workman. Bousilleuse (popular), woman who is careless of her belongings, who is the reverse of thrifty. Bousin, m. (popular), uproar, dis- turbance, row, "shindy;" drink- ing-shop, "lush-crib;" house of ill-fame, " flash drum." Bousineur (popular), an adept at creating a disturbance. Bousingot, m. (popular) wine-shop, ' ' lush - crib ; " Republican or literary Bohemian in the earlier years of Louis Philippe. Bous^ole./ (familiar), head, brains. Perdre la , to lose one's head, "to be at sea;" to become mad. (Popular) Boussole de refroidi, or de singe, a Dutch cheese. Boustifaille, f. (familiar), pro- visions, food, ' ' grub. " Boustifailler, to tot plentifully. Bout, m. (tailors'), flanquer son , to dismiss from one's employment. (Military) Bout de cigare, short man; (popular) de cul, short per- son, or "forty foot ;" d'homme, de femme, undersized person, or Boutanche Brancard. " hop o' my thumb ; " coupe, kind of cheap cigar with a clipped end. Boutanche, /. (thieves'), shop, " chovey." Courtaud de , shop- man, a "knight of the yard." Bouteille, f. (popular), nose, " boko." Avoir un coup de , to be tipsy. C'est la a 1'encre is said of any mysterious, incomprehen- sible affair. (Printers') Une a encre, a printing establishment, thus called on account of the diffi- culty of drawing up accurate ac- counts of authors' corrections. Bouterne,/. (popular), glazed case containing jewels exhibited as prizes for the winners at a game of dice. The game is played at fairs with eight dice, loaded of course. Bouternier, m., bouterniere, f., proprietor of a bouterne (which see). Boutique, f., used disparagingly to denote one s employer's office; news- paper offices ; disorderly house of business ; clique. Esprit de , synonymous of esprit de corps, but used disparagingly. Etre de la , to be one of, to belong t a political clique or administration of any description. Montrer toute sa , is said of a girl or woman who accidentally or otherwise exposes her person. Parler , to talk shop. Boutiquer (popular), to do anything with reluctance ; to do it badly. Boutiquier, m. (familiar), narrow- minted or mean man. Literally shopkeeper. Boutogue, f. (thieves'), shop, or "chovey." Bouton, m. (thieves'), master key ; (popular) twenty-franc piece; de guetre, five-franc gold-piece ; de pieu, bug, or " German duck." Boutonner (familiar), to touch with the foil ; to annoy, to bore. Bouture, / (popular), de putain, low, insulting epithet, which may be rendered by the equally low one, son of a bitch. Bouture, slip of a plant. Boxon, m. (popular), brothel, or " nanny-shop." Boyau, m. (popular), rouge, hard drinker, or " rare lapper." Boye, m. (thieves'), warder, or "bloke;" convict who performs the functions of executioner at the convict settlements of Cayenne or New Caledonia. Brae, m. (thieves'), name, "mon- niker," or "monarch." Braconner (gamesters'), to cheat, or "to bite." Properly to poach. Brader (popular), to sell articles dirt cheap. Braillande, braillarde,/ (thieves'), drawers. From the old word braies, breeches. Braillard, m. (popular), street singer, or "street pitcher." According to the Slang Dictionary, the latter term applies to negro minstrels, ballad -singers, long-song men, men "working a board" on which has been painted various exciting scenes in some terrible drama, &c. Braise, f. (popular), money t "leaver." See Quibus. J'ai pas d'braise pour me fend" d'un litre, Pas meme d'un meule cass' a cinq. RICHEPIN. Braiser (popular), to pay, " to dub." Braiseur (popular), man who is very free with his money. Brancard (popular), superannuated gay woman. Brancards Bricole. 53 Brancards, m.pl. (popular), hands, or " flappers ;" legs, or " pins ; " de laine, weak or lame legs. Un poseur qui veut me la faire a la re- dresse, que ces deux flutes repechees par vous dans la lance du puits n'avaient jamais porte une femme, je me connais en bran- cards de dames, c'est pas c.a du tout. MAC, Man Premier Crime, Branche, f. (popular), friend, "mate." Ma vieille , old fel- Iffiv ! "old cock!" (Familiar) Avoir de la , to have elegance, "dash." Brancher (thieves' and cads'), to lodge, "to perch," or "roost." Brandillante, branclilleuse, f. (thieves'), bell, or " ringer." Branlante, f. (popular), watch, or " ticker." Branlantes, /. //. (popular), old men's teeth. Branque, m. (thieves'), donkey, " moke." Bras, brasse, adj. (thieves'), large. From brasse, a fathom. Eraser (thieves'), des faffes, to forge documents, to " screeve fake- ments ;" to forge bank-notes, or to " fake queer-soft." Brasset, m. (thieves'), big, stout man. Brave, ;;/. (popular), shoemaker, or " snob. ' Brechet, m. (popular), stomach. Brechetelles, /., a kind of German cakes eaten at beershops. Breda-street, the quarter of Notre- Dame-de-Lorette patronized by women of the demi-monde ( the Paris Pimlico, or St. John's Wood). Bredoche,/ (popular), centime. Bredouille, f. (popular), chevalier rie la , one who goes out shooting on Sundays in the purlieus of Paris. From revenir bredouille, to return with an empty bag. Breloque, f. (popular), a clock. Properly watch trinket. Breme, m. and f. (popular), vendor of countermarks at the door of thea- tres. Une ,f. (thieves'), playing card, " flat," or" broad "(breme is a flat fish, the bream}. Une de pac- quelins, geographical map. Ma- quiller les bremes, to handle cards, to play at cards, " to fake broads;" to mark cards in certain ways, to construct them on a cheating prin- ciple, " to stock briefs. " Maquil- leur de bremes, card-sharper, or " broadsman," generally one whose specialitl is the three-card trick. Le perdant, bleme, crispe ses poings. Les comperes s'approchent du maquilleur de bremes (tripoteur de cartes), qui s'est re- leve, avec un eclair mauvais dans ses yeux ternes . . . il se recule et siffle. A ce signal arrive un gosse, en courant, qui crie d'une voix aigue : Pet ! v'la la rousse ! Decanillons ! RICHEPIN, Le Pave. (Prostitutes') Une breme, card de- livered by the police to registered prostitutes. Fille en , registered prostitute. Bremeur, m. (thieves'), card player, " broad faker." BrSmier, m. (thieves'), manufac- turer of playing cards. Bresilien, m. (popular), wealthy, generous man, " rag-splawger." Bricabracologie, art of dealing in or collecting bric-a-brac or knick- knacks. Bricard, m. (popular), staircase. Bricheton, m. (popular), bread ; d'attaque, four-pound loaf. Bricole, f. (popular), small, odd jobs that only procure scanty pro- 54 Bricoler Brindezingue. fits. Properly a shoulder-strap used by costennongers to draw their barrows. Bricoler (popular), to make an effort ; to give a good pull ; to do anything in a hurried and clumsy manner; to carry on some affair in a not over straightforward way. Bricoleur, m. (popular), man who will undertake any kind of work, any sundry jobs. Bricul, bricule, m. (thieves'), police inspector. Bridaukil (thieves'), gold watch chain, " redge slang," or "red tackle." Bride, f. (thieves'), watch chain, ' ' slang ; " convict's chain. ( Popu- lar) Vieille , worthless, dis- carded object ; term of contempt for individuals. Bride (thieves'), shackled. Brider (thieves'), to shut, " to dub;" to fasten on a fetter, or "wife." Brif (Breton), bread. Briffe, / (popular), food, " belly timber ;" oread, "tommy." Pas- ser a , to eat, " to grub." N'importe ou nous nous empatons D'arlequins, d'brifle et d'rogatons. RICHEPIN, Chanson de* Gueux. Briffer (popular), to eat, "to grub." Brigadier, m. (popular), baker's foreman. Brigand, m. (popular), term of friendliness. Vieux , you old scamp ! Brigant, brigeant, m. (thieves'), hair, or "strommel." Brigante or bringeante, f. (thieves'), wig, or "periwinkle." Brigeants or bringeants, m. pi. (thieves'), hair, "thatch." Termed also " tifs, douilles, douillards." Brigeton, bricheton (popular), bread, " tommy." Brig-fourre, m. (military), briga- dier fonrrier. Brignolet, m. (popular), bread, " tommy." Briller (thieves'), to light. Brimade, f. (military), euphemism for bullying ; practical and often cruel jokes perpetrated at the mili- tary school of Saint- Cyr at the ex- pense of the newly-joined, termed "melons" ("snookers" at the R. M. Academy), such as toss- ing one in a blanket, together with boots, spurs, and brushes, or trying him by a mock court- martial for some supposed offence. An illustration with a vengeance of such practical joking occurred some years ago at an English garrison town. Some young officers packed up a colleague's traps, without leaving in the rooms a particle of property, nailed the boxes to the floor, and laid a he-goat in the bed. On the victim's arrival they left him no time to give vent to his indignant feelings, for they cast him into a fisherman's net and dragged him downstairs, with the result that the unfortunate officer barely escaped with his life. Brimer, to indulge in brimades (which see). Brinde, f. (popular), tall, lanky woman ; landlord of a wine shop. Brindezingue, m. (thieves'), tin case of very small diameter con- taining implements, such as a fine steel saw or a watch-spring, which they secrete in a peculiar manner. Says Del van : Comment arriyent-ils a soustraire cet in- strument de deiivrance aux investigations les plus minutieu^es des geoliers ? C'est ce Brindezingues Brodancher. 55 qu'il fant demander a M. le docteur Am- broise Tardieu qui a fait une etude speciale des maladies de la gaine naturelle de cet etui. (Mountebanks') Etre en , to be ruined, a bankrupt, " cracked up," or " gone to smash." Brindezingues, m. //. (popular), etre dans les , to be intoxicated. From an old word brincle, toast. Bringue, m. (popular), bread, or " soft tommy." Mettre en , to smash up. Brio, m. (familiar). Properly a musi- cal term. Figuratively, Parler, ecrire avec , to speak or -write with spirit, in dashing style. Brioches,///, (popular). Literally gross mistake. Figuratively, Faire des , to lead a disorderly life. Briolet, m. (popular), thin, sour wine, that is, " vin de Brie." Briquemann, briquemon, m. (military), cavalry nvord. B iquemon, m. (thieves'), tinder box. Brisac, m. (popular), careless child who tears his clothes. Brisacque, m. (popular), noise; noisy man. Brisant, m. (thieves'), the wind. Briscard or brisque, m. (military), old soldier with long-service stripes. Biis", f. (sailors'), a faire plier le pouce, violent gale ; a gren- ouille, west wind. Briser (printers'), to cease working. (Popular) Se la , to go away, " to mizzle." See Patatrot. Briseur, m. The "briseurs" (gens r]iii se la brisent), according to Vidocq, are natives of Auvergne who pass themselves off for trades- men. They at first gain the con- fidence of manufacturers or whole- sale dealers by paying in cash for a few insignificant orders, and swindle them afterwards on larger ones. The goods, denominated "brisees," are then sold much under value, and the unlawful proceeds are in vested in Auvergne. Brisque, f. (thieves'), year, or "stretch." Brisques,///. (gamblers'), the ace and figures in a pack of cards. When a player possesses all these in his game he is said to have "la triomphe ; " (military) stripes. Brisure, / (thieves'), swindle, or "plant;" (printers') temporary cessation of work. Grande , total stoppage of work. Au Rappel, la pige dure six heures avec une brisure d'une demi-heure a dix heure>. BOUTMV. Brobeche, m. (popular), centime. Brobuante, /. (thieves'), ring, " fawney." Broc, m. (thieves'), farthing, or "fadge." Brocante, m. (popular), old shoe. Brocanter (familiar), to be pottering about. Broche,/ (tradespeoples'), note of hand, or " stiff." Broches, / //. (popular), teeth, or " head rails." Brochet, m. (popular), pit of the stomach, for brechet ; women's bully, or "ponce." Brocheton, m. (popular), young bully. Brochure, /. (theatrical), printed play. Brodage, m. (thieves'), writing. Brodancher (thieves'), to write; to embroider. Tirants brodanches, embroidered stockings. Brodancheu r Brouteu r so m b re. Brodancheur, vi. (thieves'), writer; en cage, scribe "who for a consideration 'Mill undertake to do an illiterate pel-son's corre- spondence (termed ecrivain pub- lic) ; a la plaque, aux macarons, or a la cymbaie, notary public (an allusion to the escutcheon placed over a notary's door). Erode, m. (thieves'), melon. Broder (thieves'), to -write ; sur les prets is said of a gamester ic/io, having lent a colleague a small sum of money, claims a larger amount than is due to him. Broderie,/ (thieves'), writing. Pas de broderie, par example, tu con- nais le proverbe, les ecrits sont des males, et les paroles sont des femelles. VIDOCQ, Memoires. Brodeur, in. (thieves'), writer ; also a gamester who claims a larger sum than is due to him. Broque, m. (thieves'), farthing. II n'y a ni ronds, ni herplis, ni broque en ma felouse. / haven't got a sou, or a farthing, in my pocket. Broquillage, ;;/. (thieves'), theft which consists in substituting paste diamonds for the genuine article which a jeweller displays jor the supposed purchaser s inspection, Broquille, /. (theatrical), nothing. Used in the expression, Ne pas dire tine , not to know a single word of one's part ; (thieves') a ring, or " fawney ; " a minute. Broquilleur, m., broquilleuse, / (thieves'), thief who robs jewellers by substituting paste diamonds for the genuine which are shown to him as to a bond-fide purchaser. Brosse (popular), no; nothing; pour lui ! he shan't have any! Brosser (familiar), se le ventre, to go without food, and, in a figura- tive sense, to be compelled to do without something. Brosseur, m. (artists'), one who paints numerous pictures of very large dimensions. Rubens was a " brosseur ; " (military) flatterer, one who " sucks up." Brouce, f. (popular), thrashing, " whopping." Brouf, m. (codfishers'), wind blow- ing from the main. Brouillard, m. (popular), chasser le , to have a morning drop of spirits, "dewdrop." Etre dans le , to be "fuddled," or tipsy. Faire du , to smoke, " to blow a cloud." Brouille, /., series of pettifogging contrivances which a lawyer brings into play to squeeze as much profit as he can otit of a law affair. Brouille, adj. (familiar), avec la monnaie, penniless, " hard up ; " - avec sa blanchisseuse, with linen not altogether of a snow- white appearance ; avec 1'ortho- graphe, a bad speller. Broussailles, / //. (popular), etre dans les , to be tipsy, " ob- fuscated." See Pompette, Brouta, m. (Saint-Cyi school), speech. From the name of a pro- fessor who was a good elocu- tionist. Broute, / (popular), bread, " tommy." Brouter (popular), to eat, " to grub." The expression is used by Villon, and is scarcely slang. Item, a Jean Raguyer, je donne . . . Tons les jours une talemouze (cake), Pour brouter et fourrer sa mouse. Brouteur sombre, m. (popular), desponding, melancholy man, " croaker." Broycur de noir en chambre Bi*iclierie. 57 Broyeur de noir en chambre (familiar), literary man who writes on melancholy themes. Bruant (Breton), cock ; egg. Bruantez (Breton), hen. Bruge, m. (thieves'), locksmith. Brugerie, f., locksmith's shop. Brulage, m. (familiar), the act of being ruined, " going to smash." Brulant, m. (thieves'), fire ; hearth. Brule, m. and adj. (popular), failure of an undertaking ; (familiar) II doit de 1'argent partout il est dans le pays, he owes money to everybody, his credit is gone. C'est nn article , an article which will no longer sell. L'epicier est , the grocer refuses any more credit. Un politicien , a politician whose influence is gone. Un auteur , an author who has spent him- self, no longer in vogue. Une fille brulee, a girl who in spite of assidu- ous attendance at balls, &c., has failed to ohtain a husband. Une affaire brulee, an unsuccessful un- dertaking, or spoilt by bad manage- ment. Un acteur , an act or who for some reason or other can no longer find favour with the public. Brulee, /! (popular), severe thrash- ing ; defeat ; hurried and unlaw- ful auction for contracts. Bruler (theatrical), a la rampe is said of an actor who performs as if he were alone, and without regard to the common success of the play, or his colleagues ; du sucre, to obtain applause. (Popu- lar) Bruler, abbreviation of bruler la cervelle, to blow one's brains out. Fais le mort ou je te brule, don't budge, or I blow your brains out. En une, to smoke, " to blow a cloud. " (Thieves') Briiler le pegriot, to obliterate all traces of a theft or crime. Ne rien. to suspect nothing. Bruleur, ;. (theatrical), de plan- ches, spirited actor. Brusquer (gamesters'), la marque, to mark more points than have been scored, when playing cards. Brutal, m. (familiar), cannon. Brutifier (popular), to make one stupid by dint of upbraiding or badgering him. Brution, m. (students'), cadet of the " Prytanee Militaire de la Fleche," a Government school for the sons of officers. Brutium, m., " Prytanee Militaire de la Fleche." From Brutus, pro- bably on account of the strict discipline in that establishment. Brutus, m. (thieves'), Brittany. Bruyances, /. //. (familiar), great puffing up in newspapers or other- wise. Bu, adj. (popular), in liquor, "tight." See Pompette. Eh ben ! oui, j'suis bu. Et puis, quoi ? Que qu'vous m'voulez, messieurs d'la rousse ? Est-c'que vous n'aimez pas corame moi A vous rincer la gargarousse ? RICHEPIN, La Chanson, des Gueux. Buche,/. Literally log;, (tailors') article of clothing. Coller sa au grele, to remit a piece of work to the master. Temps de , -u>ork- time. (Popular) Buche, lucifer match; (thieves') flambante, or plombante, lucifer match. Bucher (familiar), to work hard, "to sweat;" to belabour, "to lick." (Popular) Se , to fight, " to slip into one another." BQcherie, /. (popular), fight, "mill." Bi'ickeur Buveur d'encre. Bucheur, m. (familiar), one who 'works hard, " a swat." Buen-retiro, m. (familiar), private place of retirement ; (ironically) latrines, or "West Central." Buffet, m. (popular), avoir le garni, to have had a hearty meal ; vide, to be fasting, to have nothing in the "locker." Has de , see Bas. Remouleur de , organ-grinder. Buif, m. (military), shoemaker. Bull-Park, m. (students'), Bullier's dancing-rooms, situated near the Luxembourg, patronized by the students of the Quartier Latin, but invaded, as most places of a similar description now are, by the protectors of gay girls. Buquer (thieves'), to commit a robbery at a shop under pretence of asking for change ; (popular) to strike, a corruption of the slang term bucher. Vous avez dit dans votre interrogatoire devant Monsieur le Juge d'instruction : J'ai buque' avec mon marteau. Gazette des Tribunaux. Bureau arabe, m. (soldiers' in Algeria), absinthe mixed with " orgeat," a kind of liqiior made with almonds. Burettes,/. //. (thieves' and popu- lar), pistols, "barking irons." Literally phials. Burlin, burlingue, m. (popular), office ; desk. For bureau. Chez 1'per" Jacob pour le jour de sa fete, A son burlingue il voulait 1'envoyer. La France. Busard, m., buse, f., buson, m. (familiar and popular), dull, slcnv, thick-witted man, " blockhead." Bustingue (thieves'), lodging house, " dossing ken." Bute, butte, or bute a regret, f. (thieves'), guillotine. Monter a la , to be guillotined. Bute, adj. (thieves'), guillotined ; murdered. See Fauche. Us 1'ont bute a coups de vingt-deux. E. SUE. (They killed him by stabbing him.) Buter (thieves'), to kill, to guillotine ; to execute. On va le buter, il est depuis deux mois gerbe a la passe. BALZAC. (He is going to be executed, he mas sentenced to death, two months ago.) Buteur (thieves'), murderer ; execu- tioner. See Taule. Butin, ;;/. (soldiers'), equipment. Butre (thieves'), dish. Buvailler (popular), to drink little or slcnuly. Buvailleurorbuvaillon, m. (popu- lar), a man who cannot stand drink. Buverie,/ (common), a beerhouse, termed brasserie. From the old word beuverie. Buveur d'encre, m. (soldiers'), any military man connected with the administration ; clerk, or "quill- driver." L'expression de buveurs d'encre ne s'applique strictement qu'aux engages volontaires qu'on emploie dans les bureaux, oil ils e'chappent aux rigueurs du service, sous pretexte qu'ilsontune main superbe. F. DE REIFFENBERG, La fie de (Jamison. C Cabot. 59 C, m. (popular), etre un , to be an arrant fool. Euphemism for a coarse word of three letters with which the walls are often adorned ; comme la lune, ex- tremely stupid. Ca (popular), etre , to be the right sort. C'est un peu , thafs excel- lent, "fizzing." Avoir de , to be wealthy. ( Familiar) Ca manque de panache, it lacks finish or dash. Elle a de , she has a full, well- developed Jignre. Cab, m. (abbreviation of cabotin), contemptuous expression applied to actors ; third-rate actor, or " surf." Cab, cabou (thieves' and popu- lar), dog, "tyke." Le jaspine, the dog barks. Cabande, f. (popular), candle, or " glim." Estourbir la , to blow the candle out. Cabas, m. (popular), old hat. Une mere , rapacious old woman. Properly, cabas, a woman s bag. Cabas ser (popular), to chatter, to gabble : to delude, or " bam- boozle;" to steal, "to prig." Cabasseur, m. (popular), scandal- monger ; thief, " prig." See Grinche. Cabe, m. (students'), third year student at the Ecole Normale, a higher training school for pro- fessors, and one which holds the first rank among Colleges of the University of France ; (popular) a dog. See Cabo. Cabermon, m. (thieves'), wine- shop, "lush-crib." A corruption of cabaret. Cabestan, m. (thieves'), police inspector ; police officer, "crusher, " " P'g>" "copper," or " reeler." Cabillot, m. (sailors'), soldier, " lobster." Cable a rimouque, m. mens'), tow-line. (fisher- Pare a Souque ! attrape a carguer ! 1'amarre ! Et souque ! C'est le coup des haleurs et du cable a rimouque. La oula ouli oula oula tchalez ! Hardi ! les haleurs, oh ! les haleurs, halez ! RICHEPIN, La Mer. Cabo, m. (popular), dog, or "buf- fer." Michel derives this from clabaud, a worthless dog, and L. Larchey from qui aboie, pro- nounced qu'aboie. Le du com- missaire, the police magistrate's secretary. See Chien. (Military) Eleve , one who is getting qualified for the duties of a cor- poral, Cabochon, m. (popular), blow, " prop," or " bang. Cabonte, or camoufle, /. (mili- tary), candle. Cabot, m. (common), third-rate actor, or " surf;" term of con- tempt applied to an actor. Abbre- viation of cabotin. Also a dog. 6o Cabot in age Cador. Cabotinage, m. (familiar), life of hardships -which most actors have to live before they acquire any re- putation. Cabotine (familiar), bad actress; strolling actress, or one who belongs to a troupe of" barn stormers." Cabotiner (familiar), to be a strolling actor ; to mix with cabotins; to fall into their -way of living, which is not exactly a " proper " one. Caboulot, m. (familiar), small cafe where customers are -waited upon by girls; small cafe where the specialite is the retailing of cherry brandy, absinthe, and sweet li- quors ; best sort of wine-shop. Cabriolet, m., short rope or strap with a double loop affixed, made fast to a criatinaTs wrists, the extremity being held by a police officer ; small box for labels ; woman's bonnet. Cabrion, m. (artists'), painter with- out talent, or " dauber ; " practical joker. In the Mysteres de J-aris of Eugene Sue, Cabrion, a painter, nearly drives the doorkeeper Pipelet mad by his practical jokes. Cachalot, m. (sailors'), old sailor, old ' ' tar. " Properly spermaceti whale. Cache-folie, m. (popular), drawers; false hair. Cachemar, cachemince, m. (thieves'), cell, "clinch." From cachot, black hole. Cachemire, m. (popular), clout; d'osier, rag-picker's wicker basket. Voici les biffins qui passent, le crochet au poing et les pauvres lanternes sont re- cueillies dans le cachemire d'osier. RICHE- PIN, Le Pavf. Cache-misere (familiar), coat but- toned up to the chin to conceal the absence of linen. Cachemitte, / (thieves'), cell, "clinch." Cachemuche. See Cachemar. Cacher (popular), to eat, " to grub. " Cachet, m. (thieves' and cads'), de la Republique, the mark of one's heel on a person's face, a kind of farewell indulged in by night ruffians, especially when the victim's pockets do not yield a satisfactory harvest. (Familiar) Le , the fashion, "quite the thing." Et ce n'est pas lui qui porterait des gants vert-pomme si le cachet etait de les porter sang de boeuf. P. MAHALIN, Mesdames de Coeur Volant. Cacique, m., head scholar in a division at the Ecole Normale. Cadavre, m. (familiar and popular), body ; a secret misdeed, "a skele- ton in the locker ; " tangible proof of anything. Grand , tall man. Se mettre quelquechose dansle , to eat. See Mastiquer. Cadenne, /. (thieves'), chain fastened round the neck. La grande was formerly the name given to the gang of convicts which went from Pans to the hulks at Toulon. Cadet, m. (thieves'), crowbar, or "Jemmy." Termed also "1'en- fant, Jacques, sucre de pommes, biribi, rigolo ; " (popular) breech. Baiser , to be guilty of contemp- tible mean actions ; to be a lick- spittle. Baise ! you be hanged! Bon pour is said of any worthless object or unpleasant letter. Cadichon, m. (thieves'), watch, "Jerry," or "red toy." Cador (thieves'), dog, "tyke;" du commissaire, secretary to the "commissaire de police," a kind of police magistrate. Cadouille Caisson. 61 Cadouille, f. (sailors'), rattan. Effares de ne pas recevoir de coups de Cadouille, ils s'eloignent a reculons, et leurs prosternations ne s'arretent plus. BONNE- TAIN, Au Tonkin. Cadran, m. (popular), breech, or " bum ; " lunaire, same mean* ing. See Vasistas. Cadratin, m. (printers'), top hat, or " stove pipe;" (police) staff of detectives ; (journalists') apocry- phal letter. Cafard, m. (military), officer who makes himself unpleasant ; a busy- body. Cafarde,y; (thieves'), moon, "parish lantern ; " cup. Cafarder (popular), to be a hypo- crite, a " mawworm." Cafe, m. C'est un peu fort de , it is really too bad, coming it too strong. Prendre son , to laugh at. Cafetiere, f. (thieves' and cads'), head, "canister." See Tronche. Cafiot, m., weak coffee. Cafouilleux, m. (popular), espece de ! blockhead! "bally boun- der ! " Cage, /. (popular), workshop with glass roof; prison, or " stone jug ; " a chapons, monastery ; a jacasses, nunnery a poulets, dirty, narrow room, " a hole ; " (printers') workshop. Cageton, m. (thieves'), may-bug. Cagne,/. (popular), wretched horse, or " screw ; " worthless dog ; lazy person ; police officer, or "bobby." Cagnotte,/. (familiar), money-boxin which is deposited each player 's con- tribution to the expenses of a game. Faire une , to deposit in a money- box the winnings of players which are to be invested to the common advantage of the whole party. Cagou, m. (thieves'), rogue who operates single - handed ; expert thief, or "gonnof," who takes charge of the education of the un- initiated after the manner of the old Jew Fagin (see Oliver Twist) ; a tutor such as is to be met with in a ' ' buz napper's academy," or training school for thieves ; in olden times a lieutenant of the " grand Coe're," or king of rogues. The kingdom of the ' ' grand Coe're " was divided into as many districts as there were "provinces" or counties in France, each super- intended by a "cagou." Says Le Jargon de f Argot : Le cagou du pasquelin d'Anjou resolut de se venger de lui et de lui jouer quelque tour chenaire. Cahua, m. (French soldiers' in Al- geria), coffee. Pousse , brandy. Caillasse,^ (popular), stones. Caille (thieves'), fish. Caillou, m. (popular), grotesque face ; head, or " block ; " nose, or " boko ; " deplume, bald head, or " bladder of lard." N'avoir plus de mousse sur le , to be bald, " to be stag-faced." Cailloux, m. pi. (popular), petits , diamonds. Caiman, m. (Ecole Normale school), usher. Caisse, f. (popular), d'epargne, mouth, or "rattle-trap ; " (fami- liar) des reptiles, fund for the bribing of journalists ; noire, secret funds at the disposal of the Home Secretary and Prefect of Police. Battre la , to puff up. Sauver la , to appropriate or ab- scond with the contents of the cash- box. Caisson, m. (familiar), head, "nut." Se faire sauter le , to blow one's brains out. 62 Calabre Calotin. Calabre, m. (thieves'), scurf. Calain, m. (thieves'), vine-dresser. Calancher (vagrants'), to die, "to croak." See Pipe. Calande (thieves'), walk, lounge. Calandriner (popular), le sable, to live a wretched, poverty-stricken life. Gale,/! (sailors'), se lester la , to eat and drink. See Mastiquer. Cale, calee, adj., properly propped up ; (popular) well off, "with plenty of the needful." Calebasse, /. (popular), head, or "cocoa-nut." Grande , tall, thin, badly attired woman. Vendre la , to reveal a secret. Calebasses, f. (popular), large soft breasts. Literally gourds. Calege,/. (thieves'), kept woman. Calence, f. (popular), dearth of work. Caler (popular), to do ; to do nothing; to be out of work, or "out of col- lar ; " to strike work ; 1'ecole, to play the truant. Se , to eat. Se les amygdales, to eat, "to grub." (Thieves') Caler des bonlins aux lourdes, to bore holes in doors. Caleter (popular), to decamp, " to hook it." See Patatrot. Caleur (popular), lazy workman, or " shicer ; " man out of work ; but- ler ; waiter (from the German kellner). Calfater (sailors'), se le bee, to eat. Literally to caulk. Caliborgne. See Calorgne. Calicot, m. (familiar), draper's assis- tant, or "counter jumper." Ca icote, sweetheart, or " flame," of a " knight of the yard." Californien (popular), rich, "worth a lot of tin." See Monacos. Calin, m., small tin fountain which the retailers of coco carry on their backs. Coco is a cooling draught made of liquorice, lemon, and water. Calino, m. (familiar), ninny ; one capable of the most enormous " bulls." Calinotade, f., sayings of a calino (which see). Calinttes, f. (popular), breeches, or "hams," or " sit-upons." Callot, m. (thieves'), scurvy. Callots, m. pi. (old cant), variety of tramps. Les callots sont ceux qui sont teigneux veYitables ou contrefaits ; les uns et les autres truchent tant aux entiffes que dans les vergnes. Le Jargon de V Argot. Calme et inodore (familiar), etre , to assume a decorous appear- ance. Soyez , behave yourself with decorum ; do not be flurried. Calombe. See Cabande. Caloquet, m. (thieves'), hat ; crown. See Tubard. Calorgne, adj. (popular), one-eyed, "boss-eyed," or "seven-sided." Calot, m. (thieves'), thimble ; wal- nut shell ; eye. Properly large marble. Boiter des calots, to squint. Reluquer des calots, to gaze, " to stag." J'ai un chouett' moure, La bouch' plus p'tit' que les calots. RICHEFIN. Calot, clothier's shopman, or " counter-jumper ; " over-particu- lar, troublesome customer. Calotin, m. (familiar), priest ; one of the Clerical party. Calotte Came lot. Calotte, f. (familiar), clergy. Le regiment de la , the company of the Jesuits. Calottee, f. (rodfishers'), '-worm- box. Calvigne, or clavigne, /. (thieves'), -vine. Calvin, or clavin, m. (thieves'), grapes. Calypso,/ (popular), faire sa , to show off, to pose. Cam,/, (thieves'), lampagne de , country, or " drum." Camarade, m. (popular), depionce, bed-fellow ; (military) regimental hair-dresser. (Familiar) Bon petit is said ironically of a col- league who docs one an ill turn, or slanders one. Camarde, / (thieves'), death. Baiser la , to die. See Pipe. Camarder (thieves'), to die. Camarluche, m. (popular), com- rade, ' ' mate." Camaro, m. (popular), comrade, or " mate." Camboler (popular), to fall down. Cambouis, m. (military), army ser- vice corps. Properly cart grease. Cambriau, cambrieux, m. (popu- lar), hat, or "tile." SeeTubard. Cambriole, f. (thieves'), room, or " crib ; " shop, or " swag. Gy, Marpaux, gy nous remouchons Tes rouillardes et la criole Qui parfume ta cambriole. RICHEPIN. Cambriole de milord, sumptuous apartment. Rincer une , to plunder a room or shop. Cambrioleur, m. (thieves'), thief who operates in apartments ; a la flan, thief of that description who operates at random, or on "spec." Cambriot, /. (popular), hat, "tile." See Tubard. Cambroniser, euphemism for em- merder (which see). Cambronne ! euphemism fora low but energetic expression of refusal or contempt, which is said to have been the response of General Cambronne at Waterloo when called upon to surrender (see Les Miserable*, by V. Hugo). Sterne says, in his Sentimental Journey, that " the French have three words which express all that can be desired ' diable ! ' ' peste ! ' " The third he has not mentioned, but it seems pretty certain it must be the one spoken of above. Cambrouse, / (popular), a taw- drily-dressed servant girl ; a semi- professional street-walker, ' ' dolly mop;" (thieves') country, suburbs. Cambrouser (servants'), to get en- gaged as a maid-servant. Cambrousien, m. (thieves'), pea- sant, or "joskin." Cambrousier, m. (thieves'), country thief. Cambroux, m. (thieves'), servant ; waiter. Cambuse, /. (popular), house, or "crib;" sailors' canteen; wine- shop. Camelia, m., kept woman (La Dame aux Camelias, by A. Dumas fils). Camelot, m. (popular), tradesman ; thief; hawker of any articles. Le camelot, c'est le Parisien pur sang . . . c'est lui qui vend les questions, les jouets nouveaux, les drapeaux aux jours de fete, les immortelles aux jours de deuil, les verres noircis aux jours d'eclipse . . . des cartes transparentes sur le Houlevard et des images pieuses sur la place du Pantheon. RICHEPIN, Le Pavt. Camelote Canard. Camelote, f. (popular), prostitute of the lowest class, or " draggle- tail ; " (thieves') grinchie, stolen property. Etre pris la en pogne, or en pied, to be caught, ''flagrante delicto" with the stolen property in one's possession. Laver la , to sell stolen property. Prendre la en pogne, to steal from a person's hand. Cameloter (popular), to sell; to cheapen ; to beg ; to tramp. Camerluche or camarluche, m. (popular), comrade, or "mate." Camionner (popular), to conduct ; to lead about. Camisard, m. (military), soldier of the ' ' Bataillon d'Afrique," a corps composed of liberated military convicts, who, after having under- gone their sentence, are not sent back to their respective regiments. They are incorporated in the Ba- taillon d'Afrique,a regiment doing duty in Algeria or in the colonies, where they complete their term of service ; en bordee, same meaning. Camisole, f. (popular), waistcoat, or " benjy." Camoufle,/; (thieves'), description of one's personal appearance; dress ; light or candle, "glim." La s'estourbe, the light is going out. Camouflement, m. (thieves'), dis- guise. Camoufler (thieves'), to learn ; to adulterate. Se , to disguise one- self. Je me camoufle en pelican, J ai du pellard a la t'gnasse. Vive la lampagne du cam ! RICHEPIN. Camouflet, m. (thieves'), candle- stick. Camp, m. (popular), ficher le , to decamp. Lever le , to strike work. Piquer une romance au , to sleep. Campagne,/. (prostitutes'), aller a la , to be imprisoned in Saint- Lazare, adepSt for prostitutes found by the police without a registration card, or sent there for sanitary motives. (Thieves') Barboteur de , night thief. Garfons de , or escarpes, highwaymen or house- breakers who pretend to be pedlars. Campe,_/C (cads'), flight ; camping. Camper (cads'), to flee, "to brush." Camperoux. See Cambroux. Camphre, m. (popular), brandy. Camphrier, m. (popular), retailer of spirits ; one who habitually gets drunk on spirits. Campi (cads'), expletive. Tant pis ! so much the worse ! Camplouse,/ (thieves'), country. Camuse,/ (thieves'), carp ; death; flat-nosed. Can, m. (popular), abbreviation of canon, glass of wine. Prendre un sur le comp, to have a glass of wine at the bar. Canage, m. (popular), death-throes. Canaillade, /. (popular), offence against the law. J'ai fait beaucoup de folies dans ma jeunesse ; mais au cours d'une existence accidentee et decousue, je n'ai pas a me reprocher une seule canaillade. MAC. Canaillon, m. (popular), vieux , old curmudgeon. Canard, m. (familiar), newspaper ; clarionet ; (tramcar drivers') horse. (Popular) Bouillon de , water. (Thieves') Canard sans plumes, bull's pizzle, or rattan used fot convicts. Canarder Cantonade. Canarder (popular), to take in, " to bamboozle;" to quiz, "to carry on." Canardier, m. (popular), jour- nalist; vendor of neivspapers; (jour- nalists') one who concocts " ca- nards, " or false news ; (printers') newspaper compositor. Canarie, m. (popular), simpleton, or "flat." Canasson, m. (popular), horse, or "gee;" old-fashioned woman's bonnet. Vieux ! old felloiu ! "old cock ! " Cancre, m. (fishermens'), jus de , landsman, or " land-lubber." Cancre, properly poor devil. Cancrelat, m. (popular), avoir un dans la boule, to be crazy. For other kindred expressions, see Avoir. Cancrelat, properly ka- kerlac, or American cockroach. Cane,/, (thieves'), death. Canelle,/. (thieves'), the town of Caen. Caner (thieves'), la pegrenne, to starve. Caner, properly to shirk danger. Caneson. See Canasson. Caneton, m. (familiar), insignifi- cant newspaper. Termed also "feuille de chou." Caneur, m. (popular), poltroon, or "cow babe." Caniche, m. (popular), general term for a dog. Properly poodle. Termed also " cabgie, cabot." It also has the signification of spectacles, an allusion to the dog, generally a poodle, which acts as the blind man's guide. (Thieves') Caniche, a bale provided with handles, compared to a poodle's ears. Canne, f. (police and thieves'), sur- veillance exercised by the police on the movements of liberated convicts. Also a liberated convict who has a certain town assigned him as a place of residence, and which he is not at liberty to leave. Casser sa , to break bounds. Une vieille , or une , an old offender. (Literary) Canne, dismissal, the " sack." Offrir une , to dismiss from one's employment, "to give the sack." Canon, m. (popular), glass of wine drunk at the bar of a wine-shop. Grand , the fifth of a litre of wine, and petit , half that quantity. Viens prendre un su' 1' zinc, mon vieux zig, / say, old fellow, come and have a glass at the bar. Se bourrer le , to eat to excess, "to scorf." Canonner (popular), to drink wine at a wine-shop; to be an habi- tual tippler. Canonneur, m. (popular), tippler, a wine bibber. Canonnier de la piece humide, m. (military), hospital orderly. Canonniere, /. (popular), the be- hind, or "tochas." See Vasis- tas. Charger la , to eat, " to grub." Gargousses de la , vegetables. Cant, m. (familiar), show of false virtue. From the English word. Cantaloup, m. (popular), fool, "duffer," or "cull." Properly a kind of melon. Ah ga ! d'ou sort-il done ce cantaloup. RlCAKD. Cantique, m. (freemasons'), bac- chanalian song. Canton, m. (thieves'), prison, or "stir." For synonyms see Motte. Comte de , jailer, "dubsman," or "jigger-dubber." Cantonade,/. (literary), ecrire a la , to write productions which arc F 66 Ca ntonnier Capsule. not read by the public. From a theatrical expression, Parler a la , to speak to an invisible person behind the scenes. Cantonnier, m. (thieves'), prisoner, one in " quod." Canulant, adj. (familiar), tedious, tiresome, "boring." From ca- nule, a clyster-pipe. Canularium, m. (Ecole Normale), ordeal -which new pupils have to go through, such as passing a mock examination. Canule,/! (popular), tedious man, bore. Canule, properly speaking, is a clyster-pipe. Canuler (popular), to annoy, to bore. Canuleur. See Canule. Caoutchouc, m. (popular), clown. Properly india-nibber. Cap, m. (thieves'), chief warder at the hulks. (Familiar) Doubler le , to go a roundabout way in order to avoid meeting a creditor, or pass- ing before his door. Doubler le des tempetes, to clear safely the 1st or \^th of the month, when cer- tain payments are due. Doubler le du terme, to be able to pay one's rent when due. Doubler un , to be able to pay a note of hand when it falls due. Capahut, f. (thieves'), voler a la , to murder an accomplice so as to get possession of his share of the booty. Capahuter. See Capahut. Cape, f. (thieves'), handwriting. Capet, m. (popular), hat, or "tile." See Tubard. Capine,/ (thieves'), inkstand. Capir (thieves'), to write, or "to Capiston, m. (military), captain ; becheur, an officer who acts as public prosecutor at courts-martial. Termed also "capitaine becheur." Capitaine (thieves'), stock-jobber; financier ; (military) becheur, see Capiston; de la soupe, an officer who has never been under fire. Capitainer (thieves'), to be a stock- jobber. Capital, ;;/. (popular), maidenhead. Villon, fifteenth century, terms it "ceincture." Capitole, m. (schoolboys'), formerly the black hole. Capitonnee, adj. (popular), is said of a stout woman. Capitonner (popular), se , to grow stout. Capitulard, m. (familiar and popu- lar), term of contempt applied during the war of 1870 to those who were in favour of surrender. Caporal, m., tobacco of French ma- nufacture. Caporalisme, m. (familiar), pipe- clayism. Capou, m. (popular), a scribe who writes letters for illiterate persons in return for a fee. Capoul (familiar), bandeaux a la , or des Capouls, hair brushed low on forehead, fringe, or "toffs." From the name of a celebrated tenor who some twenty years ago was a great favourite of the public, especially of the feminine portion of it. Caprice, ;//., appellation given by ladies of the demi-monde to their lovers ; serieux, one who keeps a girl. Capsule, f. (popular), hat with nar- row rim; infantry shako. See Tubard. Captif Carer. 67 Captif, m. (popular), abbreviation of ballon captif. Enlever le , to kick one in the hind quarters, ' ' to root. " Capucin, m. (sportsmen's), hare. Capucine,/ (familiar and popular), jusqu'a la troisieme , completely, "awfully." Etre paf jusqu'a la troisieme , to be quite drunk, or "ploughed." See Pompette. S'ennuyer ,$tc., to/eel" awfully " dull. Caquer (popular), to ease oneself. See Mouscailler. Carabine, f. (popular), sweetheart of a " carabin," or medical stu- dent ; (military) whip. Carabine, adj. (popular), excessive, violent. Un mal de tete , a violent headache. Une plaisan- terie carabinee, a spicy joke. Carabiner (military), les cotes, to thrash. See Voie. Carabinier, m. (popular), de la Faculte, chemist. Carafe,/, (cads'), throat, or "gut- ter lane;" mouth, or "mug." Fouetter de la , to have an offen- sive breath. Carambolage, m. (popular), col- lision ; general set-to ; coition, or " chivalry." Properly cannoning at billiards. Caramboler (popular), to come into collision with anything ; to strike two persons at one blow ; to thrash a person or several persons. Also corresponds to the Latin futuere. The old poet Villon termed this "chevaulcher," or " faire le bas mestier," and Rabelais called it, "faire la bete a deux dos." Properly " caramboler " signifies to make a cannon at billiards. Carant, m. (thieves'), board ; square piece of wood. A corruption of carre, square. Carante,/ (thieves'), table. Carapata, m. (popular), pedestrian ; bargee; (cavalry) recruit, or "Johnny raw." Carapater (popular), to run, "to brush." Se , to run away, or "to slope." Literally, courir a pattes. See Patatrot. Caravane, f. (popular), travelling show, or "slang." Des cara- vanes, love adventures. Termed also " cavalcades." Carbeluche, m. (thieves'), galice, silk hat. Carcagno, or carcagne, m. (thieves'), usurer. Carcagnotter (thieves'), to be a usurer. Carcan, m. (popular) , worthless horse, or ' ' screw ; " opprobrious epithet ; gaunt woman ; a crinoline, street-walker. See Gadoue. Carcasse, / (thieves'), etats de , loins. Carcasse, in popular lan- guage, body, or " bacon." Je vais te desosser la , /'// break every bone in your body. Carcassier, m. (theatrical), clever playwright. Carder (popular), to claw onfsface. Properly to card. Cardinale, f. (thieves'), moon, or "parish lantern." Cardinales,/!//. (popular), menses. Cardinaliser (familiar), se la figure, to blush, or to get flushed through drinking. Care, f. (thieves'), place of conceal- ment. Vol a la , see Careur. Cardme, m. (popular), amoureux de , timid or platonic lover. Literally a Lenten lover, one who is afraid of touching flesh. Carer (thieves'), to conceal , to steal. See Careur. Se , to seek shelter 68 Careur Carreau. Careur, or voleur 4 la care, m. (thieves'), thief who robs a money- changer under pretence of offering old coins for sale, " pincher." Carfouiller (popular), to thrust deeply* II delibera . . . pour savoir s'il lui car- fouillerait le cceur avec son epee ou s'il se bornerait a lui crever les yeux. FIGARO. Carge (thieves'), pack, Cargot, m. (military), canteen man. Carguer (sailors'), ses voiles, to retire from the service. Properly to reef sails. Caribener, or carer, to steal "a la care." See Careur. Caristade, f. (printers'), relief in money ; charity. Carle, m. (thieves'), money, "lour," or "pieces." Carline, f. (thieves'), death. Carme, m. (popular), large fiat loaf; (thieves') money, "pieces." See Quibus. On lui a grinchi tout le de son morlingue, the con- tents of his purse have been stolen. Carme a 1'estorgue, or a 1'estoque, base coin, or " sheen." Carmer (thieves'), to pay, " to dub." Carnaval, m. (popular), ridiculously dressed person , " guy . " Carne, f. (popular), worthless horse, or "screw;" opprobrious epithet applied to a woman, strumpet; woman of disreputable character, "bed-fagot," or "shake." Eire , to be lazy. Carottage, m, (popular), chouse. Garotte, /. (military), medical in- spection ; d'epaisseur, great chouse. (Familiar) Tirer une de longueur, to concoct a far-fetched story for the purpose of obtaining something from one, as money, leave of absence, &*c. (Theatrical) Avoir une dans le plomb, to sing out of tune, or with a cracked voice ; (popular) to have an offen- sive breath. Avoir ses carottes cuites, to be dead. (Thieves') Tirer la , to elicit secrets from one, " to pump " one. II s'agit de te faire arreter pour etre conduit au depot ou tu tireras la carotte a un grinche que nous allons emballer ce soir. VIDOCQ. Carotter (familiar), 1'existence, to live a wretched, poverty-stricken life ; a la Bourse, to speculate in a small way at the Stock Ex- change ; (military) le service, to shirk one's military duties. Caroublage, m. (thieves'), picking of a lock. Carouble,/ (thieves'), skeleton key, "betty," or "twirl." Caroubleur, m. (thieves'), thief who uses a picklock, or ' ' screwsman ; " a la flan, thief of this description who operates at haphazard ; au fric-frac, housebreaker, " panny- man," "buster, "or "cracksman." Carquois, m. (popular), d'osier, rag- picker's basket. Carre, f. (thieves'), du paquelin, the Banque de France. Mettre a la , to conceal. Carr6, m. (students'), second-year student in higher mathematics; (thieves') room, or lodgings, " diggings ; " des petites gerbes, police court ; du rebec- tage, court of cassation, a tri- bunal which revises cases already tried, and which has power to quash a judgment. Carreau, m. (popular), de vitre, monocular eyeglass. Aller au , see Aller. (Thieves' and cads') Carreau, eye, or " glazier ; " brouille, squinting eye, or "boss- eye ; " a la manque, blind eye. Affranchir le , to open one's eye. Carreaux brouilles Cascaret. 6 9 Carreaux brouilles, m. pi. (popu- lar), house of ill-fame, or "nanny- shop." Such establishments which are under the surveillance of the police authorities have white- washed window-panes and a num- ber of vast dimensions over the street entrance. Carree, f. (popular), room, "crib." Carrefour, m. (popular), des ecra- ses, a crossing of the faubourg Montmartre, a dangerous one on account of the great traffic. Carrer (popular and thieves'), se , to conceal oneself ; to run away, ' ' to brush ; " de la debine, to improve one's circumstances. Carreur, m. (thieves'), receiver of stolen goods, "fence." Termed also "fourgue. " Cartaude, f. (thieves'), printer's shop. Cartaude (thieves'), printed. Cartauder (thieves'), to print. Cartaudier (thieves'), printer, Carte, /. (popular), femme en , street-walker whose name is down in the books of the police as a regis- tered prostitute. Revoir la , to vomit, or "to cascade," "to cast up accounts," " to shoot the cat." (Cardsharpers') Maquiller la , to handle cards ; to tamper with cards, or "to stock broads." Carton, m. (gamesters'), playing- card, or " broad." Manier, tripoter, graisser, travailler, pati- ner le , to play cards. Ma- quiller le , to handle cards, to tamper with cards, or "to stock broads. " Cartonnements, m. pi. (literary), manuscripts consigned to oblivion. Cartonner (gamesters'), to play cards. Cartonneur, m., one fond of cards. Cartonnier, m. (popular), clumsy worker; card-player. Cartouche, / (military), avaler sa , to die, " to lose the number of one's mess." Dechirer la , to eat. See Mastiquer. Cartouchiere a portees, f., pack of prepared cards which swindlers keep secreted under their waistcoat, " books of briefs." Caruche, f. (thieves'), prison, or "stir." Comte de la , jailer, or "dubsman." See Motte. Carvel, m. (thieves'), boat. From the Italian caravella. Cas, m. (popular), montrer son , to make an indecent exhibition of one's person. Casaquin,w.(popular),/zwa fo/ or woman with a testy temper, a "brim." Faire sa , to put on an air of supreme disdain or disgust. Chipoteuse, f. (popular), capri- cious woman. Chiquandar. See Chicard. Chique. See Chic. Chique, f. Properly quid of tobacco. (Popular) Avoir sa , to be in a bad humour, "to be crusty," or "cranky." Avoir une , to be drunk, or "screwed." See Pom- pette. Ca te coupe la , thafs disappointing for you, that "cuts you up." Coller sa , to bend one's head. Couper la a quinze pas, to stink. Poser sa , to die ; to be still. Pose ta et fais le mort ! be still ! shut up ! hold your row ! (Thieves') Chique, church. Chique (artists'), smartly executed. Also said of artistic work done quickly without previously study- ing nature. (Popular) Bien , well dressed. Chiquement, with chic (which see). 8 4 Chiquer Chouia. Chiquer (familiar), to do anything in a superior manner ; to do artis- tic work with more brilliancy than accuracy ; (popular) to thrash, "to wallop," see Voie ; to eat, " to grub," see Mastiquer. Se , to fight, " to drop into one another." Chiquer centre or battre a niort (thieves'), to deny one's guilt. Chiqueur, m. (popular), glutton, " stodger ; " (artists') an artist who paints with smartnesr, or one who draws or faints without study- ing nature. Chirurgien, m. (popular), envieux, cobbler. Chnic. See Chenique. Chocaillon, ;;/. (popular), female rag-picker ; female drunkard, or " lushington." Chocnoso, chocnosof, chocno- sogue, koscnoff, excelltnt, re- markable, brilliant, "crushing," "nobby," "tip-top," "fizzing." Chocotte, f. (rag-pickers'), marrow bone ; (thieves') tooth. Cholera, m. (popular), zinc or zinc- worker ; bad meat. Cholet, m. (popular), white bread of superior quality. Cholette, / (thieves'), half a litre. Double , a litre. Choper (populnr), to steal, "to prig." See Grinchir. Old word choper, to touch anything, to make it fall. Se laisser , to allcnu one- self to be caught, to be 1 " 1 nabbed." ;hopin, m. (thieves'), theft; stolen object ; blow. Faire un , to commit a theft. Chose, adj. (familiar and popular^, /// at ease ; sad ; embarrassed. 1 1 prit un air , he looked sad or em- barrassed. Je me sens tout , I feel ill at ease; queer. Chou ! (thieves' and cads'), a warn- ing cry to intimate that the police or people are coming up. Termed also " Acresto !" Choucarde, f. (military), wheel- barrow. Chouchouter (familiar), to fondle, "to firkytoodle ; " to spoil one. From chouchou, darling. Chou colossal, m. (familiar), a scheme for swindling the public by fabulous accounts of future profits. Choucroute, f. (popular), tete or mangeur de , a German. Choucrouter (populnr), to eat sauer- kraut ; to speak tier man. Choucrouteur, choucroutmann, m., German. Chouette, chouettard, chouet- taud, adj., good ; fine ; perfect, "chummy," "real jam," "true marmalade." C'est rien , that's first-class ! Quel temps, what splendid weather! Un regi- ment, a crack regiment. (Dis- paragingly) Nous sommes , we are in a fine pickle. Chouette, /. and adj. (thieves'), etre , to be caught. Faire une , to play at billiards against two other players. Chouettement (popular), finely ; perfectly. Chouez (Breton), house ; doue, church. Choufflic (popular), bad workman. In the German schuflick, lobbler. Chouffliquer (popular), to work in a clumsy manner. Chouffliqueur, /. (popular), bad workman ; (military) shoemaker, "snob." Chouia (military), gently. From the Arabic. C ho nil Ci i it i erne. Chouil (Breton), work ; insect. Chouila (Breton cant), to work ; to b-'get many children. Chouista (Breton), to -work with a will. Choumaque (popular), shoemaker. From the German. Chourin, for surin (thieves'), knife, " chive." Si j'ai pas 1'rond, mon stirin bouge. Moi, c'est dans le sang qu' j'aurais truque. Mais qtiand on fait suer, pomaque ! Mieux vaut boufier du blanc qu' du rouge. KICHEPIN, Chanson des Guenx. Chouriner, for suriner (thieves'), to knife, ' ' to chive. " Chourineur, m., for surineur (thieves'), one who uses the knife ; knacker. " Le Chourineur "is one of the characters of Eugene Sue's/ Mysteres de Paris. C'housa (Breton), to eat. C'housach ( Breton), food. Chretien, adj. (popular), mixed u>ith water, "baptized." Chretien, m. (popular), viande de - , human flesh, Chrysalide, f. (popular), old co- quette. Chtibes, f. pi. (popular), boots, " hock-dockies." Chybre, m. (popular), see Flageo- let ; (artists') member of the In- stilut de France. Chyle, w. (familiar), se refaire le , to have a good meal, a "tightener." Cibiche, f. (popular), cigarette. Cible, f. (popular), a coups de pieds, breech. See Vasistas. Ciboule, f. (popular), head, or "block." See Tronche. Cidre elegant, m. (familiar), cham- pagtie, " fiz," or "boy." Ciel, m. (fishermens 1 ), le plumant ses poules, clouds. Les nuages, c'etait le ciel p! umant ses poules, Et la foudre en eclats, Michel cassant ses oeufs. II aopelait le vent du sud cornemu^euy, Celui du nord cornard, de 1'ouest b,i~e a grenouille, Celui de suroit 1'brouf, celui de terre an- douille. RICHEPIN, La Mer. Cierge, m. (thieves'), police officer, or "reeler. " For synonyms see Pot-a-tabac. Cig, /., cigale, or sigue, /. (thieves'), gold coin, or "yellow boy." /Cigale, f. (popular), female street singer. Properly grasshopper; also cigar. jCigogne,/ (thieves'), the " Prefec- f ttire de Police " in Paris ; the Palais de Justice ; court of justice. Le dab de la , the public prose- cut or ; the prefect of police. Je monte a la cigogne. On me gerbe a la grotte, Au tap, et pour douze ans. VIDOCQ. Cigue,/ (thieves'), abbreviation of cigale, twenty-franc piece. Cimaise (painters'), faire sa sur / quelqu'un, to show up one's own good qualities, whether real or imaginary, at the expense of an- other's failings, in other words, to preach for one's own Chapel. Giment, m. (freemasons'), mustard. Cingler (thieves'), se le blair, to get drunk, or "canon." Cinq-a-sept, m., a kind of tea party from five o'clock to seven in the fashionable world. Cinq-centimadas, m. (ironical), one-sou cigar. Cintieme, m. (popular), high cap generally worn by 'women' 's bullies, or " pensioners." 86 Cintrer Claqner. Cintrer (popular), to hold ' ; (thieves') en pogne, to seize hold of ; to apprehend, or "to smug." See Piper. Cipal, m. (popular), abbreviation of garde-municipal. The " garde municipale " is a picked body of old soldiers who furnish guards and perform police functions at theatres, official ceremonies, police courts, &c. It consists of infantry and cavalry, and is in the pay of the Paris municipal authorities, most of the men having been non-commissioned officers in the army. Cirage, m. (popular), praise, " soft sawder," "buttei." Cire,/., voleur a la , rogue who steals a silver fork or spoon at a restattrant, and makes it adhert under the table by means of a piece of soft wax. When charged with the theft, he puts on an air of in- jured innocence, and asks to be searched ; then leaves with ample apologies from the master of the restaurant. Soon after a confede- rate enters, taking his friend's former seat at the table, and pocketing the booty. Cire, m. (popular), negro. From cirer, to black shoes. Termed also " bolte a cirage, bamboula, boule de neige, bille de pot au feu." Cirer (popular), to praise; to flatter, "to butter." Cireux, m. (popular), one -with in~ flamed eyelids. Ciseaux, m. pi. (literary), travailler a coups de , to compile. Cite, f. (popular), d'amour, gay girl, " bed-fagot." Je 1'ai traitee comme elle le meritait. Je 1'ai appelee feignante, cite d'amour, chenille, machine a plaisir. MAC. Citron, m. (thent'ricnl). squeaky note; (thieves' and cads') the head, "nut," or "chump." Termed also " tronche, sorbonne, poire, cafetiere, trognon, citrouille." Citrouille, /., citrouillard, /. (military), dragoon ; (thieves') head, "nut," or "tibby." Civade, f. (thieves'), oats. Civard, m. (popular), pasture. Give, f. (popular), grass. Clairs, m. pi. (thieves'), eyes, or " glaziers." See Mirettes. Soufflerses , to sleep, to "doss," or to have a "dose of the balmy." Clairte,y; (popular), light ; beauty. Clampiner (popular), to idle about ; to lounge about lazily, " to mike." Clapoter (popular), to eat, "to grub." See Mastiquer. Claque, m. and adj. (popular), dead, dead man. La boite aux claques, the Aforgtie, or Paris dead-house. Le jardin des claques, the cemetery. Claquebosse, m. (popular), house of ill-fame, or "nanny-shop." Claquedents, m. (popular), house of ill -fame, " nanny - shop ;" gaming-house, or "punting-shop ;" low eating house. Claquefaim, m. (popular), starving man. Claquepatins, m. (popular), miser- able slipshod person. Venez a moi, claquepatins, Loqueteux, joueurs de musette, Clampins, loupeurs, voyous, catins. RICHEPIN. The early French poet Villon uses the word " cliquepatin " with the same signification. Claquer (familiar), to die, " to croak ; " to eat ; to sell ; se* Claques Clous. meubles, to sell one's furniture ; du bee, to be very hungry without any means of satisfying one's craving for food. Claques,/. //. (familiar and popu- lar), une figure a , face with an, impudent expression that invites punishment. Clarinette, /. (military), de cinq pieds, musket, formerly ' ' Brown Bess. " Classe, f. (popular), un diri- geant, said ironically of one of the upper classes. Clavin, m. (thieves'), nail ; grapes. Clavine,/. (thieves'), vine. Claviner (thieves'), to nail ; to gather grapes. Clavineur, m. (thieves'), vine- dresser. Clavinier, m. (thieves'), nail- maker. Clef, /. (familiar), a la . See A la. Perdre sa , to suffer from colic, or "botts." (Military) La du champ de manoeuvre, imagi- nary object which recruits are re- quested by practical jokers to go and ask of the sergeant. Cliabeau, m. t expression used by the prisoners of Saint-Lazare, doctor. Cliche, /. (popular), diarrhcea, or ' ' jerry-go-nimble. " Cliche, m, (familiar), commonplace sentence ready made ; common- place metaphor ; well-worn plati- tude, (Printers') Tirer son ,tobe always repeating the same thing. Client, m. (thieves'), victim, or in- tended victim. Cligner (military), des ceillets, to squint, to be " boss-eyed." Clignots, m. pi. (popular), eyes, "peepers." Baver des , to weep, "to nap a bib." See Mirettes. Clipet, m. (thieves'), voice. Clique, f. (popular), scamp, or " bad egg ; "diarrhcea, or "jerry- go-nimble." (Military) La , the squad of drummers and buglers. Exempts de service, ils exercent gene- ralement une profession quelconque (bar- bier, tailleur, ajusteur de guetres, etc.) qui leur rapporte quelques benefices. Ayant ainsi plus de temps et plus d'argent a de- penser que leurs camarades, ils ont une reputation, assez bien justifiee d'ailleurs, de bambocheurs ; de la, ce nom de clique qu'on leur donne. La Langue Verte du rroupier. Cliquettes, /. //. (popular), ears, or " wattles." Clodoche, m. (familiar), descrip- tion of professional comic dancer with extraordinarily supple legs, such as the Girards brothers, of Alhambra celebrity. Cloporte, m. (familiar), door-keeper, Properly wooa louse. A pun on the words clot porte. Clou, m. (military), guard-room,; cells, "jigger;" bayonet. Coller au , to imprison, "to roost." (Popular) Clou, bad workman ; pawnshop. Mettre au , to pawn, to put " in lug. " Clou de girofle, decayed black tooth. (Theatrical and literary) Le d'une piece, d'un roman, the chief point of interest in a play or novel, lite- rally a nail on which the whole fabric hangs. Clouer (popular), to imprison, " to run in ;" to pawn, "to blue, to spout, to lumber." Clous, m. pi. (popular), tools. (Printers') Petits , type. Lever les petits , to compose. (Mili- tary) Clous, foot-soldiers, or "mud- crushers." Coaguler Cocotterie. Coaguler (familiar), se , to get drunk. See Sculpter. Cobier, m., heap of salt in salt- marshes. Cocanges, f. pi. (thieves'), wal- nut-shells. Jeu de , game of swindlers at fairs. Cocangeur, m. (thieves'), swindler. See Cocanges. Cocantin, m. (popular), business agent acting as a medium between a debtor and a creditor. Cocarde, f. (popular), head. Avoir sa , to be tipsy. Taper sur la , is said of wine which gets into the head. Ma joie et surtout 1'petit bleu Ca m'a tape sur la cocarde ! Parisian Song. Cocarder (popular), se , to get tipsy. See Sculpter. Tout se passait tres gentiment, on e'tait gai, il ne fallait pas maintenant se cocarder cochonnement, si 1'on voulait respecter les dames. ZOLA, L' Assotnmoir. Cocardier, m. (military), military man passionately fond of his pro- fession. Cocasserie,/. (familiar), strange or grotesque saying, writing, or deed. Coche, f. (popular), fat, red-faced woman. Cochon, m. (popular), de bon- heur ! (ironical) no hick ! Ca n'est pas trop , that's not so bad. C'est pas du tout, that's very nice. Mon pauvre , je ne te dis que $a ! my poor fellow, you are in for it ! Etre , to be lewd. Se conduire comme un , to be- have in a mean, despicable way. Soigner son , is said of one who lives too well. Un costume , a suggestive dress. Cochonne,/ (popular), lewd girl. (Ironically) Elle n'est pas jolie, mais elle est si cochonne ! Cochonnement, adv. (popular), in a disgusting manner. Cochonnerie, /. (popular), any article of food having pork for a basis. Cochonneries, / //. (popular), indecent talk or actions. Coco, m. (military), horse. La botte a , trumpet call for stables , (literally) La botte de foin a coco. (Popular) Coco, brandy; head. See Tronche. Avoir le de- plume, to be bald, or to have a " bladder of lard." For synony- mous expressions, see Avoir. Avoir le fele, to be cracked, " to be a little bit balmy in one's crumpet." For synonyms see Avoir. Colle-toi 9a dans le , or passe-toi a par le , eat that or drink that. Devisser le , to strangle. Monter le , to excite. Se monter le , to get excited ; to be too sanguine. II a graisse la patte a , is said of a man who has bungled over some affair. (Familiar) Coco epilep- tique, champagne wine, " fiz," or "boy." Cocodete, / (familiar), stylish woman always dressed according to the latest Jashion, a "dasher." Cocons, m. pi., stands for co-con- scrits, first-term students at the Ecole Polytechnique. Cocotte, f. (popular), term of en- dearment to horses . Aliens, hue ! pull up, my beauty! (Familiar and popular) Cocotte, a more than fast girl or woman, a "pretty horse-breaker," see Gadoue ; (theatrical) addition made by singers to an original theme. Cocotterie,/ (familiar), the world of the cocottes. See Cocotte. Cocovieilles Collage. 8 9 Cocovieilles, f. pi. , name given by fashionable young ladies of the aristocracy to their old-fashioned elders, ivho return the compliment by dubbing them " cocosottes." Cocufieur, m. (popular), one -who cuckoos, that is, one who lays himself open to being called to account by an injured husband as the co-respondent in the divorce court. Coenne, or couenne, f. (thieves'), de lard, brush. (Familiar and popular) Couenne, stupid man, dunce. Coe're, m. (thieves'), le grand , formerly the king of rogues. Cceur, m. (popular), jeter du sur le carreau, to vomit. A pun on the words "hearts "and "dia- monds" of cards on the one hand, avoir mal au , to feel sick, and " carreau, ''''flooring, on the other. Valet de , lover. Cceur d'artichaut, m. (popular), man or woman with an inflam- mable heart. Paillasson, quoi ! coeur d'artichaut, C'est mon genre ; un" feuille pour tout 1'monde, Au jour d'aujourd'hui j'gobe la blonde ; Apres d'main, c'est la brun' qu'i m'faut. GILL, La Muse a Bibi. Coffier (thieves'), abbreviation of escoffier, to kill, ' ' to cook one's gruel." Coffin, m., peculiar kind of desk at tlie Ecole Polytechnique. From the inventor's name, General Coffinieres. Cognac, m. (thieves'), gendarme or police officer, "crusher," "cop- per," or "reeler." See Pot-a- tabac. Cognade, /, or cogne (thieves'), gendarmerie. Cognard, m., or cogne, gendarme and gendarmerie ; police officer, " copper." Cogne, m. and f. (thieves'), la , the police. Un , a police officer, or "reeler." See Pot-a-tabac. Also brandy. Un noir de trois ronds sans , a three-halfpenny cup of coffee without brandy. Coiffer (popular), to slap ; to deceive one's husband. Se de quel- qu'un, to take a fancy to one. Coin, m. (popular), c'est un sans i, he is a fool. Coire (thieves'), farm ; chief. Je rencontrai des camarades qui avaient aussi fait leur temps ou casse leur ficelle. Leur coire me proposa d'etre des leurs, on faisait la grande soulasse sur le trimar. V. HUGO. Col, m. (familiar), casse, dandy, or "masher." Se pousser du , to assume an air of self-impor- tance or conceit, "to look gump- tious ; " to praise oneself up. An allusion to the motion of one's hand under the chin when about to make an important statement. Colas, colabre, or colin, m. (thieves'), neck, or " scrag." Faire suer le , to strangle. Rafraichir le , to guillotine. Rafraichir means to trim in the expression, " Rafraichir les cheveux." Colback, m. (military), raw recruit, or "Johnny raw." An allusion to his unkempt hair, similar to a busby or bearskin cap Colin. See Colas. Collabo, m. (literary), abbreviation of collaborates. Collage, m. (familiar), living as husband and wife in an unmarried state. L'une apres 1'autre en camarade^ C'est rupin, mais 1' collage, bon Dieu ! Toujours la mem' chaufTeus' de pieu ! M'en parlez pas ! Ca m'rend malade. GILL, La Muse a Bibi. Collant Coltiger. Un d'argent, the action of a ivoman -who lives -with a man as his wife from mercenary motives, CV'ait selon la manie de ce corrupteur de mineures, le sceau avec lequel il cimen- tait ce que Madame Cornette appelait, en terme du metier, ses collages d'argent ! Mtmfires de Monsieur Claude. Collant, m. (familiar), is said of one not easily got rid of; (military) drawers. Collarde, m. (thieves'), prisoner, one " doing time." Colle, f. (students'), weekly or other periodical oral examinations to prepare for a final examination, or to make up the marks which pass one at (he end of the year. College, m. (thieves'), prison, or "stir." See Motte. Un ami de , a prison chum. Les col- leges de Pantin, the Paris prisons, Collegien, m. (thieves'), prisoner. Coller (students'), to stop on J s leave ; to orally examine at periodical ex- aminations, Se faire , to get plucked or "ploughed" at an ex- amination, (Popular) Coller, to place; to put ; to give ; to throw ; au bloc, to imprison, " to run in;" des chataignes, to thrash, " to wallop." See Voie. Se dans le pieu, to go to bed. Se une biture, to get drunk, or "screwed." See Sculpter. Colle-toi la, place yourself there. Colle-toi $a dans le fusil, eat or drink that. Colle-toi ca dans la coloquinte, bear that in mind. (Military) Coller au bloc, to send to the guard-room. Collez-moi ce clampin-la au bloc, take that lazy bones to the guard-room. (Familiar and popular) Se , to live as man and wife, to live "a tally." Se faire , to be nonplussed. S'en par le bee, to eat to excess, " to scorf." S'en pour, to go to the expense of, Je m'en suis colle pour dix francs, I spent ten francs over it, Colletiner (thieves'), to collar, to apprehend, " to smug." See Piper. Colleur, m. (students'), professor whose functions are to orally ex- amine at certain periods students at private or public establish ments; man who gets quickly intimate or " thick " -with one, who " cottons on to one." Collier, or coulant, m. (thieves'), cravat, or "neckinger." Collignon, m. (popular), cabby. An allusion to a coachman of that name who murdered his fare. The cry, " Ohe, Collignon ! " is about the worst insult one can offer a Paris coachman, and he is not slow to resent it. Colcmbe, f. (players'), qtteen of cards. Colombe, adj. (thieves'), known. Colon, m. (soldiers'), colonel. Pe- tit , lieutenant-colonel. Colonne,/i (military), chapeau en , see Bataille. (Popular) N'avoir pas chie la , to be devoid of any talent, not to be able to set the Thames on fire. Demolir la , to void urine, " to lag." Coloquinte, f. (popular and thieves'), head. Avoir une araignee dans la , to be cracked, or "to have a bee in one's bon- net." Chariot va jouer a la boule avec ta , Jack Ketch will play skittles with your canister. Coltiger (thieves'), to arrest; to seize, to " smug." C'est dans la rue du Mail Ou j'ai etc coltige Par trois coquins de rallies. V. HUGO, Le Dernier Jour d'un Condamne. Col tin Comprendre. Coltin, m. (popular), strength. Properly shoulder-strap. Coltiner (popular), to ply the trade of a porter ; to draw a hand-cart by means of a shoulder-strap. Coltineur, m. (popular), man who draws a hand-cart with a shoulder- strap. Coltineuse (popular), female who docs rough work. Comberge, combergeante, / (thieves'), confession. Comberger (thieves'), to reckon up; to confess. Combergo (thieves'), confessional. Comblance, f. (thieves'), par , into the bargain. J'ai fait par comblance Gironde larguecape. VIDOCQ. Comble, combre, combriau, combrieu, m. (thieves'), hat, "tile." See Tubard. Combrie, f. (thieves'), one-franc piece. Combrier, m. (thieves'), hat-maker. Combrieu. See Comble. Combrousier, m. (thieves'), pea- sant, or " clod." Combustible, m. (popular), du ! exclamation iised to urge one on, On ! go it ! Come, m. (thieves'), formerly a guard on board the galleys. Comedie, f. (popular), envoyer a la , to dismiss a workman for want of work to give him. Etre a la , to be out of work, "out of collar." Comestaux, m. pi. (popular), for comestibles, articles of food, "toke." Comete, f. (popular), vagrant, tramp. Filer la , or la sorgue, to sleep in the open air, or "to skipper it." Comiques, m. pi. (theatrical), jouer les habilles, to represent a comic character in modern cos- tume. Commander (thieves'), a cuire, to send to the scaffold. Commandite, f. (printers'), asso- ciation of workmen who join to- gether for the performance of any work. Comme if (popular), ironical for comme il faut, genteel. T'as rien 1'air ! What a swell you look, oh crikey! Commissaire, m. (popular), pint or pitcher of wine. An allusion to the black robe which police magistrates wore formerly. Le cabot du , the police magistrate's secretary. See Chien. Commode, /. (thieves'), chimney. (Popular) Une a deux ressorts, a vehicle, or " trap." Communard, or communeux, m., one of the insurgents of 1871. Communique, m. (familiar), offi- cial communication to newspapers. Comp. See Can. Compas, m. (popular), ouvrir le , to walk. Allonger le , to walk briskly. Fermer le , to stop walking. Complet, adj. (popular), etre , to be quite drunk, or "slewed." (Familiar) Etre , to be perfectly ridiculous. Comprendre (thieves'), la , to steal, "to claim." See Grin- chir. Compte Conservatoire. Compte (popular), avoir son , to be tipsy, or "screwed ;" to die, "to snuff it." Son est bon, he is in for it. Compter (musicians'), des payses, to sleep ; (popular) ses chemises, to vomit, " to cast up accounts." Comte, m. (thieves'), de earache, or de canton, jailor, or "jigger dubber ; " de castu, hospital superintendent ; de gigot-fin, one "who likes to live well. Comtois, adj. (thieves'), battre , to dissemble ; to play the fool. Conasse, or connasse, /. (prosti- tutes'), a stupid or modest woman. Elles vantent leur savoir-faire, elles re- prochent a leurs camarades leur imperitie, et leur donnent le nom de conasse, ex- pression par laquelle elles designent ordi- nairement une femme honneie. PARENT- DUCHATELET, De la Prostitution. Conde, m. (thieves'), mayor ; demi , alderman ; grand , prefect ; franc, corrupt magistrate. Condice,/. (thieves'), cage in which convicts are confined on their pas- sage to the convict settlements. Condition, f. (thieves'), house, "diggings," or "hangs out." Faire une , to break into a house, "to crack a crib." Filer une , to watch a house in view of an intended burglary. (Popu- lar) Acheter une , to lead a new mode of life, to turn over a new leaf. Conduite, /. (popular), faire la , to drive away and thrash . Faire la de Grenoble, to put one out of doors. Cone,/ (thieves'), death. Confirmer (popular), to box one's ears, "to warm the wax of one's ears." Confiture,/, (popular), excrement. Confiturier, m. (popular), scavenger, " rake-kennel." Confortable, m. (popular), glassof beer. Confrere, m. (popular), de la lune, injured husband. Coni, adj. (thieves'), dead. Coniller (popular), to seek to escape. Conil, rabbit. Conir (thieves'), to conceal ; to kill ; " to cook one's gruel." See Re- froidir. Connais (popular), je la , no news for me ; do you see any green in my eye ? you don't take an old bird with chaff. Connaissance,/ (popular), ma , my mistress, or sweetheart, my " young woman." Connaitre (popular), le journal, to be well informed ; to know before- hand the menu of a dinner ; le numero, to possess experience ; le numero de quelqu'un, to be ac- quainted with one's secrets, one's habits. La dans les coins, to be knowing, to know what's o'clock. An allusion to a horse clever at turning the corners in the riding school. Regardez-le partir, le gavroche qui la commit dans les coins. RICHEPIN. Connerie,/ (popular), foolish action or thing. From an obscene word which has the slang signification of fool. Conobler (thieves'), to recognize. Conobrer (thieves'), to know. Conscience,/, (printers'), homme de , typographer paid by the day or by the hour. Conscrar, conscrit, m , first-term student at the " Ecole Normale," a higher training-school for univer- sity professors. Conservatoire, m. (popular),;Vra/M- shop. Eleve du de la Villette, wretched singer. La Villette is Conserves Coquage. 93 the reverse of a fashionable quar- ter. Conserves, f. (theatrical },old plays. Also fragments of human flesh which have been thrown into the servers or river by murderers, and which, when found, are taken to the ''Morgue" or Paris dead- house. Je viens de preparer pour lui les con- serves (les morceaux de chair humaine), l'o< de 1'egout Jacob et la cuisse des Saints- Peres (1'os retrouve dans 1'egout de la Rue Jacob et la cuisse repechee au pont des Saints-Peres). MAC, Man Premier Crime. Consigne, f. (military), a gros grains, imprisonment in the cells. Consolation,/, (popular), brandy ; swindling game played by card- sharpers, by means of a green cloth chalked into small numbered spaces, and dice. Console,/ (thieves'), game played by card-sharpers or " broadsmen " at races and fairs. Consoler (popular), son cafe, to add brandy to one's coffee. Center (military). Conte cela au perruquier des Zouaves, / do not believe you, "tell that to the Marines." Le perruquier des Zouaves is an imaginary indi- vidual. Contre, m. (popular), playing for drink at a cafe. Contre-allumeur, m. (thieves'), spy employed by thieves to baffle the police spies. Contrebasse, f. (popular), breech. Sauter sur la , to kick one's be- hind, " to toe one's bum," " to root," or " to land a kick." Contre-coup, m. (popular), de la boite, foreman, or " boss." Contreficher (popular), s'en , to care not a straw, not a "hang." Contre-marque, / (popular), du Pere-Lachaise, St. Helena medal. Those who wear the medal are old, and le Pere-Lachaise is a cemetery in Paris. Controle, m. (thieves'), formerly the mark on the shoulder of con- victs who had been branded. Controler (popular), to kick one in the face. Convalescence,/, (thieves'), sur- veillance of the police on the move- ments of ticket-of-leave men. Cop, / (printers'), for "copie," manuscript. Copaille, /. (cads'), Sodomist. Termed also "tante, coquine." Cope, / (popular), overcharge for an article ; action of " shaving a customer." The Slang Dic- tionary says that in England, when the master sees an oppor- tunity of doing this, he strokes his chin as a signal to his assis- tant who is serving the customer. Copeau, m. (popular), artisan in woodwork (properly copeaux, shavings) ; spittle, or " gob." Arracher son . See Arracher. Lever son , to talk, " to jaw." Copeaux, m. pi. (thieves'), house- breaking, "screwing or cracking a crib." An allusion to the splin- ters resulting from breaking a door. Copie, /. (printers'), de chapelle, copy of a work given as a present to the typographers. (Figuratively) Faire de la , to backbite. Pisser de la , to be a prolific writer. Pisseur de , a prolific writer ; one who writes lengthy, diffuse newspaper articles. Coquage, m. (thieves'), informing against one, or " blowing the gaff." 94 Coquard Cornant. Coqvnrd, m. (thieves'), eye, or "glazier." S'en tamponner le , not to care a Jig. See Mirette. Coquardeau, m. (popular), hen- pecked husband, or " stangey ;" man easily duped, or " gulpy." Coquer (thieves'), to watch one's movements; to inform against one, "to blow the gaff." Quand on en aura refroidi quatre ou cinq dans les preaux les autres tourneront leur langue deux fois avant de coquer la pegre. E. SUE. Also to give / to put ; la camoufle, to hand the candle, "to dub the glim ;" la loffitude, to give absolution ; le poivre, to poison, "hocus;" le taf, to frighten ; le rifle, to set fire to. Coqueur, m. (thieves'), informer who -warns the police of intended thefts. He may be at liberty or in prison ; in the latter case he goes by the appellation of "co- queur mouton " or " musicien." The " mouton " variety is an in- mate of a prison and informs against his fellow-prisoners ; the " musicien " betrays his accom- plices. Coqueur de bille, man who furnishes funds. Coqueuse, female variety of the " coqueur." Coquillard (popular),^. S'en tam- ponner le , not to care a straw, " not to care a hang." Coquillards, m. pi. (tramps'), tramps who in olden times pre- tended to be pilgrims. Coquillards sont les pelerins de Saint- Jacques, la plus grande partie sont veri- tables et en viennent ; mais il y en a aussi qui truchent sur le coquillard. Le Jargon de F Argot. Coquillon, m. (popular), louse; pilgrim. Coquin, m. (thieves'), informer, " nark," or "nose." Coquine,/. (cads'), Sodomist. Corbeau, m. (popular), lay brnther of "la doctrine chretienne," usually styled " freres ignoran- tins." The brotherhood had for- merly charge of the ragged schools, and were conspicuous by their gross ignorance ; priest, or "devil dodger ;" undertaker's man. Corbeille,/; (familiar), enclosure or ring at the Bourse where official stockbrokers transact business. Corbillard, m. (popular), a deux roues, dismal man, or "croaker;" a nceuds, dirty and dissolute woman, or "draggle-tail ;" des loucherbem, cart which collects tainted meat at butcher's stalls. Loucherbem is equivalent to bou- cher. Voici passer au galop le corbillard des loucherbem, I'immonde voiture qui vient ramasser dans les boucheries la viande gatee. RICHEPIN, Le Pave. Corbuche, /. (thieves'), ulcer ; lophe, false ulcer. Corde, f. (literary), avoir la , to find true expression for accurately describing sentiments or passions. (Popular) Dormir a la , is said of poor people who sleep in certain lodgings -with their heads on an out- stretched rope as a pillow. This corresponds to the English " two- penny rope." Corder (popular), to agref, to get on " swimmingly " together. Cordon, m. (popular), s'il vous plait ! or donnez-vous la peine d'entrer ! large knot worn in the rear of ladies' dresses. Cordonnier, m. (popular), bec- figue de , goose. Cornage, m. (thieves'), bad smell. Cornant, m., cornante,/; (thieves' and tramps'), ox and cow, or " mooer. " Cornard Cosaque. Cornard, m. (students'), faire , to hold a council in a corner. Corne,/ (popular), stomach. Cornemuseux, m. (codfishers'), the south wind. Corner (thieves'), to breathe heavily ; to stink. La crie corne, the meat smells. Cornet, m. (popular), throat, "gut- ter-lane." Colle-toi ca dans 1' , swallow that ! N'avoir rien dans le , to be fasting, "to be ban- died," "to cry cupboard." Cornet d'epices, Capuchin. II se voulut converter ; il bia trouver un chenatre cornet d'epice, et rouscailla a seziere qu'il voulait quitter la religion pre- tendue pour attrimer la catholique. Le Jargon de I' Argot. Corniche, f. (popular), hat, or "tile," see Tubard ; (students') the military school of Saint- Cyr. Cornicherie,/ (popular), nonsense; Joolish action. Cornichon, m. (students'), candi- date preparing for the Ecole Militaire de Saint-Cyr. Literally greenhorn. Corniere,/. (thieves'), cow-shed. Cornificetur, m. (popular), injured husband. Corps de pompe, in., staff of the Saint- Cyr school, and that of the school of cavalry of Saumur. Saint-Cyr is the French Sand- hurst. Saumur is a training-school where the best riders and most vicious horses in the French army are sent. Correcteur, m. (thieves'), prisoner who plays the spy, or " nark." Correspondance, / (popular), a snack taken at a wine-shop while waiting for an omnibus "corre~ spondance. " Corridor, m. (familiar), throat. Se rincer le , to drink, "to wet one's whistle." See Rincer. Corse, adj. (common), properly is said of wine with full body. Un repas , a plentiful meal, or a "tightener." Corserie,/ (familiar), a set of Cor- sican detectives in the service of Napoleon III. According to Mon- sieur Claude, formerly head of the detective force under the Empire, the chief members of this secret bodyguard were Alessandri and Griscelli. Claude mentions in his memoirs the murder of a detec- tive who had formed a plot for the assassination of Napoleon in a mysterious house at Auteuil, where the emperor met his mistresses, and to which he often used to re- pair disguised as a lacquey, and riding behind his own carriage. Griscelli stabbed his fellow-detec- tive in the back on mere suspicion, and found on the body of the dead man papers which gave evidence of the plot. In reference to the mysterioushouse,Monsieur Claude says : L'empereur s'enflamma si bien pour cette nouvelle Ninon que I'imperatrice en prit ombrage. La duchesse alors .... loua ma petite maison d'Auteuil que le general Fleury avail choisie pour servir de rendez- vous clandestin aux amours de son maitre. Memoires de Monsieur Claude. Corset, m. (popular), pas de ! sweet sixteen ! Corvee,/ (prostitutes'), aller a la , to walk the street, une being literally an arduous, dis- agreeable work. Corvette,/; (thieves'), a kind of low, rascally Alexis. Formpsum pastor Corydon ardebat Alexin, Delicias domini Cosaque, m. (familiar), stove. 9 6 Cosser Couac. Cosser (thieves'), to take ; la hane, to take a purse, " to buz a skin." Costel, m. (popular), prostitute's bully, "ponce." See Poisson. Costume, m. (theatrical), faire un , to applaud an actor directly he makes his appearance on the stage. Cote,/, (lawyers'), stolen goods or money ; (sporting) the betting. Frere de la , stockbroker's clerk. Play on Cote, which see. La G., purloining of articles of small vahie by notaries' clerks when making an inventory. Literally, la cote j'ai. Cote, / (thieves'), de bceuf, sword. Frere de la , see Bande noire. (Familiar) Etre a la , to be in needy circumstances, "hard up." (Sailors') Vieux frere la , old chum, mate. Cote, m. (theatrical), cour, right- hand side scenes ; jardin, left- hand side scenes. (Familiar) Cote des caissiers, the station of the " Chemin de fer du Nord," at which absconding cashiers some' times take train. Cotelard, ;//. (popular), melon. Cotelette, f. (popular), de me- nuisier, de perruquier, or de vache, piece of Brie cheese. (Theatrical) Avoir sa , to obtain applause. Emporteur a la , see Em- porteur. Cute-nature,/ (familiar), forcote- lette au naturel, grilled chop. Coterie, f. (popular), chum. Eh! dis done, la ! I say, old chum ! Coterie, association of workmen ; company. Vous savez, la p'tite , you know, chums ! Cotes,/. //. (popular), avoir les en long, to be lazy, to be a " bum- mer. " Literally to have the ribs lengthwise, which would make one lazy at turning about. Travailler les a quelqu'un, to thrash one, to give one a "hiding." See Voie. Cotier, m. (popular), extra horse harnessed to an omnibus when going up hill ; also his driver. Cotiere, / (gambling cheats'), a pocket wherein spare cards are secreted. Aussi se promit-il de faire agir avec plus d'adresse, plus d'acharnement, les rois, les atouts et les as qu'il tenait en reserve dans sacQliere. Memoires de Monsieur Claude. Cotillon, m. (popular), crotte, prostitute, "draggle-tail." II etait coureur . . . . il adorait le co- tillon, et c'est pour moi un cotillon crotte qui a cause" sa perte. MAC, Man Pre- mier Crime. Faire danser le , to thrash one'? wife. Coton, m. (popular), bread or food (allusion to the cotton-wick of lamp); quarr.el ; street-fight; difficulty, II y aura du , there- will be a fight ; there will be much difficulty. Le courant est rapide, il y aura du , the stream is swift,, we shall have to pull with a will. Cotret, m. (popular), jus de , thrashing with a stick, or " lar- ruping ; " might be rendered by "stirrup oil." Des cotrets, legs. (Thieves') Cotret, convict at the hulks ; returned transport, or "lag." Cotte, / (popular), blue canvas: working trousers. Cou, m. (popular), avoir le front dans le , to be bald, or to have "a bladder of lard." See Avoir. Couac, m. (popular), priest, or "devil-dodger." Couche Coup. 97 Couche (popular), a quelle heure qu'on te ? a hint to one to make himself scarce. Coucher (popular), a la corde, to sleep in certain low lodging-houses with the head resting on a rope stretched across the room, a ' ' two- penny rope ; " dans le lit aux pois verts, to sleep in the fields. Se bredouille, to go to bed with- out any supper. Se en chapon, to go to bed with a full belly. Coucou, m. (popular), watch. Coude, m. (popular), lacher le , to leave one, generally when re- quested to do so. Lache moi le , be off, leave me alone. Prendre sa permission sous son , to do with- out permission. Couenne, f. (popular), skin, or "buff;" fool, or "duffer;" de lard, brush. Gratter, racier, or ratisser la , to shave. Grat- ter la a quelqu'un, to flatter one, to give him " soft sawder; " to thrash one. Est-il ! -what an ass ! Couennes, /. //. (popular), flabby cheeks. Couille, m. (popular), fool, block- head, ' ' cabbage-head. " Couilles, f. pi. (popular), avoir des au cul, to be energetic, manly, " to have spunk." Couillon, m. (popular), poltroon ; foolish with the sense of abashed, crestfallen. II resta tout , he looked foolish. The word is used also in a friendly or jocular man- ner. Couillonnade,/; (popular), ridicu- lous affair ; nonsense. Couillonner (popular), to show cowardice ; to shirk danger. Couillonnerie,/ (popular), cowar- dice ; nonsensical affair ; take in. Couiner (popular), to whimper ; to hesitate. Coulage, m., coule,/ (familiar), waste ; small purloining by ser- vants, clerks, &-V. Coulant, m. (thieves'), milk. Coulante, f. (thieves'), lettuce. (Cads') La , the river Seine. Coule,/ (popular), etre a la , to have mastered the routine of some business, to be acquainted with all the ins and outs; to be comfortable ; to be clever at evading difficulties ; to be insinuating ; to connive at. Mettre quelqu'un a la , to in- struct one in, to make one master of the routine of some business. Couler (popular), en , to lie, " to cram one up." La douce, to live comfortably. Se la douce, to take it easy. Couleur, /. (popular), lie ; box on the ear, or " buck -horse." Mon- ter la , to deceive, ' ' to bam- boozle." Etre a la , to do things well. Couleuvre, /. (popular), pregnant or " lumpy " woman. Coulisse, /. (familiar), the set of coulissiers. See this word. Coulissier,'w. (familiar), unofficial jobber at the Bourse or Stock Ex- change. As an adjective it has the meaning of connected with the back scenes, as in the phrase, Des in- trigues coulissieres, back-scene in- trigues. Couloir, m. (popular), mouth, or "rattle-trap;" throat, or "peck alley." Coup, m. (popular), secret process ; knack ; dodge. II a le , he has the knack, he is a dab at. II a un , he has a process of his own. Un d'arrosoir, a drink. Se flanquer un d'arrosoir, to get tipsy, or "screwed " Un de H 9 8 Coup, bouteille, intoxication. Avoir son de bouteille, to be intoxicated, "to be boozy." SeePompette. Coup de chancellerie, action of gel- tingamartshead "into chancery," that is, to get an opponent's head firmly under one's arm, where it can be pommelled with immense power, and without any possibility of immediate extrication. Un de chien, a tussle ; difficulty. Un d'encensoir, a blow on the nose. Un de feu, a slight in- toxication. Un de feu de so- ciete, complete intoxication. Un de figure, hearty meal, or "tightener." Un de four- chette, digging two fingers into an opponent's eyes. Un de gaz, a glass of wine. Un de gilquin, a slap. Un de pied de jument or de Venus, a venereal disease. Un de Raguse, action of leaving one in the lurch ; an allusion to Marshal Marmont, Due de Ra- guse, who betrayed Napoleon. Un de tampon, a blow, or "bang;" hard shove (tampon, buffer). Un de temps, an accident; hitch. Un de torchon, a fight ; re- volution. Le du lapin, finish- ing blow or crowning misfortune, the straw thai breaks the camel's back ; treacherous way of gripping in a fight. Coup feroce que se donnent de temps en temps les ouyriers dans leurs battures. II consiste a saisir son adversaire, d'une main par les testicules, de 1'autre par la gorge, et a tirer dans les deux sens : celui qui est saisi et tire ainsi n'a pas meme le temps de recommander son ame a Dieu. DELVAU. Coup du medecin, glass of wine drunk after one has taken soup. Un dur, unpleasantness, un- foreseen impediment. Attraper un de sirop, to get tipsy. Avoir son de chasselas, de feu, de picton, or de soleil, to be half drunk, "elevated." SeePom- pette. Avoir son de rifle, to be tipsy, "screwed." Donner le de pouce, to give short weight ; to strangle. Faire le , or monter le a quelqu'un, to deceive, to take in, "to bamboozle" one. Se donner un de tampon, or de torchon, to fight. Se monter le , to be too sanguine, to form illusions. Valoir le , to be worth the trouble of doing or robbing. Voir le , to foresee an event ; to see the dodge. Le de, action of doing anything. Le du canot, going out rowing. Coup de bleu, draught of wine. Avoir son de bleu, to be intoxicated, or "screwed." Pomper un de bleu, to drink. Faut ben du charbon . . . Pour chauffer la machine, Au va-nu-pieds qui chine . . . Faut son p'tit coup d'bleu. RICHEPIN, Chanson des Gueux. (Thieves') Coup al'esbrouffe sur un pantre. See Faire. Un d'acre, extreme unction. Le d'Ana- tole, or du pere Franjois. See Charriage a la mecanique. Un de bas, treacherous blow. Le de bonnet, the three-card trick dodge. Coup de cachet, stabbing, then drawing the knife to and fro in the wound. Un de casse- role, informing against one, ' ' blowing the gaff. " Le de manche, calling at people's houses in order to beg. Un de radin, purloining the contents of a shop- till, generally a wine-shop, "lob- sneaking. " Un de roulotte, rob- bery of luggage or other property from vehicles. Un de vague, a robbery ; action of robbing at ran- dom without any certainty as to the profits to be gained thereby. (Mili- tary) Coup de manchette, certain dexterous cut of the sword on the wrist which puts one hors de com- bat. (Familiar) Un de pied, borrowing money, or "breaking shins." English thieves call it Coupaillon Courbe. 99 "biting the ear." Un de pistolet, some noisy or scandalous proceeding calculated to attract attention. Le de fion, finish- ing touch. Se dormer un de non, to get oneself tidy, ship-shape. C'est la qu'on se donne le coup de fion. On ressangle les chevaux, on arrange les paquetages et les turbans, on epoussette ses bottes, on retrousse ses moustaches et on drape majestueusement les plis de son burnous. H. FRANCE, L'Homme qui tue. (Servants') Le du tablier, giving notice. Coupaillon, m. (tailors'), unskil- ful cutter. Coup de traversin, m. (popular), se foutre un , to sleep. Trois heures qui sonn'nt. Faut que j'rap- plique, S'rait pas trop tot que j'pionce un brin ; C'que j'vas ra'fout'un coup d'traversin ! Bonsoir. GILL, La Muse d Bibi. Coup de trottinet, m. (thieves' and cads'), kick. Filer un dans 1'oignon, to kick one's behind, or " to toe one's bum, " to root," or "to land a kick." Coupe,/, (thieves'), poverty. (Popu- lar) Tirer sa , to swim. Coupe, adj. (printers'), to be with- out money. Coupe-ficelle, m. (military), artil- lery artificer. Coupe-file, m., card delivered to functionaries, which enables them to cross a procession in a crowd. Coupe-lard, m. (popular), knife. Couper (popular), to fall into a snare ; to accept as correct an as- sertion which is not so ; to believe the statement of more or less likely facts ; dans le pont, or dans le ceinturon, to swallow a Jib, to fall into a snare. Vidocq dit comme ga qu'il vient du pre, qu'il voudrait trouver des amis pour gou- piner. Les autres coupent dans le pont (donnent dans le panneau). VIDOCQ. Couper la chique, to disappoint ; to abash ; la gueule a quinze pas, to stink ; la musette, or le sifflet, to cut the throat ; le trot- toir, to place one in the necessity of leaving the pavement by walking as if there were no one in the way, or when walking behind a person to get sttddenly in front of him ; (military) 1'alfa, or la verte, to drink absinthe. Ne pas y , not to escape ; not to avoid ; to disbe- lieve, Vous n'y couperez pas, you will not escape punishment. Je n'y coupe pas, / don't take that in. (Coachmens') Couper sa meche, to die. See Pipe. (Gambling cheats') Couper dans le pont, to cut a pack of cards prepared in such a manner as to turn up the card required by sharpers. The cards are bent in a peculiar way, and in such a manner that the hand of the player who cuts must naturally follow the bend, and separate the pack at the desired point. This cheat- ing trick is used in England as well as France, and is termed in English slang the "bridge." Coupe-sifflet, m. (thieves'), knife, "chive." Termed also "lingre, vingt-deux, surin." Courant, m. (thieves'), dodge. Con- naltre le , to be up to a dodge. Courasson, m. (familiar), one whose bump of amativeness is well developed, in other terms, one too fond of the fair sex. Vieux , old debauchee, old ' ' rip. " Courbe, f. (thieves'), shoulder ; de marne, shoulder of mutton. Les marquises des cagous ont soin d'al- lumer le riffe et faire riffoder la criolle ; les uns fichent une courbe de morne, d'autres un morceau de cornant, d'autres une echine de baccon, les autres des ornies et des orni- chons. Le Jargon de t Argot. 100 Cou reur Cracker. Coureur, m. (thieves'), d'aveugles, a wretch, who robs blind men of the half-pence given them by cha- ritable people. Courir (popular), quelqu'un, to bore one. Se la , to run, to run away, " to slope." For synonyms see Patatrot. Courrier, m. (thieves'), de la pre- fecture, prison van, or "black Maria." Court-a-pattes, m. (military), foot artilleryman. Courtaud, m. (thieves'), shopman, or "counter jumper." Court-bouillon, m. (thieves'), le grand , the sea, "briny," or " herring pond." Termed by English sailors "Davy's locker." Court-bouillon properly is water with, different kinds of herbs in which fish is boiled. Courtier, m. (thieves'), a la mode. See Bande noire. (Familiar) Courtier marron, kind of unofficial stockjobber, an outsider, or " kerb- stone broker." Cousin, m. (thieves'), cardsharper, or "broadsman;" de Moise, husband of a dissolute woman. Cousine, f. (popular), Sodomist ; de vendange, dissolute girl fond of the wine-shop. Cousse, f. (thieves'), de castu, hospital attendant. Couteau, m. (military), grand , cavalry sword. Couter (popular), cela coute une peuretuneenviedecourir, nothing. Couturasse, f. (popular), semp- stress ; pock-marked or ' ' cribbage- faced " woman. Couvent, m. (popular), lai'que, brothel, or "nanny-shop." Le 49 est un lupanar. Ce couvent laTque est connu dans le Quartier Latin sous la denomination de : La Botte de Faille. MAC, Man Premier Crime. Couvercle, m. (popular), hat, or "tile." SeeTubard. Couvert, m. (thieves'), silver fork and spoon from which the initials have been obliterated, or which have been "christened." Couverte, /. (military), battre la , to sleep. Faire passer a la , to toss one in a blanket. Couverture, /. (theatrical), noise made purposely at a theatre to pre- vent the public from noticing some- thing wrong in the delivery of actors. Nous appelons couverture le bruit que nous faisons dans la salle pour couvrir un impair, un pataques, une faute de fran$ais. P. MAHALIN. Couvrante, f. (popular), cap, or "tile." SeeTubard. Couvre-amour, m. shako. (military), Couvreur, m. (freemasons'), door- keeper. Couvrir (freemasons'), le temple, to shut the door. Couyon. See Couillon. Couyonnade, f. See Couillon- nade. Couyonnerie, f. See Couillon- nerie. Crabosser (popular), to crush in a hat. Crac. See Cric. Cracher (popular), to speak out ; des pieces de dix sous, to be dry, thirsty ; dans le sac, to be guillotined, to die ; ses dou- blures, to be consumptive. Ne pas sur quelquechose, not to ob- ject to a thing, to value it, "not to sneeze at." (Musicians') Cra- cher son embouchure, to die. See Pipe. Crachoir Creux. 101 Crachoir, m. (popular and thieves'), month, or " bone-box." See Plomb. (General) Jouer du , to speak, "to rap," "to patter." Abuser du , is said of a very talkative person who engrosses all the conversation. Crampe,/. (popular), tirer sa , to flee, "to crush." See Patatrot. Tirer sa avec la veuve, to be guillotined. Cramper (popular), se , to run away. See Patatrot. Crampon, m. (familiar), bore ; one not easily got rid of. Cramponne toi Gugusse ! (popu- lar, ironical), prepare to be as- tounded. Cramponner (familiar), to force one's company on a person ; to bore. Cramser (popular), to die. Cran, m. (popular), avoir son , to be angry. Faire un , to make a note of something ; an allusion to the custom which bakers have of reckoning the number of loaves furnished by cutting notches in a piece of wood. Lacher d'un , to leave one suddenly. Crane, adj. (popular), fine. Cranement (popular), superla- tively. Je suis content, I am superlatively happy. Craner (popular), to be impudent, threatening. Si tu cranes, je te ramasse, none of your cheek, else P II give you a thrashing. Crapaud, m. (thieves'), padlock; (military) diminutive man; purse in which soldiers store up their sav- ings ; serpenteux, spiral rocket. (Popular) Crapaud, child, "kid." Ben, moi, c't'existence-la m'assorame ! J'voudrais posseder un chapeau. L'est vraiment temps d'dev'nir un homme. J'en ai plein 1'dos d'etre un crapaud. RICHEPIN, Chanson des Gueux. Crapoussin, m. (popular), small man; child, or "kid." Crapulos, crapulados, m. (fami- liar and popular), one-sou cigar. Craquelin, m. (popular), liar. From craque, Jib. Crasse, f. (familiar), mean or stingy action. Baron de la , see Baron. Cravache, f. (sporting), Sire a la , to be at a whip's distance. Cravate, f. (popular), de chanvre, noose, or "hempen cravat;" de couleur, rainbow ; verte, women's bully, " ponce." See Poisson. Crayon, m., stockbroker's clerk. The allusion is obvious. Creature,/, (familiar), strumpet. Creche,/^ (cads'), faireune tournee a la , or a la chapelle, is said of a meeting of Sodomists. Credo, m. (thieves'), the gallows. Crfipage, m. (popular), a fight ; a tussle. Un de chignons, tussle between two females, in which they seize one another by the hair and freely use their nails. CrSper (popular), le chignon, or le toupet, to thrash, " to wallop." See Voie. Se le chignon, le toupet, to have a set to. Crepin, m. (popular), shoemaker, or "snob." Cr6pine, f. (thieves'), furse, "skin," or "poge." Cres (thieves'), quickly. Crespiniere (old cant), much. Creuse,/. (popular), throat, "gut- ter lane." Creux, m. (thieves'), house ; lodg- ings, "diggings," "ken," or "crib." (Popular) Bon , good voice. Fichu , weak voice. 102 Crevaison Criolle. Crevaison, f, (popular), death. Faire sa , to die. Crever, to die, is said of animals. See Pipe. Crevant, adj. (swells'), boring to death ; very amusing. Que si vous les interrogez sur le bal de la nuit, ils vous repondront invariablement, C'etait crevant, parole d'honneur. MA- HALIN. Crevard (popular), stillborn child. Crev6 (popular), dead. (Familiar) Petit , swell, or " masher." See Gommeux. Creve-faim, m. (popular), man who volunteers as a soldier. Crever (popular), to dismiss from one's employment ; to "wound ; to kill ; la sorbonne, to break one's head. Mais c'qu'est triste, helas ! C'est qu' pour crever a coups d'botte Des gens pas palas, On vous envoie en peniche A Cayenne-les-eaux. RICHEPIN, Chanson des Gueux. Crever la piece de dix sous is said of the practices of Sodomists ; la paillasse, to kill. Verger, il creva la paillasse A Monseigneur 1'Archeveque de Paris. The above quotation is from a " complainte " on the murder of the Archbishop of Paris, Mon- seigneur Sibour, in the church Sainte-Genevieve, by a priest named Verger. A complainte is a kind of carol, or dirge, which has for a theme the account of a murder or execution. (Familiar) Crever 1'ceil au diable, to succeed in spite of envious people. Tu t'en ferais , expressive of ironical refusal. It may be translated by, " don't you wish you may get it ? " Se , to eat to excess, " to scorf." Crever a (printers'), to stop compos- ing at such and such a line. Crevette, f. (popular), prostitute,. "mot." ' Criblage, criblement, m. (thieves'), outcry, uproar. Cribler (thieves'), to cry out ; a la grive, to give a warning call ; to call out " shoe-leather ! to call out "police! thieves!" "to give hot beef." On la crible a la grive, Je m' la donne et m'esquive, Elle est pommee maron. VIDOCQ. Cribleur, m. (thieves'), de frusques, clothier ; de lance, -water- carrier; de malades, man whose functions are to call prisoners to a room where they may speak to visitors ; de verdouze, a fruiterer. Cric, or cricque, m. (popular), brandy, called ' ' French cream " in English slang. Faire , to run away, "to guy." See Patatrot. Cric ! (military), call given by a soldier about to spin a yarn to an auditory, who reply by a " crac ! " thus showing they are still awake. After the preliminary eric ! crac ! has been bawled out, the auditory repeat all together as an introduc- tion to the yarn : Cuiller a pot ! Sous-pieds deguetres ! Pour 1'en- fant a naitre ! On pendra la cre- maillere ! Chez la meilleure canti- niere ! &c., &c. Cric-croc ! (thieves'), your health ! Crie, or cripne,/ (thieves'), meat, " carnish." Crin, m. (familiar), etre comme un , to be irritable or irritated, to be " cranky," or " chumpish." Crinoline, /. (players'), queen of cards. Criolle, f. (thieves'), meat, " car- nish." Morfiler de la , to eat meat. Criollier Crottard. 103 Criollier, m. (thieves'), butcher. Crique, m. andf. ( popular), brandy ; an ejaculation. Je veux bien que la me croque si je bois une goutte en plus de quatre litres par jour ! may I be "jiggered" if I drink more than four litres a day ! Criquer (popular), se , to run away, "to slope." See Patatrot Cris de merluche, m.pl. (popular) frightful howling ; loud com- plaints. Cristalliser (students'), to idle about ill a sunny place. Croc, abbreviation of escroc, swindler. Croche, f. (thieves'), hand, " famble," or " daddle." Crocher (thieves'), to ring ; to pick a lock, "to screw." (Popular) Se , to fight. Crocodile, m. (familiar), creditor, or dun ; usurer ; foreign strident at the military school of Saint- Cyr. Crocque, m. (popular), sou. Crocs, m. pi. (popular), teeth, "grinders." Croire (familiar), que c'est arrive, to believe too implicitly that a thing exists ; to have too good an opinion of oneself . Croisant, m. (popular), waistcoat, or " benjy. " Croissant, m. (popular), loger rue du , to be an injured husband. An allusion to the horns. Croix,/. (popular), six-franc piece. An allusion to the cross which certain coins formerly bore. Ac- cording to Eugene Sue the old clothes men in the Temple used the following denominations for coins : pistoles, ten francs ; croix, six francs ; la demi-croix, three it :. JEromp ^r away r rv francs ; le point, one franc ; le demi-point, half-a-franc ; le rond, half-penny. Croix de Dieu, alpha- bet, on account of the cross at the beginning. Crome, or croume, m. (thieves' and tramps'), credit, "jawbone," "day." romper (thieves'), to save ; to run guy." See Patatrot. Cromper sasorbonne, to save one's head. Crompir,/ataJto, From the German grundbirne. Crone,/, (thieves'), wooden platter. Cronee, / (thieves'), platter full. Croquaillon, m. (popular), bad sketch. Croque. See Crique. Croquemitaines, m. pi. (military), soldiers who are sent to the punish- ment companies in Africa for having wilfully maimed themselves in order to escape military service. Croqueneau, m. (popular), new shoe ; verneau, patent leather shoe. Croquet (popular), irritable man. Crosse, f. (thieves'), receiver of stolen goods, or " fence ; " public prosecutor. Grosser (thieves'), to receive stolen to strike the hour. Quand douze plombes crossent, Les pegres s'en retournent, Au tapis de Montron. VIDOCQ. Crosseur, m. (thieves'), bell-ringer. Crossin. See Crosse. Crotal, m., student of the Ecole Polytechnique holding the rank of sergeant. Crottard, m. (popular), foot pave- ment. IO4 Crotte d 'Erm ite Cu it. Crotte d'Ermite, / (thieves'), baked pear. Crottin, m. (military), sergent de , non-commissioned officer at the cavalry school of Saumur. Thus termed because he is often in the stables. Croumier (horse-dealers'), broker or agent of questionable honesty, or one who is "wanted " by the police. Croupionner (popular), to twist one's loins about so as to cause one's dress to bulge out. Croupir (popular), dans le battant is said of undigested food, which inconveniences one. Croustille, f. (popular), casser un brin de , to have a snack. Croustiller (popular), to eat, "to grub." See Mastiquer. Croute, f. (popular), s'embeter comme une de pain derriere une malle, to feel desperately dull. Crouteum, m. (familiar), collection of" croutes, " or worthless pictures. Crouton, m. (artists'), painter de- void of any talent. Croutonner (artists'), to paint worthless pictures, daubs. Croyez (popular), $a. et buvez de 1'eau, expression used to deride credulous people. Literally be- lieve that and drink water. Cru (artists'), faire , see Faire. Crucifier (familiar), to grant one the decoration of the Legion of Honour. The expression is meant to be jocular. Crucifix, or crucifix a ressort, m. (thieves'), pistol, " barking iron." Cube, m., student of the third year in higher mathematics (mathe'- matiques speciales) ; (familiar) a regular idiot. Cucurbitace, m. (familiar), a dunce. Cueillir (popular), le persil is said of a prostitute walking the streets. Cuiller, f. (popular), hand, or " daddle." Cuir, m. (popular), de brouette, wood. Escarpin en de brouette, wooden shoe. Gants en de poule, ladies' 1 gloves made of fine skin. Tanner le , to thrash, "to tan one's hide." Cuirasse, m. (popular), urinals. Cuirasser (popular), to make "cuirs," that is, in conversation carrying on the wrong letter, or one which does not form part of a word, to the next word, as, for instance, Donnez moi z'en, je vais t'y m'amuser. Cuirassier, m. (popular), one who frequently indulges in "cuirs." See Cuirasser. Cuire (popular), se faire , to be arrested. See Piper. Cuisine,/, (thieves'), the Prefecture de Police ; (literary) de journal, all that concerns the details and routine arrangement of the matter for a newspaper. (Popular) Faire sa a 1'alcool, to indulge often in brandy drinking. Cuisiner (literary), to do, to concoct some inferior literary or artistic work. Cuisinier, m. (thieves'), spy, or "nark;" detective; barrister; (literary) newspaper secretary. Cuisse, f. (familiar), avoir la gaie is said of a woman who it too fond of men. Cuit, adj. (thieves'), sentenced, condemned, or ' ' booked ; " done for. Cuite Cymbale. 105 Cuite, f. (popular), intoxication. Se flanquer une , to get drunk, or "screwed." ul, m. (popular), stupid fellow, 01 ' ' duffer; " d'ane, blockhead ; de plomb, slow man, or " bum- mer;" clerk, or "quill-driver;" woman who awaits clients at a cafe ; goudronne, sailor, or " tar ; " leve, game of ecarte at which two players are in league to swindle the third ; rouge, sol- dier with red pants, or " cherry bum ; "/ terreux, peasant, clod- hopper. Montrer son , to be- come a bankrupt, or " brosier." Culasses, f. pi. (military), revue des mobiles, monthly medical inspection. Culasse, properly the breech of a gun. Culbutant, m., or culbute, /. (thieves'), breeches, or "hams." Termed also " fusil a deux coups, grimpants." Esbigner le chopin dans sa culbute, to conceal stolen property in one's breeches. Culbute, f. (thieves'), breeches. (Popular) La , the circus. Culeree, f. (printers'), composing stick which is filled up. Culotte, m. (popular and familiar), money losses at cards ; excess in anything, especially in drink. Grosse , regular drunkard. Donner dans la rouge is said of a woman ivho is too fond of soldiers' attentions, of one who has an attack of " scarlet fever." Se flanquer une , to sustain a loss at a game of cards ; to get intoxi- cated. (Students') Empoigner une , to lose at a game, and to have in consequence to stand all round. (Artists') Faire , exag- geration of Faire chaud (which see). Culotte, adj. (popular), hardened ; soiled ; seedy ; red, &c. Etre , to have a seedy appearance. Un nez , a red nose. Culotter (popular), se , to get tipsy ; to have a worn-out, seedy appearance. Se de la tete aux pieds, to get completely tipsy. Cumulard, m. (familiar), official who holds several posts at the same time. ^Cupidon, m. (thieves'), rag-picker, / or " bone-grubber." An ironical allusion to his hook and basket. Cure-dents (familiar), venir en , to come to an evening party with- out having been invited to the dinner that precedes it. Termed also " venir en pastilles de Vichy." Curette,yC (military), cavalry sword. Manier la , to do sword exercise. Curieux, m. (thieves'), magistrate, "beak," or " queer cuffin." Also juge cT instruction, a magistrate who investigates cases before they are sent up for trial. Grand , chief 'judge of the assize court. Cyclope, m. (popular), behind, or " blind cheek." Cylindre, m. (popular), top hat, or " stove-pipe ; " see Tubard ; body, or "apple cart." Tu t'en ferais peter le , is expressive of ironical refusal ; " don't you wish you may get it." Cymbale, f, (thieves'), moon, or " parish lantern ; " (popular) escutcheon placed over the door of the house of a notary. io6 Da Dale. D Da (popular), mon , my father, ' ' my daddy. " Ma , my mother, " my mammy." Dab, dabe, m. (thieves'), father, or " dade ;" master; a god. Mercure seul tu adoreras, Comme dabe de 1'entrottement. VIDOCQ. Le de la cigogne, the pro- cureur general, or public pro- secutor. Grand , king. Ma largue part pour Versailles . . . Pour m'faire deTourailler. Mais grand dab qui se fache, Dit par mon caloquet, J'li ferai danser une danse Ou i n'y a pas d'plancher. V. HUGO. Dabe, m. (popular), d'argent, spe- culum. (Prostitutes') Cramper avec le d'argent, to be subjected to a compulsory medical examina- tion of a peculiar nature. Daberage, m. (popular), talking, "jawing." Daberer (popular), to talk, " to jaw." Dabesse, f. (thieves'), mother ; queen. Dabicule, m. (thieves'), the master's son. Dabot, dabmuche, m. (thieves'), the prefect of police, or head of the Paris police ; a drudge. Formerly it signified an unlucky player who has to pay all his opponents. Dabucal, adj. (thieves'), royal. Dabuche, /. (thieves'), mother; grandmother, or " mami ; " nurse. Dabuchette, / (thieves'), young mother ; mother-in-law. Dabuchon, m. (popular), father, " daddy." Dubuge, / (thieves'), lady, " bu- rerk. " Dache, m. (thieves'), devil, "ruffin," or " black spy ;" (military) hair- dresser to the Zouaves, a mythical individual. Allez done raconter cela a , tell that to the ' 'Marines. " Dada, m. (military), aller a , to perform the act of coition, or " chi- valry." The old poet Villon termed this " chevaulcher." Dail, m. (thieves'), je n'entrave que le , / do not understand. Daim, m. (popular), swell, or " gorger," see Gommeux ; fool, or ' ' duffer ; " gullible fellow,, " gulpy ;" huppe, rich man, one with plenty of" tin." Dale, dalle, f. (thieves'), money,. "quids, " or ' 'pieces, "see Quibus. Faut pas aller chez Paul Niquet, Ca vous consomme tout vot' pauv' dale. , P. DURAND. Five-franc piece ; (popular) throat, or " red lane ;" du cou, mouth, "rattle-trap." Se rincer, or s'ar- roser la , to drink, ' ' to have something damp." See Rincer. J'ai du sable a 1'amygdale. Ohe ! ho ! buvons un coup, Une, deux, trois, longtemps, beaucoup J" II faut s'arroser la dalle Du cou. RICHEPIN, Gveux de Paris. Dalza r Dauffe. 107 Dalzar, m. (popular), breeches, " kicks," " sit-upons," or "kicksies." Dame,/! (popular), blanche, bottle of white wine ; du lac, woman of indifferent character who fre- quents the purlieus of the Grand Lac at the Bois de Boulogne. Damer (popular), une fille, to seduce a girl, to make a woman of her. Danaides, /. (thieves'), faire jouer les , to thrash a girl. Dandiller (thieves'), to ling; to chink. Le carme dandille dans sa fouillouse, the money chinks in his pocket. Dandinage, m., dandinette, f. (popular), thrashing, "hiding." Dandine,/! (popular), blow, "wipe," " clout," " dig," " bang," or " cant. " Encaisser des dandines, to receive blows. Dandiner (popular), to thrash, "to lick." See Voie. Dandinette. See Dandinage. Dankier (Breton), prostitute. Danse, /. (familiar), du panier, un- lawful profits on purchases. Flan- quer une a quelqu'un, to thrash or " lick " one. See Voie. Danser (popular), to lose money ; to pay, "to shell out." lll'adanseede vingt balles, he had to pay twenty francs. Danser devant le buffet, to be fasting, " to cry cupboard ;" tout seul, to have an offensive breath. Faire quelqu'un, to make one stand treat ; to make one pay, or ' ' fork out ; " to thrash, "to wallop." See Voie. La , to be thrashed ; to be dismissed from one's employment, " to get the sack." Danseur, m. (popular), turkey cock. Dardant, m. (thieves'), love. Luysard estampillait six plombes. Mezigo roulait le trimard, Et, jusqu'au fond du coquemart, Le dardant riffaudait ses lombes. RICHEPIN, Gueux de Paris. Dardelle,/. (urchins'), penny (gros sou). Dariole, f. (popular), slap or blow in the face, "clout," "bang," or " wipe." Properly a kind of pastry. Darioleur, m. (popular), inferior sort of pastrycook. Daron, m.(thieves'), father, "dade," or " dadi ; " gentleman, " nib cove ; " de la raille, or de la rousse, prefect of police, head of the Paris police. Daronne,/ (thieves'), mother ; du dardant, Venus ; du grand Aure, holy Virgin ; du mec des mecs, mother of God. Dattes, / pi. (popular), des ! contemptuous expression of refusal ; might be rendered by "you be hanged ! " See Nefles. Elle se r'tourne, lui dit : des dattes ! Tu peux t'fouiller vieux pruneau ! Tu n'tiens plus sur tes deux pattes. Va done, eh ! fourneau ! Parisian Song. Daube, /. (popular), cook, or " drip- ping." Daubeur, m. (popular), blacksmith. Dauche (popular), mon , my father; ma , my mother; "my old man, my old woman." Dauffe, f., dauffin, dauphin, m. (thieves'), short crowbar. Termed also " 1'enfant, Jacques, biribi, sucre de pommes, rigolo," and in the language of English house- breakers, that is, the " busters and screwsmen," " the stick, James, Jemmy '" loS Dauphin Dttorder. Dauphin, m. (popular), girl's bully, " ponce," see Poisson; (thieves') short crowbarusedby housebreakers, "jemmy." David, m. (popular), silk cap. From the maker's name. Davone, f, (thieves'), plum. De (familiar), se pousser du , to place the word " de " before one's name to make it appear a noble- man's. De, m. (popular), or a boire, drinking glass. De ! yes. Pro- perly thimble. Debacle,/! (thieves'), accouchement. Properly breaking up, collapse. D^bScler (thieves' and popular), to open ; to force open ; la lourde, open the door. Debacleuse,/. (thieves' and popu- lar), midwife. Termed also " tate- minette, Madame Tire-monde." Debagouler (popular), to speak, "to jaw." Debalinchard, m, (popular), one who 'saunters lazily about. Deballage, m. (popular), un- dress ; getting out of bed ; dirty linen. Etre floue or vole au , to be grievously disappointed with a woman's figure when she divests herself of her garments. Gagner au , to appear to better advan- tage when undressed. Deballer (popular), to strip. Se j to undress oneself. Debanquer (gamesters'), to ruin the gaming bank. Debarbouiller (popular), a la po- tasse, to strike one in the face, " to give one a bang in the mug;" to clear up some matter. Debardeur, m., debardeuse, /. (familiar), dancers at fancy balls dressed as a debardeur or lumper. Debarquer (popular), se , to give up; to relinquish anything already undertaken, to "cave in." Debaucher (popular), to dismiss. Etre debauche, to get the sack. The reverse of embaucher, to en- gage. Debecquetef (popular), to vomit, "to cast up accounts," " to shoot the cat." Debectant (popular), annoying; tiresome; dirty ; disgusting. Debinage, m. (familiar), slander- ing; running down. From de- biner, to talk ill, to depreciate. Debiner (popular), to depreciate; le true, to disclose a secret ; to explode a dodge, or fraud. _Parbleu ! je n'ignore pas ce que peuvent dire les blagueurs pour debiner le true de ces fausses paysannes. RICHEPIN, Le Pavi. Se des fumerons, to run away, " to leg it." Se , to abuse one another, " to slang one another;" to run away, " to brush," see Patatrot ; to grow weak. Debineur, m., debineuse, /. (popular), one who talks ill of people; one who depreciates people or things. D6blayer (theatrical), to curtail portions of a part; to hurry through a performance. A rOpeVa, ce soir .... on de'blaye a bras raccourci : vous savez que deblayer signifie ^courier. P. MAHALIN. Debloquer (military), to cancel an order of arrest. D6bonder (popular), to ease one- self ; to go to " West Central," or to the "crapping ken." See Mouscailler. Deborder (popular), to vomit, "to cast up accounts," or "to shoot the cat." Debouder D/carrer. 109 Deboucler (thieves'), to open ; to set a prisoner at liberty. Deboucleur, m. (thieves'), de lourdes, a housebreaker, " bus- ter," or " screwsman." Debouler (popular), to be brought to childbed, " to be in the straw ; " to arrive, or " to crop up." Deboulonne (popular), etre , to be dull-witted, or to be a " dead- alive. " Deboulonner (popular), la co- lonne a quelqu'un, to thrash one soundly, ' ' to knock one into a cocked hat." See Voie. Debourre (horse-dealers'), cheval , horse -which suddenly loses its fleshy appearance artificially im- parted by rascally horse-dealers. Debourrer (popular), to educate one, " to put one up to ; " sa pipe, to ease oneself, or "to go to the chapel of ease." See Mous- cailler. Se , to become know- ing, "up to a dodge or two," or a ' ' leary bloke. " Debouscailler (popular), to black one's boots. Debouscailleur (popular), shoe- black. Debrider (thieves'), to open ; les chasses, to open one's eyes ; (popu- lar) la margoulette, to eat, " to grub." See Mastiquer. Debridoir, *w.(thieves'),/ to get a terrible thrashing, " to get knocked into a cocked hat." See Voie. Echasses, /. //. (popular), thin legs, "spindle-shanks." Echassier, m. (popular), tall man with thin, long legs, or "spindle- shanks." Echaude- Ecorner. 123; Echaude (popular), etre , to be overcharged ; to be fleeced, " to be shaved." Echauder (popular), to charge more for an article than the real price, " to shave a customer. " Properly to scald. According to the Slang Dictionary (Chatto and Windus, 1885), when a London trades- man sees an opportunity of doing this, he strokes his chin as a signal to the assistant who is serving the customer. Echelle, / (popular), monter a 1' , to ascend the scaffold. Faire monter quelqu'un a 1' , to get one into a rage by teazing or bad- gering him, "to rile one." Echiner (familiar), to criticise sharply, to run down. Properly to thrash to within an inch of one's life. Echineur, m. (familiar), sharp critic. Echo, m. (popular), an encore at a place of entertainment. Echoppe, /. (popular), workshop. Echos, m. pi. (journalists'), reports on topics of the day. Echoter, to write " echos." See that word. Echotier, m. (familiar), writer of " echos." See that word. Independamment de la loge de Fauchery, il y a celle de la redaction, de la direction et de 1'administration, une baignoire pour son soiriste, une autre pour son echotier, quatre fauteuils pour ses reporters. P. MAH ALIN. Eclairage, m. (general), money laid down on a gaming table as stakes. Eclairer (general), to pay, " to dub ; " to exhibit money ; (game- sters') le tapis, le velours, to stake ; (prostitutes') to look about in quest of a client. Eclaireur, m. (gamesters'), confede- rate of card-sharpers. Eclaireurs, m. pi. (popular), large- protruding breasts. Properly scouts. Ecluser (popular), to void urine, "to lag. ' Ecluses,///. (popular), lacher les , to weep, " to nap a bib j " to, void urine, " to lag." Ecole preparatoire (thieves'), prison, "jug." A kind of com- pulsory " Buz-napper's Academy," or school in which young thieves, are trained. Ecopage, m. (popular), blow, "prop," "bang," or "wipe;" collision ; scolding, " bully-rag- ging ; " the art of calling on one just at dinner time, so as to get an invitation. Ecoper (popular), to drink. See Rincer., Properly to bale a boat. Ecoper, to receive a thrashing, t "to get a walloping." Ecopeur, m. (popular), artful man who manages to get some small advantages out of people without, appearing to ask for them. Ecornage, m. (thieves'), vol a 1' , mode of robbery which consists in cutting out a small portion of a pane in a shop-window, and draw- ing out articles through the aper- ture by means of a rod provided' with a hook at one of its ex- tremities. Ecorne, m. (thieves'), prisoner Tinder examination, or " cross, kid ; " prisoner charged with an offence, "in trouble." Ecorner (popular), to slander; to abuse, " to bully rag ; " (thieves'). to break into ; une boutanche, un boucard, to break into a shop^. " to crack a swag." J'aimerais mieux faire suer le chene sur le grand trimar, que d'ecorner les boucards. Vioocy. 124 Ecorneur Effaroucher. Ecorneur, m. (thieves'), public prosecutor. Ecornifler (thieves'), a la passe, to shoot down. Ecossais (popular), en , without breeches. Ecosseur, m., secretary ; one whose functions are to peruse let- ters. Properly shelter. The Pre- fecture de Police employs twelve "ecosseurs," whose duty it is to open the daily masses of corre- spondence conveying real or sup- posed clues to crimes committed. (Globe Newspaper, 1886.) Ecoute, f. and verb (thieves'), ear, "wattle," or "hearing cheat." (Popular) Je t' , je vous , just so ! J should think so ! Ecoute s'il pleut! (popular), be quiet ! hold your " row ! " Ecoutilles, f. pi. (sailors'), ears. Ouvrir ses , to listen. Properly hatchway. Y es-tu, ma petite pouliotte, y es-tu? As-tu bien ouvert tes ecoutilles ? Te rap- pelles-tu tout 53 et encore ca? RICHKPIN, La Glu. Ecrache, /. (thieves'), passport ; tarte, or a Pestorgue, forged passport, Ecracher (thieves'), to exhibit one's passport. Ecrasement, m. (thieves'), crowd, "push," or "scuff." Ecraser (popular), un grain, to have a glass of wine at a wine- shop ; une bouteille, to drink a bottle of wine. Je viens voir a present si n'y aurait pas moyen d'e"craser un grain pendant qu'i sont tous en train de folichonner. TRUBLOT. -Ecrevisse, /. (popular), de bou- langer, hypocrite. Avoir une dans la tourte, or dans le vol-au- vent, to be crazy, " to have apart- ments to let." (Cavalry) Ecre- visse de rempart, foot soldier, or " beetle-crusher." (Theatrical) Quatorzieme , female super- numerary. Ecrire (popular), a un juif, to ease oneself, "to go to the crapping ken." See Mouscailler. Ecrivasser (literary), to write in a desultory manner. Ecuelle, / (popular), plate. Ecume, /. (thieves'), de terre, tin. Properly foam. Ecumoire, /. (familiar), pock- marked face, " cribbage face." Properly skimmer. Ecurer (popular), son chaudron, to go to confession. Literally to scour one's stewpan. Ecureuil, m. (popular), man or boy whose functions consist in pro- pelling the wheels of engineers or turners. Edredon, m. (popular), de trois pieds, truss of straw. ( Prostitutes') Faire.l" , to find a rich foreigner for a client. Vous me demanderez peut-etre ce que signifie, faire 1'edredon. . . . L'eider est un oiseau exotique au duvet precieux. . . . Avec ce duvet on se fabrique des couches chaudes et moelleuses. . . . Les etrangers de distinction, qu'ils viennent du Nord ou du Midi, sont, eux aussi, des oiseaux dont les plumes laisse"es entre des mains adroites et caressantes n'ont pas moins de valeur que le duvet de 1'eider. P, MAHALIN. Ef, m. (prostitutes'), abbreviation of effet. Faire de 1' , to show oneself to advantage. Effacer (popular), to eat or drink, see Mastiquer; un plat, to polish off the contents of a dish ; une bouteille, to drink off a bottle of liquor. Effaroucher (thieves'), to steal, "to ease," or "to claim." See Grinchir. Effet Embander. 125 Effet (theatrical), by-play, or those parts of a play which are intended to produce an impression on the audience. Avoir un , to have to say or do something which will make an impression on the spec- tators. Couper un , to spoil a fellow-actor's "effet" by dis- tracting the attention of the public from him to oneself. Effets, m. pi. (familiar), faire des de biceps, to show off one's strength. Faire des de poche, to make a show of possessing much money ; to pay. Faire des de manchette, to exhibit one's cuffs in an affected manner by a move- ment of the arm. Effondrer quelqu'un (popular), to beat one to a jelly, " to knock one into a cocked hat." See Voie. Egailler les bremes (gamestors 1 ), to spread cards out. Egard, m. (thieves'), faire 1' , to keep the proceeds of a theft to one- self. Egayer (theatrical), to hiss, " to give the big bird ; " Tours, to hiss a play. Se faire , to get hissed, " to get the big bird." Eglisier, m. (popular), bigot, or "prayer monger." Egnaffer (popular), to astound. Egnolant (popular), astounding. Egnoler (popular), to astound. Egout, m. (popular), prima donna d' , female singer at low music- halls, or "penny gaffs." Egraffigner (popular), to scratch. Egrailler (popular), to take. Egratignee. See Dechiree. Egrene, m. (journalists'), a kind of newspaper fag. Egrugeoir, m. (thieves'), pulpit, "hum-box." Egruger (thieves'), to plunder, to rifle. Egyptian, m. (theatrical), bad actor, inferior sort of " cackling cove." Elbeuf, m. (familiar), coat, " tog." Electeur, m. (commercial travel- lers'), client. Elements, m. pi. (card-sharpers'), money, or "pieces." See Qui- bus. Eleve, m. (thieves' and cads'), du Chateau, prisoner; old offender. Eleve-martyr, m. (cavalry), one who is training to be a corporal, and who in consequence has to go through a very painful ordeal, considering that French non-com- missioned officers have the iron hand without the velvet glove. Elixir, m. (popular), de hussard, brandy. See Tord-boyaux. Eltrisa (Breton), to seek for one's livelihood. Eltriz (Breton), bread. Emanciper (familiar), s' , to take undue familiarities with women, "to fiddle." Emballer (thieves' and popular), to apprehend, " to smug." See Piper. S' , to get excited. Properly is said of a horse that runs away. Emballes, f. pi. (prostitutes'), fussy, showing off. Faire des , to make a fuss. Emballeur (thieves'), police-officer, "copper," or "reeler." See Pot-a-tabac. Properly packer. Emballeur de refroidis, under- taker's man. Embaluchonner (popular), to make up a parcel ; to wrap up. Embander (thieves'), to take by force. 126 Embarder Emmilliarder, Embarder (popular), to wander from one's subject ; to prevaricate ; to make a mistake ; to enter, J'ai embarde dans la carree, / entered the room, Embarras, m. (thieves'), bed sheet, (Popular) Mettre une fille dans 1' , to seduce a girl, with, the natural consequences, Embaume, m. (popular), vieil , old fool ; old curmudgeon, " doddering old sheep's head." Emberlificoteur, m, (popular), artful man, or an expert at wheedling, " sly blade." Embistrouiller (popular), to em- barrass ; to perplex, "to flum- mux. " Embleme, m. (thieves'), deceit; falsehood, or "gag." Emblemer (thieves'), to deceive, " to stick." Emblemes, m. pi. (popular), des , expression of disbelief ; might be rendered by "all my eye!" See Nefles. Emboiter (theatrical), to abuse, Embosser (sailors'), s' , to place oneself. Properly to bring the broadside to bear, Emboucaner (popular), to stink. Termed also "casser, plomber, chelinguer, trouilloter. S' , to J eel dull, out of sorts, "to have the blue devils." Embrouillarder (popular), s' , is said of a person in that state of in- cipient intoxication that if he took more drink the effects would become evident. See Sculpter. Embroussailles, adj. (familiar), cheveux , matted hair. Embusqu6, adj. (military), soldier who by reason of certain functions is excused from military duties. Emeche, adj. (familiar), slightly intoxicated, or "elevated." See Pompette. Emecher (familiar), s' , to be in a fair way of getting tipsy. See Sculpter. Emerillonner (popular), s' , to become quite cheerful, or "cock a hoop," through repeated potations. Emigre, m. (popular), de Gomorrhe, Soaomite. Emmailloter (thieves'), to dupe, "to best ; " un mome, to pre- pare a theft or other crime. Sy- nonymous of "engraisser un pou- part." Emmailloteur, m. (popular), tailor, " snip," "steel -bar driver," "cab- bage contractor." Emmanche, m. (popular), slow, clumsy fellow, "stick in the mud. " Emmargouillis, m. (popular), ob- scene talk, or " blue talk." Emmastoquer (popular), s' , to live well; to eat to excess, "to stodge." Emmerdement, m. (familiar and popular), a coarse word; great annoyance ; trouble. Emmerder (general), a coarse word ; to annoy ; to bore. Also extremely forcible expression of con- tempt. Properly to cover with excrement. The English have the word "to immerd," to cover with dung. J'emmerde la cour, je respecte messieurs lesjures. V. HUGO. Emmieller, emmoutarder (popu- lar), euphemism for Emmerder (which see). Emmilliarder (popular), s' , or s'emmillionner, to become proai- giously rich. Emos Emporteur. 127 Emos,/ (popular), abbreviation of emotion. Emouver (popular), s' , to shift noisily about; to hurry, or "to look alive." Empaffer (popular), to intoxicate. From paf, drunk. See Sculpter. Empaffes, f. pi. (thieves'), bed- clothes. Empaille, m. (popular), clumsy man ; slow man, lacking energy, "stick in the mud." Empaler (popular), to deceive one by false representations, "to bam- boozle. " Empaouter (popular), to annoy; to bore, " to spur." Empaume, adj. (popular), c'est , ifs done. Empaumer (popular and thieves'), to apprehend, "to smug." See Piper. Empave, f. (thieves'), cross-way. Empecheur (familiar), de danser en rond, dismal man, who plays the dog in the manger, "mar- joy." Empereur, m. (popular), worn-out old shoe. Empiergeonner (popular), s' , to get entangled. Margot dans sa cotte et ses bas S'empiergeonna la-bas, la-bas. RICHEPIN, Chanson des Gueux. Empiffrage, m., empiffrerie, f. (popular), gluttony, " stodging." Empilage, m., or empil (popular), cheating. Empiler (popular), to cheat at a game. Empioler (thieves'), to lock tip, "to give the clinch." Emplanquer (thieves'), to come up; to turn up, ' ' to crop up. " Emplatre, m. (card-sharpers'), de Thapsia, shirt front and collar. (Popular) Faire un , to arrange one's cards ready for playing. (Thieves') Emplatre, wax imprint taken for housebreaking purposes. Emplatrer (popular), to thrash, "to wallop." Si tu cranes, je vais t'emplatrer, none of your cheek, else /'// give you a beating. See Voie. S' , to encumber one- self. Employe, adj. (military), dans les eaux grasses, clerk of the victual- ling department, ' ' mucker. " Emplucher (thieves'), to pillage. Empoignade,/ (popular), dispute, "row." Empoigner (literary), to criticise vigorously; (theatrical) to hiss, " to give the big bird." Empoisonneur, m. (popular), the landlord of wine-shop. Termed also "mastroquet, troquet, bis- trot." Empoivrer (popular), s' , to get drunk, "to get screwed." See Sculpter. Emporter (thieves'), to swindle, " to stick ; " (popular) le chat, to meddle with what does not con- cern one, and to get abused or thrashed for one's pains. To act as Monsieur Robert in Moliere's Le Medecin malgre Lui, when he upbraids Sganarelle for beat- ing his spouse, and in return gets thrashed by both husband and wife. Emporteur, m., swindler who gets into conversation with a stranger, gains his confidence, and takes him to a cafe where two confederates, " le bachotteur " and "la bete," 128 E mposeur En dos . await him (see Bachotteur) ; a lacotelette, card-sharper who operates at restaurants. Emposeur, m. (thieves'), Sodomite, Empote, m. (familiar), slow, clumsy man, ' ' stick in the mud." Empousteur, m. (thieves'), swin- dler who sells spurious goods to tradesmen under false pretences. Emprunter (popular), un pain sur la fournee, to beget a child before marriage ; un qui vaut dix, to conceal one's baldness by brushing the hair forward. Emu, adj. (popular), slightly in- toxicated, " elevated. " See Pom- pette. En (popular), avoir pleinses bottes, to be tired, sick of a person or thing. Enbohemer (familiar), s' , to get into low society. Enbonnetdecotonner, s' , to be- come commonplace in manner or way of thinking. Encaisser (popular), un soufflet, to receive a smack in the face, or "buck-horse." Encarrade, f. (thieves'), entrance. Lourde d' , street door. Encarrer (thieves'), to enter, " to prat." Encasquer (thieves'), to enter, or "to prat." Pour gonfler ses valades Encasque dans un rade, Sert des sigues a foison. VlDOCQ. Enceinfrer (popular), to make a woman big with child. Abbrevia- tion of enceinturer, an expression used in the eighteenth century. Enchetiber (thieves'), to apprehend, " to smug." See Piper. Encible (thieves'), together. For ensemble. Encloue, m. (popular), Sodomist ; man without any energy. A term expressive of utter contempt, and an euphemism for a very coarse word. The literal English ren- dering may be heard from the mouths of English workmen at least a dozen times in a lapse of as many minutes. The French ex- pression might be rendered in less offensive language by "a snide bally fool." Qu'est-ce qu'il a a m'emmoutarder cet encloue" de singe ? cria Bee-Said. ZOLA, L'Assommoir. Enclouer (popular), to take some article to the pawnshop, "to put in lug," " to blue," or "to lumber." Encoliflucheter (popular), s' , to feel out of sorts ; to have the "blue devils. '' Encre, f. (familiar), buveur d' , clerk, or "quill-driver." Encrotter (popular), to bury. Crotte, mud, muck. End6cher (popular), to get one into debt. S' , to run into debt. Endormage, m. (thieves'), vol a 1' , robbing a person who has been made unconscious by means of a narcotic. The rogue who has recourse to this mode of despoiling his victim is termed in English slang "a drummer." Endormeur, m., thief. See En- dormage. Endormi, m. (popular), judge, or "beak." Endormir (thieves'), to kill, "to give one his gruel," " to cook his goose." See Refroidir. Endos, m. (popular), the back. Endosse Enganter. 129 Endosse, or andosse,/ (thieves'), shoulder ; back. Raboter 1' , to beat black and blue. See Voie. Tapis d' , shawl. Endroguer (thieves'), t's said of a rogue who goes about seeking for a "job," quserens quern devoret. Enfant, m. (thieves'), short crow- bar used by housebreakers. Termed also " Jacques, sucre de pomme, jigolo, biribi, dauphin ; " and by English rogues, "the slick, James, jemmy ;" strong box, or "peter ;" de la matte, one of the confra- ternity of thieves, or "family- man." (Popular) Un de chceur, sugar loaf. Un de giberne, soldier's child. Un de trente-six peres, a prosti- tute's offspring. (Familiar) Un de la balle, an actor's child, or one who follows the same calling as his father. Enfifre, m. (popular), Sodomist , slow man, or "slow coach." Enfigneur, m. (popular and thieves'), Sodomist. See Gousse. Enfilage, m. (thieves'), arrest. Enfiler (popular), to take red-handed; to have connection; des briques, to be fasting, to be "bandied;" des perles. See Perles. Se faire , to be caught in the act of stealing. Enflammes, m. pi. (military), sol- diers under arrest whose fondness for the fair sex has caused them to delay their attendance at barracks more than is consistent with their military duties, and has brought them into trouble. Enflaneller (popular), s' , to take a grog, "a nightcap." Enflaquer (thieves'), to seize; to apprehend, " to smug." See Piper. J'ai enflaque le bogue et le morningue du pante, / laid hands on the ' ' cove's " watch and purse. J'ai manque d'etre enflaque sur le boule- vard du Temple. VIDOCQ. S' , to be ruining oneself . Enflee, f. (thieves'), bladder ; skin which contains brandy or wine. Enfler (popular), to drink, " to lush." See Rincer. Enfonce, adj. (familiar), ruined; outwitted, "done brown." Enfoncer (familar), to outwit one, " to do one." Enfonceur, m. (familiar), a bun- ness man or financier who makes dupes ; harsh critic ; (thieves') swindler, or " shark ; " de flancheurs de gadin, rogue who robs of their halfpence players at the game called ' ' bouchon " (played with a cork and halfpence}. He treads on one of the coins, which, by a skilful motion of the foot, re- mains in the interstices of his worn-out shoe. The " business " is, of course, not a very profitable one. Enfourailler (thieves'), to appre- hend, "to smug;" to imprison, " to give the clinch." See Piper. Enfourner (popular), to imprison, " to give the clinch." See Piper. Enfrimer (thieves'), to peer into one's face. Engage, adj. (gamblers'), etre , to have lost heavily at some game. Engager (sporting), to enter a horse for a race. Engame, adj. (thieves'), enraged; rabid. E nganter (thieves'), to seize; to steal, " to nick." En etre engante, to-be in love with. J'ai fait par comblance Gironde larguecape', . . . Un jour a la Courtille, J'm'en tais engante. VIDOCQ. 130 Engerber Ensecrfacr. Engerber (thieves'), to apprehend, " to smug." From gerbe, a sheaf of 'corn. See Piper. Engluer (thieves'), la cheveche, to arrest a gang of rogues. Engourdi, m. (thieves'), corpse, or " cold meat." Engrailler (thieves'), to catch, to seize ; 1'ornie, to catch a fowl, generally by means of a baited hook (old cant). Je sais bien aquiger les luques, engrailler 1'ornie. Le Jargon de I' Argot. (/ knotv how to prepare pictures, to catch a fowl.) Engrainer (popular), to arrive, " to crop up." Engraisser (thieves'), un poupart, to make preparations for a theft or murder. Literally to fatten a child. Engrouiller (popular), s' , to stick fast ; to be inert, without energy. Engueulade, engueulage, syno- nymous of Engueulement. Engueulement, m. (popular), abuse in any but choice language. Also insults by an abusive and scurrilous journalist who runs down public or literary men in expressions strongly savouring of the gutter. Fair specimens of this coarse kind of pen warfare may be found daily in at least one notorious Radical print, which would be thought very tame by its habitual readers if it had not a ready stock of abuse at its disposal, the most ordinary being voleur, bandit, maquereau, scelerat, pore, traitre, vendu, ven- tru, ventripotent, jouisseur, idiot, cretin, gateux, &c., &c. Enguirlander (popular), to circum- vent. Enleve, adj. (familiar), spirited. Un article , un discours , spirited article or speech. Enlever (theatrical), to play ivitk spirit ; (general) le ballon a quelqu'un, to kick one, "to root," or "to land a kick." (Thieves') S' , to be famished. Enleveur (theatrical), actor who plays in dashing, spirited style. Enluminer (popular), s' , to be in the first stage of intoxication, or "elevated." See Sculpter. Enluminure, / (popular), state of slight intoxication. See Pom- pette. Ennuyer (popular), s' , to be on the point of death. Enplaque, / (thieves'), police, " the reelers." Enquiller (thieves'), to conceal ; une thune de camelotte, to secrete a piece of cloth under one's dress, or between one's thighs. Also to enter, " to prat." J'enquille dans sa cambriole Esperant de 1'entifler. VIDOCQ. Enquilleuse, /, female thief who conceals stolen property under her apron or between her legs. From quille, leg. Enquiquiner (popular), to annoy, " to spur." Is also expressive of scornful feelings. Je vous enqui- quine ! a hang for you! S' , to feel dull. Enrayer (popular), to renounce love and its pleasures. Enrhumer (popular), to annoy one, to bore one, "to spur." Termed also " courir quelqu'un." Enrosser (horse-dealers'), to conceal the faults of a horse. (Popular) S' , to get lazy, or "Mondayish." Ensecreter (showmens'), to make a puppet ready for the show by dress- ing it up, &c. Ensdgne de cimetiere Entrer. Enseigne de cimetiere, f. (thieves'), priest, or " devil dodger." Ensemble, m, (artists'), un modele qui pose 1' , a model -who sits Jor the whole figure, that is, who poses nude. Entablement, m. (popular), shoul- ders. Entailler (thieves'), to kill one, "to give one his gruel." See Re- froidir. Entame, f. (popular), a toi 1' ! you make the first move ! Entamer (thieves'), to make one speak ; to worm out one's secrets. Si le roue veut entamer tezigue, nib du true, if the magistrate tries to pump you, hold your tongue. Entauler (thieves'), to enter, " to prat." Entendre (popular), de corne, to mistake award for another. N' que du vent, not to be able to make head or tail of what one hears. Enterrement, m. (popular), apiece of meat placed in a lump of bread, or an apology for a sandwich ; (familiar) de premiere classe, grand, but dull ceremony. Is said also of the total failure of a lite- rary or dramatic production. Enterver, or entraver (thieves'), to listen ; to hear ; to understand. Que de baux la muraille enterve ! take care, the walls have ears ! (old) Le rupin sortant dehors vit cet e"crit, il !e lut, mais il n'entervait que floutiere ; il demanda au ratichon de son village ce que cela voulait dire mais il n'entervait pas mieux que seziere. Le Jargon de C Argot. Entieres,/ //. (thieves'), lentils. Entiffer (popular), to enter ; (thieves') to -wheedle ; to adorn. Ah ! si j'en deTouraille, Ma largue j'entiferai. J'li f 'rai porter fontange, Et souliers galuches. V. HUGO. Entiffle,/ See Antiffle. Entiffler (thieves'), to wheedle ; to walk, or "to pad the hoof;" to steal, "to nick," or "to claim." See Grinchir. Entonne, f. (thieves'), church. Termed also "chique." Entonnoir, m. (popular), throat, or " peck-alley ;" a patte, drink- ing glass ; de zinc, a throat which is proof against the strongest spirits. Entortille, adj. (popular), clumsy, awkward, gawky. Entravage, m. (thieves'), hearing ; understanding, " twigging." Entraver (thieves' and cads'), to understand, "to twig." J'en- trave pas dans tes vannes, I don't take that nonsense in, I am not to be humbugged, "do you see any green in my eye ?" J'entravepas ton flanche, / ccuft understand what you are at. En traverse, f. (thieves'), at the hulks. Entrecote, f. (popular), de bro- deuse, piece of Brie cheese. (Thieves ) Entrec6te, sword. Entree, / (popular), de Portugal, ridiculous rider ; des artistes, anus. Entrefilet, m. (journalists'), short newspaper paragraph . Entrelard6, m. (popular), a man who is neither fat nor thin. Entrer (popular), aux quinze- - vingts, to fall asleep. Les Quinze- vingts is a government hospital for the blind ; dans la confrerie 132 Entripaille- Epinards. de Saint -Pris, to get married, or " spliced ;" dans 1'infanterie, to be pregnant ; en tempete, to fly into a passion, "to lose one's shirt." Entripaille, adj. (popular), stout, with a " corporation " in front. Entripailler (popular), s' , to grow stout. Entroler, entroller (thieves'), to carry away. II mouchailla des ornies de balle qui morfilaient du grenu en la cour ; alors il ficha de son sabre sur la tronche a une, H 1'abasourdit, la met dans son gueulard et 1'entrolle. Le Jargon de F Argot. (He saw some turkey cocks -which were pecking at some corn in the yard; he then cut one over the head -with his sword, killed it, put it in his wallet, and carried it off.) Envelopper (artists'), to draw the sketch of a fainting. Envoye, adj. (familiar), bien , a good hit ! well said! Envoyer (general), a la balan9oire, a loustaud, a 1'ours, dinguer, i Chaillot, to send to the deuce, see Chaillot ; en paradis, to kill, " to give one his gruel ;" quel- qu'un aux pelotes, to send one to the deuce. (Thieves') Envoyer quel- qu'un a Niort, to say no to one, to refuse; en parade, to kill. (Popu- lar and thieves') Se 1' , to eat, " to grub." See Mastiquer. Epais, m. (players'), five and six of dominoes. Epargner (thieves'), n' le poitou, to be careful. N'epargnons le poitou, Poisspns avec adresse, Messieres et gonzesses, Sans faire de regout. VlDOCQ. Epatage, m. (popular). See Epatement. Epatamment (popular), -wonder' fully, "stunningly." Epatant, epatarouflant, adj. (general), wonderful ; wondrous, "stunning," "crushing." Epate, /. (general), faire de 1' , to sho-M off. Epatement, m. (general), as- tonishment. Epater, epataroufler (general), quelqu'un, to astound one, to make him wonder at something or other. Epateur, m., epateuse, /. (gene- ral), one -who shows off ; one who tries to astound people by showing off. Epaule, f. (general), changer son /usi| d' , to alter one's opinion ; to cnange one's mind. Epee, f. (popular), de Savoyard, fisticuffs. Epice, adj. (general), at an exag- gerated price. C'est diablement , it is a long price. Epicemar, m. (familiar), grocer. Epicephale, m. (students'), hat. See Tubard. Epicer (popular), to scoff at ; to de- ride. Epicerie, / (artists'), the world of Philistines, "non digni intrare." Epice-vinette, m. (thieves'), grocer. Epicier, m. (familiar), man devoid of any artistic taste ; mean, vulgar man; termed also ' ' comme^ant;" (students') one who does not take up classics at college. Epiler (popular), se faire la peche, to get shaved. Epinards (artists'), plat d' , painting where tones of crude green predominate. (Popular) Aller aux , to receive money from a prostitute. Epingle Esbrouffeuse. 133 Epingle,/ (popular), avoir une a son col, to have a glass ofivine waiting ready poured out for one at a neighbouring wine-shop, and paid for by a friend. Epiploon, m. (students'), necktie, Epitonner (thieves'), s' , to grieve. Epointer (popular), son foret, to die, "to kick the bucket," or " to snuff it." See Casser sa pipe. Eponge, f. (general), paramour; drunkard, or "lushington ;" a sottises, gullible man, "gulpin;" d'or, attorney, or "green bag." An allusion to the long bills of lawyers. Epouffer (thieves'), to pounce on one. Epouse,/ (familiar), edition beige, mistress, or "tartlet." Epouser (thieves'), la camarde, to die, "to croak ;" la fourcan- diere, or la fauconniere, to throw away stolen property when pur* sued ; la veuve, to be executed. Eprouv6, m. (thieves'), well-be- haved convict who, after having "done half his time," is recom- mended for a tickct-of-leave. Equerre,/. (popular), fendre son , to run away, "to make tracks." See Patatrot. Erailler (thieves'), to kill one, " to cook his goose." See Refroidir. Ereintement, m. (familiar), sharp, unfriendly criticism. Ereinter (familiar), to run down a literary work or a literary man ; to hiss an actor, " to give the big bird." Ereinteur, m. (familiar), scurrilous or sharp critic. Erene (popular), exhausted, spent, done up, "gruelled." Ergot, m. (popular), se fendre 1' , to run away, " to make tracks." See Patatrot. Erlequin (Breton), frying-pan for frying pancakes. Ernest, m. (journalists'), official communication from official quar- ters to the press. Erreur,/. Y a pas d' ! a Parisian expression used in support of an assertion. Y a pas d'erreur, ya ; j'suis un homme, Un chouett', un zig, un rigolo. GILL. Ervoanik plouilio (Breton), death. Es, m. (popular), for escroc, swindler, or "shark." Esballonner(popular),&? slip away, "to mizzle." See Patatrot. Esbigner (popular), s' , to slip away, " to mizzle." See Pata- trot. Esblinder (popular), to astound. Esbloquant, adj. (popular), as- tounding. Esbloquer (popular), to astound. S' , to feel astonished. Ne vous esbloquez done pas comme fa, do not be so astonished, keep cool. Esbrouf (thieves'), d' , all at once ; violently ; by surprise. D'esbrouf je 1'estourbis. VIDOCQ. (/ suddenly knocked him over the head.) Esbroufe, esbrouffe, coup 41' . See A 1'esbrouffe. Esbrouffeur, m. (thieves'), thief who practises the kind of theft called"Vo\ a 1'esbrouffe" (which see). Esbrouffeuse, /, flash girl who makes much fuss. 134 E scoff- Esqu in te r. Escaff, m. (popular), kick in the breech. Escaffer (popular), to give a kick in the breech, " to root," or " to land a kick." Escanne, / (thieves'), a 1', away I and the devil take the hind- most. Escanner (thieves'), to run away, or " to make beef." See Pata- trot. Escarcher (thieves'), to look on, "to pipe." Escare,/ (thieves'), impediment ; obstacle ; disappointment. Escarer (thieves'), to prevent. Escareur (thieves'), one -who pre- vents. Escargot, m. (popular), slow, dull man, or " stick in the mud ;" vagrant ; de trottoir, police officer, or " crusher." See Pot-a- tabac. (Military) Escargot, man with his tent when campaigning. Escarpe, m. (thieves'), thief and murderer ; zezigue, suicide. E scarper (thieves'), to kill. See Refroidir. Escarper un zigue a la capahut, to kill a thief in order to rob him of his booty. Escarpin, m, (popular), de Limou- sin, or en cuir de brouette, wooden shoe ; renifleur, leaky shoe. Escarpiner (popular)^ s' , to escape nimbly ; to give the slip. Escarpolette,/. (theatrical), prac- tical joke ; an addition made to a part. Escaver (thieves'). See Escarer. Esclot, m. (popular), wooden shoe. Escouade, f. (military), envoyer chercher le parapluie de 1' , to get rid of a person whose presence is not desired by sending him on a fool's errand. Escoutes, or e"coutes, f. pi. (thieves'), ears, or " hearing cheats." Escrime, m. (military), clerk, " quill-driver." Esganacer (thieves'), to laugh. Esgard, or egard, m. (thieves'), faire 1' , to rob an accomplice of his share of the plunder. The author of this kind of robbery goes among his English brethren by the name of " Poll thief." Esgour, adj. (thieves'), lost. Esgourde, esgouverne, es- gourne, f. (thieves'), ear, or "hearing cheat." Debrider 1' , to listen. Espagnol, in. (popular), louse. Espalier, m. (theatrical), a number of female supernumeraries drawn up in line. Espece, f. (familiar), woman of questionable character. Esprit, m. (familiar), des braves, brandy. Esque, m. See Esgard. Esquinte, m. (thieves'), abyss. Vol a 1' , burglary, "panny," "screwing," or "busting." Esquintement, m. (general), ex~ cessive fatigue ; (thieves') bur- glary, or " busting." Esquinter (familiar), to damage; to fatigue ; (popular) to thrash ; see Voie ; (thieves') to kill ; see Refroidir; to break. La carouble s'est esquintee dans la serrante, the key has been broken in the lock. (Familiar) S' , or s' le temperament, to tire oneself out. Esquinteur Eteignoir. 135 Esquinteur (thieves'), "panny-man," "screwsman," or "buster." Essayer (theatrical), le tremplin, to act in an unimportant flay, which is given as a preliminary to a more important one ; to be the first to sing at a concert. (Sol- diers') Envoyer une chemise de sapin, to kill. Essence,/, (general), de parapluie, water. Esses (popular), faire des , to reel about. Essuyer (familiar), les platres, to kiss the face of a female ivhose cheeks are painted. Essuyeuse,/ (familiar), de platres, street-walker. See Gadoue. Estable,/ (thieves'), fowl, "bea- ker." E starrier, m. (familiar), police officer ; (thieves') cat. Estaffin, ;. (popular), cat. Estaffion, m. (popular), blow on the head, "bang on the nut;" (thieves') cat, " long-tailed beggar. " Estafiler (military), la frimousse, to cut one's face with a sword. Estafon, m. (old cant), capon. Estampiller (thieves'), to mark; to show (in reference to the hour). Luysard estampillait six plombes, it was six o'clock by the sun. Estaphe,/. (popular), slap. Estaphle, f. (thieves'), forvl, "beaker," or "cackling cheat." Estime (familiar), succes d' , a doubtful success. Estio, estoc, m. (thieves'), intellect, wit. II a de 1' , he is clever, or "wide." Estomac, m. (general), courage, pluck, " wool." Estomaque, adj. (popular), as- tounded, " flabbergasted." Estorgue, estoque, f. (thieves'), falsehood. Chasses a 1' , squint- ing eyes. Estourbir (thieves'), to stun : to kill. Estourbisseur, m. (popular), de clous de girofle, dentist. Estrade,/ (thieves'), boulevard. Le filant sur 1'estrade D'esbrouf je 1'estourbis. VIDOCQ. Estrangouillade,/ (popular), the act of strangling or garrotting a man. Estrangouiller (popular), to strangle ; un litre, to drink a litre of wine. Estropier (popular), to eat, " to grub. " Properly to maim. Estuque, m. (thieves'), share of booty, or "regulars." Estuquer (popular), to thrash, " to wallop." Etagere, /. (general), female as- sistant at restaurants who has the charge of the fruit, &>c. ; bosom. Etal, m. (popular), bosom. Etalage, m. (general), vol a 1' , shoplifting. Etaler (familiar), sa marchandise, to wear a very low dress, thus showing what ought to remain covered. Etame, adj. (thieves'), old offender. Boule de son , white bread. Etanche,/ (popular), avoir le gou- lot en , to be thirsty, or dry. Eteignoir, m. (general), large nose, or large " conk ; " dull tier- 136 Eteindre Eire. son. Ordre de 1' , the order of Jesuits. (Thieves') Eteignoir, prefecture de police, palais de jus- tice, or law courts. Eteindre (popular), son gaz, to die, " to snuff it." Eternuer (popular), sur une ne- gresse, to drink a bottle of wine ; (thieves') dans le sac, or dans le son, to be guillotined. Pauvre petit Theodore . . . il est bien gentil. C'est dommage d'eternuer dans le son a son age. BALZAC. Etier, m., a kind of trench dug by the salt-marsh workers. Et le pouce, et meche (popular), and the rest! Cette dame a quarante ans. Oui, et le pouce ! This lady is forty years of age. Yes, and the rest ! Etoffes, / pi. (thieves'), money, "pieces." Etouffage, m. (thieves'), theft, or " push ; " (popular), concealment of money on one's person ; stealing part of the stakes by a player or looker-on. Etouffe, m. (thieves'), clandestine gaming-house. Etouffer (popular), to secrete money about one's person ; un enfant de choeur, une negresse, to drink a bottle of -wine ; un perroquet, to drink a glass of absinthe. Etouffoir, m. See Etouffe. Etourdir (popular), to solicit; to entreat. Properly to make giddy. Etourdissement, m. (popular), so- liciting a service. Etourdisseur, m. (popular), one who solicits, who asks for a service. Etrangere, f. (familiar), piquer 1' to allow one's thoughts to wan~ der from a subject, "to be wool gathering." Noble , silver five- franc piece. Etrangler (familiar), un perroquet, to drink a glass of absinthe ; une dette, to pay off a debt. Etre (gay girls'), a la campagne, to be confined at the prison of Saint - Lazare (a prison for women, mostly street- walkers). (Popular) Etre a la cascade, to be joyous ; a 1'en- terrement, to feel dull ; a la manque, to deceive ; to betray ; a la paille, to be half dead ; a 1'ombre, to be dead ; to be in pri- son; a pot et a feu avec quel- qu'un, to be on intimate terms with one; argente, to have funds ; au sac, to have plenty of money; bien, to be tipsy, or "to be hoodman ; " bref, to be short of cash; complet, see Complet ; crotte, to be penni- less ; (familiar and popular) dans le troisieme dessous, see Des- sous ; dans les papiers de quelqu'un, to be in one 's confidence ; dans les vignes, or dans la vigne du Seigneur, to be drunk ; dans ses petits souliers, to be ill at ease ; de la bonne, to be lucky ; de la fete, to be happy, lucky ; de la haute, to belong to the aristocracy; to be a swell ; de la paroisse de la nigauderie, to be simple-minded ; de la paroisse de Saint-Jean le Rond, to be drunk, or " screwed ; " de la procession, to belong to a trade or profession ; de 1'F, see F ; demate, to be old ; des- sous, to be drunk ; du batiment, to belong to a profession mentioned ; d'un bon suif, to be ridiculous or badly dressed, to be a " guy ; " du 14* benedictins, to be a fool ; en train, to be getting tipsy, see Sculpter ; exproprie, to die, see Casser sa pipe ; fort auba- tonnet, see Batonnet ; le Etrenner Expert. 137 boeuf, see Bceuf; paf, to be drunk, see Pompette ; pres de ses pieces, to be hard up for cash ; (sailors') pris dans la ba- lancine, to be in a fix, in a ' ' hole ; " vent dessus or vent dedans, to bedrunk, see Pompette; (thieves') sur la planche, to be had up be- fore the magistrate ; bien por- tant, to be at large; dans la puree, fauche, molle, to be penniless ; (bullies') sur le sable, to be without means of existence, that is, withotit a mistress. (Fami- liar) En , to be a spy or detec- tive ; to be a Sodomist, Etrenner (general), to receive a thrashing, "to get a drubbing." See Voie. Etriers, m. pi. (cavalry), avoir les trop courts is said of a man with bandy legs. Etrillage, m. (popular), loss oj money. Etriller (general), to fleece, " to shave." Etroite, f. (popular), faire 1' , to be affected, or "high falutin;" to flay the prude. Etron de mouche, m. (thieves'), wax, conveniently used for taking the impress of keyholes. Etrusque, adj. (familiar), old-fas- hioned. t ta sceur (popular), expression of refusal, disbelief, or a contemptuous reply to insulting words. Une fille s'etait empoigne'e avec son amant, a la porte d'un bastringue, 1'appe- lant sale mufe et cochon malade, tandis que 1'amant repetait, " et ta soeur?" sans trouver autre chose. ZOLA. Etudiant de la greve, m. (popu- lar), mason. Etudiante, / (familiar), student" 1 * mistress, his " tartlet." Etui, m. (popular), skin,or "buff;" a lorgnette, coffin, (Soldiers') Etuis de mains courantes, boots. Evanouir (popular), s" , to make off, or "to bunk ; " to die. See Pipe. Evanouissement, m. (popular), flight. Evaporer (popular), to steal ad- roitly. S' , to vanish, " to miz- zle." Eventail a bourrique, m. (popu- lar), stick, or " toco." Eventrer une negresse (popular), to drink a bottle of wine. Eveque de campagne, m. (popu- lar), a hanged person. From the expression, Be'nir des pieds, to be hanged, and properly to bless with one's feet. Ever goad he vugale (Breton), drunkard. Literally drinker of his children's blood. Exbalancer (thieves'), to send one away ; to dismiss him. Excellent bon, m. (familiar), young dandy. Executer (familiar), s' , to comply with a request ; to fulfil one's pro- mise ; to pay unwillingly rather than otherwise. Exhiber (cads'), to look at, "to pipe." Nib de flanche, on t'ex- hibe, stop your game, they are look- ing at you. Exhiber son prussien, to run away. Exhume, m. (familiar), swell, "masher." An allusion to the cadaverous appearance of most French "mashers." See Gom- meux. 138 Expliqu er Factu rier. Expliquer (military and popular), s' , to fight a duel ; to fight. Sauf el' bandeau Qu'a s'coll' chaqu' fois su* 1'coin d'la hure, Apres qu' nous nous somm's expliqufe, C'est pas qu' j'aim" y taper dans 1'nez ; J'haiga; c'est cont ma nature. GILL, La Muse ct Bibi. Extra, m. (popular), good dinner ; guest at a military mess. Extrait de garni, m. (popular), dirty servant ; slattern. Extravagant, m. (popular), glass of beer of unusual size, " galopin " being the appellation for a small one. The latter term is quite re- cent as used with the above signi- fication. According to the Diet. Comique it meant formerly a small measure for wine : Galopin, c'est une petite mesure de vin, ce qu'on appelle a Paris un demi-setier. LE Roux. F, etre de 1' (popular), that is, etre fichu, flambe, foutu, fricasse, frit, fume, to be lost, ruined, " cracked up," "gone to smash." Fabricant, m. (popular), de cul- butes, or de fourreaux, tailor, 1 ' rag-stabber. " Je me suis carme d'une bath pelure chez le de culbutes, I have bought a fine coat at the tailor's. Fabrication, f. (thieves'), passer a la , or etre fabrique, to be appre- hended. Faire passer a la , to apprehend. Fabriquer (thieves'), to apprehend, " to smug ;" to steal, " to claim ;" un gas a la flan, & la rencontre, or k la dure, to rob from the person with violence, " to jump ;" un poivrot, to rob a drunkard. Fa?ade, /. (popular), head, or " nut ;" face, or " mug." (Co- cottes') Se faire la , to paint one's face, in other words, " to stick slap " on one's face. Face, f. (popular and thieves'), a sou. Je ne donnerais pas une face de ta sor- bonne si Ton tenait 1'argent. BALZAC. Face du Grand Turc, the behind. Face ! an exclamation used when a smash of glass or crockery is heard, the word being the French render- ing for the exclamation "heads !" at pitch and toss. Facile a la detente (popular), is said of one who readily settles a debt, or opens the strings of his purse. Factionnaire, m. (popular), poser un , to ease oneself. Relever un , to slip out of a workshop in order to go and drink a glass of wine kept ready by a comrade at a neighbouring wine-shop. Facturier, m. (theatrical), one whose specialiteis to produce songs termed Fadage Fafiot. 139- " couplets de facture, "for the stage or music halls. Fadage, ;;/. (thieves'), the act of sharing the plunder, or " cutting it up." Fadard,a^'. andm. (popular), dandy, or " gorger." For synonyms see Gommeux. Fade, m. (popular), a fop or empty swell, a " dundreary ;" one's share in the reckoning, or " shot ; " a workman's wages. Toucher son , toreceiveone 'swages. (Thieves') Fade, a rogue's share in the proceeds of a robbery, or " whack ; " money, or " pieces." Puisque je ne 1'ai plus, elle, pas plus que je n'ai du fade, Chariot peut aiguiser son couperet, je ne regrette plus ma tete. Alctuoires de Monsieur Claude. ./Fade, adj. (popular), drunk, or " screwed." See Pompette. Etre bien , to be quite drunk, or " scammered ;" to have received a good share ; to be well treated by fate. Is used also ironically or sorrowfully : Me voila bien ! a bad job for me ! Here I am in a fine plight! (Thieves') Etre , to have received one's share of ill- gotten gains ; to have had one's ' ' whack. " Fader (thieves'), to divide the booty among the participators in a rob- bery, " to nap the regulars," or " to cut up." Fadeurs, /. //. (popular), des ! nonsense ! " all my eye ! " Con- cerning this English rendering the supplementary English Glossary says : " All my eye, nonsense, un- true. Sometimes ' All my eye and Betty Martin.' The explana- tion that it was the beginning of a prayer, ' O mihi beate Marline,' will not hold water. Dr. Butler, when headmaster of Shrewsbury, . . . told his boys that it arose from a gipsy woman in Shrews- bury named Betty Martin giving a black eye to a constable, who was chaffed by the boys accor- dingly. The expression must have been common in 1837, as Dickens gives one of the Brick Lane Temperance testimonials as from ' Betty Martin, widow, one child, and one eye.' Pickwick, ch. xxxiii." Fafelard, m. (thieves'), passport ; bank note, or ' ' soft ; " a la manque, forged note, or " queer soft ; " d'emballage, warrant of arrest. Faffe, m. (thieves'), .paper ; a roulotter, cigarette paper ; bank note, or " soft." Fafiot, m. (popular and thieves'), document, or " fakement ; " shoe,. or " trotter case." See Ripaton. Fafiot, bank note, or " soft." Fafiot ! n'entendez-vous pas le bruisse- ment du papier de soie? BALZAC. Fafiot garate, banknote, or " soft." An allusion to the signature of the- cashier M. Garat, which notes of the Banque de France formerly- bore. On invente les billets de banque, le bagne les appelle des fafiots garates, du nom de Garat, le caissier qui les signe. BALZAC. Un en bas age, a one hundred franc note. Un femelle, a five hundred franc note. Un lof, a false begging petition ; forged certificate, or false passport, "fake- ment." Un male, a one thou- sand franc note. Le billet de mille francs est un fafiot male, le billet de cinq cents francs un fafiot femelle. BALZAC. Un sec, a genuine certificate or passport. Fabriquer des fafiots, or du fafelard a la manque, to- forge bank notes, ' ' to fake queer soft. " 140 Fafioteur Faire. Fafioteur, m. (thieves'), paper manufacturer or merchant; banker, " rag-shop boss ;" -writer; (popu- lar) cobbler, or ' ' snob." Faflard. See Fafelard. Fagaut (thieves'), the word faut disguised. II ne degueularder sur sa fiole, we must say nothing about him. Fagot, cotteret, or falourde, m. (thieves'), convict, probably from his being tied up like a bundle of sticks. Un a perte de vue, one sentenced to penal servitude for life, or " lifer." Un affranchi, a liberated convict, or ' ' lag." Un en campe, an escaped felon. (Fa- miliar) Un , a candidate for the Ecole des Eaux et For&s, a govern- ment training school for surveyors of State forests and canals. ragotin, m. (popular), vagrant, tramp, " abraham-man, " or "piky." Faiblard, m. (popular), sickly look- ing, weak person. Called in Eng- lish slang " barber's cat," a term used in connection with an expres- sion too coarse to print, according to the Slang Dictionary. Faignant, m. (popular), coward. A corruption of faineant, idle fellow. Failli chien, m. (sailors'), scamp. Un de terrien, a lubberly lands- man. Le bateau va comme en riviere une gabarre, Sans personne au compas, et le mousse a la barre, II faudrait n'etre qu'un failli chien de ter- rien, Pour geindre en ce moment et se plaindre de rien. RICHEPIN, La Mer. Faine,/. (popular), a sou. Fainin, m. (popular), a centime. Faire (general), to steal, "to prig." See Grinchir. Non qu'ils deboursent rien pour entrer, car ils font Leur contre-marque aux gens qui sor- tent. . . . RICHEPIN, La Chanson des Gueux. Faire son nez, to look crestfallen, to look " glum ; " son beurre, to benefit by ; to make profits. II m'a assure que le general de Carpen- tras avail plus de quatre millions de rente. Je gagne bien de 1'argent, moi, mais je ferais bien mon beurre avec a. E. MON- TEIL. (Thieves') Faire banque, to kill, see Refroidir ; un poivrot, to pick the pockets or steal the clothes ofadrunken man," bug-hunting;" des yeux de hareng, to put a man's eyes out; Hotter un paute, to drown one; du ragout or regout, to talk about another's ac- tions, and thus to awaken the sus- picions of the police. Ne fais pas du ragout sur ton dab ! (n'eveille pas les soupjons sur ton maitre !) dit tout bas Jacques Collin. BAI.ZAC. Faire la balle e'lastique, to go with, an empty belly, " to be bandied." Literally to be as light as an india-rubber ball ; la console, or consolation, one of a series of card-sharping games, termed as follows, "arranger les pantres," or " bonneteau," " un coup de bonnet," or " parfaite," "flam- botte auxrotins, " or "anglaise ; " la bride, to steal watch-guards, 11 to buz slangs ; " la fuite, la jat jat, la paire, le patatrot, faire eric, faire vite, to run away, " to make beef, or to guy. " See Pata- trot. Faire la grande soulasse sur le trimar, to murder on the high- way ; la grece, or plumer le pantre, to entice a traveller from a railway station into a cafe, where he is robbed of his money at a swindling game of cards ; la retourne des baguenaudes, to pick Faire. 141 the pockets of a helpless man, " to fake a cly ; " la souris, to rob stealthily, " to nip ; " la tire, to pick pockets, generally by means of a pair of scissors delicately in- serted, or a double-bladed pen- knife, " to fake a cly ; " la tire a la chicane, explained by quota- tion : Us font la tire a la chicane, en tournant le dos a celui qu'ils depouillent. D U CA MP. Faire la tortue, to go -without any food ; le barbot dans une cam- briolle, to steal property from a room, " to do a crib ; " le bobe, to steal -watches, " toy getting ; " l'egard, to retain for oneself the proceeds of a robbery ; le gaf, to watch, "to nark, to give a roasting, to nose, to lay, or to dick;" le lezard, to decamp, "to guy," see Patatrot ; le morlingue, to steal a piirse, " to buz a skin or poge ; " le mou- choir, to steal pocket-handkerchiefs, called " stock hauling, fogle hunt- ing, or drawing the wipe ; " le pantre, to play the fool ; le ren- deme or rendemi, to swindle a tradesman by picking up again from his counter a gold coin ten- dered for payment, and making off with both coin and change ; nonne is said of accomplices, or "jollies," who form a small crowd so as to facilitate a thief s opera- tions ; la balle a quelqu'un, to carry out one's instructions. Fais sa balle ! (suis ses instructions), dit Fil-de-Soie. BALZAC, La Derniere Incar- nation de Vautrin. Faire son temps, to undergo a full term of imprisonment ; sauter la coupe, to place, by dexterous manipulation, the cut card on the top, instead of at the bottom of the pack, termed by English card- sharpers " slipping ; " suer un chene, to kill a man, " to cook his goose." See Refroidir. Faire sur 1'orgue, to inform against, " to blow the gaff ; " un coup a 1'esbrouffe, to pick a persons pockets while hustling him, "to rlimp ; " un coup d'etal, to steal property from a shop. A shoplifter is termed in English cant "buttock and file;" un coup de fourchette, to pick a pocket by delicately inserting two fingers only; coup de roulotte, to steal property from a -vehicle ; un rancart, to procure information ; une maison entiere, to break into a house and to massacre all the inmates ; (artists') chaud, to use warm tints in a painting, after the style of Rembrandt and other colourists ; culotte, roti, comparative and superlative of faire chaud ; cm, to use crude tints in a picture, for instance, to use blue or red without any ad- junction of another colour ; cuire sa toile, to employ very warm tints in the painting of a picture ; transparent, to paint in clair obscur, or "cAiaro oscuro ;" lanterne, to exaggerate the " chiaro oscuro;" grenouillard or croustillant, to paint in masterly, bold, dashing style, with, "brio." The expression is used also in reference to the statuary art. The works of the painter Delacroix and those of the sculptor Preault are executed in that style ; sa cimaise sur quelqu'un. See Ci- maise. Faire un petard, to paint a sensational picture for the Salon. The Salome of H. Regnault, his masterpiece, may be termed a "petard;" des crepes, to have a grand jollification, or "flare up;" (freemasons') feu, to drink ; (theatrical) feu, to lay peculiar stress on words; (mountebanks') la manche, to make a collection of money among the public, or " nobbing ; " (popu- 'I4 2 Faire. lar) a la redresse, to set one right, to correct one ; danser un homme sur une pelle a feu is said of a -woman who freely spends a man's money ; (familiar and popular) brftler Moscou, to mix a large bmvl of punch ; cabriolet, to drag oneself along on one's behind ; cascader, see Cascader ; de cent sous quatre francs, to squander one's money ; de la musique, to make audible remarks about a game which is proceeding ; de la poussiere, to make a great fuss, to show off; de 1'epate, to shoiu off. Ces jeunes troupiers font de 1'epate, des embarras si vous aimez mieux. J. No- RIAC. Faire du lard, to sleep ; to stay in bed late in the morning ; du suif, to make unlawful profits, such as those procured by trade assistants who cheat their employers ; faire a quelqu'un blanc de sa bourse, to draw freely on another's purse, to live at his expense, " to sponge " on him; flanelle, to visit a brothel with platonic intentions ; godard, to be starving; la place pour les paves a ressort, to . pretend to be looking for employ- ment with a secret hope of not find- ing any ; la retape, or le trot- toir, to be a street-walker; 1'ecureuil, to give oneself much, trouble to little purpose; le plongeon, to confess when on the point of death ; to be ruined, " to be smashed up ; " mal, to excite contemptuous pity. Tiens, tu me fais mal ! well, I pity you ! I am sorry for you ! Faire passer le gout du pain, to kill, " to give one his gruel ; " patrouille, to go on night revels with a number of boon companions, " to be on the tiles." Quatre jours en patrouille, pour dire en ' folies bachiques. Cabarets de Paris. Faire peau neuve, to get new clothes ; petite chapelle is said of a woman who tucks tip her clothes ; pieds neufs, to be in childbed, or "in the straw;" pleurer son aveugle, to void urine, "to pump ship." See Lascailler. Faire saluer le polichinelle, to be more successful than others. An allusion to certain games at fairs, when a successful shy brings out a puppet -head like a Jack-in-the- box ; sa Lucie, or sa Sophie, to play the prude, to give oneself conceited or disdainful airs ; sa merde, or sa poire, to have self- satisfied, conceited airs ; to take up an arrogant position ; assuming an air of superiority ; to be on the " high jinks; " sa tata is said of a talkative person, or of one who assumes an air of importance ; of a girl, for example, who plays the little woman; ses petits paquets, to be dying ; son Cam- bronne, an euphemism for a coarse expression, "faire sa merde" (which see) ; son lezard, to be dozing during the daytime, like a lizard basking in the sun ; un boeuf, to guillotine ; to give cards ; suer, to annoy ; to disgust. Ainsi, leur politique exterieure, vrai ! ga fait suer depuis quelque temps. ZOI.A, L'Assommoir. Faire un tassement, or un trou, to drink spirits in the course of a meal for the purpose of getting up a fresh appetite, synonymous of " faire le trou du Normand ; " une femme, to succeed in finding a woman willing to give her favours; son fendant, to bluster ; to swagger ; to look big. Ne fais done pas ton fendant, "come off the tall grass!" (an Americanism). Faire une entree de ballet, to enter a room without bowing to the company. En son Faire. '43 beurre, to put to good use, to good profit. Et, si ton monsieur est bien nippe, de- mande-lui un vieux paletot, j'en ferai mon beurre. ZOLA, L'Assommoir. La a quelqu'un, to deceive, " to bamboozle " one. Faut pas m'la faire ! may be rendered by "I don't take that in;" "no go ;" " not for Joe ; " "do you see any green in my eye ? " " Walker 1 " Vas-tu t' taire, vas tu t' taire, Ce lie-la faudrait pas m'la faire, As-tu fini tes fac.ons ? Celle-la nous la connaissons ! Parisian Song. La a, to seek to impose upon by an affected show of some feigned sentiment. La a la pose, to show off ; to pose. J' pense malgre moi a la gueule ddgoutee que f ' rait un decadent, ou un pessimiste au milieu de ce meli-melo. . . . Y nous la f 'rait diantrement a la pose. TRUBLOT, Cri du f tuple, Sept., 1886. La a la raideur, to put on a distant manner, to look "uppish." La a 1'oseille, to treat one in an off-hand manner ; to annoy one, or "to huff;" to play a scurvy trick ; to exaggerate, "to come it too strong." According to Delvau, the origin of the ex- pression is the following : A cer- tain restaurant keeper used to serve up to her clients a mess of eggs and sorrel, in which the sorrel was out of all proportion to the quantity of eggs. One day one of the guests exclaimed in disgust, " Ah ! cette fois, tu nous la fais trop a 1'oseille !" (Popu- lar) Se caramboler is said of a woman who gives her favours. Elle sentit tres bien, malgre son avachis- sement, que la culbute de sa petite, en train de se faire caramboler, 1'enfonijait davantage . . . oui, ce chameau denature lui emportait le dernier morceau de son 'honnetete. ZOLA, L'Assommoir. Se relicher, to get kissed. Ah ! bien ! qu'elle se laissat si'rprendre a se faire relicher dehors, elle etait sure de son affaire. . . . Des qu'elle rentrait, . . . il la regardait bien en face, pour deviner si elle ne rapportait pas une souris sur 1'oeil, un de ces petits baisers. ZOLA, L'Assommoir. S'en eclater le peritoine, or peter la sous-ventriere, to eat or drink to excess, "to scorf." Tu t'en ferais peter la sous- ventriere, or tu t'en ferais mourir, expressive of ironical refusal ; don '( you -wish you may get iff or, as the Americans have it, " Yes, in a horn." Se baiser, or choper, to get abused; to be apprehended. See Piper. Se la debinette, to run away, "to guy," " to slope." See Patatrot. La belle, to be happy ; to lead a happy life. Faire des petits pains, du plat, or du boniment, to eulogize ; to try and persuade one into complying with one's wishes ; (military) suisse, to drink all by oneself at a cafe or wine-shop. The cavalry maintain that infantry soldiers alone are capable of so hideous an offence ; (printers') banque bleche, to get no pay ; (Sodomists') de la clentelle, the explanation is fur- nished by the following quota- tion : Tant6t se placant dans une foule, . . . 'ils provoquent les assistants derriere eux en faisant de la dentelle, c'est a dire en agitant les doigts croises derriere leur dos, ou ceux qui sont devant a 1'aide de la pous- sette, en leur faisant sentir un corps dur, le plus souvent un long bouchon qu'ils ont dispose dans leur pantalon, de maniere i simuler ce qu'on devine et a exciter ainsi les sens de ceux qu'ils jugent capables de ceder a leur appel. TARUIEU, Etude Mf- duo-lega/e sur les Altentats aux Moeurs. (Card-sharpers') Faire le Saint- Jean, to cough and spit as a signal to confederates. L'invitation acceptee, I'amorceur fait le Saint-Jean, c'est-a-dire qu'atteint d'une toux subite, il se detourne pour expectorer bruyamment. A ce signal deux complices 144 Fats Familihes. se hatent de se rendre a 1'endroit convenu d'avance. PIERRE DELCOURT, Paris Vo- leur. Faire le saut de coupe, by dexte- rous manipulation to place the cut card on the top, instead of at the bottom of the pack, "to slip" a card ; la carte large, to insert a card somewhat larger than the rest, and easily recognizable for sharpers' eyes, this card being called by English sharpers "old gentle- man ; " le pont, cheating trick at cards, by which any particular card is cut by previously curving it by the pressure of the hand, ' ' bridge ; " le filage, to substi- tute a card for another, ' ' to slip " it; la carte a 1'ceil, to prepare a card in such a manner that it shall be easily recognized by the sharper. English card-sharpers arrange cards into " concaves and convexes" and "longs and shorts/' By cutting in a peculiar manner, a "concave" or "con- vex" is secured at will; (thieves' and cads') la jactance, to talk; to question, or " cross-kid ; " la bourrique, to inform against, "to blow the gaff." Le curieux lui a fait la jactance, il a en- trave et fait la bourrique, the judge examined him ; he allowed himself to be outwitted, and peached. Faire le saut, to leave without paying for one's reckoning. Se enfiler, to be apprehended, or "smugged." See Piper. Se enturer, to be robbed, sivindled ; to lose one's money at a game, or "to blew it." La a 1'anguille, to strike one with an eelskin or handkerchief filled with sand. Ah ! gredins, dit-il, vous me 1'avez faite & 1'anguille. . . . L'anguille . . . est cette arme terrible des r6deurs de barriere qui ne four- nit aucune piece de conviction, une fois qu'on s'en est servi. Elle consiste dans un mouchoir qu'on roule apres 1'avoir rempli de terre. En tenant cette sorte de fronde par un bout, tout le poids de la terre va k 1'autre extremity et forme une masse re- doutable. A. LAURIN, Le Million de I'Ouvriere. Rabelais has the expression ' ' don- ner 1'anguillade, " with the signi- fication of to strike. (Military schools') Faire une brimade, or brimer, to ill-treat, to bully, termed " to brock " at Winchester School. Fais (popular), j'y , / am wil- ling ; I consent. Faisan, m. See Bande noire. Faisander (popular), se , of persons, to grow old, to become rickety ; of things, to be decayed, worn out, "seedy." Faisanderie,/, or bande noire, swindling gang composed of the " freres de lacdte, or delaflotte, " denominated respectively ' ' grands faisans," "petits faisans," " fusil- leurs." See Bande noire. Faiseur d'ceil, m. (popular), Love- lace. Faiseuse d'anges, /. (familiar), woman who makes a living by baby-farming, or one who procures a miscarriage by unlawful prac- tices. Faitre, adj. (thieves'), lost; safe for a conviction, "booked," or "hobbled." Falot, m. (military), military cap. Falourde, f. (thieves'), a returned transport, a " lag ; " (players') double six of dominoes ; (popu- lar) engourdie, corpse, ' ' cold meat." Falzar, m. (popular), trousers, " kicks, sit - upons, hams, or trucks." Sans autour des guibolles, without any trousers, or with trousers in tatters. Familieres,/ //., female prisoners employed as assistants at the prison Fanal Fare. 145 of Saint-Lazare, and who, incon- sequence, are allowed more freedom than their fellow-convicts. Fanal, m. (popular), throat, "gut- ter lane." S'eclairer le , to drink, or "to wet one's whistle." See Rincer. Colle-toi a. dans 1' , eat or drink that. Altrrer le , to make one thirsty. Ceux-ci insinuent que cette operation a pour but d'alterer le fanal et de pousser simplement a la consommation. P. MA- HALIN. Fanande, m. (thieves'), abbrevia- tion of fanandel, m,, comrade, or "pal." Via les fanand's qui radinent, Ohe I tas d' pochetes. J. RlCHEPIN. Fanandel, m. (thieves'), comrade, friend, "pal." Ce mot de fanandel veut dire a la fois : freres, amis, camarades. Tons les voleurs, les forgats, les prisonniers sont fanandels. BALZAC. Faner (popular). Mon verre se fane, my glass isempty. (Thieves') Fourche a , horseman. Fanfare, /. (popular), sale true pour la ! exclamation of dis- gust, a bad look-out for us ! Fanfe,/ See Fauve. Fanfouiner (thieves'), to take snuff. Fanfouineur, m., fanfouineuse, f. (thieves'), person who is in the habit of taking snuff. Fantabosse, or fantasboche, m. (military), infantry soldier, " beetle-crusher," or " grabby." Fantasia, f. (familiar), noisy pro~ ceeding more brilliant than useful. An allusion to the fantasia of Arab horsemen. Donner dans la , to be fond of noisily showing off. (Popular) Une , a -whim, or "fad." Fantassin, m. (military), bolster. Faoen (Breton), riddle. Faraud, m. (thieves'), gentleman, "nib cove." Faraude, f. (thieves'), lady, or " burerk. Faraudec, faraudette,/! (thieves'), young girl, or " lunan." Farce,/, (general), en avoir la , to be able to procure. Pour deux sous on en a la , an expen- diture of one penny will procure it for you. Une de fumiste, a practical joke. Veut-on savoir d'ou vient 1'origine de cette locution : une farce de fumiste ? Elle provient de la maniere d'operer d'une bande de voleurs fumistes de profession, . . . ils montaient dans les cheminees pour deva- liser les appartements deserts et en faire sortir les objets les plus precieux par les toils. Memoires de Monsieur Claude. Farceur, m. (artists'), human ske- leton serving as a model at the Ecole des Beaux Arts, or the Paris Art School, thus called on ac- count of its being put to use for practical joking at the expense of newcomers. Farcher (thieves'), for faucher dans le pont, to fall into a trap ; to allow oneself to be duped, or "bested." Fard, m. (popular), falsehood, or " swack up." Sans , without humbug, " all square. " Avoir un coup de , to be slightly intoxi- cated, or "elevated. See Pom- pette. (Familiar and popular) Piquer un , to redden, to blush. Fard, properly rouge. Termed " to blow " at Winchester School. Fardach (Breton), worthless people. Farder (popular), se , to get tipsy, " to get screwed. " For sy- nonyms see Sculpter. Fare, /, heap of salt in salt' marshes. 146 Farfadet Faucher. Farfadet, m. (popular and thieves'), horse, or "prad." Far-far, farre (popularand thieves'), quickly, in a " brace of shakes." Farfouiller (popular), le dans le tympan, to whisper in one's ear. Fargue, m. (thieves'), load. Farguement, m. (thieves'), load- ing; deposition of a witness Jor the prosecution. Farguer (thieves'), to load. Si vous etes fargue's de marchandises grinchies (si vous etes charges de marchan- dises voices). VIDOCQ. Farguer a la dure, to pounce upon a person and rob him, " to jump " him. II fagaut farguer a la dure le gonsares pour lui degringolarer son bobinares, ive must attack the follow to ease him of his watch. Fargueur, /;/. (thieves'), man who loads ; witness for the prosecution. Faridole, f. (prostitutes'), female companion. Faridon, f. (popular), poverty. Eire a la , to be penniless, or a "quisby." Farineux, adj. (popular), excellent, first class, "tip top, out and out, clipping, slap up, real jam, true marmalade, nap." Farnandel, for Fanandel (which see). Farrago, m. (literary), manuscript 'tL'ith many alterations and correc- tions. Fassolette, f. (thieves'), handker- chief, " stook," or "madam." Fatigue, /. (thieves'), certain amount of labour which convicts have to do at the penal servitude settlement. Faubert, m. (marines'), epaulet. Properly a mop. Faubourg, m. (popular), le souf- h&ai,t he Faubourg Saint Afarteau, one of the poorer districts of Paris. Detruire le a quelqu'un, to give one a kick in the breech, "to root," " to hoof one's bum," or "to land a kick." Fauchants, faucheux, m. pi. (thieves'), scissors. Fauche, adj. (thieves'), etre , etre dans la puree, or etre molle, to be penniless, or a "quisby." Etre , to be guillotined. The synonyms are : "etre raccourci, etre bute, mettre la tete a la fene- tre, eternuer dans le son, or dans le sac, epouser la veuve, jouer a la main chaude, embrasser Char- lot, moutionner son mufle dans le son, tirer sa crampe avec la veuve, passer sa bille au glaive, aller a 1 ' Abbaye de Monte -a-regret, passer a la voyante, etre mecanise, etre glaive." Fauche - ardent, m. (thieves'), smtffers. Faucher (popular), le persil, to be a street-walker. (Thieves') Fau- cher, to deceive, " to best ; " to steal, " to claim. " For synonyms see Grinchir. Faucher, to guil- lotine. See Fauche. Aussit6t les formats, les ex-galeriens, ex- sninent cette mecanique . . . ils Pappellent tout a coup 1'Abbaye de Monte-a-Regret ! Ils e'tudient Tangle decrit par le couperet d'acier et trouvent pour en peindre 1'action, le verbe faucher ! BALZAC, La Dernitre Incarnation de Vautritt. Faucher dans le pont, to fall into a trap ; le colas, to cut one's throat ; le grand pre, to be undergoing a term of penal servi- tude at a convict settlement. The convicts formerly were made to work on galleys, the long oar they plied being compared to a scythe and the sea to a large meadow. Lesage, in his Gil Bias, Fauchettes Femme. 147 terms this "emoucher la mer avec un eventail de vingt pieds." Amore recent expression describes it as " ecrire ses memoires avec une plume de quinze pieds." auchettes, f. pi. (popular and thieves'), scissors. Faucheur, m. (thieves'), thief who steals watch - chains, ' ' slang or tackle-buzzer ; " executioner. Pro- perly reaper. Rabelais called him "Rouart," or he who breaks on the wheel ; (journalists') dandy. From his peculiar gait. aucheux, m. (thieves'), scissors ; (popular) man with long thin legs, or " daddy long-legs." Properly a field spider. Fauchon, m. (popular), sword, "toasting-fork." Un de satou, a wooden sword. Fauchure, f. (thieves'), a cut in- flicted by some sharp instrument or weapon. Fauconnier, m. (thieves'), confede- rate of the proprietor of a gaming- house. Faussante,/ (thieves'), false name, alias. Fausse-couche,/; (popular), man without any energy, a "sappy" fellow. Properly a miscarriage. Fausse-manche,/, fatigue jacket worn by the students of the mili- tary school of Saint -Cyr. Fauve, f. (thieves'), snuff-box, or " sneezer." Fauvette,/ (thieves'), atetenoire, gendarme. Faux-col, m. (familiar), head of a glass of beer. Ga^on, trop d'faux- col a la clef ! Waiter, too much head by half! Federd, /. (popular), avoir un dans la casemate, or un poli- chinelle dans le tiroir, to be preg- nant, or "lumpy." Fee,/, (popular and thieves'), love ; young girl, or "titter." La n'est pas loffe, the girl is no fool. Gaffine la , look at the girl, "nark the titter." Feesant, m. (thieves'), lover. From fee, love. Feesante, / (thieves'), sweetheart, or " moll." Fele, adj. (popular), avoir le coco , to be crazy, to be "a bit balmy in one's crumpet." Feler (popular), se , to become crazy. Felouse, or fenouse, / (thieves'), meadow. elouse, felouze, or fouillouse, / (thieves'), pocket, or "cly;" a jeun, empty pocket. II demanda a seziere s'il n'avait pas quelques luques de son babillard ; il re- pondit qu'oui, et mit la louche en sa felouze et en lira une, et la ficha au cornet d'epices pour la mouchailler. Le Jargon de I' Ar- got. (He asked him "whether he had any pictures from his book. He said yes, and put his hand in his pocket, dre-w one out, and gave it to the friar to look at.) Femme, f. (familiar), de Breda, gay girl. Quartier Breda is the Paris St. John's Wood ; (popular) au petit pot, rag-picker's con- sort; de terrain, low prostitute, or " draggle-tail. " See Gadoue. (Thieves' and cads') Femme de cavoisi, dressy prostitute who fre- quents the Boulevard cafes ; (mili- tary) de 1'adjudant, lock-up, "jigger," or "Irish theatre;" de regiment, big drum ; (fami- liar) pur faubourg, is said of a lady with highly polished manner, or ironically of one whose manners are anything but aristocratic. 7. 148 Fenasse Fermer. Fenasse, f. (popular), man with- out energy, a lazy man. Old word fen, hay. Fendante, / (thieves'), door, "jig- ger." Termed also " lourde." Fendart, m. (popular), braggart, swaggerer, or " swashbuckler." Termed formerly " avaleur de charrettes ferrees." Faire son , to brag, to swagger, to look big, to bluster, "to bulldoze" (American). Ne fais done pas ton , "come off the tall grass," as the Americans say. passers-by into entering the house. Mettre la tete a la , to be guillo- tined. An allusion to the passing the head through the lunette or circular aperture of the guillotine. Fenetriere, f. (popular), prostitute who lies in wait at a window, whence she invites passers-by to enter. Fenouse, or felouse,yC (thieves'), meadow. Feodec, adj. (thieves'), unjust. Fer a repasser, m. (popular), shoe, or "trotter-case." See Ripaton. Fendre (thieves'), 1'ergot, to run away. Literally to split the spur. JFer-blanc, m. (familiar), de The toes being pressed to the>^^ innrthltsx. DPS rocrniires de ground in the act are naturally parted. For synonyms, French and English, see Patatrot. (Card-sharpers') Fendre le cul a une carte, to notch a card for cheating purposes ; (military) 1'oreille, to place on the retired list. An allusion to the practice of splitting the ears of cavalry horses no longer fit for service and put up for auction, termed " cast " horses. (Popular) Fendre 1'arche a quelqu'un, to bore one to death. Literally to split one's head. (General) Se , to give oneself or others an unusual treat. Je me fends d'une bouteille, / treat myself to (or 1 stand treat for) a bottle of wine. Zut ! je me fends d'un supplement ! . . . Victor, une troisieme confiture ! ZOLA, A u Bonheur des Dames. Se a s'ecorcher, to be very generous with one's money. Fenfitre, /. (popular), boucher une a quelqu'un, to give one a black eye, " to put one's eyes in half- mourning." Faire la , is said of a prostitute who lies in wait at a window, and who by sundry alluring signs seeks to entice worthless. Des rognures de inferior theatrical company. Un ecrivain de , author without any ability, " penny-a-liner." Ferblanterie, f. (familiar), decora- tions. Ferblantier, m. (naval), official. Ferlampier, or ferlandier, m. (thieves'), bandit ; sharper, or "hawk ; " thief, or " prig ; " lazy humbug; rogue, or "bad egg." Ferlampie formerly had the signifi- cation of dtince. Ferlingante,/. (thieves'), crockery. Ferloques,///. (popular), rags. Fermer (popular), maillard, to sleep, " to doss." An allusion to M. Maillard, the inventor of iron- plate shutters ; son compas, to- stop walking; son parapluie, to die. See Pipe. Fermer son plomb, son egout, or sa boite, to hold one's tongue. Ferme ta bolte, " shut up ! " " hold your jaw ! " A synonymous but more polite expression, " Tace is Latin for a candle," is used by Fielding. "Tace, madam," answered Murphy, "is. Latin for a candle ; I commend your pru- dence." FIELDING, Amelia. F/roce Fiacre. 149 Feroce, m. and adj. (familiar), etre - sur 1'article, to be strict. Pas , made of poor stuff. Un , one devoted to his duty. Ferre, adj. (thieves'), etre , to be locked up, or ' ' put away. " Ferrer le goujon (popular), to make one swallow the bait. Fertange, or fertille, f. (thieves'), Tu es un rude mion ; le mome pantinois n'est pas maquille de fertille lansquinee. V. HUGO, Les Miserable!. {You are a stunner ; a child of Paris is not made of wet straw.) Fertillante, /. (thieves'), feather ; pen ; tail. Fertille, / (thieves'), face, 01 " mug ; " straw, or " strommel." Fertilliers, m.pl. (thieves'), wheat. Fesse,/ (popular), woman, "laced mutton." Ma , my better half. Magasin de fesses, brothel, or "nanny-shop." (Bullies') Fesse, paramour, "moll." Ma tur- bine, my girl is at work. Fesser (popular), to do a thing / quickly ; le champagne, to par- take freely of champagne, "to swig sham or boy." Rabelais has the expression, " fouetter un verre," to toss off the contents of a glass to the last drop. Fouette-moi ce verre galentement. RA- BELAIS, Gargantua. Feston (popular), faire du , pincer un , to reel about ; to make zigzags under the influence of drink. Festonnage, m. (popular), reeling about under the influence of drink, Festonner des guibolles (popu- lar) , to reel about while in a state of intoxication. Fe'te, /. (popular), du boudin, Christmas. (Popular and thieves') Etre de la , to be lucky, "to have cocum ; " to have means, or to be "well ballasted." Moi je suis toujpurs de la fete, j'ai toujours bogue et bon radin. VIDOCQ. Fetiche, m. (gamesters'), marker, or any object which temporarily re- presents the sum of money which has been staked at some game. Feu, m. (theatrical), faire , to lay particular stress on words ; (free- masons') to drink. (Military) Ne pas s'embeter or s'embrouiller dans les feuxde file, to be indepen- dent ; not to stick at trifles. (Fa- miliar) Allumer les feux, to set a game going. II est tout et il n'est rien dans ce cercle pschutt. Sa mission est d'allumer les feux, d'ou son nom bien connu : 1'allumeur. A. SIRVEN. Feuille, / (popular), de chou, ear, or "wattle." Une de platane, a bad cigar, or "cabbage leaf." (Saumur school of cavalry) Une , a prostitute. (Familiar) Une de chou, newspaper of no im- portance ; a worthless bond, not marketable. Voir la a 1'envers, to have carnal intercourse, is said of a girl who gives her favours. (Military) Des feuilles de chou, infantry gaiters. Feuillet, m. (roughs'), leaf of ciga- rette paper. Aboule-moi un et une brouettee d'allumettes, give me some cigarette paper and a match. Feuilletee, adj. (familiar), properly flaky. Semelle , worn-out sole. Termed also "pompe aspirante. * Parfois aussi elle n'a que des bottines suspectes, a semelles feuilletees qui sourient a 1'asphalte avec une gaiete intempestive. THEOPHILE GAUTJER. Feve,/ r ^attraper la . See At- traper. Fiacre, m. (popular), remiser sou , 'to become sedate, well-behaved. 150 Fiat Fi/rot. Fiat, m. (thieves'), trust; confi- dence. II y a aujourd'hui tant de railles et de cuisiniers, qu'il n'y a plus de fiat du tout. VIDOCQ. Ficard, m. (thieves' and cads'), police officer, "crusher," "pig," "copper," " reeler," or "bulky." See Pot-a-tabac. Ficeler (familiar and popular), to do ; to dress. Bien ficele, carefully done; well dressed. Voila maman Vauquer belle comme un astre, ficelee comme une carotte. BALZAC, Le Pere Goriot. Ficelle, f. (familiar and popular), dodge. Etre , to be tricky, a "dodger." Cadet Roussel a trois gargons : L'un est voleur, 1'autre est fripon ; Le troisieme est un peu ficelle. Cadet Roussel (an old song). (Thieves' and police) Ficelle, chain or strap. (Police) Pousser de la , to watch a thief ; to give him a "roasting." (Sporting) Un cheval , a horse of very slender build. Ficellier, m. (popular), a tricky person -who lives by his wits, " an artful dodger." Fichaise, /. (general), a worthless thing, "not worth a curse." Fichant, adj. (popular), annoying; tiresome ; disappointing. Fichard, m. (popular), va t'en au ! go to the deuce ! Fiche (familiar), va te faire ! go to the deuce! Expressive also of disappointment. Jecroyais reussir. mais va te faire fiche ! / thought I should succeed, but no such thing. Du pain de son ! des sous de cuivre ! C'est pour nous vivre, Mais va-t'-fair" fiche ! On nous prend pour des merlifiches. RICHEPIN. Je t'en ! nonsense ! nothing of the kind ! II croit reussir je t'en ! Vous croyez qu'il a tenu sa promesse ? Je t'en ! Fiche- moi le camp et plus vite que ?a, be off in double quick time, "sling your hook." Ficher (thieves'), to yawn ; la colle, to tell plausible falsehoods; la colle gourd em en t, to be an art- ful beggar; (popular) la misere par quartiers, to live in poverty ; la paresse, to be idle. Je fiche la paresse, je me dorlote. ZOLA. Se un coup de tampon, to fight. Se de la fiole, or de la bobine de quelqu'un, to laugh at one ; to seek to make a fool of him. (Mili- tary) Se un coup de latte, to fight a duel with cavalry swords. Fichtrement (general), very ; aw- fully. Fichu, adj. (general), put ; given. II 1'a a, la porte, he turned him out of doors ; he has given him the "sack." Fichu comme 1'as de pique, comme un paquet de linge sale, badly dressed ; clumsily built. Fichu, capable. II est de ne pas venir, he is quite capable of not coming at all. Fichumacer (popular), for ficher, to do. Qu'est-ce que tu fichuma- ces ? what are you up to ? Fidibus, m. (familiar), pipe-light ; spill. Loredan Larchey says : Une communication de M. Fey assigne a ce mot une origine allemande. Dans les universites de ce pays, les admonestations officielles commencent par les mots : fidibvt (pour fidelibus) discipulis universitatis, &c. Les delinquants qui allument par for- fanterie leurs pipes avec le papier de 1'ad- monestation, lui ont donne pour nom le premier mot de sa premiere ligne. Diet. Hist, d 'Argot. Fierot, m. (popular), stuck-up, "uppish." Fievre Filen dccJie. Fievre, f, (thieves'), acces de cerebrale, accusation on the capital charge ; sentence of death. Re- doublement de , aggravating circumstances or new charge made against a prisoner who is already on his trial. La Cigogne a la digestion difficile, sur- tout en fait de redoublement de fievre (re- velation d'un nouveau fait a charge. BALZAC. Fiferlin, m. (popular), soldier, " swaddy," or " wobbler. " From nfre,/>. Fifi, m. and f. popular), un , a scavenger employed at emptying cesspools, a ' ' gold finder ; " scaven- ger's cask in which the contents of cesspools are carried away. Une , a thin, skinny girl. Les plantureuses et les fifis, les grands carcans et les bassets . . . les rosieres comme aussi les enragees qu'ont donne des arrhes a son promis. TRUBLOT, Le Cri du Pen- pie, Sept., 1886. Fifi-lolo, m. (popular), one who plays the fool. Fifloche, ;;/. (popular), one mare skilful than the rest, who leads the quadrille at a dancing hall. . Fiflot, m. (military), infantry sol- dier, "beetle-crusher," "grabby." Figariste, m. (familiar). Properly a contributor to the Figaro nevus- paper, and figuratively term of contempt applied to unscrupulous journalists. Fignard, m., figne, / (popular), the breech, or "one-eyed cheek." See Vasistas. Fignolade,/ (theatrical), prolonged trilling. Fignole,/ adj. (thieves'), pretty, " dimber." Alors aboula du sabri, Moure au brisant comme un cabri, Une fignole gosseline. RICHEPIN. Figuration,/ (theatrical), staff of supernumeraries, or "sups." Figure, f. (popular), the breech, see Vasistas ; sheep's head. Ma, myself, "No. I." Figurer (thieves'), to be in irons. Fil, m. (thieves'), de sole, thief, "prig." SeeGrinche. (Popu- lar) Avoir le , or connaitre le , to know what one is about, " to be up to a dodge or two." N'avoir pas invente le a couper le beurre is said of one who is not particidarly bright, who is "no conjurer." N'avoir plus de sur la bobine, to be bald, or " stag- faced." Prendre un , to have a dram of spirits, a drop of " something damp," or a "drain." Un verre de ,aglass of brandy. Une langue qui a le , a sharp tongue. Filage, m. (card-sharpers'), hand- ling cards in such a manner that trumps will turn up ; juggling away a card as in the three-card trick, " slipping ; " (thieves') tracking one, Filasse, f. (popular), mattress, bed, "doss;" a piece of roast beef. Se fourrer dans la , to go to bed, to get into the " kip." Filature, f. (thieves'), jollcnving stealthily a person. Faire la , or lacher de la a quelqu'un, to follow a person stealthily, to track one, "to nose." Prendre en un voleur, to follow and watch a thief. (Familiar) Filature de poivrots, spirit-shop patronized by icrfi-i med drunkards. Filendeche, m. (thieves'), one of the vagabond tribe. Lorsque j'occupais mon poste de com- rnissaire de police dans ce dangereux quar- tier, les habitants sans patente des carrieres d'Amerique formaient quatre categories dis- '52 Fil-en-double Fille. tlnctes : les Hirondelles, les Romanichels, les Filendeches et les Enfants de la loupe. Memoires de Monsieur Claude. Fil-en-double, m. (popular), wine. Fil-en-trois, fil-en-quatre, fil- en-six, m. (popular), spirits, Allons . . . un petit verre de fil en quatre, histoire de se velouter et de se rebomber le torse. TH. GAUTIER. Filer (thieves'), to steal. See Grin- chir. Filer la comete, or la sorgue, to sleep in the open air ; le luctreme, to open a door by means of a picklock, " to screw ; " une pelure, to steal a coat ; un sinve, to dog a man, ' ' to nose ; " une condition, to watch a house and get acquainted with the ins and outs in view of a burglary. La condition etait filee d'avance. Le rigolo eut bientot casse tout ! Du gai plaisir, its avaient 1'esperance, Quand on est pegre on peut passer partout. From a song composed by Cle- ment, a burglar (quoted by Pierre Delcourt, Paris Voleur, 1886). This poet of the " family men " was indiscreet enough, some days after the burglary described, to sing his production at a wine-shop frequented by thieves, and, unfor- tunately, by detectives also, with the result that he was sent over the water and given leisure time to commune with the Muses. (Sailors' and popular) Filer son nceud, or son cable, to go away ; to run away, "to cut the cable and run before the wind." See Patatrot. Filer un nceud, tospina yarn. File ton nceud, go on with your story or your discourse, ' ' pay away. " With regard to the latter expression the blang Dictionary says : Pay-away . . . from the nautical plirase pay-away, meaning to allow a rope to run out of a vessel. When the hearer considers the story quite long enough, he, carrying out the same metaphor, exclaims, "hold on !" (General) Filer quelqu'un, to fol- low one stealthily so as to watch his movements ; (popular) la mousse, to ease oneself. See Mouscailler. Filer le Plato, to love in aplalonic manner ; une poussee, to hustle, " to ramp ; " des coups de tronche, to butt at one's adversary with the head ; une ratisse, to thrash, "to tan." See Voie. (Theatrical) Filer une scene, to skilfully bring a scene to its climax ; (card -sharpers') la carte, to dexterously substitute a card for another, to ' ' slip " a card. Une fois le saut de coupe fait, le grec a le soin d'y glisser une carte large, point de repere marquant 1'endroit ou il doit faire sauter la coupe au mieux de ses interets. . . 11 file la carte, c'est a dire il change une carte pour une autre. Memoires de Mon- sieur Claude. Filet de vinaigre, m. (theatrical), shrill voice, one that sets the teeth on edge. Fileur, m. (police), man who dogs one, a " nose ; " (card-sharpers') one who dexterously substitutes a card for another, who "slips "a card ; (thieves') confederate of the floueurs and emporteurs (which see), who levies a percentage on the proceeds of a card-sharping swindle; person who follows thiez>es and extorts money from them by threats of disclosures ; detective; (familiar) de Plato, platonic lover. Fillaudier, m. (popular), one who is fond of the fair sex, " mol- rower." Fille, f. (familiar and popular), de maison, or de tourneur, prosti- tute in a brothel ; harlot ; en carte, street-walker whose name is in the police books as a registered prostitute. See Gadoue. Grande , bottle of wine. (Familiar) Fille de marbre, a cold-hearted Fillette Flacons. 153 courtesan; de platre, harlot, "mot." For list of over 140 synonyms see Gadoue. Fillette,/ (popular), half a bottle of wine. Filoche,/ (thieves'), purse, "skin," or '' poge. " Avoir sa a jeun, to be penniless, "hard up." Filou, adj. (popular), wily, "up to a dodge or two." Filsange, /. (thieves'), floss silk. Fin,/ (thieves'), de la soupe, guil- lotine. See Voyante. (Familiar) Faire line , to get married, "spliced," or "hitched" (Ameri- canism). Fine,/, and adj. (popular), excre- ment, or " quaker," abbreviation of" finemoutarde;" (familiar) ab- breviation of "fine champagne," best quality of brandy, (Thieves') Etre en pegrene, to be in great danger ; to be in an " awful fix." La raille (la police) est la. ... Je joue la misloCT} (la comedie) pour un fanandel en fine pegrene (un camarade a toute extre- mite). BALZAC. Finette, / (card-sharpers'), a pocket wherein are secreted certain cards. II a sous son habit, au dos de son pan- talon, une poche dite finette, dans laquelle il place les cartes non biseautees qu'il doit substituerauxsiennes Memoires de Mon- sieur Claude. Fiole, / (familiar), bottle of wine ; (popular) head, or "tibby ;" face, or "mug." J'ai soupe de ta , / have had enough of you; I will have nothing more to do with you. Se ficher de la a quelqu'un, to laugh at one. On y connait ma gargarousse, Ma fiole, mon pif qui retrousse, Mes calots de mec au gratin. RICHEPIN. Pour la a quelqu'un,/0r one. Songez qu' c.a s'ra 1'plus beau jour d'la carriere d'Truiru, toujours sur la breche, qui s'donne tant d'mal pour vos fioles. TRUBLOT, Le Cri du Peuple, 1886. Sur la a quelqu'un, about one, concerning one. II fagaut ne pas degueularder sur leur , -we must say nothing about them. Fioler (familiar and popular), to drink; le rogome, to drink brandy. (Thieves') Fioler, to stare at one. Fioleur, m. (familiar and popular), one who is too fond of the bottle, " a lushington." Fion, coup de . See Coup. (Cads' and thieves') Dire , to apologize, to beg one's pardon, Fionner (familiar and popular), to play the dandy. Fionneur, m. (familiar and popu- lar), one who plays the dandy. Fiquer (thieves'), to strike ; to stab, "to chive." Fiques, /. //. (thieves'), clothes, or " clobber." Fiscal, adj. (familiar), elegant. Fish, m. (familiar), women's bully, or ' 'ponce, " generally called ' ' ma- quereau," mackerel. For list of synonyms see Poisson. Fissure,/ (popular), avoir une , to be slightly crazy, " to be a little bit balmy in one's crumpet." Fiston, m. (popular), term of en- dearment, Mon , my son, sonny. Mon vieux , old fellow. Flac, m, (thieves'), sack ; d'al, money-bag ; bed, or " kip." Flache,/ (popular). See Flanche. Flacons, m. (popular), shoes, " trotter cases." See Ripa- tons. Deboucher ses , to take off one's shoes. 154 Flacul Flancher. Flacul, m. (thieves'), bed, or " kip ; " money-bag. Le vioque a des flaculs pleins de bille ; s'il va a Niort, il faut lui riffauder les pa- turons. VIDOCQ. (The old tnan has bag- fuls of money; if he denies it, we'll bunt his/eet.) Flafla, m. (familiar and popular), great showing off. Faire du , to show off; to flaunt. Flageolet, m. (obsolete), called by Horace cauda salax. Flageolets, m. (popular), legs, "pegs." Termed also " fume- rons, guibes, guibolles." Flambant, m. and adj. (military), artillery man, " son of a gun ; " (familiar and popular) magnifi- cent, "slap up, clipping, nap." Flambard, m. (thieves'), dagger. Formerly termed " cheery;" (fa- miliar and popular) one who has dash ; one -who shows off. Tas d'flambards, tas d'chicards, Les canotiers de la Seine, Sont partout, bien reus, t partout font du chahut. Parisian Song. Flambarde, / (popular), pipe. Termed "dudeen by the Irish ; (thieves') candle, or "glim." Flambe, /. (thieves'), sword, or "poker." Petite , knife, or " chive." From Flamberge, name given by Renaud de Montauban (one of the four sons of Aymon who revolted against Charle- magne, and who have been made, together with their one chaiger Bayard, the heroes of chivalry legends), to his sword, and now used in the expression, Mettre flamberge au vent, to draw. Flamber (mountebanks'), to per- form ; (familiar and popular) to make a show ; to shine. Ils voulaient flamber avec 1'argent vole, ils achetaient des defroques d'hasard. E. SUE. Flambert, m. (thieves'), dagger* Termed "cheery" in the old Eng- lish cant. Flambotter aux rottins (card- sharpers'), kind of swindling game at cards. Flamsick, flamsique, m. (thieves'), Flemish. Flan, m. (thieves'), c'est du , it is excellent. Au , it is true. A la , at random, at "happy go lucky." (Popular) Du I an ejaculation expressive of re- fusal. See Nefles. Flanchard,fiancheur,w. (thieves'), cunning player ; one who hesi- tates, who backs out. Flanche, ;//. (thieves'), game of cards ; theft ; plant. Grande , roulette or trente et un. Un mur, preconcerted robbery or crime for the perpetration of which the time has come. (Popular) Flanche, dodge ; contrivance; affair ; job. II connait le , he knows the dodge. Foutu ! a bad job t C'est ! it is all right. Toujours des injustices ; mais attendons ; c'est point fini c'flanche la. TRUBLOT, Le CriduPeuple, March, 1886. (Thieves' and cads') Je n'entrave pas ton , I don? t understand your game, " I do not twig," or, as the Americans say, " I don't catch on." Nib du , on t'exhibe ! stop your game, they are looking at you ! Si tu es enfile et si le curieux veut t'entamer, n'entrave pas et nib de tous les flanches, if you are caught and the magistrate tries to pump you, do not fall into the snare, and keep all the "jobs" dark. Flancher (thieves'), to play cards ; (popular) to laugh at; to back out ; to hesitate ; to dilly-dally, "to make danger" (sixteenth century). Flanchet Flhne. Flanchet, m. (thieves'), share; participation in a theft. Fouta , bad job. C'est un foutu flanchet. Douze longes de tirade, Pour une rigolade. VIDOCQ. Flancheur, in. (thieves'), an in- former, a " nark ; " one who backs out ; a player ; (popular) de gadin, one who takes part in a game played with a cork, topped by a pile of halfpence, which the players try to knock off by aiming at it with a penny. (Popular and thieves') Enfonceur de de gadin, poor wretch who makes a scanty living by robbing of their half- pence the players at the game de- scribed above. He places his foot on the scattered coins, and works it about in such a manner that they find a receptacle in the in- terstices of his tattered soles. Flane,/". (popular), laziness. Flanelle, /. (prostitutes'), one -who does not pay. (General) Faire , to visit a house of ill-fame with platonic intentions. Flanocher (popular), to be lazy ; to saunter lazily about, " to shool." Flanquage, m. (popular), a la porte, dismissal, " the sack." Flanque. See Flanche. Flanquer une tatouille (general), to thrash, "to wallop." See Voie. Flaquadin, m. (popular), poltroon, or " cow's babe." Flaque, /. (cads' and thieves'), lady's reticule ; lump of excre- ment, or "quakev." Flaquer (popular), to tell a false- hood ; to ease oneself, " to bury a quaker." See Mouscailler. Via vot' fille que j* vous ramene, Elle est dans un chouet' etat, Depuis la barriers du Maine Elle n'a fait qu'flaquer dans ses has. Parisian Song: Flaquet, m. (thieves'),/^. Avoir de la dalle au , to have well- filled pockets. Flaquot, m. (thieves'), cash-box, or " peter." Flasquer (thieves'), to ease oneself. See Mouscailler. Flasquer du poivre a quelqu'un, to avoid one ; to fly from one. J'ai flasque du poivre a la rousse, I fled from the police. Flatar, m. (thieves'), four-wheeler, or " growler." Flaupee, flopee,/ (popular), mass, of anything ; crowd. Une de,. much, or "neddy." Flauper (popular), to thrash, "to- wallop." See Voie. Fleche, rottin, or pelot, m. (thieves' and cads'), Jive-centime coin, or sou. Flemard, m. (general), lazy er "Mondayish" individual; pol- troon, or " cow's babe." Fleme, or flemme (general), /ear ; laziness. Loredan Larchey says : " Flemme est une forme ancienne de notre flegme. Ce n'est pas douteux quand on voit dire en Berriy&w^ pour manque d'energie ;. en Normandie et en Suisseyf^w^; en provencal et en italien, flemma. Sans compter le Tresor de Bru- netto Latini qui dit des le xiii e siecle : ' Flemme est froide et moiste?" Avoir la , to be afraid. Ca fiche joliment la fleme de penser qu'il faut remonler la-haut . . . et jouer ! E. MONTEIL. Avoir la , to be disinclined for work. Aujourd'hui, c'est pas qu'j'ai la flemme. Je jure mes grands dicux non qu'j'ai point I 5 6 Fleur Flouant. c'maudit poll dans la main qu'on m'accuse d'temps en temps d'avoir. TRUBLOT, L,e Cridu Peuple, Sept., 1886. Battre sa , to be idling, or "shooling." Fleur, f. (popular), de macadam, street-walker. See Gadoue. Fleur de mai, de mari, virginity. (Card- sharpers') Verre en fleurs, a swindling dodge at cards. See Verre. Le coup de cartes par lequel ces messieurs se concilient la fortune, est ce qu'on appelle le verre en fleurs. VIDOCQ. Fleurant, m. (thieves'), nostgay ; (popular) the behind. See Va- sistas. Flibocheuse, f. (popular), fast or "gay " girl, " shoful pullet." Flic-flac, or fric-frac (thieves'), faire le , to pick a lock, "to screw," " to strike a jigger." Fligadier, m. (thieves'), sou. Flingot, m. (general), butcher's steel ; musket. Termed formerly 4 ' baston a feu. " Flingue,/. (nautical), musket. Flippe,^ (popular), bad company. Fliquadard, m. (popular), police officer, " bobby," or " blue- bottle." Concerning the latter expression the Slang Dictionary says : " This well-known slang term for a London constable is used by Shakespeare. In Part II. of King Henry IV., act v., scene 4, Doll Tearsheet calls the beadle who is dragging her in, a 'thin man in a censer, a blue- bottle rogue.' This may at first seem singular, but the reason is obvious. The beadles of Bride- well, whose duty it was to whip the women prisoners, were clad in blue." For synonyms of fliqua- dard see Pot-a-tabac. Flique, m. (popular), commis- saire de police, or petty police magistrate; police officer, or "bobby." For synonyms see Pot-a-tabac. Flop6e. See Flaupee. Floquot, m. (thieves'), -drawer. Flottant, m. (thieves'),y?.r-; (popu- lar) ball patronized by women's bullies. Literally a company of " poissons," or bullies. Flottard, m. (students'), student preparing for the naval school. Flotte, /. (students'), monthly al- lowance. A boy's weekly allow- ance is termed "allow " at Harrow School. (Popular) Etre de la , to be one of a company. Des flottes, many; much, " neddy." (Thieves') La , a gang of swin~ dlersand murderers which existed towards 1825. La Flotte etait composee de membres fa- meux . . . ces membres de la haute pegre travaillaient par bandes separees : Tava- coli 1'Italien etait un tireur de premiere force (voleurdepoche). . . . Cancan, Requin et Pisse-Vinaigre etaient des assassins, des surineurs d'elite. . . . Lacenaire frequen- tait la Flotte sans jamais dire son veritable nom qu'il gardait, en public. Memoiresde Monsieur Claude. Vendre la , to inform against accomplices, " to turn snitch." Fiotter (popular), to bathe. Termed at the R. M. Academy " to tosh ;" to swim. (Popular and thieves') Faire , to drown. Nous 1'avons fait flotter apres lui avoir grinchi la negresse qu'elle portait sous le bras. E. SUE. Flotteur, m. (popular), swimmer. Flou (thieves'), abbreviation of floutiere, nothing. J'ai fait le , I found nothing to steal. Flouant, m. (thieves'), game (flouer, to swindle). Grand , high play. Flouchipe Foetus. 157 Flouchipe, m. (popular), sivind/er, or "shark." From flouer and chiper, to swindle and to prig. Floue,/ (thieves'), crowd, "push or scuff." The anagram of foule, crowd, or else from flouer, to swindle, through an association of ideas. Floue, adj. (general), swindled, taken in, "sold," "done brown." Alors, en deux mots, il leur raconte la scene, le trrate brule, 1'affaire flambee . . . Ah ! la drogue . . . je suis flouee . . . dit Sephora. A. DAUDET. Flouer,/; (general), to cheat, "to do," " to bilk ;" (thieves') to play cards, playing being, with thieves, synonymous of cheating. S'il y avait des bemes on pourrait flouer. VIDOCQ. Flouerie, f. (general), swindle, "take in," or "bilk." La flouerie est au vol ce que la course est a la marche : c'est le progres, le per- fectionnement scientifique. PHILIPON. Floueur, m. (thieves'), card-sharper who entices country folks or stran- gers into a cafe where, aided by confederates, he robs them at a swindling game of cards. Floume, / (thieves'), u>oman t " muslin," or " hay bag." Floutiere (thieves'), nothing. C'est qu'un de ces luisans, un marcan- dier alia demander la thune a un pipet et le rupin ne luificha que floutiere. Le Jargon de I' A rgot. (One day a mendicant went to ask for alms at a mansion, and the master gave him nothing.) Flu (Breton), thrashing. Flubart, m. (thieves'), fear, "funk." N 'avoir pas le , to be fearless. Flume, adj. and m. (popular), e"tre , to be phlegmatic ; slow. Flute, f. (familiar and popular), bottle of wine ; glass of beer ; syringe. Flute ! go to the deuce! Ah ! flute ! Ah ! tu vois bien que je t'embete ! Pourquoi? Tu m'as dit "flute !" Oui, flute ! zut ! tout ce que tu voudras ; mais fiche-moi la paix. E. MONTEIL, Cornebois. Joueur de , hospital assistant. An allusion to his functions con- cerning the administering of clys- ters. (Military) Flute, cannon. Termed also "brutal, sifflet." Flutencul, m. (popular), an apothe- cary, or "clyster pipe." Spelt formerly flutencu. The Diction- naire Comique has the follow- ing : Peste soit du courteau de boutique et du flutencu. Pieces C antiques. Fluter (familiar and popular), to drink. See Rincer. Fluter, to give a clyster. The Dictionnaire Comique (1635) has the phrase, Se faire au derriere, " fafon de parler burlesque, pour dire, se faire donner un lavement." En- voyer , to send to the detice. C'est comme si vous flutiez, it is no use talking. Flutes, /. pi. (popular), legs, or "pegs." Termed also flutes a cafe. Fort des flutes et de la pince, II etait respecte, Navet. RICHEPIN. Astiquer ses , to dance, " to shake a leg." Jouer des , to run, " to cut." Se tirer les , to run away, " to hop the twig." See Patatrot. Flutiste, m. (popular), hospital attendant. Flux, m. (popular), avoir le , to be afraid. Literally to be suffer- ing from diarrhoea. Fluxion, f. (popular), avoir une , to be afraid, " to be funky." Fffitus. m., first year student at the military school of surgery. I 5 8 Fogner Foret-noire. -Fogner (popular), to ease oneself, to go to the " crapping ken." See Mouscailler. Foie, m. (popular), avoir du , to be courageous, plucky, to have " hackle." Avoir les foies blancs, to be a coward, a ' ' cow's babe. " Foin, m. (popular), faire du , to make a noise, " to kick up a row ; " to bustle about ; to dance. Foire, f. (popular and thieves'), acheter a la d'empoigne, to steal, "to claim." See Grinchir. Foire, fair, and empoigner, to seize, Foiron, m. (popular), behind. From foire, diarrhoea. See Vasistas. Fonce, adj. (popular), well off, "well ballasted." See Mona- cos. Foncer (familiar and popular), a 1'appointement, to furnish funds (DictionnaireComique). (Thieves') Foncer, to give, " to dub." Et si tezig tient a sa boule, Fence ta largue et qu'elle aboule, Sans limace nous cambrouser. RICHEPIN. Villon (fifteenth century) uses the word with the signification of to give money : ~M.. Servons marchans pour la pitance, four/ructus ventris, pour la pance. B. On y gaigneroit ses despens. M. Etdefoncer? B. Bonne asseurance, Petite foy, large conscience ; Tu n'y scez riens et y aprens. Dialogue de Messieurs de Malefaye et de Baillevent. (Popular) Se , tobegettingdrunk, or "muddled." See Sculpter. Fond (popular), d'estomac, thick soup. (General) Etre a de cale, to be penniless, "hard up." Lite- rally to be down in the hold. Fondant, ;//. (popular and thieves'), butter, or " cow's grease." Fondante,/. (popular and thieves'), slice of bread and butter. Fondre (popular), to grow thin ; la cloche, to settle some piece of business. (Theatrical) Faire la trappe, to lower a trap door. Fondriere, / (thieves'), pocket, " cly," "sky-rocket," or "brigh." Termed also "profonde, fouil- louse, fouille, four banal, bague- naude. " Fonfe, /. (thieves'), snuff-box, or " sneezer." Fontaine, f. (popular), n'avoir plus de cresson sur la , to be bald ; to have "a bladder of lard." Fonts de baptSme, m, (popular), se mettre sur les , to be involved in business from which one would like to back out. Forage, m. (thieves'), vol au , robbery from a shop. A piece of the shutter being cut out, a rod with hook affixed is passed through the aperture, and the property ab- stracted. Foresque, m. (thieves'), tradesman at a fair. Foret, m. (popular), epointer son , to die, " to kick the bucket." Foret, properly drill, borer. With respect to the English slang ex- pression, the Slang Dictionary says the real signification of this phrase is to commit suicide by hanging, from a method planned and carried out by an ostler at an inn on the Great North Road. Standing on a bucket, he tied himself up to a beam in the stable ; he then kicked the bucket away from under his feet, and in a few seconds was dead. The natives of the West Indies have converted the expression into " kickeraboo." (Thieves') Foret de Mont-rubin, sewer. Foret-noire,/ ( thieves'), a church, a temple. Termed also " en- tonne, rampante." Forfan te Foniller. 159 Forfante, f. (thieves'), bragging, big talk. An abbreviation of for- fanterie. Forgerie, /. (popular), falsehood, or " cram." Fort, adj. (popular), en mie, fat, "crummy;" (familiar) en theme, clever student. The ex- pression is sometimes applied ironically to a man who is clever at nothing else than book-work. C'est de cafe, it is hard to believe, it is "coming it too strong." C'est un pauvre manchot qui s'est ap- proche' de la vierge. . . . Et elle a eternue ? Non, c'cst le bras du manchot qui apousse elle est fort de cafe, celle-la ! E. MON- TEIL. Fortanche, f. (thieves'), fortune. Fortifes, / //. (popular), fortifica- tions round Paris. A favourite resort for workmen who go for an outing, and a place which vagabonds patronize at night. I' couch" que'qu'fois dans les fortifes ; Mais on s'enrhum' du cerveau. J.'lend'main, on fait 1'chat qui r'niffe, Et 1'blair coul'comme un nez d'veau. RICHEPIN. Fortification,/, (popular), cushion of a billiard table. Etre protege par les fortifications, to have ones ball under the cushion. Fortin, m. (thieves'), pepper. From fort, strong. Fortiniere, /. (thieves'), pepper- box. Fosse aux lions,/ (familiar), box at the opera occupied by men of fashion. Fossile, m. (literary), a disrespectful epithet for the learned members of the Academie franfaise. Fou, adj. (popular and thieves'), abbreviation of foutu, lost, done for, Fouailler (familiar and popular), to miss one's effect ; to be lacking in energy ; to back out ; to fail in business, ' ' to go to smash. " Fouailleur, m. (popular), milksop, a " sappy " fellow ; a libertine, or " rip." Fouataison, /. (thieves'), stick ; lingree, sword-stick ; mastaree, loaded stick. Foucade, f. (popular), sudden thought or action ; whim, or "fad." Travailler par foucades, to work by Jits and starts. Fouchtra (familiar), native of Auvcrgne, generally a coal retailer or water carrier. From their favourite oath. Fouette-cul, m. (popular), school- til aster, or "bum brusher." Fouetter (popular), to emit a bad smell ; de la carafe, to have an offensive breath. Tout cela se fond dans une buee de pes- tilence . . . et, commeonditdanscemonde- la, a remue, ga danse, ga fouette, ca trouillotte, ga chelipotte, en un mot ga pue ferme. RICHEPIN, Le Pavt. Fouetteux de chats, m. (popular), a poor simpleton -with no heart for work, "a sap or sapscull. " Foufiere, /. (thieves'), -watch, "tatler, toy, or thimble." Fouille, /. (popular and thieves'), pocket, " sky-rocket, cly." Fouille-au-tas, m. (popular), rag- picker, or "tot finder." Fouille-merde, m. (popular), sca- venger employed in emptying cesspools, "gold finder;" also a very inquisitive man. Fouiller (familiar and popular), pouvoir se , to be compelled to do without ; to be certain of not getting. Also expressive of ironi- cal refusal. Si vous croyez qu'il Fouilles Fourchette. va vous preter cette somme, vous pouvez vous , if you reckon on his lending you that sum, you -will have to do vvithout it. Tu peux te , you shall not have it ; you be hanged! Madame, daignerez-vpus accepter mon bras ? Tu peux te fouiller, calicot ! P. MAHALIN. Fouilles, f. pi. (popular), des ! is expressive of refusal ; may be rendered by the American "yes, in a horn." For synonyms see Nefles. Fouillouse, /. (thieves'), pocket, or "cly." The word is old. Rabe- lais has "Plus d'aubert n'estoit en fouillouse. " Fouinard, m. (popular), cunning, sly man ; a tricky ' ' dodger ; " coward, or "cow's babe." Termed in old French tapineux. Fouiner (popular), to play the spy, or Paul Pry ; to eccape, ' ' to mizzle." Foulage, m. (popular), a great deal of "work, much ' ' graft or elbow grease. " Foulard rouge, m. (popular), woman's bully, " pensioner." For synonymous expressions see Pois- son. Fouler (familiar), se la , to work hard. Ne pas se le poignet, to take it easy. Du tonnerre si Ton me repince a 1'en- clume ! voila cinq jours que je me la foule, je puis bien le balancer . . . s'il me fiche un abatage, je 1'envoie a Chaillot. ZOLA, L' Assommoir. Foultitude, f. (popular), many, much, " neddy " (Irish). Four, m. ( familiar), failure. Faire . to be unsuccessful. Un complet, a dead failure. (Thea- trical) Four, the upper part of the house in a theatre. An allusion to the heated atmosphere, like that of an oven ; (popular) throat, or " gutter lane." Chauf- fer le , to eat or drink. (Thieves') Un banal, an omnibus, or "chariot ; " a pocket, or "cly." Fourailler (thieves'), to sell ; to barter, " to fence." Fouraillis, m. (thieves'), house of a receiver of stolen property, of a "fence." Fourbi, m. (thieves'), the proceeds of stolen property (popular and mili- tary) more or less unlawful profits on provisions and stores, or other goods ; dodge ; routine of the de- tails of some trade or profession. Puis il faisait sa tournee, . . . retablissait d'un coup de poing ou d'une secousse la symetrie d'un pied de lit, en vieux soldat sorti des rangs et qui connait le fourbi du metier. G. COURTELINE. Connaltre le , to be -wide-awake, "to know what's o'clock." Du , goods and chattels, or " traps," termed "swag" in Australia; furniture, movables, or " marbles." Voila ce que c'est d'avoir tant de fourbi, dit un ouvrier . . . lui aussi, il a demenage . . . emportant toute sa smala dans une charrette a bras. RICHEPIN, Le Pave. (Popular) Fourbi, occupation. A ce la on ne s'enrichit pas, one does not get rich at that occupation, at that game. Fourcandiere,/ (thieves'), epouser la , to get rid of stolen property by casting it away when pursued. Fourche a faner, /. (thieves'), horseman. Fourchette,/. (military), bayonet. Travailler a la , to fight with cold steel. (Popular) Marquer a la , is said of a tradesman who draws up an incorrect account, to his own advantage, of course. (Thieves') Vol a la , dexterous way of picking a pocket with two fingers only. Fonrckettes Fourobe. 161 Fourchettes,/ //. (popular), fin- gers, "dooks;" legs, "pins;" d'Adam, fingers. Jouer des , to run away, " to hop the twig." See Patatrot. Fourchu, m. (thieves'), ox, or "mooer." Fourgat, orfourgasse,w. (thieves'), receiver of stolen goods, or "fence." Le pere Vestiaire etait ce qu'on appelle dans 1'argot des voleurs un fourgat (rece- \vm).Mmoires de Monsieur Claude. Fourgatte, / (thieves'), female re- ceiver of stolen goods , "fence." Viens avec moi chez ma fourgatte, je suis sur qu'elle nous pretera quatre ou cinq tunes de cinq balks (pieces de cinq francs). VIDOCQ. Fourgature, f. (thieves'), stock of stokn property for sale. Fourgonnier, m. (thieves'), canteen man at the transport settlement. Fourgue, m. See Fourgat. Fourguer (thieves'), to sell, or "to do ; " to seller buy stolen property, " to fence." Elle ne fourgue que de la blanquette, des bogues et des broquilles (elle n'achete que de 1'argenterie, des montres et des bi- joux). VIDQCQ. Fourgueroles, f. pi. (thieves'), stolen property, "swag." Laver les , or la camelotte, to sell stolen property. Fourgueur, m. (thieves' and cads'), seller, hawker ; de flanches, man who goes about offering for sale prohibited articles, such as certain indecent cards called "cartes transparent es," or con- traband lucifer matches, the right of manufacture and sale of which is a monopoly granted by govern- ment to a single company. Fourline, fourlineur, m. (thieves*) t thief, "prig." For synonyms see Grinche. Fourliner (thieves'), to steal, "to nick;" to pick pockets, "to buz a cly." Fourlineur, m. (thieves'), pick- pocket, or "buz-faker." Fourloure, m. (thieves'), sick man. Fourlourer (thieves'), to murder. See Refroidir. Fourloureur, m. (thieves'), mur- derer. Fourmillante,/. (thieves'), crowd, "push, "or "scuff." Fourmiller (thieves'), to move about in a crowd for the purpose of pick- ing pockets. Termed by English thieves " cross-fanning." Fourmillon, m. (thieves'), market; a gayets, horse fair ; au beurre, Stock Exchange. Literally money market. Fourneau, m. (popular), fool, or "duffer ;" vagabond who sleeps in the open air ; term of contempt. Va done eh ! ! go along, you "bally fool." J'lui dis : de t'voir j'suis aise, Mais les feux d'l'amour ; nisco. Quoi, m'dit-ell' : t'as mem' plus d'braise ! Va done, vieux fourneau ! Music-hall Song. Fournier, m. (popular), -waiter whose functions are to pour out coffee for the customers. Fournil, m. (popular and thieves'), bed, " doss," or " bug walk." Fournion, m. (popular), insect. Fournir Martin (popular), to wear furs. Martin is the French equi- valent for Bruin. Fourobe, /. (thieves'), overhauling of convict's clothes, " ruling over." Fourob6 (thieves'), one who has been searched, or " turned over." M 1 62 Fon rober Fou tre. Fourober (thieves'), to search on one's person, "to frisk," or "to rule over." Fourquer. See Fourguer. Fourreau, m. (familiar), lady's dress which fits tightly and shows the figure; (popular and thieves') trousers, " hams, sit-upons, or kicks." Je me suis carme d'unbate , / have bought for myself a fine 5air of trousers. Fourree, adj. (thieves'), piece , coin which has been gouged out. Fourrer (familiar and popular), se le doigt dans 1'ceil, to be mis- taken ; to labour under a delusion. A la fin c'est vexant, car je vois clair, ils ont 1'air de me croire mal elevee ... ah ! bien ! mon petit, en voila qui se fourrent le doigt dans 1'ceil. ZOLA, Nana. Se le doigt dans 1'ceil jusqu'au coude, superlative of above. S'en dans le gilet, to drink heavily, "to swill." Fourrierde la loupe, m. (popular), lazy fellow, or "bummer;" loafer ; roysterer, " merry pin." Fourrures, f. pi. (familiar), see Pays ; (fishermens') plug used for stopping up holes in a boat. Foutaise, f. (popular), worthless thing, or " not worth a curse ; " nonsense, or "fiddle faddle;" humbug. Tout $a c'est d'la , that's all nonsense, "rot." Fouterie, j. (popular), nonsense, "rot." C'est de la de peau, that's sheer nonsense. Foutimacer, foutimasser (popu- lar), to do worthless work ; to talk nonsense. Foutimacier, foutimaciere (po- pular), unskilled workman or workwoman ; silly person, or "duffer." Foutimasseur. See Foutima- cier. Foutoir (familiar and popular), house of ill-fame, "academy ;" dis- reputable house ; ambulant, cab. Foutre (general), a coarse expres- sion which has many significations, to give ; to do ; to have connection with a woman, &*c. ; du tabac, to thrash. See Voie. Foutre dedans, to impose upon ; to im- prison. Et qu'a la fin, le chef voulait m'fout' de- dans, en disant que je commencais a 1'em- beter. G. COURTELINE. Foutre le camp, to be off ; to de- camp, "to hook it." Chargez-vous c,a sur les epaules et foutez le camp, qu'on ne vous voie plus. G. COURTELINE. Foutre, to put ; to send. Pa'c'que j'aime le vin, Norn d'un chien ! Va-t-on pas m'fout' au bagne. RICHEPIN. Foutre la paix, to leave one alone. Vous refusez formellement, c'est bien en- tendu? Formellement ! Foutez-nous la paix. G. COURTELINE. Foutre un coup de pied dans les jambes, to borroiv money, " to break shins ; " une pile, to thrash, " to wallop." See Voie. Foutre la misere, to live in poverty. II ajoutait . . . que, sacredie ! la gamine etait, aussi, trop jolie pour foutre la misere a son age. ZOLA, L' Assommoir. En son billet, to assure one of the certainty of a fact. Je t'en fous mon billet or mon petit tur- lututu, / give you my word 'tis a fact, " my Davy " on it. Ne pas un radis, not to give a penny. N' en pas un clou, un coup, or une secousse, to be superlatively idle. Ces bougres la sont epatants, ils n'en foutraient pas une secousse si on avait le mal- heur de les laisser faire. G. COURTELINE. Foutre Fracasst. 163 Se de quelque chose, not to care a straw, " a hang," for. Se de quelqu'un, not to care a straw for one ; to laugh at one ; to make game of one. Hein? Bosc n'est pas la ? Est-ce qu'il se fout de moi, a la fin ! ZOLA, Nana. Se du peuple, du public, to dis- regard, to set at defiance people's opinion ; to make game of people. be par terre, to fall. Se mal, to dress badly. Se une partie de billard sur le torse, to play bil- liards, or "spoof." Se un coup de tampon, to fight. S'en comme de Colin Tampon, not to care a straw. Se une bosse, to do anything, or indulge in any- thing to excess. (Military) Foutre au clou, to imprison, "to roost." Comme $a on nous fout au clou ? C'est probable, dit le brigadier. G. COURTE- LINE. Foutre ! an ejaculation of anger, astonishment, or used as an ex- pletive. Ah ! ca, foutre ! parlerez-vous ? Etes- vous une brute, oui ou non ? G. COURTE- UNE. Foutreau, m. (popular), row, or " shindy ; "fight. Oh ! il va y avoir du foutreau, le com- mandant s'est frotte les mains. BALZAC. Foutriquet, m. (familiar and popu- lar), expressive of contempt : di- minutive man ; despicable adver- sary. The appellation was applied as a nickname to M. Thiers by the insurgents of 1871. Foutro, m. (military), agame played in military hospitals. A hand- kerchief twisted into hard knots, and termed M. Lefoutro, is laid on a table, and taken up now and then to be used as an instrument of punishment ; any offence against M. Lefoutro being at once dealt with by an application of his re- presentative to the outstretched palm of the culprit. Halte au jeu ! par 1'ordre du roi, je de- consigne M. Lefoutro. . . . Votre main, coupable. L'interpelle tendit la main dans laquelle Lagrappe lanca a tour de bras trois enormes coups de foutro, accompagnes de ces paroles sacramentelles : faute faite, faute a payer, rien a reclamer, reclamez- vpus? . . . Oui, monsieur, je reclame. Eh bien, . . . c'est parceque vous avez leve" les yeux. . . . Cfetait une impolitesse a 1'egard de M. Lefoutro, et M. Lefoutro ne veut pas que vous lui manquiez de respect. G. COURTELINE, Les Gaictfs de I'Esca- dron. Foutu, adj. (general), put ; made; bad; wretched; unpleasant; ruined; lost, &c. La police ! dit-elle toute blanche. Ah ! nom d'un chien ! pas de chance ! . . . nous sommes foutues ! ZOLA, Nana, Foutu, given. Qu'est-ce qui m'a foutu un brigadier comme ca ! Vous n'avez pas de honte . . . de laisser votre peloton dans un etat pareiL G. COURTELINE. II s'est &. rire, he began to laugh. On lui a son paquet, he got reprimanded; dismissed from his employment, or ' ' got the sack." Un homme mal or comme quatre sous, a badly dressed or clumsily built man. Un tra- vail mal , clumsy work. C'est un homme , he is a ruined man, " on his beam ends." II est , it isallup with him, " done for." Un cheval, a sorry nag, a "screw." Un temps, wretched weather. Une foutue affaire, a wretched business. Une foutue canaille, a scamp. (Thieves') C'est un flanchet, it is a bad job, an un- lucky event. Fouyou (theatrical), urchin; (fa- miliar) ! you cad! you "snide bally bounder." Fracasse, adj. (thieves'), dressed in a coat. From un frac, a frock- coat, dress coat. I6 4 Fracasser Franguettier. Fracasser (popular), quelqu'un, to abuse one, "to slang one ; " to ill- use one, " to man-handle." Lite- rally to smash. Fraction, f. (thieves'), burglary, or ' ' busting. " J'ai pris du poignon tant que j'ai pu, c'est vrai ! Jamais je n'ai coinmis de frac- tion ! Memoires de Monsieur Claude. Fracturer (popular), se la , to run away, "to hop the twig." See Patatrot. Fraiche,y; (thieves'), cellar. Frais, adj. and m. (familiar and popular), ironical, good ; fine. Vous voila , here you are in a sorry plight, in a fix, in a "hole. C'est la 1'ouvrage? il est ! Is that the work ? a fine piece of work ! Arreter les , to stop doing a thing. From an ex- pression used at billiard rooms, to stop the expenses for the use of the table. Mettre quelqu'un au , to imprison. Literally to put in a cool place. Fralin, m., fraline, f. (thieves'), brother ; sister; chum, "Ben cull." Franc, adj. and m. (thieves'), ac- complice, or " stallsman ; " low; frequented by thieves ; faithful. C'est Jean-Louis, un bon enfant; sois tranquille, il est franc. VIDOCQ. Un de maison, receiver of stolen property, or "fence;" landlord of a thieves' lodging-house, or "flash ken." Un mijou, or mitou, a vagabond suffering, or pretending to suffer, from some ail- ment, and who makes capital of such ailment. Messiere , bour- geois or citizen. En faisant nos gambades, Un grand messiere franc Voulant faire parade Serre un bogue d'orient. VIDOCQ. (Military) C'est , well and good; that's all right. Franc -carreau, m. (prisoners'), punishment which consists in being compelled to sleep on the bare floor of the cell. Francfiler (familiar and popular), was said of those who left Paris during the war, and sought a place of safety in foreign countries. II n'avait pas voulu francfiler pendant le siege. E. MONTEIL, Cornebois. Franc-fileur, m. (familiar), oppro- brious epithet applied to those who left France during the war. Franchir (thieves'), to kiss. Francillon, m., francillonne, /. (thieves'), Frenchman ; French- woman ; friendly. Le barbaudier de castu est-il francillon ? Is the hospital director friendly ? Franc-mitou, m. (thieves'). See Franc. Franco (cads' and thieves'), c'est , it is all right ; all safe. Gaf- fine lago, c'est , y a pas de trepe, look there, it is all safe, there's nobody. Francois (thieves'), la faire au pere , to rob a man by securing a strap round his neck, and lifting him half-strangled on one's shoul- ders, while an accomplice rifles his pockets. Frangin, m. (popular and thieves'), brother ; term of friendship ; dab, uncle. Mon vieux , old fellow ! " old ribstone ! " Frangine, f. (thieves' and popular), sister ; dabuche, aunt. On la connait, la vache qui nous a fait traire ! C'est la vierge de Saint-Lazare, la frangine du meg ! ... II est trop a la coule, le frangin ! C'est au tour de la frangine maintenant a avoir son atout. Memoires de Monsieur Claude. Frangir (thieves'), to break. Franguettier, m. (thieves'), card' sharper, or " broadsman." Fraonval Fricoteur. 165 Fraonval (Breton), to escape. Frapouille. See Fripouille. Fraopart, m. (thieves'), pere , a hammer. Frappe, /. (popular), a worthless fellow ; a scamp. Une frappe de Beauvais qui voudrait plumer tous les rupins. Cri du Peuple, Mars, 1886. Frappe - devant, m, (popular), sledge-ha m mer. Fraternellados, or inseparables, m. pi. (popular), cigars sold at two for three sous. Fraudeur, m. (thieves'), butcher. Frayau (popular), il fait , it is cold. Fredaines, /. //. (thieves'), stolen property. Si tu veux marcher en eclaireur et venir avec nous j usque dans la rue Saint- Sebas- tien, ou nous aliens deposer ces fredaines, tu auras ton fade. VIDOCQ. Fregate,/ (popular), Sodomist. Frelampier. See Ferlampier. Fremillante. See Fourmillante, Fremion, m. (thieves'), violin. Frere (familiar), et ami, demagogue; (thieves') de la cote, see Bande noire ; de la manicle, convict. (Military) Gros , cui- rassier. (Sailors') Vieux la cote, old chum. Je suis ton vieux frere la cote, moi, et je t'aime, voyons, bon sang ! RICHEPIN, La Glu. (Roughs') Les freres qui aggri- chent, the detectives. Les freres qui en grattent, rope dancers. Les freres qui en mouillent, acrobats ; " en mouiller " having the signifi- cation of performing some extra- ordinary feat which causes one to sweat. Frerot de la cagne, m. (thieves'), fellow-thief, or ' ' family man. " Freschteak, m. (military),/?^ of meat ; stew. Eh ! eh ! on se nourrit bien ici : . . . d'ou avez-vous tire ce freschteak? ou diable a-t- il trouve" a chaparder de la viande, ce rossard la? HECTOR FRANCE, Sous It Burnous. Pressure, /. (popular), heart, or " panter. Properly pluck or fry. Fretillante,/. (thieves'),/** ; tail; dance. Fretille, fertillante, fertille, /. (thieves'), straw, or "strommel." Fretiller (thieves'), to dance. Fretin, m. See Fortin. Friauche, m. (thieves'), thief, prig, or "crossman," see Grinche; convict under a death-sentence who appeals. Fricasse (popular), on t'en , ex- pressive of ironical refusal, or, as the Americans say, "Yes, in a horn ! " See Nefles. Fricassee,/! (popular), thrashing, " wallopping." See Voie. Fricasser ses meubles (popular), to sell one's furniture. Fricasseur, m. (popular), spend- thrift ; libertine, or "rip." Fric-frac, m. (thieves'), breaking open, or " busting." Faire , to break into, " to bust." Frichti, m. (popular), stew with potatoes. Fricot, m. (popular), s'endormir sur le , to relax one's exertions ; to allow an undertaking to flag. Fricoter (military), to shirk one's military duties. Fricoteur (military), marauder ; one who shirks duty, who only cares about good living. 1 66 Frigousse Frire un rigolo. Frigousse, /. (popular), food, or ' ' prog ; " stew. C'e"tait trop rdussi, ^a prouvait ou con- duisait 1'amour de la fngousse. Au rencart les gourmandes ! ZOLA, L'Assommoir. Frigousser (popular), to cook. Frileux, m. (popular), Poltroon, " cow -babe." Je suis un ferlampier qui n'est pas frileux. E. SUE. Frimage, m. (thieves'), appearing before the magistrate, or in presence of a prosecutor, for identification. Frime,/ (thieves'),/zcnperedfel- low. (Roughs') Gas de la grinche, thief. Faut pas frayer avec fa, c'est un de la grinche, you must not keep company with the fellow, he is a thief. Un qui flanche, a hawker. (Thieves') Fabriquer un a la flan, a la rencontre, or a la dure, to attack a man at night and rob him, ' ' to jump a cove. " Gaspard, m. (popular), cunning' fellow, or "sharp file ; " rat ; cat, or "long-tailed beggar." Con- cerning this expression there is a tale that runs thus : A boy, during his first very short voyage to sea, had become so entirely a seaman, that on his return he had forgotten the name for a cat, and pointing to Puss, asked his mother " what she called that 'ere long-tailed beggar ? " Accordingly, sailors, when they hear a freshwater tar discoursing too largely on nautical matters, are very apt to say, ' ' but how, mate, about that 'ere long- tailed beggar ? " Gateau, m. (popular), feuillete, shoe out at the sole. (Thieves') Avoir du , to get one's share of booty, " to stand in." Gate-pate, m. (popular), redoubt- able wrestler. Gater (popular), de 1'eau, to void urine, "to lag." Se la taille, to become pregnant, or " lumpy." Gateuse,/! (familiar), long garment worn over clothes to protect them from the dust. Gatisme, m. (familiar), stupidity. Le litteraire, decaying state of literature. Gaucher, gauchier, m. (familiar), member of the Left whether in the Assemblee Nationale or Senate. Gaudille, or gandille,/. (thieves'), sword, or " poker." Gaudineur, m. (popular), house decorator. Probably from gau- dir, to be merry, house decora- tors having the reputation of being light-hearted. Gaudissard, m. (familiar), com- mercial traveller, from the name of a character of Balzac's ; practi- cal joker ; jovial man. Gaudrioler (familiar), equivalent to ' ' dire des gaudrioles, " to make jests of a slightly licentious charac- ter. Gaudrioleur, m. (familiar), one y0e in prison, or " put away." Gobelin, m. (thieves'), thimble. Gobelot. See Gobbe. Gobe-mouches, m. (thieves'), spy, " nark," or " nose." Gobe-prune, m. (thieves'), tailor. Termed also pique- poux, and in the English slang a "cabbage contractor," "steel-bar driver," " button catcher." Gober (familiar and popular), to like ; to love ; to please. Je te gobe, you please me ; I like you. Gober la chevre, or son bceuf, to get angry, " to get one's monkey up," " to lose one's shirt," "to get into a scot." Termed "to be in a swot " at Shrewsbury School. Se , to have a high opinion of one- self ; to love oneself too much. Non, non, pas de cabotins. Le vieux Bosc etait toujours gris ; Prullieres se go- bait trop. ZOLA, Nana. La , to be the victim ; to have to pay for others ; to be ruined ; to believe a false assertion. Synony- mous, in the latter sense, of the old expression, " gober le mor- ceau. " Mais je ne suis pas homme a gober le morceau. MOLIERE, Ecole des fetntnes. Cent pas plus loin, le camelot a'Tecom- mence son true, apres avoir ri, avec son copain, des pantes qui la gobent ! RICHE- PIN. (A hundred steps further the sharper again tries his dodge, after laughing with his chum at the flats ivho take it in.) Si nous echouons, c'est moi qui la gobe, if we fail, I shall be made responsible. Gobeson, m. (thieves'), drinking- glass, or "flicker \"cup; chalice. Gobet, m. (popular), piece of beef, " a bit o ! bull." Had formerly the signification of dainty bit. Laisse-moi faire, nous en mangerons de bons gobets ensemble. HAUTEROCHE, Crispin Medecin. Gobet, disorderly workman. Mau- vais , scamp, or " bad egg. " Gobette, / (thieves'), drinking- glass, or "nicker." Payer la , to stand treat. Gobeur, m. (familiar), credulous man, "flat." Gobichonnade, / (familiar and popular), gormandizing. Gobichonner (familiar and popu- lar), se . to regale oneself. II se sentit capable des plus grandes lachetes pour continuer a gobichonner. BALZAC. Gobichonneur, m., gobichon- neuse, f. (familiar and popular), gormandizer, "grand paunch." Gobilleur, m. ( thieves'), /#? d* in- struction, a magistrate who in- structs cases, and privately ex- amines prisoners before trial, Gobseck, m. (familiar), miser, ' ' skinflint, " or " hunks . " One of the characters of Balzac's Comedie Humaine. Godaille,/. (popular), amusement ; indulgence in eating and drinking. On doit travailler, c,a ne fait pas un doute : seulement quand on se trouve avec des amis, la politesse passe avant tout. Un desir de godaille les avail peu a peu chatouilles et engourdis tous les quatre. ZOLA, L'Assommoir. Godan, m. (popular), falsehood. Connaitre le , to be wide-awake, not easily duped, " to know what's o'clock." Monter un a quelqu'un, to seek to deceive one, or " best " one. Godancer (popular), to allow one- self to be duped, "to be done brown." Godard, m. (popular), a husband who has just become a father. 182 Goddam Gomme. Goddam, or goddem, m. (popu- lar), Englishman. (Entrainant 1'Anglais.) Maintenant, al- lons jouer des bibelots . . . voila un god- dam quiva yallerd'autaiit. P. MAHALIN. Godet, m, (popular), drinking glass. A common expression among the lower orders, and a very old one. Godiche, adj. (familiar and popu- lar), simple-minded, foolish. Que tu es done godiche, Toinon, de venir tous les matins comme ca. GA- VARNI. Godiller (popular), to le merry ; to be carnally excited. Godilleur, m. (popular), man -who is fond of the fair sex, a ' ' mol- rower," or " beard-splitter." Godillot, m. (popular), military shoe. From the name of the maker ; (military) recruit, or "Johnny raw." Godiveau ranee, m. (popular), stingy man. Tu peux penser si je le traite de godi- veau ranee chaque fois qu'il me refuse un petit cadeau. E. MONTEIL. Goffeur, m. (thieves'), locksmith. From the Celtic goff, a smith. Gogaille,/. (popular), banquet. Gogo, m. (familiar), simple-minded man who invests his capital in swindling concerns, "gull; " man easily fleeced. Quand les allumeurs de 1'Hotel des Ventes eurent juge" le gogo en complet entrainement, il y cut un arret momentane parmi les encheres interesse"es. A. SIRVEN. (Popular) Gogo,greenhorn, "flat." The term, with this signification, is hardly slang. Villon uses it in his Ballade de Villon et de la Crosse Margot (i5th century). Riant, m'assiet le poing sur mon sommet, Gogo me dit, et me fieri le jambot. Gogotte, adj. (popular), spiritless ; weak ; bad. From gogo. Avoir ' la vue , to have a weak sight. A corruption of cocotte, disease of the eyes. Goguenau, gogueno, goguenot, m. (military), tin can holding one litre, used by soldiers to make coffee or soup ; also howitzer ; (military and popular) privy. Passer la jambe a Thomas , to empty the privy tub. Hirondelle de , low street-walker, or "draggle- tail." See Gadoue. Goguette, f. (popular), vocal so- ciety ; wine-shop. Etre en , to be merrily inclined ; to be enjoying oneself, the bottle being the chief factor in the source of enjoyment. Goguetter(popular), to makemerry. From the old word goguette, amusement. Goguettier, m. (popular), mem- ber of a vocal society. Goinfre, m. (thieves'), precentor. An allusion to his opening his mouth like that of a glutton. Goiper (thieves'), to prowl at night for evil purposes, " quserens quern devoret. " Goipeur, m. (thieves'), night thief. Goipeuse, f. (thieves'), prostitute who prowls about the country. See Gadoue. Goitreux, m. (familiar), silly fellow; man devoid of all intellectual power. Synonymous of cretin. Goje (Breton cant), well ; yes. Golgother (familiar), to give one- self the airs of a martyr. The allusion is obvious. Gomberger (thieves'), to reckon. Gombeux, adj. (popular), nasty. Gomme, /. (familiar), fashion ; ele- gance, "swelldom." La haute Gommeuse Gommeux. 183 , the " pink " of fashion. Etre cle la , to be a, dandy, a "masher." See Gommeux. The term formerly signified ex- cellence, and was used specially in reference to wine. Mais non pas d'un pareil tresor, Que cette souveraine gomme. Parnasse des Muses. Gommeuse, f. (familiar), shoivily dressed girl or woman, a "dasher. Gommeux, adj. and m. (familiar), pretty ; dandy. C'e"tait elle qui, pour la premiere fois, recevant un de ses amants astique dcs pieds a la tete, empese", cire, frotte, tire, semblant, en deux mots, trempe" dans de la gomme arabique en dissolution, avait dit de lui : un gommeux ! Le petit-creve avait un successeur. E. MONTKIL, Cornebois. The different appellations corre- sponding to various periods are as follows : Under Louis XIV., "mouchar, muguet, petit-maitre, talon-rouge. " After the revolution of 1793, "muscadin." Under the government of the Directoire from '95 to '99, "incroyable, merveil- leux." Then from the Restoration come in succession, " mirliflor, elegant, dandy, lion, fashionable, and gandin." Under the Third Empire, "cocodes, creve, petit- creve, col-casse." From 1870 to the present day, "gommeux, lui- sant, poisseux, boudine, pschut- teux, exhume, gratine, faucheur, and finally becarre." The English have the terms "swell, gorger, masher," and the old expression " flasher," mentioned in the fol- lowing quotation from the Eng- lish Supplementary Glossary : They are reckoned the flashers of the place, yet everybody laughs at them for their airs, affectations, and tonish graces and impertinences. MADAME D'ARBLAY, Diary. The Spectator termed a dandy a "Jack-pudding," and Goldsmith calls him a " macaroni," "The Italians," he says, " are extremely fond of a dish they call macaroni, . . . and as they consider this as the summum bonum of all good eating, so they figuratively call everything they think elegant and uncommon macaroni. Our young travellers, who generally catch the follies of the countries they visit, judged that the title of macaroni was very applicable to a clever fellow ; and accordingly, to dis- tinguish themselves as such, they instituted a club under this de- nomination, the members of which were supposed to be the standards of taste. The infection at St. James's was soon caught in the City, and we have now macaronies of every denomination, from the Colonel of the Train'd-Bands down to the printer's devil or errand-boy. They indeed make a most ridiculous figure, with hats of an inch in the brim, that do not cover, but lie upon the head ; with about two pounds of fictitious hair, formed into what is called a dub, hanging down their shoul- ders, as white as a baker's sack ; the end of the skirt of their coat reaching not down to the first button of their breeches. . . . Such a figure, essenced and per- fumed, with a bunch of lace stick- ing out under its chin, puzzles the common passenger to determine the thing's sex ; and many have said, by your leave, madam, with- out intending to give offence. " The Americans give the name of "dude" to one who apes the manners of swells. It may be this word originated from a com- parison between the tight and light-coloured trousers sported by swells, and the stem of a pipe termed " dudeen " by the Irish. 1 84 Gomorrhe Gosselin. Compare the French expression " boudine," literally sausage-like, for a swell in tight clothing. Gomorrhe, ;//. (familiar), un emi- gre de , Sodomite. Gonce, gonse, gonze,w. (thieves'), man, or "cove." Goncesse, gonzesse, f. (thieves'), woman, " hay-bag, cooler, or shakester." Goncier, or gonce, m. (thieves'), man, or "cove." Condole, adj. (thieves' and popu- lar), avoir 1'air , to look ill. Un homme , high-shotildered man. Gonfle-bougres, m. (thieves'), beans, the staple food of pri- soners. Gonfler. See Ballon. (Popular) Se , to be elated. Mon vieux, c'que tu peux t'gonfler d'gagner des coupes Renaissance ! Le Cri du Peuple, 17 Aout, 1886. Se le jabot, to look conceited. Tu es un bon artiste, c'est vrai, mais, vrai aussi, tu te gonfles trop le jabot. E. MONTEIL. Gonsale, m. (thieves'), man, or "cove." Si le fait de 1'har- monares, il faut le balancarguer dans la vassares, if the man is not quiet, we'll throw him into the water. Gonsares, m. (thieves'), man. A form of gonse. Gonse, m. (thieves' and popular), man, or " cove." Elle va ramasscr dans les ruisseaux des halles Les bons mots des courtauds les pointes triviales, Pont au bout du Pont-Neuf au son du tambourin, Monte sur deux treteaux, 1'illustre Tabarin Amusoit autrefois et la nymphe et legonze. LA FONTAINE, Ragotin. Gonse a ecailles, women's bully, "ponce." See Poisson. Gonsier, or gadouille, m. (popu- lar), an individual, " c~ve. " Gonsse, m. (police and thieves'), fool, "flat." Vous etes un gonsse, monsieur, mur- mura le chef a 1'agent porteur du bijou, qu'il lui arracha aussitot. Memoires de Monsieur Claude. Gonzesse. See Goncesse. Gorge, /. (thieves'), a case for implements. Gorgniat, m. (popular), dirty man, a " chatty "fellow. Gose, m. (popular), throat, or "red lane." Abbreviation of gosier. Gosse, m. and f. (general), child, "kid." Ab ! 1'affreux gosse ! pialle-t'y ! Asseyez - vous des- sus ! et qu' fa finisse ! The hor- rible child! how he does squall! Sit ^lpon him, and let there be an end of it. This seemingly uncha- ritable wish is often expressed in thought, if not in speech, in France, where many children are petted and spoilt into insufferable tyrants. Arrive 1'enfant de la maison qui pleure. Au lieu de lui dire : Ah ! le joli enfant, meme quand il pleure, on croirait entendre la voix de la Patti. . . . Maintenant ce n'est plus c.a, Ton dit : Ah ! 1'affreux gosse ! Pialles-t'y ! ... en v'la un qui crie ! . . . pour sur il a avale la pratique a There'sa ! Les Locutions Vicieuses. Gosselin, m. (popular), a lad ; a young man, or ' ' covey " in English slang. Gosseline Goujonner. 185 Gosseline,/. (popular and thieves'), young maiden, Fignole , pretty lass. Gossemar, m. (popular), 'child, or " kid." A form of gosse. Gossier, m. See Gonce. Got, m., for gau (thieves'), louse, or " gold-backed un." Goteur, m. (popular), whore-mon- ger, "mutton-monger, molrower, beard-splitter, or rip." Gouache, /. (popular), face, phy- siognomy, or ' ' mug." See Tronche. Goualante, gouasante, f. (thieves'), song; street hawker. Les goualantes avec leurs bag- nioles, the hawkers with their hand-barrows. Goualer (thieves'), to sing, "to "lip;" a la chienlit, to cry otit thieves ! In the slang of English thieves, " to give hot beef." Goualeur, m., goualeuse, /. (thieves'), singer, "chanter." Dis done, la goualeuse, est-ce que tu lie vas pas nous goualer une de tes goua- lantes ? E. SUE, Les Mysteres de Paris. Gouape, f. (popular), laziness; drunken and disorderly state; one who leads a lazy or dissolute life ; a reprobate ; thief, or "prig." See Grinche. Gouaper (popular), to lead a dis- orderly life ; to prowl about lazily, " to mike ; " to tramp. Gouapeur, gouepeur (general), lazy man ; vagabond ; debauchee. Sans pafles, sans lime, plein de crotte, Aussi rupin qu'un plongeur, Un soir un gonepeur en ribote Tombe en frime avec un voleur. VlDOCQ. Michel says, "Je suis convaincu que la racine de ce mot est guepe, qui se dit gitape en patois normand, et qui vient de wasp : pareil a 1'insecte de ce nom, le gouepeur erre 93. et la, butinant pour vivre." Gouapeur, ironical appellation given by lazy prisoners to those who work. Gouapeuse,/ (general), dissolute woman fond of good cheer. Goueper (popular), to lead the life of a gouapeur (which see) ; also to lead a vagrant life. J'ai comme un brouillard de souvenir d'avoir gouepe dans mon enfance avec un vieux chiffonnier qui m'assommait de coups de croc. E. SUE. Gouepeur. See Gouapeur. Gouffier (obsolete), to eat. Gougnottage, m. (common). Rigaud says : " Honteuse cohabi- tation d'une femme avec une autre femme." Gougnotte, / (common). See Gougnottage. Gougnotter. See Gougnottage. Gouille,/; (popular), envoyer a la , to summarily get rid of a bore ; to send a bore to the deuce. Gouillon, m. (popular), street boy, or street arab. Goujon, m. (general), dupe, or " gull ;" girfs bully, or " Sunday man." For synonyms see Pois- son. Un d'hopital, a leech. Avaler le , to die, " to snuff it." See Pipe. Ferrer le , to cause one to fall into a trap, to make one swallow the bait. Lacher son , to vomit, "to cascade," " to shoot the cat," or "to cast up accounts." Goujonner (popular), to deceive, "to best," "to do." Literally to make one swallow the bait like a gudgeon. 1 86 Goule Gourgandinage. Goule, f. (popular), throat, or "gutter lane ;" mouth, or " rattle- trap." Old form of gueule used in the expression, now obsolete, Faire peter la goule, to speak. Goulot, m. (popular), mouth, or "rattle-trap ;" throat, or " gutter lane." Jouer du , to drink heavily, " to swill." Se rincer le , to drink, " to wet one's whistle." See Rincer. Trouil- loter du , to have an offensive breath. Goulu, m. (thieves'), a stove; a well. Properly greedy, glutton. Goupinage, m. (thieves'), work, " graft ;" thieving, " faking." Goupine, /. (cads' and thieves'), head, or "nut," see Tronche; (popular) quaint dress. Goupine, adj. (popular), mal , badly dressed. Goupiner (thieves'), to steal, "to nick." See Grinchir. En roulant de vergne en vergne Pour apprendre a goupiner. VlDOCQ. Goupiner les poivriers, to rob drunkards ; a la desserte, to steal plate from a dining-room in the following manner : D'autres bonjouriers ne se mettent en campagne qu'aux approches du diner : ceux-la saisisoent le moment ou 1'argenterie vient d'etre posee sur la table. Us entrent et en un clin d'oeil ils la font disparaitre. VIDOCQ. Goupiner, to do. La largue est fine . . . et que goupine- t-elle? Elle est etablie . . . elle gere une maison. BALZAC. Goupineur a la desserte, m. (thieves'). See Goupiner. Goupline,/. (thieves'), pint. Gour, m. (thieves'), jug ; de pivois, jugful of wine. Gourd, m. (thieves'), fraud ; de.' ceit ; swindling; (Breton cant) good ; well. Gourdago (Breton cant),y2w/. Gourde, f. (popular), simpleton, "flat." ' Gourde, m. (popular),^/, "flat," or " duffer." Gourdement (popularand thieves'), much, or, as the Irish say, ' ' neddy ; " vei y. Us piaussent dans les pioles, morfient et pictent si gourdement, que toutime en bourdonne. Le Jargonde I' Argot. (They sleep in the taverns, eat and drink so much that everything resounds with it.) Gourer, or gourrer (popular and thieves'), to deceive, " to kid ; " to swindle, " to stick." The word is old. Pour gourrer les pauvres gens, Qui leur babil veulent croire. Parnasse des Muses. Se , to be mistaken ; to assume a jaunty, self -satisfied air. C'est la raison pourquoi qu" je m' goure, Mon gniasse est bath: j'ai un chouett' moure. RICHEPIN. Goureur, m. (thieves'), deceiver; cheat, or "cross-biter ;" de la haute, swell mobsmen. Goureurs, rogues who assume a disguise to deceive the public, and who sell in- ferior articles at exorbitant prices. The sham sailor, with rings in his ears, who has just returned from a long cruise, and offers parrots or smuggled havannahs for sale, the false countryman, &c., are goureurs. Goureuse, / (thieves'), female deceiver or cheat. Gourgandin, m. (familiar), a man too fond ofcocottes. Vieux , old debauchee, old " rip." Gourgandinage, m. (popular), disreputable way of living. Gourgandiner Grain. 187 Gourgandiner (popular), to lead a dissolute life. From gourgandine, a girl or woman of lax morals. Gourganer (popular), to be in prison, eating "gourganes," or beans. Gourgaud, m. (military), recruit or "Johnny raw." Gourgoussage, m. (popular), grumbling. Gourgousser (popular), to grumble. Gourgousseur, m. (popular), grumbler, or ' ' crib biter." Gourt (popular), a son , pleased. The word is old, Villon uses it : L'hostesse fut bien a son gourt, Car, quand vint a compter 1'escot, Le seigneur ne dist oncques mot. Gouspin, or goussepain, m. (popular), malicious urchin. II en lira le corps d'un chat : " Tiens dit le gosse Au troquet, tiens, voici de quoi faire un lapin." Puis il prit son petit couteau de gousse- pain, Depouilla le greffier, et lui fit sa toilette. RICHEPIN, La Chanson des Gueux. Gouspiner (popular), to wander lazily about, " to mike." From gouspin, a malicious urchin. Gousse, / (theatrical), la , monthly banquet of the actors of the Vaudeville Theatre. See Gos- selin. Gousser (popular), to eat, "to grub." See Mastiquer. Gousset, m. (popular), armpit. Properly fob. Avoir le perce, to be penniless, " to be a quisby." Repousser du , to emit a dis- agreeable odour of humanity. GoUt, m. (popular), faire passer, or faire perdre a quelqu'un le du pain, to kill one, " to cook one's goose." Goutte, f. (popular), marchand de , retailer of spirits. (Familiar and popular) Goutte militaire, a certain disease termed in the English slang " French gout," or "ladies' fever." Gouttiere, f. (familiar), lapin de , a cat, " long-tailed beggar." Gouvernement, m. (popular), mon , my wife, ' ' my old woman," or " my comfortable impudence." Goye, m. (popular), fool ; dupe. Graffagnade, / (familiar), bad painting. Craffigner (popular), to take ; to seize, " to nab ;" to scratch. Graffin, m. (popular), rag-picker, * ' bone-grubber, " or " tot-picker. " Graigaille, / (popular), bread, " soft tommy, or bran." Graillon, m. (familiar), dirty slat- ternly woman. That is, one who emits an odour of kitchen grease. Graillonneuse,/. (popular), woman who not being a washerwoman washes her linen at the public laundry. Grain, m. (familiar and popular), avoir un , to be slightly crazy, "to be a little bit balmy in one's crumpet." Avoir un petit , to be slightly tipsy, or "elevated." See Pompette. (Popular) Un > fifty-centime coin. Formerly a silver crown. Leger de deux grains (obsolete), an expression applied formerly to eunuchs. Un catholique a gros (obsolete), the signification is given by the quotation : On appelle catholique a gros gram, un lihertin, un homme peu devot, qui ne va a 1'eglise que par mamere d'acquit. LE Roux, Diet. Cotnique. T oo loo Graine G ra s. Graine, f. (familiar and popular), de bagne, thief's offspring ; (fami- liar) de chou colossal, grand promises made with the object of swindling credulous persons ; giberne, soldier's child ; d'epi- nards, epaulets of field-officers. Avoir la d'epinards, tobe a field- officer. De la d'andouilles is said of a number of small children in a group. Graissage, m., or graisse, f. (popular), money, "dust." That which serves " to grease the palm." See Quibus. Graisse, f. (popular and thieves'), money, or "pieces. " See Quibus. (Thieves') Voler a la graisse (for grece), to cheat at a game. Also to obtain a loan of money on "brummagem" trinkets, or paste diamonds represented as genuine. Voter a la graisse : se faire prefer sur des lingots d'or et sur des diamants qui ne sont que du cuivre et du strass. VIDOCQ. Graisser (military), la marmite, as a new-comer, to treat one's comrades, " to pay for one's footing ;" (gene- ral) la peau, to thrash, " to wallop." See Voie. Graisser le train de derriere, to give a kick in the behind, " to toe one's bum ; " les bottes a quelqu'un, to help one ; les epaules a quelqu'un (obsolete), to thrash one. Graisser les e"paules a quelqu'un, pour dire, le batonner. Ce qui a fait dire aussi de 1'huile de cotret, c'est-a-dire, des coups de baton. LE Roux, Diet. Comique. Graisser les roues, to drink, " to have something damp." See Rincer. (Thieves') Graisser, or gressier, to steal, " to nick." See Grinchir. Graisseur, m. (thieves'), card- sharper, or " magsman." Grand (police), chef, the Prefet de Police; (popular) bonnet, a bishop ; carcan, tall, lanky girl. Also an opprobrious epithet ; courbouillon, sea, or "briny;" lumignon, sun; singe, Presi- dent of the Republic ; (thieves') coere, formerly the king of mendicants; meudon, spy; detective, "nark;" trimar, highway, " high toby ; " (mili- tary) montant tropical, riding breeches ; (theatrical) trottoir, stock of classical plays. Grande, adj. andf. (popular), bou- t\(\a.Q,prefecturedepolice; bleue, the sea, " briny," or " herring pond;" fille, bottle. (Thieves') Grande, pocket, or "cly,"" sky- rocket," "brigh." Termed also " profonde, fouillouse, louche, gueularde." Grand' largue, adv. (sailors'), ex* cellent ; incomparable. Grands, adj. (theatrical), jouer les coquets, to perform in the cha- racter of an accomplished, elegant man. (Cavalry school of Saumur) Les hommes, the corridors in the school buildings. Granik (Breton cant), hunger. Graoudgem, m. (thieves'), pork butcher, or " kiddier." Faire un a la dure, to steal sausages. Graphique, adj. (thieves'), filthy, or " chatty." Grappin, m. (popular), hand, or "flipper." Mettre or poser le sur quelqu'un, to apprehend one, or "to smug " one. See Piper. Grappiner (popular), to seize; to apprehend, or "to smug." See Piper. Gras, adj. and m. (popular), il y a , there is plenty of money to be got. Attraper un , to get a Gras-dou ble Grece. 189 scolding, or " wigging." (Thieves' and cads') Gras, privy. Gras-double, or saucisson, m. (thieves'), sheet lead, or "moss." Ratisser du , to steal lead off the roofs, termed by English thieves " flying the blue pigeon." Porter du au moulin, to take stolen lead to a receivers, or " fence." Gras - doublier, m. (thieves'), plumber, Grasse,/ (thieves'), strongbox, or " peter." Thus called by rogues because it contains " la graisse," or the cash. Gratin, m. (popular), thrashing. Refiler un , to box one's ears. swelldom. Le Paris extra-mondain . . . le gratin, quoi ! P. MAHALIN. Gratine, m. (familiar), swell, "masher." For synonymous ex- pressions see Gommeux. Gratis (popular), faire , to borrow, " to bite one's ear," or "to break shins ;" to lend. (Thieves') Etre malade, to be in prison, to be " put away." Graton, m. (popular), razor. From gratter, to scratch. Gratouille,yi (popular), itch. From gratter, to scratch, to itch. Gratouse,/. (thieves'), lace. Gratouse, adj. (thieves'), adorned with lace. Gratte,y! (popular), itch; unlawful profits of shopmen on the sale of goods, something like the " fluff" or profits on short change by rail- way ticket-clerks ; bonus allowed to shopmen; couenne, barber, ' ' strap ; " pave, loiterer seeking for a living, one " on the mouch." Grattee, f. (popular), ''lows, "props." Gratte -papier, m. (familiar and popular), clerk, or "quill-driver;" (military) non-commissioned officer filling the functions of clerk. Gratter (popular), to shave; to thrash, " to wallop. " See Voie. Gratter, to purloin portions of cloth given for the making of apparel ; to apprehend. See Piper. Gratter le papier, to write ; to be a clerk, or " quill-driver ;" la couenne, to shave. En , to perform on the dancing-rope. Les freres qui en grattent, rope-dancers. Gratter les paves, to lead a life of poverty. Grattoir, graton, m. (popular), razor. Passer au , to get shaved, or "scraped." Graveur sur cuir, m. (popular), shoemaker, "snob." Grece, /. (familiar), the tribe of card-sharpers. Tomberdansla , to become a card-sharper. Vol a la , card swindle. (Thieves') Grece, or soulasse, swindler who offers one a high profit on the change of gold coins, for which he substitutes base coin when the bar gain has been struck. A variety of the confidence trick. Vidocq thus describes the mode of opera- ting of these gentry. A confede- rate forms an acquaintance with a farmer or country tradesman on a visit to town. While the new pair of friends are promenading, they are accosted by another con- federate, who pretends to be a foreigner, and who exhibits gold coin which he wishes to exchange . for silver. Subsequently the three adjourn to a wine-shop, where the pigeon, being entrusted with one of the coins, is requested to have it tested at a changer's, when he finds it to be genuine. A bar- Grocer Grenouille. gain is soon struck, and, when the thieves have decamped, the victim finds that in exchange for sound silver coin he has received a case full of coppers or gunshot. Grecer (thieves'), to swindle at cards. From " grec," card-sharper. Grecquerie, f. (familiar), tribe of card-sharpers, Greer (naval), se , to dress oneself , "to rig oneself out." Greffer (popular), to be hungry, " to be bandied." Je greffe, or je declare, I am hungry. (Thieves') Greffer, to steal an object by skil- fully whisking it up, " to nip." Greffier, m. (popular and thieves'), 'fat, or "long-tailed beggar." From griffe, claw. C'est la dabuche Michelon Qu'a pomaque son greffier, Qui jacte par la venterne Qui le lui refilera, l.e dab Lustucru Lui dit : " Dabuch" Mich'lon, Allez ! votre greffier n'est pas pomaque" ; II est dans le roulon, Qui fait la chasse aux tretons, Avec un bagaffre de fertange Et un fauchon de satou." Popular song of C'est la mire Michel qui a perdu son chat, in thieves' cant, quoted by F. Michel. Greffique,/! (roughs'), the magis- tracy and lawyers. Grefier (Biecon cant), cat. Gre'le, m. andf. (popular), master, or " boss ; " master tailor. Us ne nous exploiteront plus en maitres, ces greles. MAC. (Thieves') Grele, row or fight, " shindy." II va y avoir de la grele. c'est un raille. E. SUE. (Popular) Grele, pockmarks. Ne pas s'etre assure centre la , to be pockmarked, or "to be cribbage- laced." Grelesse, f. (popular), mistress of an establishment. Grelot, m. (popular), voice. C'est bien le son du grelot, si ce n'est pas la frimousse. BALZAC. Grelot, tongue, or " red rag." II en a un ! how he does jaw away. Faire peter son , to talk, "to wag the red rag." Mettre une sourdine a son , to keep silent, " to be mum." Mets une sourdine a ton , dorit talk so much, " don't shoot off your mouth " (Americanism). Grelu, orgrenu, m. (thieves'), corn. Greluchonner (popular), to be a " greluchon," that is, the lover of a married woman, or of a girl kept by another ; or one who lives at the expense of a woman. Voltaire has used the word greluchon with the first meaning. Grenadier, m. (popular), louse, " grey," or " grey-backed un." Grenafe, grenasse, /. (thieves'), barn. Grenier, m. (popular), a coups de poing, drunkard's wife; a coups de sabre, soldier's woman j a lentilles, pockmarked face, or " cribbage face ; " a sel, head, " tibby," or "canister." See Tronche. Grenoble. See Conduite. Grenouillard, m. (popular), one fond of the water for the inside or outside. (Artists') Faire , to paint in a bold, dashing style, after the manner of Delacroix. Grenouille, f. (popular), woman. An insulting epithet ; (military) cash-box. (General) Emporter la , to abscond with the cash' box. Manger la , to spend for one's own purposes the contents of Grenoniller Griller. 191 the cash-box, or funds entrusted to one's keeping. (Popular) Sirop de , -water, "Adam's ale." Grenouiller (popular), to drink water. Had formerly the signi- fication of to frequent wine-shops. Grenouillere, f. (general), swim- ming- bath. La Grenouillere is the name of a well-known swim- ming establishment on the bank of the Seine at Chatou, a place much patronized by "mashers" and more than fast ladies. Grenu, or grelu, m. (thieves'), corn. Grenuche,y; (thieves'), oats. Grenue, grenuse, f. (thieves'), flour. Gres, m. (thieves'), horse, or "prad." Termed also " gail." Gresillonner (popular), to ask for credit, "tick," "jawbone," or "day." Gressier (thieves'), to steal, "to nick." See Grmchir. Greve, f. (thieves'), hirondelle de , gendarme. Executions for- merly took place at the Place de Greve in front of the Hotel de Ville, hence the expression, Des anges de (obsolete), porters. Greviste, m. (popular), workman on strike. From greve, strike. Du reste, la bande de grevistes . . . ne viendrait plus a cette heure ; quelque ob- stacle avait dfl 1'arreter, des gendarmes peut etre. ZOLA, Germinal. Grezillon, m. (popular), p'.nch. Gribis, gripie, grippis, grippe- fleur (thieves'), miller. II y avait en un certain tourniquet un fribis qui ne fichait rien que floutiere aux ons pauvres. Le Jargon de F Argot. (There used to be in a certain mill a miller zuho never gave anything to the worthy Griblage, criblage, m. (thieves'), shout, shouting; (popular) com- plaint, grumbling. Grie, m., grielle, / adj. (thieves'), cold. Griffard, griffon, m. (popular), cat. Griffe, claw. Griffarde, f. (thieves'), pen. Griffer (popular), to seize, "to collar;" to take ; to purloin, "to P r 'g-" Griffeton, m. (popular), soldier, or " wobbler." From grive, grivier, a soldier. Griffleur, m. (thieves'), chief ivarder in a prison, " head screw." Griffon, m. (thieves'), writer. Griffonnante, f. (thieves'), pen. Griffonner, to write a scrawl. Griffonner (thieves'), to swear. Griffonneur, m. (thieves'), one who swears; (popular) de babillards, journalist. Grifler (thieves'), to take, "to grab." Grifon (Breton cant), dog. Grignolet, m. (popular), bread, "soft tommy." Grignon, m. (thieves'), judge, "beak." Probably from "grig- ner les dents," to show one's teeth threateningly, or from "grognon. " Grillee, adj. (familiar), absinthe; absinthe with sugar. The sugar is held over the glass on a small grating (grille), until gradually melted by the liquid poured over it. Griller (popular), quelqu'un, to lock tip one, "to run in;" to deceive one (conjugally). En une, to smoke a pipe or cigarette. En 192 Grilleuse de blanc Grincher. une seche, to smoke a cigarette. Griller une bouffarde, to smoke a pipe. Au eardien de la paix . . . sa consigns lui defend de boire et de fumer. Ni boire un verre, ni griller une bouffarde ! Voila la consigne. Mt moires de Monsieur Claude. Grilleuse de blanc, f. (popular), ironer. From griller, to toast, to singe. Grimer (popular), to arrest. See Piper. Se , to get drunk, or "screwed." Properly to faint one's face. For synonyms see Sculpter. Grimoire, m. (thieves'), penal code ; mouchique, judicial documents ; act of indictment. Grimoirier, m. (thieves'), clerk of arraigns. Grimpant, adj. and m. (thieves'), -chevalier , voleur au bonjour, donneur de bonjour, or bonjourier, thief who enters a house, pretend- ing to be mistaken when disco- vered, and steals any property worth taking. (Popular) Un grimpant, trousers, "sit-upons, or kicks." (Popular and thieves') Les grimpants, staircase; steps, or "dancers." (Military) Grand tropical, riding breeches. Grimpe-chats, m. (popular), roof. Grinchage (thieves'), for Grin- chissage, which see. Un journal racontait hier que T'Kindt e"tait, du reste, un vrai artiste en matiere de grinchage, applique au high-life. PIERRE VERON, Evenement du 9 Novembre, 1878. Grinche, m. and f. (thieves'), la , dancing. Un , a thief, or "prig." Le Grinche, terme d'argot signifiant voleur, a servi de litre a un journal Mont- agnard o^i a fait paraitre deux numeros au moisdejuin, 1848. G. BRUNET, Diction- naire tie la Conversation et de la Lecture. Nous etions dix k douze, Tous grinches de renom ; Nous attendions la sorgue, Voulant poisser des bogues, Pour faire du billon. VIDOCQ. Un de cambrouse, a highway- man. In the old English cant, "bridle-cull." Other varieties of the tribe of malefactors go by the appellations of " grinchisseur, pegre, chevalier de la grippe, four- line, escarpe, poisse, limousineur, charron, truqueur, locandier, van- ternier, cambrioleur, caroubleur, solitaire, compagnon, defiardeur, pogne, tireur, voleur a la tire, doubleur, fildesoie, mion de boule, grinchisseur de bogues, friauche, tirebogue, Americain, jardinier, ramastiqueur, enfant de minuit, philosophic, philibert, voleur au bonjour, bonjourier, philantrope, frere de la manicle, garon de campagne, ga^on de cambrouse, tiretaine, enfant de la matte, careur, chene affranchi, droguiste, &c. ; the English brethren being denominated " prig, cracksman, crossman, sneaksman, moucher, hooker, flash cove, bug-hunter, cross - cove, buz - faker, stock- hauler, toy-getter, tooler, prop- nailer, area-sneak, palmer, drags- man, lob-sneak, bouncer, hilly- prigger, thimble-twister, gun, conveyancer, dancer, pudding- snammer, beak-hunter, ziff, drum- mer, buttock-and-file, poll-thief, little snakesman, mill-ben, a cove on the cross, flashman, finder, gleaner, picker, tax-collector," and formerly ' ' a good fellow, a bridle-cull " (highwayman). Grincher (thieves'), to rob. See Grinchir. Quand ils vont decarrer nous les em- paumerons. Je grincherai le sinve. II est avec une largue, il ne criblera pas. E. Suit. ( We' II follow them when they come out. I'll rob the cove. He is with a woman, he will not cry out.) GrincJicnr Grinchissage. 193 Grincheur, m. (thieves'), young thief, or " ziff.'' Grinchie, adj (thieves'), camelotte , stolen goods, " swag." Grinchir (thieves'), to steal. Rabe- lais in his Pantagruel says of Panurge : " Toutesfois il avoit soixante et trois manieres d'en trouver toujours a son besoing (de r argent), dont la plus honor- able et la plus commune estoit par fa$on de larrecin furtivement faict." One may judge from what follows, and by the numerous varieties of " larrecin furtivement faict " described under the head of " grinchissage," that the imi- tators of Panurge have not re- mained far behind in the art of filling their pockets at the expense of the public. Some of the many expressions to describe robbery pure and simple, or the different varieties, are : " Mettre la pogne dessus, travailler, faire, de'crasser, rincer, entiffler, retirer 1'artiche, savonner, doubler, barbotter, graisser, degauchir, degraisser, effaroucher, e'vaporer, agrip- per, soulever, fourmiller, filer, acheter a la foire d'empoigne, pe'grer, goupiner a la desserte, sauter, marner, cabasser, mettre de la paille dans ses souliers, faire le saut, secouer, gressier, faire le bobe, faire la bride, faire le mor- lingue, faire un poivrot, faire un coup d'e'tal, faire un coup de radin, rincer une cambriolle, faire la soulasse sur le grand trimar, ramastiquer, fourlourer, faire le mouchoir, faire un coup de rou- lotte, faire grippe-cheville," &c., &c. The English synonyms are as follows : " To cop, to touch, to claim, to prig, to wolf, to snake, to pinch, to nibble, to clift, to collar, to nail, to grab, to jump, to nab, to hook, to nim, to fake, to crib, to ease, to con- vey, to buz, to be on the cross, to do the sneaking-budge, to nick, to fang," &c., &c. Grinchissage, m. (thieves'), thiev- ing ; theft, or " sneaking-budge." The latter expression is used by Fielding. Wild looked upon borrowing to be as good a way of taking as any, and, as he called it, the genteelest kind of sneaking- budge. FIELDING, Jonathan Wild. Le a domicile is practised by rogues known under the following denominations : " Le bonjou- rier, "see this word ; "le cambrio- leur," who operates in apartments ; "le caroubleur, " who effects an en- trance by means of skeleton keys ; " le chevalier du pince - linge," one who steals linen, "snow- gatherer;" "le de'menageur," who takes possession of articles of furniture, descending the stair- case backivards, so that on an emergency he may at once make a sho-w of ascending, as if he were bringing in furniture ; " le grin- chisseur a la desserte," thief who enters a dining-room just after dinner-time, and lays hands on the plate ; "le gras - doublier," who steals lead off the roofs, who " flies the blue pigeon ; " " le mat classier," a thief who pretends to repair and clean mattresses; ' ' le vanternier,"zt'^<7 effects an entrance through a window, ' ' dancer ; " " le voleur a la location," who pretends to be in quest of apartments to lei ; " le voleur au recensement," who pretends to be an official employed in the census. Le grinchissage a. la ballade, or a. la trimballade, the thief makes some purchases, and finding he has not sufficient money, requests a clerk to accom- pany him home, entrusting the parcel to a pretended commis- sionnaire, a confederate. On the way the rogues suddenly vanish. O 194 Grinchissage. Le a la broquille consists in sub- stituting sham jewellery for the genuine article when offered for inspection by the tradesman. Le a la carre. See Carreur. Le a la cire, purloining a silver fork or spoon at a restaurant by making it adhere under the table by means of a piece of soft wax. After this preliminary operation the rogue leaves the place, gene- rally after having been searched by the restaurant keeper ; then an accomplice enters, takes his con- federate's place at the table, and obtains possession of the property. Le a la detourne, the thief secretes goods in a shop while a confederate distracts the attention of the shopkeeper. The rogue who thus operates is termed in English cant a "palmer." The thief is sometimes a female who has in her arms an infant, whose swad- dling-clothes serve as a receptacle for the stolen property. Le , or vol a la glu, takes place in churches, by means of a rod with birdlime at one end, plunged through the slit in the alms-box, termed tronc ; the coins adhering to the extremity of the rod are thus fished out Le , or vol a 1'Americaine, confidence-trick rob- bery. It is the old story of a traveller meeting with a country- man and managing to exchange the latter's well-filled purse for a bag of leaden coins. Those who practise it are termed "Ameri- cains," or " magsmen." II est aussi vieux que le monde. II a , "to guy." See Patatrot. Com- pare with the expression, now obsolete, gagner le taillis, which has the same signification. Happens le taillis, on crie au vinaigre- sur nouzailles. Le Jargon de f Argot. (They are " whiddling beet,"a;/w/ must "guy-") Happin. See Habin. Happiner. See Habiner. Marauder (popular), quelqu'un (ob- solete), to cry out after one ; to> pursue one with insults. Hardi, adj. (popular), a la soupe is said of one who is more ready to eat than to fight . Hardi! courage t with a will ! go it I Hareng, m. (thieves'), faire des yeux de a quelqu'un, to put out one's eyes. (Printers') Harengs, name given by printers to fellow- worke.rs who do but little work. 2O4 Harensr- Saur Haussier. Hareng-Saur, m. (popular), gen- darme ; a member of the Societe de Saint- Vincent de Paul, a religious association. (Roughs') Piquer son pas de , to dance. Hariadan Barberousse (thieves'), Jesus Christ. II rigolait malgre le sanglier qui voulait Jui faire becqueter Hariadan Barberousse. VIDOCQ. Haricander (popular), to find fault with one about trifles. Haricot, m. (popular), body. Ca- valer, or courir sur le , t<-> annoy, to bore one, "to spur" one. (Thieves') Un vert, a clumsy thief, or one ' ' not up to slum." Se laver les haricots, to be transported, or " lagged." (Familiar) Hotel des haricots, formerly the prison for undisci- plined national guards, the staple food for prisoners there being haricot beans. Haricoteur, m. (thieves'), execu- tioner. Termed "Rouart" in the sixteenth century, that is, one who breaks criminals on the wheel. Harmonares, m. (thieves'), noise, or " row." Si le gonsales fait de 1'harmonares il faut le balancarguer dans la vassares, if the fellow makes any noise we'll pitch him in- to the water. Harmonic, / (popular), faire de 1' , to make a noise, " to kick up a row." Hsrnais, m. (thieves'), cards that have been tampered with, or " stocked broads ; " clothes, or " clobber ; " de grive, mili- tary uniform. Laver les , to sell stolen clothes, " to do clobber at a fence's." Harpe.y. (general), jouer de la , to shly take liberties with a woman by stroking her dress, as Tartuffe did when pretending to ascertain the softness of Elmire's dress. The expression is old; it is to be met with in the Diet. Comique. Jouer de laharpe signifie jouer des mains aupres d'une femme, la patiner, lui touchet la nature, la farlouiller, la clitoriser, la chatouiiler avec les doigts. J. LE Roux, Dictionnaire Comique. (Thieves') Harpe, prison-grated window. Jouer de la , to be in prison, or "in quod." Pincer de la , to put oneself at a window. Harper (popular), to catch, "to nab ; " to seize, " to grab." Harpions, m. pi. (popular and thieves'),/^, or "dew-beaters ;" hands, or "dukes." From the old word harpier, concerning which the Dictionnaire Comique says : Harpier. Pour voler ou friponner im- punement, prendre ou enlever par force, comme les harpies. Harponner (popular), to seize, "to grab ; " tocquanlement, to lay rough hands on; to give one a shak- ing. Hasard ! orh! (printers'), ironical exclamation meaning that hap- pens by chance, of course ! Haiis, or axis, ;//.(shopmens'), appel- lation applied by shopmen to a per- son who, after much bargaining, leaves without purchasing any- thing. Hausse-col, m. (military), cart- ridge-box. The expression has become obsolete. Haussier, m. (familiar), a "bull," that is, one who agrees to purchase stock at a future day, at a stated price, but who simply speculates for a rise in public securities to render the transaction a profitable one. Should stocks fall, the Haussmannisation Hirondelle, 205 " bull " is then called upon to pay the difference. The "bear" is the opposite of the "bull," the former selling, the latter purchas- ing the one operating for a fall, the other for a rise. They are respectively called " liebhaler " in Berlin, and "contremine" in Vienna. Haussmannisation,^ See below. Haussmanniser (familiar), to full down houses wholesale, after the fashion of M. Haussmann, a Pre- fect of the Seine under the Third Empire, who laid low many of the old houses of Paris, and opened some broad passages in the city. Corresponds in some degree to "boycott." Haut-de-tire, m. (thieves'), breeches, "hams, kicks, sit-upons." Haute, f. and adj. (general), for haute societe, the higher class of any social stratum, "pink." 11 y a lorette et lorette. Mademoiselle de Saint- Pharamond etait de la haute. V. FVAL. La bicherie, higher class of co- cottes, the world of "demi-reps." Un escarpe de la , a swindler moving in good society. La pegre, swell mob, and, used ironi- cally, good society. Un restaurant de la , a fashionable restaurant, a ' ' swell " restaurant. Si nous ne soupons pas dans la haute, jo ne sais guere ou nous irons a cette heure-ci. G. DE NERVAL. Hautocher (thieves'), to ascend ; to rise. Haut-temps, m. (thieves'), for autan, loft. Havre, or grand havre, m. (thieves'), God. Literally the harbour, great harbour. Le garde meziere, God protect me. Heol ar blei (Breton cant), the- moon. Herbe,/ (popular), a grimper.yfw^ bosoms or shoulders. This phrase is obsolete ; a la vache, clubs of cards. Quinte mangeuse portant son point dans. ITierbe a la vache. ZOLA, L'Assommoir. Herbe sainte, absinthe. To all appearance this is a corruption of absinthe. Herplis, m. (thieves'), farthing. Sans un herplis dans mafouillouse, vxthotit a farthing in my pocket. Herr, m. (general ), a man of impor- tance, one of position or talent, a "swell." Herse, f. (theatrical), lighting ap- paratus on the sides of the stage which illuminates those farts which receive no light from the chandelier. Herz, or hers, m. (thieves'), master, or " boss ; " gentleman, or "nib- cove." From the German herr. High-bichery, f. (familiar), the world of fashionable cocottes. Quelque superbe creature de la high- bichery qui traine son domino a queue avec les airs souverains d'une marquise d'autre- fois. P. MAHALIN. Hirondeau, m. (tailors'), journey- man tailor who shifts from one employer to another. An allusion to the swallow, a migratory bird. Hirondelle,/. (familiar), penny boat plying on the Seine; (popular) commercial traveller ; journey- man tailor from the country temporarily established in Paris ; hackney coachman ; d'hiver, retailer of roasted chestnuts ; de pont, vagrant who seeks a shelter at night under the arches of bridges ; du batiment, mason from the Hisser Hotteriau. country who comes yearly to work in Paris. (Thieves') Une , variety of vagabond. Les Hirondelles, les Romanichels han- taient, comme les taupes, 1'inierieur de leurs souterrains insondables. Romani- chels et Hirondelles venaient y dormir, souper et me'diter leurs crimes. Memoires de Monsieur Claude. Une de potence, a gendarme (obsolete). Hisser (popular), to give a whistle call ; un gandin. See Gandin. Histoires,/. //. (general), menses. Termed also "affaires, cardinales, anglais." Homard, m. (popular), doorkeeper, or servant in red livery. (Military) spahis. The spahis, called also cavaliers rouges, are a crack corps of Arab cavalry commanded by French officers. There are now four regiments of spahis doing duty in Algeria or in Tonkin. Homicide, m. See Haleine. Homme, m. (familiar), au sac, rich man, one who is ' ' well bal- lasted." Un affiche, a " sand- wich " man, that is, a man bear- ing a back-and-front advertising board. Avoir son jeune , to be drunk, or "tight." See Pom- pette. (Thieves') Un delettres, forger : de peine, old offender, "jail-bird." (Printers') Homme de bois, workman who repairs wooden fixtures of formes in a printing shop. Homme de lettres, or singe, m. (printers'), compositor. Le compositeur est un bipede auquel on donne la denomination de " singe." . . . Pour vous eblouir il triture une " matiere pleine" de mots Equivoques: "comman- dite, bordereau, banque, impositions " et cela avec la gravite d'une " Minerve. " Fier du rang qu'il occupe dans I'imprimerie, e chevalier du " composteur " s'intitule "homme de lettres," mais c'est un "faux litre " qu'il a pris dans sa '"galee," car de tous les ouvrages auxquels il a mis des "signatures " et qu'il pre'tend avoir "com- poses," il lui serait difficile de "justifier" une ligne, &c. &c. Declaration d'amoiir ifun imprimeur typography a une jeune brocheuse, 1886. Hommelette, m. (popular), man devoid of energy, ' ' sappy. " Honnete, m. (thieves'), the spring. Honteuse, f., etre en . See Lesbien. Hopital, m. (thieves'), prison, or "stir." See Motte. A thief in prison is said to be " malade," and when liberated he is, of course, " gueri." (Popular) Goujon d' , leech. Horizontale, f. (familiar), prosti- tute, or "mot;" de grande marque, fashionable cocotte, or " pretty horse-breaker." For list of over one hundred and thirty synonyms, see Gadoue. Horloger, m. (popular), avoir sa montre chez 1' , to have one's watch at the pawnbroker's, " in lug," or " up the spout." Horreurs, / pi. (popular), broad talk, or "blue talk." Dire des , to talk " smut." Faire des , to take liberties with women, " to fiddle," or "to slewther," as the Irish have it. Hosto, or austo (soldiers' and thieves'), prison, or "stir," see Motte ; (popular) house, or " crib." Hotel, m. (popular), de lamodestie, poor lodgings ; des haricots, prison, or "jug." See Motte. Coucher a 1' de la belle etoile, to sleep in the open air, on mother Earth, or " to skipper it. " Hotteriau, hotteriot, m. (popular), rag-picker, or "tot-picker." From hotte, wicker basket. Hou blon Hurlu bier. 207 Houblon, m. (popular), tea. Houpe dentelee, /. (freemasons'), ties of brotherhood. Housette, /. (thieves'), boot, or " daisy root. " Traine - cul - les housettes, a tatterdemalion. Houssine, f. (thieves'), Jean de 1' , stick ; bludgeon. Houste a la paille! (thieves'), out with htm ! Hubin, m. (thieves'), dog, or "tyke." Apres, ils leur enseignent a aquiger cer- taines graisses pour empecher que les hubins 3es grondent. Le Jargon de Argot. Hubins, m. pi. (old cant), tramps who pretend to have been bitten by rabid dogs or wolves. Les hubins triment ordinairement avec cne luque comme ils bient a Saint-Hubert. Le Jargon de f Argot. Saint Hubert was credited with the power of miraculously curing hydrophobia. There is still a church in Belgium, not far from Arlon, consecrated to Saint Hu- foert, to whose shrine rabid people '(in more than one sense) repair to be cured. Hugolatre, m. (familiar), fanatical admirer of the -works of V. Htigo. Hugrement (thieves'), much, or " neddy " (Irish). Huile,/; (general), -wine ; suspicion ; blonde, beer ; de bras, de poignet, physical strength ; work, or " elbow grease ; " de cotret, blows administered with a stick ; might be rendered by " s'irrup oil." The Diet. Comique has: " Huile de cotret, pour coups de baton, bastonnade." Qu'ils vinssent vous frotter les epaules de 1'huile de cotret. Don Quichotte. Huile de mains, money, or "oil of palm." For synonyms see Qui- bus. Pomper les huiles, to drink wine to excess, or "to swill." Huit (theatrical), battre un , to cut a caper. (Familiar) Un ressorts, a handsome, well - ap- pointed two-h orse carriage. (Mili- tary) Flanquer et sept, to give a man a fortnights arrest. Y m'a flanque huit-et-sept a cause que j'avais egare le bouchon de mon mousque- ton. G. COURTELINE. Huitres,/! pi. (popular), de gueux, snails ; (thieves') de Varennes, beans. Huitrifier (familiar), s' , to become commonplace and dull of intellect. From huitre, figuratively a fool. Humecter (popular), s' les amyg- dales, la dalle du cou, or le pavilion, to drink, ' ' to wet one's whistle." For synonyms see Rincer. Huppe, adj. (popular), daim , rich person, one who is " well ballasted." Hure,/. (popular), head, or " tibby." Properly wild boar's head. See Tronche. Hure, adj. (thieves'), rich, or "rag splawger." Hurf, urf, adj. (general), c'est , that's excellent, " tip-top, cheery, slap-up, first-chop, lummy, nap, jam, true marmalade, tsing- tsing." Le monde , world of fashion. Hurlubier, m. (thieves'), idiot, or ' ' go along ; " madman, or ' ' balmy cove ; " tramp, or "pikey." Vous que le chaud soleil a teints, Hurlubiers dont les peaux bisettes, Ressemblent a Tor des gratins. RlCHEPIN. ; Hussard Imbiber. Hussard, m. (popular), a quatre roues, soldier of the train or army service corps. Elixir de , brandy. (Popular and thieves') Hussard de la guillotine, gendarme on ditty at executions. II est verm pour sauver Madeleine . . . mais comment ? . . . les hussards de la guil- lotine sont la. BALZAC. Hussard de la veuve, gendarme on duty at executions. Oui, c'est pour aujourd'hui, les hussards de la veuve (autre nom, nom terrible de la mcanique) sont commandes. BALZAC. Hust-must (thieves'), thank you very much. Icicaille, icigo (thieves'), here. lenna (Breton cant), to deceive, im- pose upon. lerchem (roughs'), to ease oneself. A coarse word disguised. It is of "back slang "formation, with the termination em. lergue, parler en , to use the word as a suffix to other words. Ignorantin (common), a ( 'frere des Scales de la Doctrine chretienne." Thus called on account of their ignorance. They are lay brothers, and formerly had charge of what were termed in England ragged schools. Igo (thieves'), here. La chamegue est , the woman is here. 11 (popular), y a de 1'empile, or de 1'empilage, there is some trickery, unfair play, cheating ; y a de 1'empile, la peau alors ! je me debine, they are cheating, to the deuce then ! fll go ; y a des aretes dans ce corps-la, an euphemism to denote that a man makes his living off a prostitute's earnings, alluding to the epithet " poisson " applied to such crea- tures ; a plu sur sa mercerie is said of a woman iviih thin skinny breasts ; tombera une roue de votre voiture is said of a person in too high spirits, to express an opinion that his mirth will soon receive a damper. (Thea- trical) II pleut ! is used to denote that a play is a failure, that it is being hissed down, or "damned." II est midi ! (popular), an excla- mation used to warn one who is talking in the presence of strangers or others to be prudent and guarded in his speech. It also means it's of no use, it is all in vain. Illico, m. (popular), grog prepared on the sly by patients in hospitals, an extemporized medicine made of sugar, spirits, and tincture of cinnamon. Imbecile a deux roues, m. (popu- lar), bicyclist. Imbiber (popular), s' le jabot, to drink, "to wet one's whistle." Immobilitc Infect. 209 Immobilite, f. (painters'), mer- cenaire de 1' , model who makes a living by sitting to painters. Impair, m. (familiar), faire un , to make a blunder, " to put one's foot in it." (Thieves') Impair ! look out ! , acre nous v'la nobles, look out, be on your guard, we are recognized. Imperatrice, f., for imperiale, top of bus. Impere (popular), abbreviation of imperiale, or top of bus. Imperiale, f. (general), tuft of hair on the chin. Formerly termed " royale." The word has passed into the language. Importance (general), d' , strongly, vigorously. J' te vas le moucher d' , fll let him know apiece of my mind ; Fll snub him. Impot, m, (thieves'), autumn. Impressionisme, m. (familiar), school of artists who paint nature according to the Personal impres- sion they receive. Some carry the process too far, perhaps, for if their retina conveys to them an impression that a horse, for in- stance, is indigo or ultramarine, they will reproduce the image in Oxford or Cambridge blue on the canvas. Needless to say, the re- sult is sometimes startling. Impressioniste, m., painter of the school called impressionisme (which see). Impure, f. (familiar), kept woman, or "demi-rep." For the list of synonyms see Gadoue. Incommode, m. (thieves'), lantern, lamp-post. Properly inconvenient, thieves being lovers of darkness. Incommode, adj. (thieves'), etre , to be taken red-handed, to be " nabbed " in the act. Inconobre, m. and adj. (thieves'), stranger; unknown. Incroyable, m. (familiar), dandy under the Directoire at the end of the last century. The appellation was given to swells of that period on account of their favourite ex- pression, " C'est incroyable !" pro- nounced c'est incoyable, accord- ing to their custom of leaving out the r, or giving it the sound of w. For synonyms see Gommeux. Index (popular), travailler a 1* , to work at reduced wages. Indicateur, m. (general), spy in the pay of the police, "nark." Gene- rally a street hawker, sometimes a thief. II y a deux genres d'indicateurs : les in- dicateurs sur place, tels que les marchands de chaines de surete et les marchands d'aiguilles, bimbelotiers d'occasion, faux aveugles, etc., et les indicatenrs errants : marchands de balais, faux infiimes, musi- ciens ambulants : . . . II y avail, sous 1'em- pire, des indicateurs jusque dans le haut commerce parisien. Memoires de Mon- sieur Claude. Indicatrice, f. (familiar), female spy in the employ of the police. Indigent, m. (bus conductors'), outside passenger on a bus. Thus termed on account of the outside fare being half that inside. Indi- gent, properly pauper. Inexpressibles, m. pi. (familiar), from the English, trousers. Infanterie,/. (popular), entrerdans 1' , to become pregnant, or "lumpy." Compare with the English expression " infantry," a nursery term for children. Infect, adj. (general), utterly bad. The expression is applied to any- thing. Ce cigare est , that cigar is rank. Ce livre est , that book is worthless. Un in- dividu, a contemptible individual. 2IO Infectados Irreconciliable. Infectados, m. (familiar), cheap cigar, " cabbage leaf." Inferieur, adj. (popular), cela m'est , that is all the same to me. Infirm e, m. (popular), clumsy fellow. Us sonnerent tant bien que mal ces in- firmes, et les gens accoururent au tapage. L. CLADEL, Ompdrailles. Ingrat, m. (thieves'), clumsy thief. Ingurgiter son bilan (popular), to die, or "to snuff it." See Pipe. Inodore, adj. (familiar), soyez calme et , be cool ; don't get excited ; be calm ; be decorous, or, as the Americans say, "pull your jacket down." Inouisme, ;;/. (familiar), ruisselant d' , extraordinarily fine, good, dashing, " slap up, or tzing tzing." Inseparables, m. pL (familiar), cigars sold at fifteen centimes a couple. Insinuant, m. (thieves'), apothe- cary ; one who performs, or used to perform, the " clysterium donare " of Mali ere. Insinuante,/. (thieves'), syringe. Insinuation,/, (thieves'), clyster. Insolpe, m. and adj. (thieves'), insolent, "cheeky." Inspecteur des paves, m. (popu- lar), workman out of work, or "out of collar." Institutrice, /. (popular), female who keeps a brothel ; the mistress of an "academy." Instruit, adj. (thieves'), etre , to be a skilful thief, a " gonnof." Insurge de Romilly, m. (popular), lump of excrement, or " quaker." Interloquer (soldiers'), to talk. Je vais aller en avec le marchi- chef, / will talk about it to the quartet-waster sergeant. Interver, entraver (thieves'), to understand. Je n'entrave que le dail, I do not understand) I don't "twig." Interver dans les vannes, to allow oneself to be ' ' stuffed up," to be " bamboozled." Intime, m. (theatrical), man who is paid to applaud at a theatre. Termed also " remain." Intransigeant, m. (familiar), poli- tician of extreme opinions who will not sacrifice an iota of his programme. The reverse of op- portuniste. Inutile, m. (thieves'), notary public. Invalo, m. (popular), for invalide, pensioner of the ' ' Hotel des Inva- lides." a home for old or disabled soldiers. Invite,/", (popular), faire une a 1'as is said of a woman who makes advances to a man. Inviteuse, /. (general), waitress at certain cafes termed " caboulots." Her duties, besides serving the customers, consist in getting her- self treated by them to any amount of liquor ; but, to prevent acci- dents, the drinks intended for the inviteuse are generally water or some mild alcoholic mixture. The inviteuse often plies also another trade that of a semi-prostitute. lot fetis (Breton cant), porridge oj buckwheat flour. loulc'h (Breton cant), giddy girl. loulc'ha (Breton cant), to play the giddy girl. Ipeca, m. (military), le pere , the regimental surgeon. Irlande, f. (thieves'), envoyer en , to send anything from prison. Irreconciliable, m. (familiar), mem- ber of the opposition under Napo- leon III. Isgonrde Jaluzot. 211 Isgourde, /. (popular), ear, "wattle," or "lug." Isolage, m. (thieves'), abandon- ment ; leaving in the lurch, Isoler (thieves'), to forsake. Isoloir, m. (familiar), se mettre sur 1' , to forsake one's friends. Italian (Breton cant), rum. Italique, f. (popular), avoir les jambes en , to be bandy-legged. Pincer son , to reel about. Itou, adv. (popular), also. Moi , I too. Itrer (thieves'), to have. J'itre mouchaill le babillard. Le far- gott del 'Argot. (I have looked at the book) Ivoires, f. (popular), teeth, "ivories." Faire un effet d' , to show one's teeth, " to flash one's ivories. " Izabel (Breton cant), brandy. Jabot, m. (popular), stomach, or "bread-basket." Meant for- merly heart, breast. Chouette , fine breasts. Faire son , to eat. Jacque, m. (thieves'), a sou. Jacqueline, /. (soldiers'), cavalry sword. Jacques, M. (thieves'), crowbar, "James, or the stick." (Military) Faire le , to manoeuvre. Jactance, / (thieves' and cads'), speech, talking, "jaw." Properly silly conceit. Caleter la , to stop talking, " to put a clapper to one's jaw." Quelle sale il a ! how he does talk ! Faire la , to talk, "to jaw;" to question, ' or " cross-kid.' Jacter (popular and thieves'), to speak, "to rap;" to cry out; to slander. Meant formerly to boast. Jacteur, m. (popular), speaker. Jaffe,/; (popular), soup ; box on the ear. Refiler une , to box one's ears. (Thieves') Jaffes, cheeks, or "chops." Jaffier, m. (thieves'), garden, or " smelling cheat." Jaffin, m. (thieves'), gardener. Termed in English slang "master of the mint." Jaluzot, m. (general), umbrella, or "rain-napper,mush, or gingham." From the name of the proprietor of the " Printemps," who, being a wealthy man, said to his shop- men that he had not the means to 212 Jambe Jarvillage. buy an umbrella. So goes an idiotic song : II n'a pas de Jaluzpt, Ca ya bien quand il fait beau, Mais quand il tombe de 1'eau, II est trempe jusqu'aux os. Jambe, f, (popular), de vin, intoxi- cation. S'en aller sur une , to drink only a glass or a bottle of wine. (Thieves') Jambe en 1'air (obsolete), the gallows, " scrag, nobbing - cheat, or government signpost." (Familiar and popu- lar) Lever la , to dance the can- can, see Chahut ; is said also of a girl who leads a fast, disrepu- table sort of life. Faire de vin had formerly the signification of to drink heavily, " to swill." Des ce matin, messieurs, j'ai fait jambe de vin. LA RAPINIERK. Jambes de coq, thin legs, "spindle- shanks." Jambes de coton, weak legs. Jambes en manche de veste, bandy legs. (Military) Sortir sur les jambes d'un autre, to be confined to barracks or to the guard-room. Jambinet, m. (railway porters'), coffee with brandy. Jambon, m. (popular), violin. (Military) Faire un , to break one's musket, a crime sometimes punished by incorporation in the compagnies de discipline in Africa. Jambonneau, m. (popular), ne plus avoir de chapelure sur le , to be bald. For synonymous terms see Avoir. Jambot, m. (obsolete), penis. The term is used by Villon. J a PP. / (popular), prattling, "jaw." Tais ta , hold your "jaw," " put a clapper to your mug," or "don't shoot off your mouth" (American). Japper (popular), to scream, to squall. Jardin, m. (popular), faire du , to quiz, " lo carry on." Jardinage, m. (popular), running down, slandering. Jardiner (thieves' and cads'), to slander ; to run down ; to quiz. Les gonciers qui nous jardinent, 1' s'ront vraiment j'tes. RICHEPIN. Jardiner quelqu'un, to make one talk so as to elicit his secrets from him, to " pump " one. Jardineur, m. (popular and thieves'), man who seeks to discover a secret ; inquisitive man, a kind of " Paul Pry." Jardinier, m. (thieves'), see Jar- dineur ; a thief who operates in the manner described at the word " charriage." Jargolle, or jergole, / (thieves'), Normandy. Jargollier, m. (thieves'), a native of Normandy. Jargouiller (thieves'), /* talk in- coherently. Jarguer (thieves'). See Jars. Jarnaffe,/ (thieves'), garter. Jarretiere,/ (thieves'), ivatchchain, or "slang." Jars, m. (thieves'), cant, or "flash." Devider, jaspinerle , orjarguer, to talk cant, "to patter flash." Entraver or enterver le , to understand cant. The language of thieves is also termed " thieves' Latin," as appears from the follow- ing quotation : " Go away," I heard her say, " there's a dear man," and then something about a "queer cuffin," that's a justice m these canters' thieves' Latin. KINGSLEV, West- ward Ho. Entendre le had formerly the signification of to be cunning. Jarvillage, m. (thieves'), conversa- tion ; dirt. An illustrious Eng- lishman, whose name I forget, Jarviller Jerusalem . 213 gave once the definition of dirt as "matter in the wrong place." Jarviller (thieves'), to converse, " to rap ;" to dirty. Jasante,/! (thieves'), prayer. Jaser (thieves'), to pray. Jaspin, or gy (thieves'), yes, or "usher." Y a-t-il un castu dans cette vergne? Jaspin. Le Jargon de t Argot. (Is tltere an hospital in this country ? Yes.) The word has also the meaning of chat, language, "jaw." J'ai bien que'qu' part un camerluche Qu'est dab dans la magistrat'muche. Son jaspin esbloque les badauds. KICHEPIN. Jaspinement, m. (thieves'), bark- ing of a dog. Jaspiner (thieves'), to talk, to speak, " to rap, to patter." Termed also "debagouler, devider, gazouiller, jacter, jardiner, baver, tenir le crachoir ;" bigorne, to talk in slang, "to patter flash." Lecabe jaspine, the dog barks. Jaspiner de 1'orgue, to inform against, "to blow the gaff. " Jaspineur, m. (thieves'), talker; orator. Jaune, m. (thieves'), summer; (popular) brandy. See Tord- boyaux. Jaune,0/ greenhorn, " flat." Langue, f. (familiar), verte, slang of gamesters. Also slang. The expression is Delvau's. (Popular) Avaler sa , to die, " to kick the bucket." See Pipe. Prendre sa des dimanches, to use choice language. (Familiar and popular) Une fourree, lingua duplex, id est quum basiis lingua lingua pro- miscetur (RiGAUD). Languineur, m. (popular), man whose functions are to examine the tongues of pigs at the slaughter- house to ascertain that they are not diseased. Lansquailler (thieves'). See Las- cailler. Lansque (popular), abbreviation of lansquenet. Lansquinage, m. (thieves'), weep- ing. Lansquine, f. (thieves'), rain, or "parny." Aussi j'suis gai quand la lansquine, M'a trempd T'cuir, j'm'essuie 1 e"chine Dans 1'vent qui passe et m'fait joli. RICHEPIN. -'222 Lansquiner Lapin. -Lansquiner (thieves' and cads'), to rain ; des chasses, to weep, " to nap a bib." Lanteoz (Breton cant), butter. L,anterne, f. (popular), -window, ' ' jump. " Radouber la , to talk, to tattle. The expression is old. Avoir la , or se taper sur la , to be hungry, "to be bandied, or to cry cupboard." Vieille , old prostitute. See Gadoue. (Popu- lar) Lanternes de cabriolet, large goggle eyes. Oh ! c'est vrai ! t'as les yeux comme les lanternes de ton cabriolet. GAVARNI. Lantimeche, m. (popular), lamp- lighter ; also a word equivalent to " thingumbob." II a file avec pour mener les poules pisser, a derisive reply to one inquiring about the whereabouts of a person. Lanturlu, m. (popular), madcap. Laou Pharaou (Breton cant), body lice. Lapin, m. (popular), apprentice. Des lapins, shoes, or " trotter- cases." (Familiar and popular) Lapin, a clever or sturdy fellow. Ah ! tu es un lapin ! . . . lui disaient tous ceux qu'il abordait, il parait que tu viens de faire une fameuse decouverte ! on .park de toi pour la croix ! E. GABORIAU, M. Lecoq. Etre en , to ride by the side of the coachman. Un de gouttiere, cat, or " long-tailed beggar." Coller or poser un , to deceive, to take in, "to bilk." It is said the expression draws its origin from the practice of certain sportsmen who used to in- vite themselves to dinner at some friend's house in the country, and repaid their host by leaving a rabbit as a compensation. The Slang Dictionary says that when a person gets the worst of a bargain te is said " to have bought the rabbit," from an old story about a man selling a cat to a foreigner for a rabbit. With reference to deceiving prostitutes the act is described in the English slang as "doing a bilk." Je vous demande pardon, mais le vocable est consacre". "Poser un lapin" fut long- temps une definition malseante, bannie des salons oil Ton cause. Maintenant, elle est admise entre gens de bonne compagnie, et le lapin cesse, dans les mots, de braver 1'honnetete. MAXIME BOUCHERON. Un fameux, or rude , a strong fearless man, one who is "spry." L'homme qui me rendra reveuse pourra de vanter d'etre un rude lapin. GAVARNI. Also a man who begets many chil- dren. Voler au , or etouffer un , is said of a bus conductor who swindles his employers by pocketing part of the fares. Mon vieux ! old fellow! ' ' old cock ! " (Thieves') Lapin ferre, mounted gendarme. (Printers') Manger un , to attend a comrade's funeral. Cette locution vient sans doute de ce que, i Tissue de la ceremonie funebre, les assistants se reunissaient autrefois dans quelque restaurant avoisinant le cimetiere et, en guise de repas de funerailles, man- geaient un lapin plus ou moins authentique. BOUTMY. Concerning this expression, there is an anecdote of a typo who was lying in hospital at the point of death, and who informed his sor- rowing friends that he would try and wait till the Friday morning, so that they might have all the Saturday and Sunday for the fune- ral feast. Je tacherai d'aller jusqu'k demain soir . . . parceque les amis auraient ainsi samedi et dimanche pour boulotter mon "lapin." Cela ne vaut-il pas le " plaudite ! " de Pern- pereur Auguste, ou le " Baisscz le rideau, la farce est jouee ! " de notre vieux Rabe- lais? BOUTMY. (Familiar and popular) C'est le qui a commence is said ironi- Lapiner Largne. 223 cally in allusion to a difference or fight between a strong man and a weak one, -when the latter is worsted and blamed into the bargain, A cartoon of the late artist Gill, on the occasion of the assassination of Victor Noir by Pierre Bonaparte in the last days of the Third Em- pire, depicted the two principal actors in that mysterious affair under the features of a fierce bull- dog and a rabbit, with the saying, " C'est le lapin qui a commence," for a text line. Lapiner (general), to cheat a prosti- tute by not paying her her dues, Laqueuse,/. (familiarand popular), cocotte who walks in the vicinity of the lake at the Bois de Boulogne. See Gadoue. Larantque, m, (popular and thieves'), two-franc coin, Larbin, m. (general), man-servant, footman, " flunkey," or " bone- picker." Le savoureux Lebeau . . . ancien valet de pied aux Tuileries, laissait voir le hideux larbin qu'il etait, apre au gain et a la curee. A. DAUDET, Les Rois en Exit. (Popular) Larbin savonne, knave of cards, Larbine,y; (popular), maid-servant, " slavey." Larbinerie, f, (familiar), set of ser- vants, "flunkeydom, or flun- keyism. " Larcottier, m. (old cant), one who yields too often to the promptings of a well-developed bump of amative- ness, a " beard-splitter." JLard, m, (popular), disreputable woman ; mistress ; skin, or body. Sauver son , to save one's "bacon." Perdre son , to be- come thin. Faire son , to put an a conceited look. (General) Faire du , to lie in bed of a morning. (Thieves') Manger du , to inform against, " to turn snitch." Larda (Breton cant), to beat. Larde, m. (popular), un aux pommes, mess of potatoes and bacon. Au pnx ou sont les lardes aux pommes aux trente-neuf marmites. Tarn- Tarn du 6 Juin, 1880. Lardee, f. (printers'), composition full of italics and roman. Larder (obsolete), explained by quotation : Terme libre, qui signifie, faire le de'duit, se divertir avec une femme. LE Roux, Diet. Comique. (Popular and military) to pierce with a sword or knife. Se faire , to be stabbed or to receive a sword- thrust. Lardives, f.pl. (prostitutes') , female companions of prostitutes. Apres tout, mes lardives ne valent pas mieux que moi et leurs megs valent le pante que j'ai lache parcequ'il m'embetait. Memoires de Monsieur Claude. Lardoire, f, (popular), sword, or " toasting fork." Large, adj. and m. (popular), il est , mais c'est des e'paules is said ironically of a close-fisted man. N'en pas mener , to be ill at ease ; crest-fallen. Envoyer quel- qu'un au , to send one to the deuce. Largonji, m. (thieves'), cant, slang. Properly the word jargon dis- guised by a process described under the heading Lampagne (which see). Largue, f. (popular and thieves'), woman, " hay-bag, cooler, shake- ster, or laced mutton. " Concern- ing the word Michel says : " Je crains bien qu'une pensee obscene 224 L a rguepeL a tin. n'ait preside a la creation de ce mot : ce qui me le fait soup9onner, c'est que je lis, p. 298 du Hvre d'Antoine Oudin, ' Loger au large, d'une femme qui a grand .... or, large se pronon^ait largue a 1'ita- lienne et a 1'espagnole des le xiv c siecle.'" Deux mots avaient suffi. Ces deux mots e"taient : vos largues et votre aubert, vos femmes et votre argent, le resume de toutes les affections vraies de 1'homme. BALZAC. Largue, mistress, or "poll;" d'alteque, handsome woman, or " dimbermort ;" en panne, forsaken woman, or a " moll that has been buried ;" en vidange, female in childbed, or " in the straw." Balancer une , to for- sake a mistress, "to bury a moll." (Sailors') Grand' , excellent, "out and out." C'est grand' et vrai marin, it is "out and out," and quite sailor- like. Larguepe, /. (thieves'), prostitute, or thief' 's wife, " mollisher." See Gadoue. According to Michel this word is formed of largue, woman, and putain, whore. Larme du compositeur, /. (printers'), comma. Larnac, arnac, or arnache, m. (thieves'), police officer, "copper," or " reeler." Rousse a 1' , de- tective. For synonymous expres- sions see Vache. Larque, f. (roughs'), woman, or ' ' cooler ; " registered prostitute. A corruption of largue. See Gadoue. Larrons, m. pi. (printers'), odd pieces of paper which adhere to sheets in the press, producing " moines " or blanks. Lartif, lartie, larton, m. (thieves'), bread, "pannum." Termed also "briffe, broute, pierre dure, artie, arton, brignolet, bringue, boule de son, bricheton." Lartille a plafond, /. (thieves'), pastry. Lartin, m. (old cant), beggar, " maunderer." Larton, m. (thieves'), bread, "pannum;" brutal, black bread ; savonne, white bread. Lartonnier, m. (thieves'), baker. From larton, bread. In the Eng- lish popular lingo a "dough- puncher." Lascailler (thieves'), to void urine, " to pump ship." For synonyms see Lacher. Lascar, m. (military), bold, devil- may-care fellmu. Aliens, mes- lascars ! now, boys ! Alors 51 se frottait les mains, faisait des. blagues, ricanait : Eh ! eh ! mes lascars, il y a du bon pour le " chose," ce soir ! G. COURTELINE. The term is also used dispa- ragingly with the signification of bad soldiers. La-dessus, en arriere, a droite, et \ gauche . . . marche ! A vos ecuries, tas de lascars. G. COURTELINE. (Thieves') Lascar, fellow. Tous les lascars a 1'atelier pouvaient tur- biner a leur gre". Moi, je n'avais pas plus tot le dos tourne a mon ouvrage pour grignoter mon lartif (pain) ou pour chiquer mon Saint- pere (tabac), que le louchon etait sur mon dos pour m'ecoper. Memoires de Mon- sieur Claude. Las de chier, m. (popular), grand , big skulking fellow without any energy. Laten (Breton slang), tongue. Latenni (Breton slang), to chatter. Latif, m. (thieves'), white linen, "lully," or "snowy." Latin, m. (thieves'), lingo, cant, "flash, thieves' Latin." The word meant formerly language. L atine L azagne. 22$ Latine,y; (students'), student's mis- tress. From " Quartier Latin," a part of Paris where students mostly dwell. Latte,yi (military), cavalry sword. Se ficher un coup de , to fight a duel. Laumir (old cant), to lose, " to blew." Laune, in. (thieves'), police officer, or " copper." For synonymous expressions see Pot-a-tabac. Laure,/! (thieves'), brothel, "nanny- shop, or academy." Concerning the inmates of a clandestine esta- blishment of that description in London, Mr. James Greenwood says : They belong utterly and entirely to the devil in human shape who owns the den that the wretched harlot learns to call her "home." You would never dream of the deplorable depth of her destitution if you met her in her gay attire . . . she is abso- lutely poorer than the meanest beggar that ever whined for a crust. These women are known as "dress lodgers." The Seven Curses of London. Lavabe, m. (popular), note of hand; theatre ticket at reduced price given to people who in return agree to applaud at a given signal. Lavage, m., or lessive,/. (gene- ral), sale of one's property ; also sale of property at considerable loss. Barbet n'avait pas prevu ce lavage ; il croyait au talent de Lucien BALZAC. Lavares (thieves'), for laver, to sell stolen property. Nous irons a lavares la camelote chez le four- gueur, we -will go and sell the pro- perty at the receiver's. Lavasse, /. (popular), soup; senatoriale, rich soup ; presi- dentielle, very rich soup. Lavement, m. (popular), au verre pile, glass of rank brandy ; (fami- liar and popular), troiiblesoine man or bore ; (military) adjutant. Laver (general), to spend ; to sell. Vous avez pour quarante francs de loges et de billets a vendre, et pour soixante francs de livres a laver au journal. BALZAC. (Thieves') Laver la camelote, or les fourgueroles, to sell stolen pro- perty, " to do the swag ;" son linge, to give oneself up after sen- tence has been passed in contuma- ciam; le linge dans lasaignante, to kill. Voici le pante que j'ai allume devant le ferlampier (bandit) mis au poteau, il faut laver son linge dans la saignante. Vite ; a vos surins, les autres ! Une fuis qu'il sera refroidi, qu'on le porte a la cave. Mt- ntoires de Monsieur Claude. Se les pieds, se les pieds au dur, or au grand pre, to be trans- ported, "to be lagged," or "to light the lumper." (Popular) Se les yeux, to drink a glass of white wine in the morning. Se le tuyau, to drink, ' ' to wet one's whistle." Va te ! go to the deuce, go to "pot!" Mon linge est lave ! I am beaten, I own I have the worst of it. (General) Laver, to sell. Lavette, /. (popular), tongue, or "red rag." Lavoir, m. (cads'), confessional. A place where one's conscience is made snow-white. (Familiar) Lavoir public, newspaper. L'avoir encore (popular). Elle 1'a encore, she has yet her maiden- head, her rose has not yet been plticked. Lazagne, orlazagen,/ (thieves'), letter, " screeve, or stiff." On appelle lasagna, en Italien, une espece de mets de pate, et Ton dit pro- verbialement "come le lasagne," comme les lasagnes, ni endroit ni envers, pour dire, on ne sail ce que c'est. On comprend que, ignorants comme ils le sontpour la plupart, let gucux aient applique cette expression Q 226 Lazaro Letez. aux lettres, qui, d'ailleurs, sont loin d'etre toujours lisibles. II y a aussi des livies appeles " di lasagne." MICHEL. Balancer une , to write a letter. Lazaro, m. (military), prison, "shop." II lui avail ouvert la porte du cachot . . . au fond il se moquait pas mal d'etre flanque au lazaro. G. COURTELINE. Lazo-ligot, m. (police), strap with a noose. Et Col-de-zinc, a 1'aspect si raide, avail 1'agi'ite" du Mexicain pour jeter le lazo- ligot, pour entourer d'un seul coup le corps et le poignet de son sujet de fagon a ce que la main restat attachee a sa hanche. Me- inoires de Monsieur Claude. Lazzi-lof, m. (thieves'), -venereal malady. Termed " French gout," or " ladies' fever," in the English slang. Leche-cure, m. (popular), bigot, " prayer-monger." Lechee,/ (artists'), picture minutely painted. Legitime, m. and f. (familiar), husband, or "oboleklo ;" wife, or "tart. " Manger sa , to squander one's fortune. Legume, m. (military), gros , field officer, or "bloke." An al- lusion to his epaulets, termed "graine d'epinards." Legumiste, m. (familiar), vegeta- rian. Lem, parler en , mode of dis- guising words by prefixing the letter "1," and adding the syllable " em " preceded by the first letter of the word ; thus ' ' boucher " becomes " loucherbem." This mode was first used by butchers, and is now obsolete. See Lam- pagne. Lenquetr6, m. (thieves'), thirty sous. The word " trente " dis- guised. Lentille, /. (thieves'), grosse , moon, "parish lantern." Leon, m. (thieves'), the president of the assize court. Lermon, m. (thieves'), tin. Lermonner (thieves'), to tin. Lesbien, m. (literary), formerly termed lesbin, explained by quo- tation : Lesbin, pour dire un jeune homme ou garcpn qui sert de sucube a un autre et qui sounre qu'on commette la sodomie sur lui. LE Roux, Diet. Comique. Lesbienne,/. (common). Rigaud says : " Femme qui suit les erre- ments de Sapho ; celle qui cultive le genre de depravation attribue a Sapho la Lesbienne." Lescailler. See Lascailler. Ldsebombe, orlesee, f. (popular), prostitute, or "mot." For synony- mous expressions see Gadoue. Lessivage, m. (popular), selling of property ; (thieves') pleading. Lessivant, m. (thieves'), counsel, or " mouthpiece." Lessive, f. (popular), de gascon, doubtful cleanliness. Faire la , to turn one's dirty shirt-collar or cuffs on the clean side. (Literary) Faire sa , to sell books sent to one by authors. (Thieves') Lessive, speech for the defence. The pri- soner compares himself to dirty linen, to be washed snow-white by the counsel. Lessiver (thieves'), is said of a bar- rister who pleads in behalf of a prisoner. Se faire , to be cleaned out at some game, "to have blewed one's tin," or "to be a muck-snipe," or in sporting slang a " muggins." Lessiveur, m. (thieves'), counsel, or " mouthpiece. " Literally one who washes. Letern (Breton cant), eye. Letez (Breton cant), countryman. L etezen L icher. 227 Letezen (Breton cant), pancake. Lettre, / (thieves'), de Jerusalem, letter written by a prisoner to someone outside the prison, to re- quest that some money may be sent him; de couronne (obsolete), cup. Levage, m. (popular), swindle; successful gallantly. Leve, adj. (general), had formerly the signification of to be tracked by a bailiff who has found one 's where- abouts. Levee, f. (popular), wholesale arrest of prostitutes. Leve-pieds, m. (thieves'), ladder ; steps, or "dancers." Embarder sur le , to go down the steps, ' ' to lop down the dancers." Lever (printers'), la lettre, or les petits clous, to compose ; (popular) boutique, to set up as a trades- man. Un Toulousain . . . jeune perruquier de- vore d'ambition, vint a. Paris, et y leva boutique (je me sers de votre arjjot). BALZAC. Lever des chopins, to find some profitable stroke of business ; la jambe, to dance the cancan ; le bras, to be dissatisfied ; le pied, to abscond; (familiar and popular) une femme, to find a woman willing to accord her favours ; quelquechose, to sttal something, " to wolf;" (military) les balu- chons, to go away ; (prostitutes') un miche, to find a client, " to pick up a flat." Leveur, m. (popular), pickpocket, ''buzcove." SeeGrinche. Leveur " de femmes, a Don Giovanni in a small way, or a "molrower." (Printers') Bjn , skilled typo- grapher. Un bon leveur est un ouvrier qui com- pose bien et vite. BOUTMY. . Leveuse,/ (familiar and popular), a flash girl. Levure,/ (popular), flight. Faire la , to run away, " to ske- daddle," "to mizzle." Lezard, m. (popular), an untrust- worthy friend ; dog stealer. Le lizard vole des chiens courants, des epagneuls et surtout des levrettes. II ne livre jamais sa proie sans recevoir la somme dclaree. Alinanach du Dibiteur. Faire son , to doze in the day- time like a lizard basking in the sun. (Thieves') Faire le , to take to flight, "to make beef." See Patatrot. Un , a traitor, a "snitcher." L6zardes, f. pi. (printers'), white spaces. Rales blanches produites dans la com- position par la rencontre fortuite d'espaces placees les unes au-dessous des autres. BOUTMY. Lezine, f. (thieves'), cheating at a game. Leziner (thieves'), to cheat, "to bite;" to hesitate, "to funk." Libretailleur, m. (familiar), a libretto writer of poor ability. Lice, f. (popular), lecherous girl. Literally bitch. Lichade, f. (popular), embrace. Lichance,/. (popular), hearty meal, "tightener." From licher, equi- valent to lecher, to lick. Liche, /. (popular), excessive eat- ing or drinking. Etre en , to be "on the booze." Licher (familiar and popular), to drink, " to lush." See Rirtcer. II a liche" tout' la bouteille, Rien n'est sacre" pour un sapeur. Parisian Song. 228 L icheu r L imonade. Licheur, m. (familiar and popular), gormandizer. The term is very old. Lichoter un rigolboche (popu- lar), to make a hearty meal, or "tightener." Lie de froment,/. (popular), ex- crement, or "quaker." Liege, m. (thieves'), gendarme. Lierchem (cads'), to ease oneself. An obscene word disguised. See Lem. Lignante,/. (thieves'), life. Ce mot . . . vient de la ligne, dite de vie, que les bohemiens consultaient sur la main de ceux auxquels its disaient la bonne aventure. M ICH EL. Lignard, m. (familiar and popular), foot-soldier of the line ; journalist ; (printers') compositor who has to deal only with the body fart of a composition ; (artists') artist who devotes his attention more to the perfection of the outline than to that of colour ; (popular) rodfisher. Ligne, f. (artists'), avoir la , to have a fine profile. (Literary) Pecher a la , or tirer a la , is said of a journalist who seeks to make an article as lengthy as pos- sible. (Popular) Pecher a la d'argent is said of an angler who catches fish by means of a money bait, at the fishmonger's. (Printers') Ligne a voleur, line containing only a syllable, or a very short word, which might have been com- posed into the preceding line. Les lignes a voleur sont faciles a recon- naitre, et elles n'echappent guere a 1'oeil d'un correcteur exerce, qui les casse d'or- dinaire impitoyablement. BOUTMV. Ligore,/. (thieves'), assize court. Ligorniau, m. (popular), hodman. Ligot. See Ligotante. Ligotage, m. (police), binding a prisoner's hands by means of a rvfe or strap. Ligotante, or ligotte, f. (thieves'), rope, or strap ; bonds ; - - de rifle, or riflarde, strait waistcoat. Ligoter (police and thieves'), to- bind a prisoner's hands by mean; of ropes or straps. Nul mieux que lui ne sayait prendre un malfaiteur sans 1'abimer, ni lui mettre les. poucettes sans douleur ou le ligoter sans effort. Memoires de Monsieur Claude. Ligotte, f. (thieves'), rope ; string ; strap. Lillange (thieves'), town of Lille. Lillois, m. (thieves'), thread. Limace, f. (popular), low prosti- tute, or " draggle-tail ; " soldier's wench, or "barrack-hack," see Gadoue ; (thieves') shirt, " flesh- bag, or commission." From the Romany "lima," according tc* Michel. Limacier, m., limaciere, f. t (thieves'), shirt - maker. From limace, a shirt. Limande,/; (popular), man made of poor stuff ; one who fawns. From, limande, a kind of sole (fish). Lime, f. (thieves'), for limace,. shirt, or "commission" in old English cant; sourde, sly, under- hand man. The expression is old,, and is used by Rabelais : Mais, qui pis est, les oultragearent grande- ment, les appellants trop-diteux, bresche- dents, plaisants rousseaulx, galiiers, chie- en-licts, averlans, limes sourdes. Gar- gantua. Limer (familiar and popular), to- talk with difficulty ; to do a thing- slowly. Literally to file. Limogere, f. (thieves'), chamber- maid. Limonade, f. (popular), water, or " Adam's ale ; " the trade of at " limonadier," or proprietor of a small cafe. Tomber, or se plaquer L imonadier de posterieu rs L iqneur. 229 dans la , to fall into the -water ; to be ruined, or ' ' gone a mucker. " (Thieves') Limonade, flannel vest; de linspre, champagne. " Linspre " is the word " prince " disguised. Limonadier de posterieurs, m. (popular), apothecary. Formerly apothecaries performed the " cly- sterium donare " of Moliere's Malade Imaginaire. Limousin, or limousinant, m. (popular), mason. It must be mentioned that most of the Paris masons hail from Limousin. Limousine,/ (thieves'), sheet lead on roofs, or "flap." Termed also "saucisson, gras-double." Limousineur, m. (thieves'), thief who steals sheet-leadroofing. Called also " voleur au gras-double," a " bluey faker," or one who " flies the blue pigeon." See Grinche. Linge, m. (familiar and popular), faire des efifets de , to display one's body linen with affectation. Un bock sans , or sans faux- col, a glass of beer without any head. A request for such a thing is often made in the Paris cafes, where the microscopic "bocks" or " choppes " are topped by gigantic heads. Se payer un convenable, to have a stylish mis- tress, an " out-and-out tart." (Popular) Un a regies, a dirty, slatternly woman. Resserrer son , to die. (Thieves') Avoir son lave, to be caught, apprehended, or " smugged." Linge, adj. (popular), etre , to have plenty of fine linen. Lingre, or lingue, m. (thieves'), knife, or " chive." From Langres, a manufacturing town. The sy- nonyms are " linve, trente-deux, vingt-deux, chourin or surin, scion, coupe - sifflet, pliant." Jouer du , to stab, " to stick, or to chive." Lingrer, or linguer (thieves'), to stab, " to stick, or to chive." Lingriot, m. (thieves'), penknife. Linguarde, f. (popular), woman with a soft tongue. Lingue, m. (thieves'), knife, or " chive." Linspre, m. (thieves'), prince. See Limonade. Linve, m. (popular), loussem, twenty sous. The words "vingt sous " distorted. Un , a franc ; " un lenquetre " being one franc and fifty centimes, or thirty sous, and "un larantque," two francs, or forty sous. These expressions are respectively the words un, trente, quarante, disguised. Lion, m. (familiar), dandy of 1840. Fosse aux lions, box at the opera occupied by men of fashion. For synonymous terms see Gom- meux. Lionnerie, f. (familiar), fashion- able world. Lipete, f. (popular), prostitute, " mot," or " common Jack." See Gadoue. Lipette, f. (popular), mason. Termed also ligorgniot. Lipper (popular), to visit several wine-shops in succession. Liquette, or limace,/ (thieves'), shirt, in old English cant ' ' com- mission." Decarrer le centred'une , to obliterate the marking of a skirt. Liqueur, f. (popular), cache-bon- bon a , dandy's stick-up collar. A malevolent allusion to scrofula abcesses on the neck. 230 Lire Looser rue du Croissant. Lire (familiar), aux astres, to musr, " to go wool-gathering ; " (fami- liar and popular) le journal, to go without a dinner ; le Moniteur, to wait patiently. (Printers') Lire, to note proposed alterations in a proof; en premiere, to correct the first proof ; en seconde, or en bon, to correct a second proof on which the author has written "for press." (Thieves') Savoir , to have one's wits about one, " to know what's o'clock." Lisette, f. (thieves'), long -waist- coat ; sword, or "poker." Lisserpem (roughs'), to void urine. The word " pisser" disguised by prefixing the letter " 1," and add- ing the syllable " em " preceded by the first letter of the word. Listard, m. (journalists'), one in favour of " scrutin de liste," or mode of voting for the election wholesale of all the representatives in parliament of a " departement. " For instance, the Paris electors have to vote for a list of over thirty members. Lit, m. (popular), etre sous le , to be mistaken. Lithographier (popular), se , to fall, " to come a cropper." Litrer, or itrer (thieves'), to have. Litronner (popular), to drink wine. From litron, a wine measure. Litronneur, m. (popular), one who is too fond of the bottle. Litterature jaune (familiar), the so-called Naturalist literature. Litteraturier, m. (familiar), a lite- rary man after a fashion. Livraison,/; (popular), avoir une de bois devant sa porte, to have well-developed breasts, to be possessed of fine " Charlies." Livre, m. (popular), des quatre rois, pack of cards, " book of briefs," or " Devil's books ;" rouge, police registration book in which the names of authorized prostitutes are inscribed. Etre in- scrite dans le rouge, to be a registered prostitute. (Free- masons') Livre d 'architecture, led- ger of a lodge. (Sharpers') Livre, one hundred francs. Loa vihan (Breton cant), coffee. Locandier, m. (thieves'). Called also " voleuraubonjour ) "M//~7f/fo visits apartments in the morning, and who when caught pretends to have entered the wrong rooms by mistake. See Grinche. Loche, f. (popular), mou comma une , slow, phlegmatic, ' ' lazy- bones. " (Thieves') Loche, ear, or "wattle." Properly loach or groundling. Locher (thieves'), to listen ; (popu- lar) to totter, "to be groggy." Locomotive, /. (popular), great smoker. Lof, loff, loffard, loffe, m. (popu- lar), fool, or " bounder." " Lof" is the anagram of " fol." A hit le coq, . . . pour inventer des em- blemes . . . quand j'y pense, fallait-il que je fusse loff pour donner dans un godan pareil ! Memoires de Vidocq. Loffat, m. (popular), apprentice. Loffiat, m. (popular), blockhead, or ' ' cabbage-head. " Loffi tude, / (thieves'), stupidity ; nonsense. Bonisseur de loffi- tudes, nonsense-monger. Solliceur de loffitudes, journalist. Loge infernale, / (theatrical), box occupied by young men of fashion. Loger rue du Croissant (fami- liar and popular), is said of tin Logis du moutrot Lorgnette. 231 injured husband, or " buckface." An allusion to the horns of the moon. Logis du moutrot, m. (thieves'), police court. Loir, m. (thieves'), prison, "stir, or Bastile." See Motte. Lokard (Breton cant), peasant. Loko (Breton cant), brandy. Lolo, m. (thieves'), chief, or "dim- ber damber ; " (popular) cocotte, or "mot." See Gadoue. Fifi , large iron cylinder in which, the contents of cesspools are carried away by the scavengers. (Mili- tary) Gros Iclos, cuirassiers. Lombard, m. (popular), conimis- sionnaire of the "Mont de Piete," or government fawning establish- ment. Loncegue, m. (thieves' and cads'), man, " cove ;" master of a house, "boss." The word gonce dis- guised. Lonceguem,/. (thieves' and cads'), woman, or "hay-bag;" mistress of a house. Long, m. and adj. (popular), sim- pleton, greenhorn. Etes - vous loge et nourri ? Oui, le du mur. Do you get board and lodging? Yes, at my mutt expense. (Th ie ves') Long, stupid / blockhead, or ' ' go along." Abbreviation of long a comprendre. Longchamps, m.,. a long corridor of w.c.'s at the Ecole Polytech- nique ; (popular) a procession. Longe, f, (thieves'), year, or "stretch." Tirer line , to do one ' ' stretch " in prison. Longe, adj. (popular), old. Longin, or Saint-Longin, m, (popular), sluggard. Longine, or Sainte-Longine, f. (popular), sluggish woman. Longuette de trefe, f. (thieves'), roll of tobacco, or " twist of fogus." Lophe, adj. (thieves'), false ; counterfeit, "flash." Un fafiot , a forged bank-note, or "queer screen." Lopin, /. (popular), spittle, or "gob." Loque, m. (thieves'), parler en , mode of disguising words. The word is preceded by the letter "1," and the syllable preceded by the first letter of the word is added. Thus " fou " becomes " lou- foque." Loques, f. //. (thieves'), pieces of copper. Lorcefe,/. (thieves'), old prison of " La Force." La des largues, the prison of Saint -Lazare, where prostitutes and unfaithful wives are confined, Eh bien ! si je te la fourrais a la lorcefe des largues (Saint-Lazare) pour un an, le temps de ton gerbemenl. BALZAC. Lordant. See Lourdier. Loret, m. (popular), lover of a lorette. Lorette, f. (familiar), more than fast girl, or " mot," named after the Quartier Notre Dame tie Lo- rette, the Paris Pimlico. See Gadoue. Lorgne, orlorgne-be, m. (thieves'), vne-eyed man. In English slang "a seven-sided animal;" the ace of cards, or " pig's eye." Lorgnette, f. (thieves'), keyhole, this natural receptacle for a key being considered by thieves as an aperture convenient only for making investigations from the outside of a door. Etui a , coffin, or "cold -meat box." Etein- dre ses deux lorgnettes, to close one's eyes. 232 L orquet L onpe. Lorquet, m. (popular), sou. Lot, m. (popular), venereal disease. Lou, or loup, m. (popular), faire un , to spoil a piece of work. Louanek (Breton cant), brandy. Louave, ;;/. (thieves'), drunkard. Etre , to be drunk, "to be canon." Faire un , to rob a drunkard. Rogues who devote their energies to this kind of thieving are termed "bug-hunters." Loubac, m. (popular), apprentice. Loubion, m. (thieves'), bonnet or hat. See Tubard. Loubionnier, m. (thieves'), hat or bsnnet maker. Louche, /. (thieves'), hand, or ' ' duke." La , the police, or "reelers." La le renifle, the police are tracing him, he is getting a " roasting." Louchee, f. (thieves'), spoonful. From louche, a soup ladle. Loucher (popular), de la bouche, to have a constrained, insin- cere smile; de 1'epaule, to be a humpback, or a "lord;" de la jambe, to. be lame. Faire un homme, to inspire a man ivith carnal desire. Loucherbem, m. (popular and thieves'), the word boucher dis- guised, see Lem ; butcher. .Cor- billard des , see Corbillard. Louchon, m., louchonne, f. (popular), person who squints, one with "swivel-eyes." Louffer (popular and thieves'), to joist, "to fizzle." Si tu louffes en- core sans dire fion je te passe a t ravers, if you "fizzle" again without apologizing I'll thrash you. Louffiat, m. (popular), low cad. Termed in the English slang a "rank outsider." Loufoque, adj. and m. (popular and thieves'), mad, or "cracked, balmy, or one off his chump." The word fou disguised by means of the syllable loque. See Loque. Si nos doch" etaient moins vieilles, On les ferait plaiser, Mais les pauv' loufoques balaient Les gras d'nos laisees. RICHEPIN. Louille, f. (thieves'), prostitute, or "bunter." See Gadoue. Louis, f. and in. (bullies'), une , a bully's mistress, a prostitute. Abbreviation of Louis XV. , women in brothels often powdering and dressing their hair Louis XV. fashion. See Gadoue. J'couch' que'qu'fois sous des ventures ; Mais on attrap' du cambouis. J'veux pas ch' linguer la peinture Quand j'suc' la pomme a ma Louis. RICHEPIN. (Popular) Un d'or, himp of excrement, or "quaker." Louisette,yi, old appellation of the guillotine. Louiza (Breton cant), water. Loup, m. (popular), mistake ; debt ; creditor, or ' ' dun ; " misfit, or piece of work which has been spoilt ; (printers') lack of type ; debt ; cre- ditor. Faire un , is to buy on credit. Le jour de la banque, le creancier ou "loup" vient quelquefois guetter son de- biteur (nous alhons dire sa proie) a la sortie de 1'atelier pour reclamer ce qui lui est du. Quand la reclamation a lieu a 1'atelier, ce qui est devenu tres rare, les compositeurs donnent a leur camarade et au creancier une " roul , or " clunch fist. " With a bad thumb, of course, it is difficult to " fork ' out, to down with the dust, to sport the rhino, to tip the brads, or even to stump the pewter." Maladie,/. (familiar and popular), de neuf mois, pregnancy, or " white swelling." The allusion is obvious. (Popular) Maladie ! Maladroits Manche. 239 an ejaculation of disgust which may lie rendered by " rot ! " (Thieves') Maladie, imprison rnent, the con- vict being an inmate of "1'hopi- tal, " or prison. Maladroits, m. pi. (cavalry), son- nerie des , trumpet call for infantry drill, Malaisee, f. (popular), faire danser la a quelqu'un, to thrash one, " to lead one a dance." For synonyms see Voie. Malandreux, adj. (popular), ill, " seedy, or hipped ; " ill at ease. Malapatte, in. (popular), clumsy man, "cripple." Literally mal a la patte. Malastique, m. (military), dirty ; slovenly. Maldine, f. (popular), "pension bourgeoise" or boarding hottse ; boarding school. Literally a place where one does not get a good dinner. Malfrat, m. (popular), scamp, " bad egg." Malheur! (popular), an ejaculation of disgust, "rot!" "hang it all I" Malheur ! . . . Tiens, vous prenez du vent'e Ah ! bon, chaleur ! J'eomprends I'tableau ! GILL. Malingrer (thieves'), to suffer. From malingre, which formerly had the signification of ill, and now means weakly. Malingreux, adj. (popular), -weak. In olden times a variety of mendi- cants. Malingreux sont ceux qui ont des maux ou plaies, dont la plupart ne sont qu'en ap- parence ; ils truchent sur I'eiuiiTe. Le Jargon de I' Argot. Malle,/ (popular), faire sa , to die, " to kick the bucket, to snuff it, to stick one's spoon in thewall." See Pipe. (Military) Malle, lock- tip, or " mill." En voila assez, faut en finir ; tout le peloton couchera a la malle ce soir. G. COURTELINE. Malouse, / (thieves'), box, or "peter." Mal pensants (clericals'), les jour- naux , anti-clerical newspapers. Les journaux "mal pensants" ne man- quent jaraais de relater ces esclandres. Aussi, pour que la quantite ne puisse en etre connue, I'archeveque a autorise les pretres du diocese a ne pas porter la ton- sure. L6o TAXIL. Mal-rases, m. pi. (military), sap- pers ; thus called on account of their long beards. Maltais, m. (popular), low eating- house, a "grub ken." Maltaise, or maltese,/! (old cant), gold coin. According to V. Hugo, the coin was used on board the convict galleys of Malta. Hence the expression. Maltouse, or maltouze, / (thieves'), smuggling. Pastiquer la , to smuggle. Maltousier, m. (thieves'), smug- gler. Malvas, m. (popular), scamp. From the Proven9al. Malzingue, m. (thieves'), landlord of wine-shop ; wine-shop. Aliens, venez casser un grain de raisin. Nous entrames chez le malzingue le plus voisin. VIDOCQ. (Come and have a glass of wine. We entered the first wine-shop we came to.) Man (Breton cant), to kiss. Manche, m. and f. (popular). De- poser ses bouts de , to die, " to kick the bucket." For synonyms see Pipe. (Mountebanks') Faire la , to make a collection of money, or "break." 240 Manchette Manger. La fille du harde fait la manche. Elle promene sa sebille de fer-blanc devant les spectateurs. HENRI MONNIF.R. From la buona mancia of the Italians, says Michel, which has the signification of a gratuity allowed a workman or guide, and " present " asked by a prostitute. (Familiar and popular) Le , the master. Jambes en manches de veste, bandy legs. (Thieves') Faire la , to beg, M'est avis que vous avez manque le bon, 1'autre sorgue. Quoi, le birbe qui avail 1'air de faire la manche dans les garnaffes et les pipes. VIDOCQ. (My opinion is that you missed the right man the other night. Why, the old felloiv who pretended to be begging in the farms and mansions.) Manchette, /. (military), coup de , a certain clever sword cut on the wrist. Une . . . deux . . . parez celui-la, c'est le coup de flanc. Ah ! ah ! pas assez malin. Voiia le coup de manchette ! Pif ! paf ! ga y est. H. FRANCE, L'Homme qui tue. Mancheur, m. (popular), street tumbler ; thus called on account of his living on the proceeds of "la manche," or collection. Manchon, ;. (popular), large head of hair. Avoir des vers dans son , to have bald patches on one's head. Mandarin, m. (literary), imaginary person who serves as a butt for attacks. Tuer le , to be guilty ', by thought, of a bad action. An allusion to the joke about a ques- tion as to one's willingness to kill a wealthy man at a distance by merely pressing a knob, and afterwards inheriting his money. Mandibules, /. //. (popular), jouer des , to eat, "to grub." See Mastiquer. Mandole, f. (popular), smack in the face. Jeter une , to give a smack in the face, "to fetch a wipe in the mug," or, as the Americans have it, " to give a biffin the jaw." Mandolet, m. (thieves'), pistol, " barking-iron, or pop." Manego (Breton cant), handcuffs, or " darbies." Manette, f. (popular), Mademoi- selle , a portmanteau, or "peter." Mangeoire, /. (popular), eating- house, " grubbing-crib." Manger (theatrical), du sucre, to be applauded; (military) -- le mot d'ordre, or la consigne, to for- get the -watchword ; (popular) de la misere, ordu bceuf, to be in poverty, to be a " quisby ; " de la prison, to be in prison, in " quod ; " du fromage, or du boauf, to go to a comrade's funeral. An allusion to the repast, or " wake," as the Irish term it, after the funeral ; de la merde, to be in a state of abject poverty, entailing all kinds of humiliations ; du drap, ordu merinos, to play billiards, or " spoof ; " le bon Dieu, to partake of communion. Et c'est du propre d'aller manger le bon Dieu en guignant les homines. ZOLA. Manger le pain hardi (obsolete), to act as servant ; le poulet, to share unlawful profits ; le pis- senlit par la racine, to be dead and buried; du pain rouge, to make one's living by murder and robbery; la soupe avec un grand sabre, to be the possessor of a very large mouth, like a slit made by a sword-cut ; le nez a quelqu'un, to thrash one terribly, "to knock one into a cocked hat." Je vais te le nez, a cannibal- like offer often made by a Paris rough to his adversary as a pre- liminary to a set-to. Manger une soupe aux herbes. to sleep in the Mangeur Manon. 241 fields. Se le nez, to fight. (Thieves') Manger, to inform against, "to blow the gaff," or " to turn snitch." Je vois bien qn'il y a parmi nous une canaille qui a mange; fais-moi conduire devant le quart d'oeil, je mangerai aussi. VIDOCQ. Manger le morceau, to inform against, " to turn snitch." Mais t'es avertie, ne mange pas le mor- ceau, sinon gare a toi ! VIDOCQ. Manger sur 1'orgue, to inform against, ' ' to blow the gaff. " Orgue has here the signification of person, as in " mon orgue," /, myself, " son orgue," he, himself ; sur quelqu'un, to inform against. Le coqueur libre est oblige" de passer son existence dans les orgies les plus ignobles ; en relations constantes avec les voleurs de profession, dont il est 1'ami, il s'associe a leurs projets. Pour lui tout est bon : vol, escroquerie, incendie, assas^inat meme ! Qu'est-ceque cela lui fait? Pourvu qu'il puisse "manger" (denoncer) sur quelqu'un et qu'il en tire un benefice. Memoires de Canler. Manger sur son niere, to inform against an accomplice, " to turn snitch against a pal ; " du col- lege, to be in prison, to be "put away ; " (familiar and popular) la grenouille, to appropriate the contents of a cash-box or funds entrusted to ones care. Mangeur, m. (general), de blanc, women's bully, "ponce, pensioner, petticoat's pensioner, Sunday- man." See Poisson for syno- nyms. Le paillasson etait il y a trente ans le " mangeur de blanc;" on le designait en 1788 sous le nom " d'homme a qualite " et quelques annees auparavant c'eiait un " greluchon." MICHEL. Mangenr de bon Dieu, bigot, "prayer-monger ;" de chou- croute, German; de nez, quarrel- some, savage man. Paris roughs, before a set-to, generally inform their adversary of the necessity of disfiguring him by the savage words, " II faut que je te mange le nez." Mangeur de frimes, humbug, impostor ; de pommes, a native of Normandy, the great orchard of France ; de prunes, tailor, or " snip." Termed also " pique - prunes, pique - poux." (Thieves') Mangeur, informer; de galette, informer in the pay of the police, " nark ; " (convicts') de fer, convict; (military) d'avoine, thief; thievish fellow. Mangeuse de viande crue, f. (popular), prostitute. For syno- nyms see Gadoue. Manicle, /. (thieves'), frere de la , thief, or " prig." See Grinche. Manieres, f. pi. (popular), as-tu fini tes ? don t be so stuck- up ; none of your airs ! dorft put it on so! "come off the tall grass" (Americanism), or "stop bouncing." Manival, m. (thieves'), charcoal dealer. Manneau (thieves'), /, me (obso- lete), now termed "mezigue, me- zigo, meziere, mon gniasse." Mannequin, m. (popular), insig- nificant, contemptible man, or "snot." The term may also be applied to a woman ; a re- froidis, or de machabees, hearse. Mannezingue, m. (popular), land- lord of wine-shop. Termed also " mastroc, mastroquet." Pas seulement une outte de eric a mettre dans ma demi-tasse. La Martinet en a achete", elle, pour quinze sous chez le man- nezingue. P. MAHALIN. Mannezingueur, m. (popular), habitue of wine-shops. Manon, /. (popular), mistress; sweetheart, or " young woman." K 242 Manquant-sorti Maquillage. Manquant-sorti, m. (popular), one who cannot understand a joke. Manque,/, (popular and thieves'), treachery. Gaffre tait comme la plupart des agents 'de police, sauf la manque (perfidie), bon enfant, mais un peu licheur, c'est a dire gourmand comme une chouette. VIDOCQ. A la , to the left, from the Italian alia manca ; damaged ; ill ; bad. Etre a la , to be- tray ; to leave one in the lurch ; Jo be short of cash ; to be ab- sent. Affaire a la , bad piece of business. Gonse a la , man not to be relied upon, who will leave one in the lurch; traitor, or "snitcher." Fafiots, or fafelard a la , forged 'bank-notes, or " queer soft." (Popular) Un canotier a la , awkward rowing man. Termed also " cafouilleux." Ecumeurs de calicot ! Ohe" ! les cano- tiers a la manque ! Viens que je te fasse avaler ta gaffe ! E. MONTEIL. Une balle a la , face of a one- eyed man. Manquer le train, to lose one s oppor- tunities in life, and consequently to be the reverse of prosperous. A debute par un beau livre ; B a vingtr cinq ans, expose un beau tableau. . . . Les mille obstacles de la boheme leur barrent Je chemin. . . Us resteront intelligents, mais . . . ils ont manque 1 le train. TONY REVILLON. Manquesse, f. (thieves'), bad cha- racter given to a prisoner on trial. Ramler la , to give a bad cha- racter. Manuscrit beige, m. (printers'), printed copy to be composed. Ac- cording to Eugene Boutmy the origin of the expression is to be found in the practice which ex- isted formerly of entrusting Bel- gian compositors in Paris with printed copy only, and not manuscript, on account of their ignorance of the language. Mappemonde, /. (popular), bo- soms, " Charlies, or dairies." Termed also " avant -scenes, ceufs sur le plat, avant-postes," &c. Maqua, f. (familiar and popular), obsolete, mistress of a brothel. Maquart, m. (popular), bidoche, or bifteck de , horseflesh. From the name of a knacker. Maque. See Mac. Maquecde, f. (popular), mistress of a brothel. Called also "abbesse." Maqueieautage. See Macro- tage. Maquereautin. See Macrotin. Maqui, m. (popular and thieves'), paint for the face, or complexion powder, "slap, or splash." Met- tre du , to paint one's face. (Card-sharpers') Mettre du , to prepare cards for cheating, "to stock broads." Maquignon, m. (popular), kind of Jack of all trades, not honest ones, Properly horse-dealer ; a bi- doche, woman's bully, or "pen- sioner." See Poisson. Maquignonnage, m. (familiar and popular), cheating on the qualify of goods ; making a living on the earnings of prostitutes. Maquignonnage, pour maquerellage, me- tier des maquereaux et des maquerelles, qui font negoce de filles de debauche. CHOUERES. Maquignonnage, swindling opera- tion. Properly horse-dealing. Maquillage, m. (popular and thieves'), work,or "elbow-grease;" the act of doing anything, " fak- ing;" (card-sharpers') card play- ing , tampering with cards, or "stocking of broads ;" (familiar) the act of painting one's face. Elles font une prodigieuse depense de comestiques et de parfumeries. Presque Maqnillee Marchand. 243 toutes se fardent les joues et les levres avec une naivete grossiere. Quelques-unes se noircissent les sourcils et le bord des pau- pieres avec le charbon d'une allumette a demi-brulee. C'est ce qu'on appelle le "maquillage." Lo TAXIL. Maquillee, f. (familiar), harlot, or " mot. " Literally one with painted face. Maquiller (thieves'), to do, "to fake ; " des caroubles, to manu- facture false keys ; les bremes, to tamper witk cards, ' ' to stock broads ; " to play cards; to cheat at cards ; le papelard, to write, "to scree ve;" son true, to prepare a dodge ; un suage, to make preparations for a murder. From faire suer, to murder ; une cambriole, to strip a room, " to do a crib." The word "ma- quiller " has as many different meanings as the corresponding term " to fake." (Popular) Ma- quiller, to do; to manage; to work ; le vitriol, to adulterate brandy. Vieille drogue, tu as change de litre ! . . . Tu sais, ce n'est pas avec moi qu'il faut .maquiller ton vitriol. ZOLA, L'Assom- ntoir. Maquilleur, m., maquilleuse, /. (thieves'), card-player ; card- sharper, or "broadsman." Maraille, / (thieves'), people ; world. Marant, adj. (popular), laughable. Etre , to be ridiculous. Marauder (coachmen's), to take up fares when not allowed to do so by the regulations; refers also to a " cabby " who has no licence. Maraudeur, m. (familiar), "cabby" who flies his trade without a licence. Marbre, m. (journalists'), MS. about to be composed. Marcandier, m., marcandiere, /. (thieves'), tradespeople ; also a variety of the -mendicant tribe, "cadger." Marcandiers sont ceux qui bient avec une grande hane a leur coste, avec un assez chenastre frusquin, et un rabas sur les courbes, feignant d'avoir trouve des sa- brieux sur le trimard qui leur ont oste leur michon toutime. Le Jargon de I' Argot. (Marcandiers are those ivho journey -with a great purse by their side, with a pretty good coat, and a cloak on their shoulders, pretending they have met with robbers on the road tuho have stolen all their money.) Marcassin, m. (popular), sign- board painter's assistant. Properly a young wild boar. Marchand, m. (familiar), desoupe, head of a boarding-school ; (popu- lar) de larton, baker ; "crumb and crust man, master of the rolls, or crummy." Termed also " marchand de bricheton, or lartonnier;" d'eau chaude, " limonadier," or proprietor of a cafe ; d'eau de javelle, wine-shop landlord ; de cerises, clumsy horseman, one who rides as if he had a basket on his arm ; de morts subites, surgeon or quack, ' ' crocus ; " de sommeil, lodging-house keeper, "boss of a dossing crib ; " de patience, man who, having secured a place in the long train of people waiting at the door of a theatre before the doors are opened, and known as "la queue," allows another to take it for a considera- tion. Si 1'attente est longue . . . les ^ places seront plus cheres ; et comme je 1'ai en- tendu dire un jour a 1'un de ces cnrieux gagne-petit : Via le monde qui s'agace, chouette ! Y aura gras pour les marchands de patience ! RICHEPIN, Le Pave. (Thieves') Marchand de tirelaine, night thief; de lacets, formerly a gendarme. Le gendarme a difterents noms en argot : quand il pqursuit le voleur, c'est un mar- 244 Marchande Margonlette. chand de lacets ; quand 51 1'escorte, c'est une hirondelle de la Greve ; quand il le mine a 1'echafaud, c'est le hussard de la guillotine. BALZAC. Un de babillards, a book- seller, or an " et cetera." (Mili- tary) Marchand de morts su- bites, professional duellist, a " fire-eater ;" de puces, official who has charge of the garrison bedding. The allusion is obvious ; (convicts') de cirage, captain of a ship. Est-ce que le marchand de cirage (elles appelaient ainsi le commandant), nous faisait peur? HUMBERT, Man Bagne. (Journalists') Marchands de lignes, authors who write for the sake of gain more than to acquire literary reputation. Je crois fermement que le jour ou n'au- raient plus acces a 1' Academic certains hommes eminents qui ne font point de livres, elle tomberait, de bonne heure, au niveau de cette corporation de " marchands de lignes" qu'on nomme la Societf: des Gens de lettres. A. DUBRUJEAUD. (Military) Un demarrons, officer who looks ill at ease in mufti. Marchande.,/ (popular), auxgosses, seller of toys ; de chair humaine, mistress of a brothel. Marche, m. (military), a terre, foot-soldier, "wobbler, beetle- crusher, mud-crusher, or grabby ; " de flanc, repose ; sleep ; des zouaves, soldiers who go to medical inspection are said to execute the aforesaid inarch ; oblique indi- viduelle, the rallying of soldiers confined to barracks going up to roll call. Marche des pieds humides, m. ( familiar) , la petite Bourse, or meet- ing of speculators after the Ex- change has been closed. Takes place on the Boulevards. Marchef, m. (military), abbrevia- tion of marechal-des-logis chef, quartermaster sergeant. Marcher (popular), dansles souliers d'un mort, to inherit a matt's pro- perty ; plan plan, to walk slowly ; sur une affaire, to make a mull of some business. (Printers') Marcher, to be of another's opinion. Qu'en pensez-vous? Je marche. What do you think of it ? I am of your opinion. (Thieves') Marcher dessus, to prepare a robbery, or *' lay a plant." Marches du palais, f. pi. (popu- lar), wrinkles on forehead. Marcheuse,/ (theatrical), walking female supernumerary in a ballet. La marcheuse est ou un rat d'une grande beaute" que sa mere, fausse ou vraie, a vendue le jour ou elle n'a pu devenir ni premier, ni second, ni troisieme sujet de la danse. B ALZAC. L'emploi des " marcheuses " n'existe pas dans le ballet, en Russie. Le personnel feminin est entierement compose de sujets qui dansent ou miment, seloii les exigences de la situation. A. BIGUKT, Le Radical, 18 Nov., 1886. (Popular) Marcheuse, variety of prostitute. See Gadoue. Leurs fonctions les plus ordinaires sont de rester a la porte, d'mdiquer la maison, d accompagner, de surveiller et de donner la main aux jeunes. On les designe dans le public sous le nom de marcheuses. L6o TAXII. Marchis. See Marchef. Mardi s'il fait chaud (popular), never (obsolete), at Doomsday, "when the devil is blind." Mare, or mariolle, adj. (popular and thieves'), clever, sharp, cun- ning, " leary," or one who is " fly to wot's wot." Marecageux, adj. (popular), ceil , eye with languid expression, with a killing glance. Margauder (familiar), to rundown a person or thing. Margoulette, f. (popular), -incer la a quelqu'un, to treat one to Margoulin Marlon. 245 drink. Debrider la , to eat, " to put one's nose in the manger." See Mastiquer. Deboiter la a quelqu'un, to damage one's coun- tenance. Mettre la en compote, superlative of above. Margoulin, m. (commercial tra- vellers'), retailer. Margoulinage (commercial tra- vellers'), retailing. Margouliner (commercial travel- lers'), to retail. Margoulis, m. (popular), scandal. Marguerites, /. //. (popular), or de cimetiere, white hairs in the beard. Marguillier de bourrache, m. (thieves'), juryman. This ex- pression is connected with " fievre chaude, " or accusation, borage tea being given to patients in cases of fever. Marguinchon,/! (popular), disso- lute girl, a "regular bitch." Mariage, m. (popular), a 1'An- glaise, marriage of a couple who, directly after the ceremony, sepa- rate and live apart ; d'Afrique, or a la detrempe, cohabitation of a couple living as man and wife, of a pair ivho live ' ' tally." From "peindre a la detrempe," to paint in distemper. Compare the Eng- lish expression, "wife in water- colours," or mistress. Marianne, / (popular), la , the Republic. (Thieves') Marianne, guillotine. See Voyante. Mariasse, m. (popular), scamp, "bad egg." Marida. f. (cads' and thieves'), married woman. Marie - je - m'embe'te (popular), faire sa , to make many cere- monies ; to allow oneself to be begged repeatedly. Marie-mange-mon-prSt, / (mili- tary), mistress. Literally Mary spends my pay. Marin, m. (popular), d'eau douce, one who sports a river-boat ; de la Vierge Marie, river or canal bargee. Maringotte, f. (popular), mounte- bank 's show-waggon, or "slang." Mariol, mariolle, adj. and m. (popular and thieves'), cunning, "downy, or fly to wot's wot." Mariolisme, m. (popular and thieves'), cunning. Mariolle, m. and adj. (popular and thieves'), cunning, knowing man, a deep or artful one, " one who has been put up to the hour of day, who is fly to wot's wot." Termed also a "file," originally a term for a pickpocket, when to file was to cheat and to rob. C'est d'nature, on a ga dans 1'sang : J'suis paillasson ! c'est pas d'ma faute, Je m'fais pas plus marioll' qu'un aut'e : Mon per' 1'etait ; 1'Emp'reur autant ! GILL, La Muse a Bibi. Marionnette, / (popular), soldier, or " grabby." Mari Robin (Breton cant), gen' darmes. Marlou, m. and adj. (general), prostitute's bully, ' ' ponce, or pen- sioner." See Poisson. Les marlpus qui soutiennent les filles en carte, les insoumises du trottoir et les femmes des maisons de has etage, ne se contentent pas de ranonner ces malheu- reuses qu'ils appellent leur marmite, leur dabe ; ils detroussent sans cesse les pas- sants et assassinent pour s'entretenir la main. L6o TAXIL. Marlou, cunning, "downy." La viscope en arriere et la trombine au vent L'oeil marlou, il entra chez le zingue. RICHEPIN. 246 filarloupatte Marot, (Thieves') Le de Charlotte, the executioner, nicknamed Chariot. Marloupatte, or marloupin, /;/. (popular), prostitute's bully, or " petticoat's pensioner." Ce marloupatte pale et mince Se nommait simplement Navet ; Mais il vivait ainsi qu'un prince . . . II aimait les femmes qu'on rince. RICHEPIN. Marloupin, m. (popular and thieves'), prostitute's male asso- ciate, "pensioner, petticoat's pen- sioner, Sunday man, prosser, or ponce." See Poisson. Quand on paie en monnai" d'singe Nous aut' marloupins, Les sal's michetons qu'a pas d'linge, On les pass' chez paings. RICHEPIN. Marlousier. See Marloupin. Marmier, m. (thieves'), shepherd. Marmite,/! (bullies'), mistress of a bully. Literally flesh-pot. The allusion is obvious, as the bully lives on the earnings of his asso- ciate. Un souteneur sans sa marmite (sa mai- tresse) est un ouvrier sans travail, . . . pour lui tout est la: fortune, bonheur, amour, s ice n'est pas profaner ce dernier mot que de lui donner une acception quelconque a l'gard du souteneur. Memoires de Canler. Marmite de terre, prostitute -who does not pay her bully ; de cuivre, one who brings in a good income ; de fer, one who only brings in a moderate one. (Mili- tary) La est en deuil, the fare is scanty at present, that is, the flesh-pot is empty. Marmiton de Domange, m. (popular), scavenger employed in emptying cesspools, or " gold- finder." Domange was a great contractor in the employ of the city authorities. Marmot, m. (thieves'), nourrir un , to make preparations for a robbery, "to lay a plant." Lite- rally to feed, to nurse a child. Marmottier, m. (popular), a native of Savoy. Literally one who goes about exhibiting a marmot. Marmouse, f. (thieves'), beard. Marmouset, m. (thieves'), flesh- pot. Le riffode, the pot is boil- ing. Marmousin, m. (popular), child, or " kid." Marmyon, m. (thieves'), flesh-pot, and figuratively purse. Marne,/". (popular), faire la , is said of prostitutes who prowl about the river-side. Marner (popular), to steal, or " to nick." See Grinchir. Marner, to work hard, ' ' to sweat. " Marneur, m. (popular), strong, active labourer. Marneuse, f. (popular), prostitute of the lowest class who plies her trade by the river-side. See Gadoue. Maron, or marron, adj. (thieves'), caught in the act. Non, il n'est pas possible, disait 1'un ; pour prendre ainsi "marons" les voleurs, il faut qu'il s'entende avec eux. VIDOCQ. Maron, or muron, salt. Maronner (thieves'), to fail. Une affaire maronnee, fruitiest attempt at robbery. II y a du renaud a 1'affaire de la chique, elle est maronnee, le dabe est revenu. VIDOCQ. (There is some trouble about the job at the church, it has failed, father is returned.) Marot, adj. (popular), cunning; "up to snuff, one who knows wot's wot, one who has been put up to the hour of day, one who knows what's o'clock, leary." RIarottier Marqut. 247 Marottier, m. (thieves'), hawker, or " barrow-man -"pedlar travel- ling about the country selling stuffs, neckerchiefs, &*<:., to coun- try people. Termed, in the Eng- lish cant, a " dudder " of " duds- man." "In selling a waistcoat- piece," says the Slang Dictionary, "which cost him perhaps five shillings, for thirty shillings or two pounds, he would show great fear of the revenue officer, and beg the purchasing clodhopper to kneel down in a puddle of water, crook his arm, and swear that it might never become straight if he told an exciseman, or even his own wife. The term and practice are nearly obsolete. In Liverpool, however, and at the East-end of London, men dressed up as sailors, with pretended silk hand- kerchiefs and cigars, 'only just smuggled from the Indies,' are still to be plentifully found." Marpaut, or marpeau,w. (old cant), man ; master of a house (obsolete). Pour n'offenser point le marpaut, Afin qu'il ne face deffaut De foncer a 1'appointement. Le Pasquil de la rencontre des Cocus. The word was formerly used by the Parisians with the signification of foot, greenhorn, loafer. Marpaud. Mot de Paris, pour sot, niais, nigaut, badaud. LE Roux, Diet. Co- ttiiyue. Again, Cotgrave renders it as an ill-favoured scrub, a little ugly, or swarthy ivretch ; also a lickorous or saucy fellow ; one that catches at whatever dainties come in his way. Michel makes the remark that morpion (crab-louse, a popu- lar injurious term) must be de- rived from marpaut. Marquant, m. (thieves'), man ; master ; chief of a gang, or "dim- ber damber ;" women'' s bully, or "Sunday man," see Poisson ; drunkard, or one who gets " canon." Marque, f. (familiar), horizontale de grande , very fashionable cocotte. Horizontale de petite , the ordinary sort of cocottes. Decidement je ne sais quelle ardeur guerriere a souffle sur nos horizontales de grande marque et de petite marque, mais depuis un mois nous avons a enregistrer un nouveau combat singulier dont elles sont Ics heroines. Le Figaro, Oct., 1886. (Thieves') Marque, girl, or "titter;" woman, "laced mut- ton, hay-bag, cooler, shakester ;" prostitute, or " bunter ;" month, or "moon." II a etc messiadien a six marques pour pegrasse, he has been sentenced to six months' imprisonment for theft. Six mar- ques, six months, or " half a stretch." Une de ce, a thief's wife. Termed, in old cant, " autem-mort ;" autem, a church, and mort, woman. Marque franche, or marquise, a thief's female associate, or " mollisher." Concerning this expression, M ichel says : On trouve dans 1'ancienne germania es- pagnole " marca, marquida et marquisa" ave<; le sens de "femme publique." Diet, tf Argot. Quart de , week. Tirer six marques, to be imprisoned for six months, " to do half a stretch, or a sixer." Marque, m. and adj. (thieves'), month, "moon." From the Italian marchese. Concerning this word, Michel says : II ne saurait etre douteux que ce nom ne soit venu a cette division de 1'annee, de 1'infirmite periodique qu'ont les " marques " ou femmes, "lors que la Lune, pour tenir sa diette et vaquer a ses purifications men- struelles, fait marquer les logis feminins par son fourrier, lequel pour escusson n'a que son impression rouge." Diet. d"Arg.->t. 248 Marque-mal Martin. (Popular) Eire , to have a black eye, or " mouse." (Printers') Marque a la fesse, tiresome, over- particular man. Marque-mal, m. (printers'), one who receives the folios from the printing machine ; (popular) an ugly man, one with a ' ' knocker face." Marquer (popular), a la fourchette is said of a restaurant or coffee- house keeper who adds imaginary items to a bill ; le coup, to clink glasses when drinking. Bien , to shmv a good appearance, marquer mal being the reverse. Ne plus , is said of a woman who is past her prime ; that is, who no longer has her menses. (Thieves') Marquer, to have the appearance of a man in good circumstances. Marquin, m. (thieves'), hat or cap, "tile." See Tubard. Marquis d'Argentcourt, w. (popu- lar), or de la Bourse Plate, needy and vain-glorious man. Marquise, /. (familiar), kind of mulled white claret; (thieves') wife, or "raclan." ' Nouzailles pairons notre proie, A ta marquise d'un baiser, A toi d'un coup d'arpion au proye. RICHEPIN. Marraine,/. (thieves'), female wit- ness. Marre, f. (popular), amusement. Etre a la , to be joyously in- clined ; to amuse oneself. J'en ai pris une , / have enjoyed my- self. Marrer (popular), se , to amuse oneself; to be amused. Pensez si je me marre ? Mince ! Don't I get amused, just ! Matron, ormaron, adj. (popular), sculpte, grotesque, ugly face, or " knocker-head." Cocher , " cabby " without a licence. Etre , to be taken in, " bamboozled." (Military) Marron, report of an officer who goes the rounds ; (prin- ters') clandestine print ; also^wz- positor working on his own account at a printer's, who furnishes him with the necessary plant for a con- sideration. (Thieves') Paumer or pommer , to catch in the act, red-handed. On la crible a la grive, Je m'la donne et m'esquive, Elle est pommee marron. VIDOCQ. (Thieves') Etre servi , to be caught in the act. Que je sois servie mirron au premier messiere que je grinchirai si je lui en ouvre simplement la bouche. VIDOCQ. Marronner,ormaronner( thieves'), un grinchissage, to make an un- successful attempt at a robbery through lack of skill or due pre- cautions. Maronner, to suspect. Je maronne que la roulotte de Pantin trimedans le sabri. V. HUGO, Les Mist- rables. (I suspect that the Paris mail- coach is going through the -wood.) Marseillaise, f. (popular), short pipe, or "cutty," called "dudeen" bv the Irish. Avoir une dans le kiosque, to be " cracked," For synonyms see Avoir. Enfin, pour sflr la politique lui aura tourne la tete ! II a une Marseillaise dans le kiosque. Baumaine et Blondelet. Marsouin, m. (popular), smuggler ; (military) marine, or "jolly." Literally porpoise. Martin, m. (popular), fournir , to wear furs. "Martin" is the equivalent of " Bruin." Le mal Saint-Martin had formerly the signification of intoxication. An allusion to the sale of wine at fairs held on Saint Martin's day. Ma rtinet Mastiqner. 249 Martinet, m. (thieves'), punishment irons used at the penal servitude settlements. Properly a cat-o'-nine tails. Martingalier, m. (gamblers'), game- ster who imagines he is master of an infallible -process for winning. C'est un martingalier. C'est un des ab- stracteurs de quintessence moderne, qui s'imaginent avoir trouve la marche infail- lible pour faire sauter les banques. RICHE- PIN. Martyr, m. (military), corporal. Termed also " chien de 1'es- couade." Mascotte,/!, gambler's fetish. Masquer en alezan (horsedealers'), to paint a horse so as to deceive purchasers. Termed also " ma- quiller un gayet." Among other dishonest practices, horsedealers play improper tricks with an animal to make him look lively: they " fig " him, the " fig " being a piece of wet ginger placed under a horse's tail for the pur- pose of making him appear lively, and enhance his price. Massage, m. (popular), work, " graft," or " elbow grease." Masse, f. (military), avoir la complete, to possess a well-filled purse. La noire, mysterious cash-box, supposed, by suspicious soldiers, to enclose the proceeds of unlawful profits made at the ex- pense of the aforesaid by non-com- missioned officers entrusted with the victualling or clothing depart- ment. (Thieves' and cads') Masse, work, " graft," or "elbow grease. " Masser (popular and thieves'), to work, " to graft." *Tu sais, j'dis ga a ton copain, Pa'c'que j'vuis qti" c'est un gone' qui boude, Mais entre ncus, non vleux lapin, J'ai janiais masse qu'a Tver 1'coude. RICHEFIN. Masseur, m. (popular), active work' man. Mastar au gras-double, /. (thieves'), faire la , or la faire au mastar, to steal lead off roofs, "to fly the blue pigeon." Mastare, adj. (thieves'), leaden. Mastaroufleur, m. (thieves'), one who steals lead, a "bluey cracker." Mastic, m. (freemasons'), bread or meat ; (popular) deceit. 1'eter sur le , to forsake work. (Thieves') Mastic, wrt,or"cove ;"(printers') long, entangled speech ; (theatrical) painting and otherwise making-up one's face. Faire son , to paint one's face, " to stick slap on." C'est 1'ensemble de ces travaux de badi- geon qui constitue le mastic. Un mastic consciencieux exige pres d'une heure de peine. P. MAHAUN. Mastiquer (popular), to cobble; (familiar and popular) to eat, " to grub," "to yam." It seems this latter term is connected with the vfordyam, the English name of the large edible tuber Dioscorea, a corruption of the name used in the West Indies at the time of the discovery, iniama or inhame. With regard to the expression the Slang Dictionary says : " This word is used by the lowest class all over the world ; by the Wap- ping sailor, West Indian negro, or Chinese coolie. When the fort called the 'Dutch Folly,' near Canton, was in course of erection by the Hollanders, unde- the pre- tence of being intended for an hospital, the Chinese observed a box containing muskeis among the alleged hospital stores. ' Hy- aw ! ' exclaimed John Chinaman, ' how can sick man yam gun ? ' The Dutch were surprised and massacred the same night." The synonyms for the term to eat, in 250 Mastiqueur Mathnrin. the various kinds of French slang, are the following : "Tortiller du bee, becqueter, bequiller, chiquer, bouffer, boulotter, taper sur les vivres, pitancher, passer a la tor- tore, tortorer, se 1'envoyer, casser la croustille, briffer, brouter, se caler, se calfater le bee, mettre de 1'huile dans la lampe, se coller quelque chose dans le fanal, dans le fusiJ, or dans le tube, chamailler des dents, jouer des badigoinces, jouer des dominos, dechirer la cartouche, gobichonner, engouler, engueuler, friturer, gonfler, mor- fiaillier, cacher, se mettre que'.que chose dans le cadavre, se lester la cale, se graisser les balots, se caresser 1'Angouleme, friper, ef- facer, travailler pour M. Domange, clapoter, debrider la margou- lette, croustiller, charger pour la Guadeloupe, travailler pour Jules, se faire le jabot, jouer des osanores." Mastiqueur, m. (popular), cobbler. Mastroc, mastro, or mastroquet, m. (popular), landlord of wine- shop. Termed also " bistrot, troquet, mannezingue, empoi- sonneur." Tout recemment, j'etais a la Bourbe, alle" voir Une fille, de qui chez un mastroc, un soir, J'avais fait connaissance. GILL. Mata, ;. (printers'), abbreviation of matador, swaggerer, one who " bulldozes," as the Americans say. Matador, m. (popular), faire son , to give oneself airs ; to swagger, to look "botty." From the Spanish matador, bull-killer. Wlatagot,m.(obso\ele),funny, eccen- tric individual who amuses people by his antics. Rabelais used it with the signification of monkey, monk : Ci n'entrez pas, hypocrites, bigots, Vieux matagots, mariteux, boursofle'. Gargantiia. Matatane, f. (military), guard- room; cells, "mill, jigger, or Irish theatre." Matelas, m. (popular), ambulant, street-walker, or "bed-fagot." See Gadoue. Matelasser (popular), se , is said of a 'woman who makes up for nature's niggardliness by padaing her bodice. m. (sailors'), chum, Matelot, mate. Matelote, f. (sailors'), trimer a la , to be a sailor. Et de Nantes jusqu'a Bordeaux, Trime a la matelote, N'ayant qu'un tricot sur le dos, Et pour fond de culotte Le drap d'sa peau. RICHEPIN, La Mer. Mateluche, m. (sailors'), bad sailor. Materiaux, m. pi. (freemasons'), food. Materielle, f. (gamesters'), one's bread and cheese. Et alors, quelques malheureux pontes . . . se sont hvres au terrible travail qui consiste a gagner avec des cartes le pain quotidien, ce que les joueurs appellant la materielle. BELOT, La Bouche de Ma- dame X. Maternelle, f. (students'), mother; "mater." Mathurin, m. (sailors'), sailor, " salt, or Jack tar." Termed also ' ' otter ; " wooden man-d'-war. Parler , to speak the slang of sailors. Je ne suis pas de ces vieux freres premier brin Qui devant qu'etre nes parlaient ja ma- thurin, Au ventre de leur mere apprenant ce lan- gag<=> Roulant a son rouhs, tanguant a son tan- gage. RICHEPIN. Matignon Mazette. (Thieves') Les mathurins, dice, or "ivories." (Popular) Mathurins plats, dominoes. Ces objets doivent leur nom d'argot k leur ressemblance avec le costume des Trinitaires, vulgairement appeles Mathu- rins, qui chez nous portaient une soutane de serge blanche, sur laquelle, quand ils sortaient, ils jetaient un manteau noir. MICHEL. Matignon, m. (thieves'), messenger. Matois, ormatouas, m. (thieves'), morning. Le conde de Nanterre et un quart d'oeil, suivis d'un trepe de cuisiniers sent aboules ce matois a la taule. VIDOCQ. (The mayor of Nanterre and a commissaire de police, followed by a body of police, cattie this morning to the house.) Matou, m. (popular), man -who is fond of the petticoat. Bon , libertine, "rattle-cap," or " mol- rower." Literally a good tom- cat. Matraque, m. (soldiers' in Africa), bludgeon. Nous avions brule le pays. Vous dire pourquoi, j'en serais bien en peine : une poule voice a un colon influent, un coup de matraque applique par un Bedouin ruine sur la tete d'un Juif voleur . . . et pif, paf, bourn, coups de fusils, obus. HECTOR FRANCE, Sons U Ruinous. Matriculer (military), to steal ; said ironically, as "le numero matricule," borne by a soldier's effects, is the only proof of owner- ship. Se faire , to get punished, " to be shopped." Mats, m. pi. (thieves'), les deux , the guillotine. See Voyante. Matte, f. (thieves'), enfant de la , thief, a "family-man." For synonyms see Grinche. Michel says matte is derived from the Italian mattia, folly; so that " enfants de la matte " signifies literally children of folly. Maturbes, m. pi. (thieves'), dice, or " ivories." Jouer des , to eat, "to grub." Maube, f. (popular), Place , for Place Maubert, a low quarter of Paris. Maugree, m. (thieves'), governor of a prison. From maugreer, to grumble. Mauricaud, m. (thieves'), cash-box, " peter." II faut tomber sur ce mauricaud, et selon moi ce n'est pas la chose du monde la plus facile. VIDOCQ. (We must find the cash- box, and in my opinion it is not the easiest thing in the world.) Mauvaise (general), elle est ! bad joke! bad trick! "sawdust and treacle ! " none of that ! " draw it mild ! " Mauve, f. (popular), umbrella of a reddish colour, a kind of " ging- ham. " Mauviette, f. (popular), ribbon of a decoration in the button-hole. Mayeux, m. (popular), humpback, or "lord." Name given to a caricatured individual, a hump- back, who appears in many of the coloured caricatures of 1830. Mayeux is a form of the old name Mahieu (Mathieu). Mazagran, m. (gene\a\), coffee served up in a glass at cafes, or mixture of coffee and water. Mazaro, or lazaro, m. (military), cells, "jigger, Irish theatre, or mill. Maze, /. (thieves'), abbreviation of Mazas, a central prison in Paris. Tirer un conge a la , to serve a term of imprisonment in Mazas. Mazette, / (military), recruit, or Johnny raw ; " man, or " cove." 252 Mec Mtdecin. Mec, or meg, m. (thieves'), master; chief, "dimber damber. " Bravo, mec ! faisons lui son affaire et renquillons a la taule, je cane la pegrenne. ViDOCQ. (Bravo, chief, let us do for him, ami let us return home, I am dying of hunger.) (Popular and thieves') Mec, women's bully, or " ponce." See Poisson. Un a la redresse, good, straightfoi"vard man. Le des mecs, the Almighty. Voyons, daronne . . . il ne faut pas Jeter a ses paturons le bien que le mec des mecs nous envoie. VIDOCQ. (Come, mother, we must not thrmv at our feet the good things which the Almighty sends us.) Mec a la colle forte, desperate male- factor ; a sonnettes, rich man, " rag-splawger ; " de la guiche, 'women's bully, or " ponce," see Poisson ; des gerbiers, execu- tioner ; de la rousse, prefect of police ; (popular) a la roue, one who is conversant -with the routine of a trade. Mecanicien. m. (popular), execu- tioner 's assistant. Mecanique,/. (popular), guillotine. Charrier a la , see Charrier. Mecaniser (thieves'), to guillotine ; (popular) to annoy. Coupeau voulut le rattraper. Plus sou- vent qu'il se laissat mecaniser par un pale- lot. ZOI.A. Mechant, adj. (familiar and popu- lar), n'etre pas , to be inferior, of little value, "tame, no great scratch." Un livre pas , a "tame" book. Unc plaisanterie pas mechanic, a dull joke. Un caloquet pas , a plain bonnet. Meche (popular), il y a , it is possible. II n'y a pas , it is im- possible. Thisexpression has passed into the language. Et ! and the rest! Combien avez vous paye, dix francs? Et meche ! How much did you pay, twenty francs ? Yes, and something over. (Thieves') Etre de , to go halves. On vous obeira. J'ai trop envie d'etre de meche. VIDOCQ. (You shall be obeyed. / have too great a desire to go halves.) Also to be in confederacy. M'est avis que tu es de meche avec les rupins pour nous emblemer. VIDOCQ. (My opinien is that you are in confederacy with the swells to deceive us. ) Six plombes et , half-past six. (Printers') Meche, work. Chercher , to seek for employ- ment. M6chi, m. (thieves'), misfortune. From the old French " meschief," mischief. Mechillon, m. (thieves'), quarter of an hour. Mecq, m. (popular), prostitute's bully. See Poisson. Mecque, f. (thieves'), man, or " cove ; " -victim. Medaillard, m. (artists'), artist who has obtained a medal at the Exhibition. Medaille, f. (popular), silver Jive- franc coin ; also called de Saint-Hubert ; d'or, twenty- franc piece ; en chocolat, the Saint-Helena medal. Called also " medaille de commissionnaire," or " contre-marque du Pere-La- chaise. " Medaillon, m. (popular), breech, see Vasistas ; de flac, cul-de- sac, or blind alley. Medecin, m. (thieves'), counsel, or " mouth-piece." It is natural that thieves should follow the advice of a doctor when on the point of entering the "hopital," or prison, where they will stayas "malades," or prisoners, and whence they will tuine out "gueris," or free. Mt/dedne Metier Medecine, /. (thieves'), defence by a counsel ; advice. Une flam- bante, a piece of good advice. Collez-moi cinquante balles et je vous coque une medecine flambante. VIDOCQ. (Tip me fifty francs, and 1' II give you a piece of good advice. ) (Popular) Medecine, dull, tire- some person. Mefiant, m. (military), foot soldier, " beetle-crusher, or grabby." Meg, m. (thieves'), chief. Le des megs, God. II y a un mot qui reparait dans toutes les langr.es du continent avec une sorte de puissance et d'autorite mysteYieuse. C'est le mot inagnus ; 1'Ecosse en fait son mac qui designe le chef du clan . . . 1'argot en fait le meek et plus tard le meg, c'est a dire Dieu. V. HUGO, Les Miserable!. Megard, m. (thieves'), head of a gang of thieves, or "dimberdam- ber." Mego, m. (popular), balance in favour of credit. Megot, m. (popular), end of ciga- rette. Pres des theatres, dans les gares, Entre les arpions des sergots, C'est moi quej'cueille les bouts d'cigares, Les cuiots d'pipe et les megots. RlCIIEPIN. Megottier, nt. (popular), one whose trade is to collect cigar or cigarette ends, a "hard up." Melasse,/. (popular), tomberdans la , to be in great trouble, or "hobble ; " to be ruined, or "to go a mucker." Melasson, m. (popular), clumsy, awkward man, "a cripple;" dunce, or " flat." Mele, m. (popular), mixture of ani- sette, cassis, or absinthe, -with brandy. Melet, m., melette, /., adj., (thieves'), small. Melo, m. (familiar and popular), abbreviation of melcdrame. Le bon gros me"lo a fait son temps. Paris Journal. Melon, m. (cadets' of the military school of Saint-Cyr), a first-term student. Called " snooker " at the R. M. Academy, and "John " at the R. M. College of Sandhurst. (General) Un , a dunce, or "flat." Termed " thick " at Win- chester School. Membre de la caravane, m. (popular), prostitute, or "mot." See Gadoue. Euphemism for " chameau." Membrer (military), to drill; to work. Poussant etemellement devant eux une brouetle qu'ils avaient soin de laisser e"ter- nellement vide, s'arretant pour contempler . . . les camarades qui membraient. G. COURTELINE. RSenage a la colle, m. (familiar), cohabitation of an unmarried couple, the lady being termed " wife in water-colours. ' Mendiant,/w. (familiar), a la carte, a begging impostor who pretends to have been sent by a person whose visiting card he exhibits ; a la lettre, begging- letter impostor ; au tabac, beggar who pretends to- pick up cigar ends. Mendigot, mendigo, or mendi- goteur (popular), a variety of the brotherhood of beggars that visits- country houses and collects at the same time information for burglars; a "putter up." La faire au mendigo, to pretend to be begging. Mendigoter (popular), to beg. Menee, /. (thieves'), dozen. Une d'ornichons, a dozen chickens. Mener (military), pisser quel- qu'un, to compel one to fight a duel. (Popular) On ne le mene pas 254 Menesse Merde. pisser, he has a -will of his own, one can't do as one likes with him. N'en pas large, to be ill at ease, or crestfallen, "glum." Puis une fois la fumee dissipee, on verra une vingtaine d'assistants sur 1'flanc, fou- drayes du coup en n'en m'nantpas large. TRUBLOT, Cridu Peufle. (Thieves') Mener en bateau, to deceive, " to stick." Ces patriarches, peres et fils de voleurs, ne restent pas moins fideles a leur abomi- nable lignee. Us n'instruisent la prefec- ture que pour la mener en bateau. Me- moires de Monsieur Claude. Mener en bateau un pante pour le refaire, to deceive a man in order to rob him, " to bamboozle a jay and flap him." Menesse, f. (thieves' and cads'), prostitute, or "bunter," see Gadoue ; mistress, or " doxy." Menetre,/ (thieves'), soup. Meneuse,y (popular), woman who entices a passer-by to some back alley, where he is robbed, and some- times murdered, by accomplices. Also woman whose calling is to take charge of babies, and take them to some country place, where they are left to the care of a wet nurse. Mengin, or Mangin, m. (familiar), political or literary charlatan. From the name of a celebrated quack, a familiar figure of cross- ways and squares in Paris under the Third Empire. He was attired in showy costume of the Middle Ages, and sported a glistening helmet topped by enormous plumes. He sold pencils, drew people's caricatures at a moment's notice, and was attended by an assistant known under the name of Vert-de-gris. Menilmonte, or Menilmuche (popv\a.r),Menilmontant,formerly on< of the suburbs of Paris. Ac- cording to Zola, the word is curiously used in connection with the so-called sign of the cross of drunkards : Coupeau se leva pour faire le signe de croix des pochards. Sur la tete il pronon ja Montpernasse, a 1'epaule droite Menil- monte, a 1'epaule gauche la Courtille, au milieu du ventre Bagnolet, et dans le creux de 1'estomac trois fois La pin saute. L'As- sommoir. Menouille,y. (popular), money, or change. Menteuse,/. (thieves'), tongue, or "prating cheat." Termed also " le chiffon rouge, la battante, la diligence de Rome, rouscail- lante." Menu. See Connaitre. Menuisier. See Cotelette. Menuisiere,y. (popular), long coat. Mequard,or megard,w. (thieves'), head of a gang, or " dimber dam- ber." From mec, master, chief. Mequer (thieves'), to command. From meq, meg, chief, head of gang, or "dimber damber." Mercadet, m. (familiar), man who sets on foot bubble companies, swindling agencies, and other fishy concerns. A character of Balzac. Mercandier, m. (popular), butcher who retails only meat of inferior quality. Mercanii, m., name given by the army in Africa to traders, gene- rally thievish Jews. Cependant les mercantis, debitants d'ab- sinthe empoisonnee et de vins frelates, es- crocs, banqueroutiers, repris de justice, marchands de tout acabit. HECTOR FRANCE, Sous le Burnous. Merdaillon, m. (popular), contemp- tible man, or "snot." Merde, f. (thieves'), de pie, fifty- centime piece. (Popular) Faire sa , to give oneself airs, to look Merdeux Messe. 255 "botty." Des ecrase , fashion- able boots, as now worn, with large low heels. Termed also " hotlines a la mouget." Merdeux, m. (popular), scavenger . employed to empty cesspools, ' ' gold- finder ;" despicable mean fellow, " snot." Mere, f. (popular), abbesse, mis- tress of a brothel ; de petite fille, bottle of wine ; d'occase, procuress who plays the part of a young prostitute's mother, or a beggar who goes about with hired children ; aux anges, woman who gives shelter to forsaken chil- dren, and hires them out to men- dicants ; (thieves') au bleu, guillotine. See Voyante. (Cor- porations') Mere, innkeeper, where " compagnons," or skilled artisans of a corporation, hold their meet- ings. The compagnons used to individually visit all the towns of France, working at each place, and the long journey was termed " tour de France." Merinos, m. (popular), man with an offensive breath. Manger du , to play billiards, or "spoof." Merlander (popular), to dress the hair. From merlan, popular ex- pression for hairdresser. Merlifiche, m. (thieves'), mounte- bank, showman. Probably from " merlificque," used by Villon with the signification of marvel- lous. Merlin, m. (popular), leg, "pin." Un coup de passif dans le , a kick on the shin. Merlou. See Marlou. Merlousier, merlousiere, adj. (thieves'), cunning. La dabuche est merlousiere, the lady is cun- ning. Merluche, f. (popular), pousserdes cris de , to squall ; to scold vehemently. Merriflaute, adj. (thieves'), warmly clad. Meruche, f., meruchon, m. (thieves'), stove, frying-pan. Meruch6e,/ (thieves'), stoveful. Merveilleux, m. (familiar), dandy ^1833. See Gommeux. A 1'avant-scene se pielassait un jeune merveilleux agitant avec nonchalance un binocle d'or emaille. TH. GAUTIER. The Slang Dictionary includes the word " dandy " among slang expressions. It says : "Dandy, a fop, or fashionable nondescript. This word, in the sense of a fop, is of modern origin. Egan says it was first used in 1820, and Bee in 1816. Johnson does not men- tion it, although it is to be found in all late dictionaries. Dandies wore stays, studied a feminine style, and tried to undo their manhood by all manner of affec- tations which were not actually immoral. Lord Petersham headed them. At the present day dan- dies of this stamp have almost entirely disappeared, but the new school of muscular Christians is not altogether faultless. . The feminine of dandy was dandizette, but the term only lived for a short season." Mesigo, meziere, m6zigue, (thieves'), /, me, "dis child," as the negroes say ; roulait le trimard, I was tramping along the road. Messe, f. (popular), etre a la , to be late. Nous avons etc a la de cinq minutes, we were five minutes late. (Thieves') La du diable, examination of a pri- soner by a magistrate, or trial, 256 Messiadien Mettre. an ordeal the unpleasant nature of which is. eloquently expressed, by the words. Termed by English rogues "cross kidment." Messiadien, a^y. andm. (thieves'), convicted, sentenced, "booked." The epithet is applied to one who has been compelled to attend "la messe du diable," with unpleasant consequences to himself. II est a six bergares plombes, he is in for six years' prison, " put away " for "six stretches;" pour pegrasse, convicted for stealing, "in for a vamp." II fagaut ta magnetic blague de maniagnere que tu n'es paga les pindesse dans le dintesse pour pegrasse, autre- ment tu es messiadien et tu lavera- gas tes pieds d'agnet dans le grand pre, which signifies, in the thieves' jargon of the day, You must take an alias, so that you may escape the clutches of the police ; if not, you will be convicted and transported, Messier, or messiere, m. (thieves'), man ; inhabitant. A form of meziere, a fool. Les messiers de cambrouse, the coun~ try folk, or "clods." Messiere, m. (thieves'), man; victim ; de la haute, well-to-do man, ' ' nil) cove, or gentry cove ;" franc, citizen; individual, or ' ' cove. " Messire Luc, m. (familiar), breech, or " Nancy." See Vasistas. Mesure, f. (popular), prendre la des cotes, to thrash, " to wollop. " Methode Cheve, / (familiar and popular), playing billiards in an out-of-the-way fashion with tivo rues, for instance, or by pushing the balls with the hand. Metier, m. (artists'), skill in execu- tion ; clever touch. Avoir un d'enfer, to paint with great manual skill. Metre, m. (familiar and popular), chevalier du , shopman, " coun- ter-jumper, or knight of the yard." Metteux, m. (printers'), metteur en pages, or maker-up. Mettre (general), au clou, to pawn, "to put in lug," or " to pop up the spout." An allusion to the spout up which the brokers send the ticketed articles until such time as they shall be redeemed. The spout runs from the ground- floor to the wareroom at the top of the house. English thieves term pawning one's clothes, " to sweat one's duds." Le , is ex- plained by the following : Mot libre, pour chevaucher, faire le de- duit, se divertir avec une femme. Ce mot est equivoque et malicieux, car une per- sonne laisse-t-elle toraber son busque ou son gant? On dit, Mademoiselle, voulez- vous que je vous le mette? LE Roux, Diet. Comique. Termed, in the language of the Paris roughs, " mettre en prison." Mets fa dans ta poche et ton mouchoir par dessus, said of a blow or repartee, and equivalent to, take that and think over it, or digest it, or let it be a warning to you, " put that in your pipe and smoke it." Mettre a 1'ombre, or dedans, to imprison, "to give the clinch." See Piper. Mettre a 1'ombre signifies also to kill, 1 ' to cook one's goose ;" du pain dans le sac de quelqu'un, to beat one,or to kill him ; dans lemille, to be successful, to have a piece of good luck, or "regular crow;" to hit the right nail on the head. D'abord, en passant, faut y' regler son affaire a mon nnnncho eul' zig Uramont Mcnble Meulard. 257 d' 1'Intransigeant, qu'a mis dans 1'mille en disant qu' eul' Theatre de Paris sera na- turaliste ou qu'i ne sera pas. TRUBLOT, Cri dn Peuple. Mettre quelqu'un dedans, to de- ceive, to cheat one, to outwit, " to take a rise out of a person." A metaphor from fly-fishing, the silly fish rising to be caught by an artificial fly. Slang Dictionary. Le a quelqu'un, to deceive one, " to bamboozle " one. Du reste, c'est un flanche, vous voulez me le mettre . . . je la connais. V. HUGO. (Popular) Mettre la tete a la fe- netre, to be guillotined. See Fauche. Mettre une pousse, to strike, to thrash, "to wallop;" a pied, to dismiss from one's employment temporarily or perma- nently ; quelqu'un dans la pommade, to beat one at a game ; en bringue, to smash ; des gants sur ses salsifis, to put gloves on ; la table pour les asticots, to become food for the worms. See Pipe. Mettresouspresse,/0/rtw, to put "in lug." Se sur les fonts de bapteme, to get involved in some difficulty, to be in a fix, in a "hole." (Theatrical) Se en rang d'oignons is said of actors who place themselves in a line in front of the foot-lights. Formerly mettre en rang d'oignons meant to admit 'one into acompany 'on an equal standing-with the others. (Thieves') Mettre en dedans, to break open a door, " to strike a jigger ; " la pogne dessus, to steal, "to nim." From the old English nim, to take, says the Slang Dictionary. Motherwell, the Scotch poet, thought the old word nim (to snatch or pick up) was derived from nam, nam, the tiny words or cries of an infant when eating anything which pleases its little palate. A negro proverb has the word : Buckra man nam crab, Crab nam buckra man. Or, in the buckra man's language, White man eat (for steal) the crab, And then crab eat the white man. Shakespeare evidently had the word nim in his head when he portrayed Nym. Mettre une ga- meJle, to escape from prison. Se a table, to inform against one, "to blow the gaff," "to nick." See Grinchir. En v'la un malheur si la daronne et les frangines allaient se mettre a table. Vi- DOCQ. ( That's a misfortune if the mother and the sisters inform.) (Popular and thieves') Se en bombe, to escape from prison. Mon magistral, . . . nous nous sommes tires pour faire la noce. Nous .sommes en bombe ! Nous n'avons plus de braise et nous venons nous rendre. Un Flaneur. Mettre sur la planche au pain, to- put a prisoner on his trial, "in for patter ; " (military) le chien au cran de repos, to sleep ; le moine, to fasten a cord to a sleeping man's big toe, and to teaze him by occasionally jerking it ; les tripes au soleil, to kill. A force d'entendre des phrases comme celles-ci : crever la paillasse, mettre les tripes au soleil, taillader les cotes, bruler les gueules, ouvrir la pan-e, je m'y etais. habitue et j'avais fini par les trouver toutes naturelles. H. FRANCE, L'Homme qni Tue. , (Bullies') Mettre un chamegue a, 1'alignement, to send a woman out to walk the streets as a prostitute. Meuble, m. (popular), sorry-looking person. Meubler (familiar), to pad. Meudon, m. (thieves'), grand , police, the "reelers." Meulan. See Artie. Meulard, m. (thieves'), calf. In old English cant " lowing cheat." 2 5 8 Meules Mich^. Meules de moulin,/. //. (popu- lar), teeth, or "grinders." Meunier, m. (thieves'), receiver, or "fence." Porter au moulin is to take stolen property to the re- ceiver, " to fence the swag." Meurt-de-faim, m. (popular), penny loaf. simple-minded, gullible. Etre , to be a" cull or flat." The word, says Michel, derives its origin from the confidence-trick swindle, when one of the confederates who acts the part of a foreigner, and who pretends to speak bad French, addresses the pigeon as "meziere " instead of " monsieur." Moi vouloir te faire de la peine ! plut6t etre gerbe a vioque (juge a vie) ; faut etre bien meziere (nigaud) pour le supposer. VIDOCQ. Meziere, I, me, myself. Le havre protege , God protect me. Un , a "flat," name given by thieves to their victims. Depuis que nous nous sommes remis \ eras de la classe, comme me v'la, a s'pourra ; mais jusque-la c'est midi sonne. -G. COURTELINE. -Mie,/! (popular), de pain, louse, or "grey-backed 'un ; " (printers') thing of littlevalue, or "not worth a curse." Compositeur de pain, an unskilled compositor, or clumsy ( ' donkey. " Miel ! (popular), euphemism for a coarser -word, "go to pot !" "you be hanged ! " C'est un , is ex- pressive of satisfaction, or is used ironically. Of a good thing they say : " C'est un miel !" On enter- ing a close, stuffy place : ' ' C'est un miel!" Of a desperate street fight: " C'est un miel !" "a rare spree !" "what a lark !" (DELVAU). Mielle ! adj. (popular), du sort, happy ; fortunate in life. II n'etait pas plus mielle du sort, il n'avait pas la vie plus en belle. RICHEPIN, La Glu. Mignard, m. (popular), term of en- dearment ; child, or " kid." Mignon, m. (thieves'), mistress, or "mollisher." J'avais bonheur, argent, amour tran- quille, les jours se suive mais ne se res- semble pas. Mon mignon connaissait 1'an- glais, 1'allemand, tres bien le franijais, 1'auvergna et 1'argot. Front a thief's let- ter, quoted by L, Larchey. (Popular and thieves') Mignon de port (obsolete), porter. Mignon had formerly the signification of foolish, ignorant. Mignoter (popular), to fondle, "to forkytoodle." Mikel, m. (mountebanks'), dupe, or "gulpin." Milieu, m. (popular), breech, or " Nancy." Millards, m.pl.(o\A cant), in olden times a variety of the cadger tribe. Millards sont ceux qui trollent sur leur andosse de gros gueulards ; ils truchent plus aux champs qu'aux vergnes (j et sont hais des autres argotiers, parce qu'ils mor- fient ce qu'ils ont tout seuls. Le Jargon de F Argot. (The " mil 'lards" are those who carry a large bag on their back ; they beg in the country in preference to the towns, and are hated by their brethren because they eat all alone what they get.) Mille, m. and f. (familiar), mettre dans le , to meet with a piece of good luck, or " regular crow ; " to 260 Mille-langues Min istre. be successful. One often sees at fairs a kind of machine for testing physical strength. A pad is struck with the fist, and a needle marks the extent of the effort, " le mille " being the maximum. (Thieves') Mille, woman, or "bur- rick " (obsolete). Mille-langues, m. (popular), talka- tive person ; tatler. Mille-pertuis, m. (thieves'), water- ing pot (obsolete). Millerie,/ (thieves'), lottery. Thus termed on account of the thousands which every holder of a ticket hopes will be his. Millet, millot, m. (popular), 1,000 franc bank-note. From mille. Milliardaire, m. (familiar), very rich man, one who rolls on gold. C'est de cette e'poque que date au jourd'hui sa fortune car il est aujourd'hui milliardaire. A. SIRVKN. Millour, m. (thieves'), rich man, " rag splawger" (obsolete). From the English my lord. Milord, m. (familiar and popular), rich man ; 1'Arsouille, nick- name of Lord Seymour. See Arsouille. Les Folies-Belleville . . . ou Milord 1'Ar souille engueulait les malins, cassait la vaisselle et boxait les gargons. P. MA- HALIN. Mince, m. and adv. (thieves'), note- paper; bank-note, or " soft." (Popular) The word has many sig- nifications : it means, of course ; certainly ; much. Dois-tu comme Walder, Et comme la muscade, Te donner mince d'air Apres ton escapade ? RAMINAGROBIS. Mince ! no ; certainly not. It is sometimes expressive of disap- pointment or contempt. Tu n'as plus d'argent ? ah ! alors, you have no money? hang it all then ! II a la barbe, he is completely drunk. Pensez si je me marre, ah ! ! don't I get amused, just ! Aux plus rupins il disait , even to the strongest he said, ' 'you be hanged! " Mince depotin! a fine row I de crampon ! an awful bore! que j'en ai de 1'argent ! haven't I money? of course I have! Ah ! alors ! to the deuce, then ! Mince de chic, glass of beer. The ejaculation mince ! in some cases may find an equivalent in the English word rather ! an ex- clamation strongly affirmative. It is also used as an euphemism for an obscene word. Et moi sauciss', j'su quand j'turbine. Mais, bon sang ! la danse s'debine Dans 1'coulant d'air qui boit ma sueur. Eux aut's, c'est pompe par leur linge. Mine* qu'ils doiv" emboucanner 1'singe. Vrai, c'est pas 1'linge qui fait 1'bonheur. RICHEPIN. Mine, f. (popular), a poivre, Icno brandy shop. Lui etait un bon, un chouette, un d'at- taque. Ah ! zut ! le singe pouvait se fouiller, il ne retournait pas a la boite, il avait la flemme. Et il proposait aux deux camarades d'aller au Petit bonhomme qui tousse, une mine a poivre de la barriere Saint-Denis, oil 1'on buvait du chien tout pur. ZOLA, L'Assotnmoir. Une a chier dessus, ugly face > "knocker face." Qu'est-ce qu'il vient nous em . . . ieller, celui-la, avec ia mine a chier dessus. RIGAUD. Minerve,yi (printers'), small print- ing machine worked with the foot. Minerviste, m. (printers'), one who works the Minerve (which see). Mineur, m. (thieves'), Manceau, or- native of Le Mans. Minik (Breton cant), small. Ministre (military), sumpter mute / (peasants') ass, " moke," or mule. Minois Mirettes. 261 Minois, m. (thieves'), nose, or " conk " (obsolete). Minotaure, m. (familiar), deceived husband, "stag face." The ex- pression is Balzac's. Je serais le dernier de M. Paul de Kock ; minotaure, comme dit M. de Balzac. TH. GAUTIER. Minotauriserquelqu'un(familiar), to seduce one's wife. An allusion to the horns of the Minotaur. Quand une femme est incons^quente, le mari, serait, selon moi, minotaurise. BAL- ZAC. Minson (Breton cant), bad; badly. Minsoner (Breton cant), mean. Mintzingue, m. (popular), landlord of wine-shop. Mais sapristi, jugez d'mon embargo, Depuis ce temps elle est toujours pompette, Et chez 1'mintzingue ell" croque le magot. Almanack Chantant, 1869. Minuit, m. (thieves'), negro. Termed also, in different kinds of slang, " Bamboula, boule de neige, bolte a cirage, bille de pot-au-feu, mal blanchi," and in the English slang, ' ' snowball, Sambo, bit o' ebony, blacky." Enfant de meant formerly thief. Enfants de la messe de minuit, says Cotgrave, " quiresters of midnights masse ; night-walking rakehells, or such as haunt these nightly rites, not for any devotion, but only to rob, abuse, or play the knaves with others." Minzingue, or minzingo, m. (popular), landlord of tcaiern. Termed also manzinguin, mind- zingue. La philosophic, vil mindzingue, quand ca ne servirait qu'a trouver ton vin bon. Mion, m. (thieves'), child, or "kid;" de gonesse, stripling ; de boule, thief, "prig." See Grinche. a Mipe, m. (thieves'), faire un quelqu'un, to outdrink one. Miradou, m. (thieves'), mirror. Mirancu, m. (obsolete), apothecary. Respect au capitaine Mirancu ! Qu'il aille se coucher ailleurs, car s'il s'avisoit de jouer de la seringue, nous n'avons pas de canesons pour 1'en empecher. L'Apothi. caire empoisonne, 1671. Mirancu, a play on the words mire en cul, which may be better explained in Beralde's words, in Moliere's Le Malade Imagi- naire : Allez, monsieur ; on voit bien que vous n'avez pas accoutume de parler k des vi- sages. Mirecourt, m. (thieves'), violin. The town of Mirecourt is cele- brated for its manufactures of stringed instruments. Rigaud says that it is thus termed from a play on the words mire court, look on from a short distance, the head of the performer being bent over the instrument, thus bringing his eyes close to it. Mire- laid, m. (popular), mirror. An expression which cannot be gratifying to those too fond of ad- miring their own countenances in the glass. Mirettes, / //. (popular and thieves'), eyes, " peepers, ogles, top-lights, or day-lights." Field- ing uses the latter slang term : Good woman ! I do not use to be so treated. If the lady says such another word to me, damn me, I will darken her day-lights. FIELDING, Amelia. In old cant eyes were termed "glaziers." Toure out with your glaziers, I swear by the ruffin, That we are assaulted by a queer cuffin. BROOME, A jovial Crew. Which means look out with all your eyes, I swear by the devil a 262 Mireu r Miroir. magistrate is coming. Mirettes en caoutchouc, or en caouche, tele- scope ; glacees, or en glacis, spectacles, or " gig-lamps." Sans , blind, or "hoodman." Mireur, m. (popular), one who looks on intently ; s)> ; person employed in the immense underground store cellars of the Halles to inspect pro- visions by candle-light, Deux cents bees de gaz e"clairent ces caves gigantesques, ou Ton rencontre di- verses industries speciales. . . . Les " mi- reurs," qui passent a la chandelle une delicate revision des sujets. Les "pre- parateurs de fromages " qui font " jaunir " le Chester, "pleurer" legruyere, "couler" lebrieou "piquer" le roquefort. E. FR- BAULT. Mirliflore, m. (fam\\\a.r),adandyof the beginningof the present century. For synonyms see Gommeux. The term has now passed into the language with the signification of silly conceited dandy or fop. Nos mirliflors Vaudroient-ils cet homme a ressorts ? Chansons de Colte. Concerning the derivation of this word Littre makes the following remarks: "Ilyavaitdansl'ancien francais mirlifique, alteration de mirtfique ; on peut penser que mirliflore est une alteration ana- logue oil flor ou fleur remplace fique : qui est comme une fleur merveilleuse. Francisque Michel y voit une alteration de mille- fleurs, denomination prise des bouquets dont se paraient les ele- gants du temps passe." It is more probable, however, that the term is connected with eau de mille-fleurs, an elixir of all flowers, a mixed perfume, and this origin seems to be borne out by the circumstance that after the Revo- lution of 1793 dandies received the name of " muscadins," from muse, or musk, their favourite perfume. Workmen sometimes call a dandy " un puant." See this word. Mirliton, m. (popular), nose, or "smeller." For synonyms see Morviau. Aho voice. Avoir le bouche, to have a bad cold in the head. Jouer du , to talk, "to jaw;" to blow one's nose. Mirliton properly signifies a kind of reed-pipe. Mirobolamment (familiar and popular), marvellously, " stun- ningly. " Mirobolant, adj. (familiar and popular), excellent, ' ' slap-up, or scrumptious; " marvellous, "crush- ing-" Eh ! c'est la bande ! c'est la fameuse, la superbe, 1'invincible, a jamais triomphante, seduisante et mirobolante bande du Jura. Bande du Jura. Madame de Gasparin. "Mirobolant" is a corruption of admirable. Another instance of this kind of slang formation is " abalobe," from abalourdi. Miroir, m. (card-sharpers'), a rapid glance cast on the stock of a game of piquet, or on the fir:t cards dealt at the game f baccarat. A tricky" dodge "whic,i enables the cheat to gain a know- ledge of his opponent's hand. (Popular) Un a putains, sy- nonymous of bellatre, a handsome but vulgar man, one likely to find favour with the frail sisterhood. Rigaud says : " Miroir a putains, joli visage d'homme a la maniere des te"tes exposees a la vitrine des coiffeurs." The phrase is old. Dis-lui qu'un miroir a putain Pour dompter le Pays Latin Est un fort mauvais personnage. SCAKRON. Mirqidn Mitard. 263 Fielding thus expatiates on the readiness of women to look with more favour on a handsome face than on an intellectual one : How we must lament that disposition in these lovely creatures which leads them to prefer in their favour those individuals of the other sex who do not seem intended by nature as so great a masterpiece ! ... If this be true, how melancholy must be the consideration that any single beau, espe- cially if he have but half a yard of ribbon in his hat, shall weigh heavier in the scale of female affection than twenty Sir Isaac Newtons ! Mr. Jonathan Wild the Great. Mirquin, m. (thieves'), woman's cap. ,^;//. (thieves'), earrings. Mise, f. (prostitutes'), faire sa , to pay a prostitute her fee, or ' ' pre- sent." (Popular) Mise a pied, temporary or permanent dismissal from one's employment, the ' ' sack. " Mise-bas, f. (popular) strike of work ; (servants') cast-off clothes which servants consider as their perquisites. Miser (gamesters'), to stake. Et si je gagne ce soir cinq a six mille francs au lansquenet, qu'est-ce quesoixante- dix mille francs de perte pour avoir de quoi miser? BALZAC. Miserable, m. (popular), one half- penny glass of spirits, "un mon- sieur" being one that will cost four sous, and " un poisson " five sous. Misloque.ormislocq,/; (thieves'), theatre ; play. Flancher, or jouer la , to act. Ah ! ce que je veux faire, je veux jouer la mislocq. VIDOCQ. Misloquier, m., misloquiere, / (thieves'), actor, "cackling cove," or " mug faker," and actress. Mississipi, m. (popular), au v very far away. Mistenfltite,/. (popular), thingum- bob. Mistiche (thieves'), un , half a ' ' setter, " or small measure of wine. Une , half an hour. Mistick, m. (\.\\\Q\ZS'), foreign thief. Mistigris, or misti, m. (popular), knave of clubs ; apprentice to a house decorator. Miston (thieves'). See Allumer. (Popular) Mon , my boy, " my bloater." Mistouf, or mistouffle,/ (popular), practical joke ; scurvy trick. Faire une a quelqu'un, to pain, to annoy one. Votis lui aurez fait quelque mistcuf, vous 1'aurez menacee de quelque punition, et a'.ors A. CIM, Institution de Demoiselles. Coup de , scurvy trick breiving. Faire des mistou files, to teaze, "to spur," to annoy one. (Thieves') MistoufHe a la saignante, trap laid for the purpose of murdering one. Voila trop longtemps . . . que le vieux me la fait au porte-monnaie. II me faut son sac. Mais . . . pas de mistouffle a la saignante. je n'aime pas 53. Du barbotage tant qu'on voudra. Memoires de Mon- sieur Claude. Mistron, m. (popular), a game of cards called " trente et un." Mistronneur, m. (popular), ama- teur of'' 1 mistron " (which see). Mitaine,y". (thieves'), grinchisseuse a la , female thief who causes some properly, lace generally, to fall from a shop counter, and by certain motions of her foot conveys it to her shoe, where it remains secreted. Mitard, m. (police), unruly prisoner confined in a punishment cell 264 Mite-au-logis Maine. Mite-au-logis,/. (popular), disease of the eyes. A play on the words mite and mythologie. Miteux, adj. (familiar and popular), is said of one poorly clad, of a wretched-looking person . Quand nous arrivames a la posada, on ne voulut pas nous recevoir, 1'aubergiste nous trouvant, comme disait La Martiniere mon compagnon de route, trop "miteux." HECTOR FRANCE, A travers tEspagtie. M itraille,/ (general), pence, coppers. The expression is old. This term seems to be derived from the word "mite," copper coin worth four " oboles," used in Flan- ders. Mitrailleuse,/ (popular), etouffer une , to drink a glass of wine. Synonymous of " boire un canon." Mitre, /. (thieves'), prison, or "stir. See Motte. Meant formerly itch, the word being de- rived from the name of a certain ointment termed "mithridate." Mobilier, m. (thieves'), teeth, or ' ' ivories. " Literally furniture. Moblot, m. (familiar), used for Mobile in 1870. " La garde mo- bile " at the beginning of the war formed the reserve corps. Mocassin, m. (popular), shoe. See Ripaton. Moc-aux-beaux (thieves'), quarter of La Place Maubert. Moche, or mouche, adj. (popular and thieves'), bad. Mode, f. (swindlers'), concierge a la , a doorkeeper who is an ac- complice of a gang of swindlers termed Bande noire (which see). La " bande noire " etait et est encore, car le dixieme a peine des membres sont arrete's une formidable association, ayant pour speciality d'exploiter le commerce des vins de Paiis, de la Bourgogne et du Bor- delais. . . . Pour chaque affaire, le courtier recevait dix francs. Le concierge, designe sous le nom bizarre de concierge a la mode, n'etait pas moins bien retribue. II touchait dix francs egalement. Le Voltaire, 6 Aoflt, 1886. Modele, m. (familiar), grandfather or grandmother. Moderne, m. (familiar), young man of the "period" in opposi- tion to antique, old-fashioned. Modillon, f. (modistes'), a second year apprentice at a modiste's. Modiste, m. (literary), formerly a journalist who sought more to pan- der to the tastes of the day than to acquire any literary reputation. Moelleux, m. (popular), cotton, which is soft. Moelonneuse, / (popular), prosti- tute who frequents builders' yards. See Gadoue. Moignons, m. pi. (popular), thick clumsy ankles. The Slang Dic- tionary says a girl with thick ankles is called a " Mullingar heifer" by the Irish. A story goes that a traveller passing through Mullingar was so struck with this local peculiarity in the women, that he determined to accost the next one he met. "May I ask," said he, " if you wear hay in your shoes ? " "Faith, an' I do," said the girl, " and what then? " "Because," said the traveller, "that accounts for the calves of your legs coming down to feed on it." Moine, m. (familiar), earthen jar filled with hot water, which does duly for a warming pan ; (prin- ters') spot on a forme which has not been touched by the roller, and which in consequence forms a blank on the printed leaf. Termed " friar" by English printers. (Po- pular) Mettre le , to fasten a string to a sleeping man's big toe. By jerking the string now and Moine-lai Mome. 265 then the sleeper's slumbers are dis- turbed and great amusement affor- ded to the authors of the contri- vance. This sort of practical joking seems to be in favour in barrack-rooms. Donner, or bailler le , was synonymous of mettre le , and, used as a proverbial expression, meant to bear ill luck. Moine-lai, m. (popular), old mili- tary pensioner who has become an imbecile. Moinette,/! (thieves'), mm, moine being a monk. Moise, m. (familiar and popular), man deceived by his -wife. The term is old, for, says Le Roux, "Moise, mot satirique, quisignifie cocu, homme a qui on a plante des cornes." Moitie, f. (popular), tu n'es pas la d'une bete, you are no fool. Oui, t'es pas la moitie d'une bete. La- dessus aboule tes quatre ronds. G. COUR- TKLINE. Molanche, f. (thieves'), -wotl. From mol, soft. Molard, m. (familiar and popular), expectoration, or "gob." JMolarder (familiar and popular), to expectorate. Moliere, m. (theatrical), scenery which, may be used for the per- formance of any play of Moliere. Molle, adj. (popular and thieves'), etre , to be penniless, alluding to an empty pocket, which is flabby ; " to be hard up." Mollet, m. (popular). M. Charles Nisard, in his Pariiianismes Popn- laires, says of the word, " Gras de la partie posterieure de la jambe" (the proper meaning), and he adds, " Partie molle de diverses autres choses." Vous ne cachez pas tous vos mollets dans vos bas : c'est commo la barque d'Anieres, $a n'sart plus qu'a passer 1'iau. Le Df- jeimer de la Rapee. Following the adage, " Le latin dans les mots brave 1'honnetete," M. Nisard gives the following ex- planation of the above : " Haec sunt verba cujusdam petulantis mulierculse ad quemdam jam se- nescentem virum, convalescentem e morbo, et carnale opus adhuc penes se esse male jactantem. In eo enim Thrasone mulieroso pars ista corporis quam proprie vo- cant ' Mollet,' non solum in tibia- libus ejus inclusa erat, sed et in bracis, ubi, mutata ex toto forma, nil valebat nisi, scaphse Asnierise instar, ' a passer 1'eau,' id est, ad meiendum. Sed, animadvertas, oro, sensum locutionis ' passer 1'eau' aequivocum ; hie enim unda transitur, illic eadem transit." Mollusque, m. (familiar), narrow- minded man ; routine-loving man; huitre being a common term for a fool. Momaque, m. (thieves'), child, or "kid." Momard, or momignard, m. (popular), child, or "kid." Mome, m. and f. (popular and thieves'), child, or "kid." Ces momes corrompus, ces avortons fltftris, Cette ecume d'egout c'est la levure im- monde, De ce grand pain vivant qui s'appelle Paris, Et qui sert de brioche au monde. RICHEPIN. Mome noir, student at a priest's seminary. Thus termed on ac- count of their clerical attire. Called also by thieves, "Canneur du mec des mecs," afraid of God. Une , young -woman, ' ' titter. " Va, la mome, et n'fais pas four. RICHEPIN. Une , or momeresse, mistress, "blowen." C'est ma , elle est ronflante ce soir, // is my girl, she 266 Momeuse Monde. has money to-night. Un d'al- teque, handsome young man. Taper un , to commit a theft ; to commit infanticide. Car elle est en prison pour un mome qu'elle a tape. Front a thief's letter, quoted by L. Larchey. Madame Tire-momes, midwife, Termed in the seventeenth cen- tury, " madame du guichet, or portiere du petit guichet." (Con- victs') Mome bastaud, convict who is a Sodomist, a kind of male prostitute. Momeuse,/ See Momiere. Momicharde, f. (popular), little girl. Envoie les petites . . . qu'elles aboulent, les momichardes ! Louisa MICHEL. Momiere, f. (thieves'), midwife. Termed also ' ' Madame Tire- momes, Madame Tire-monde, or tate-minette." Momignard, m. (popular and thieves'), child, or " kid ;" baby ; d'alteque, a fine child. Frangine d'alteque, je mets 1'arguemine a la barbue, pour te bonnir que ma largue aboule de momir un momignard d'alteque. VIDOCQ. (.My good sister, I take the fen to say that my wife has just given birth to a fine child.) Momignardage a 1'anglaise, m. (popular), miscarriage. Momignarde. f. (popular and thieves'), little girl ; young girl, " titter." Mes momignardes . . . aliens, c'est dit, on rebatira le sinve. II faut esperer que la daronne du grand Aure nous protegera. VIDOCQ. (My little girls . . . come, it's settled, the fool shall be killed. Let us hope the Holy Virgin will protect us.) M6mir (popular and thieves'), to le delivered of a child, " to be in the straw." The Slang Dictionary says : " Married ladies are said to be in the straw at their accouche- ment." The phrase is a coarse metaphor, and has reference to farmyard animals in a similar condition. It may have originally been suggested to the inquiring mind by the Nativity. M6mir pour 1'aff, to have a miscarriage. Termed also " casser son ceuf, decarrer de crac." Monacos, m. pi. (familiar and popular), money. See Quibus. Je vais te prouver a toi et a ta grue, . . . que je suis encore bonne pour gagner des monacos. Et allez-y ! HECTOR FRANCE, Marie Queue-de-Vache. Avoir des , to be wealthy. Termed also "etre fonce, etre sacquard, or douillard ; avoir le sac, de 1'os, des sous, du foin dans ses bottes, de quoi, des pepettes, or de la thune ; etre cali- fornien." The English synonyms being " to be worth a plum, to be well ballasted, to be a rag- splawger, to have lots of tin, to have feathered one's nest, to be warm, to be comfortable." Abouler les , to pay, "to fork out, to shell out, to down with the dust, to post the pony, to stump the pewter, to tip the brads." Monant, ;.,monante,/.(thieves'), friend. Monarque, m. (popular), five-franc piece. Termed also "roue de derriere," the nearly correspond- ing coin, a crown piece, being called in English slang a " hind coach wheel." (Prostitutes') Mo- narque, money. Faire son , to have found clients. Monde, m. (popular), renverse, guillotine. See Voyante. II y a du au balcon is said of a woman with large breasts, of one with opulent " Charlies." (Fami- liar) Demi , world of cocottes, kept women. Dans ce qu'on appelle le demi-monde il y a nombre de filles en carte, ve'ritables Monfier Monsieur. 267 chevaliers d'industrie de la jeunesse et de 1'amour qui, bien en regie avec la prefec- ture, menent joyeuse vie pendant quinze ans et eludent constamment la police cor- rectionnelle. Lo TAXIL. (Showmen's) Du , public who enter the show. There may be a large concourse of people outside, but no " monde." Monfier (thieves'), to kiss. M on gniasse (popular and thieves'), me, " my nibs." Mon linge est lave (popular), / give in, "I throw up the sponge." Monnaie,yC (popular), plus que $a de ! -what luck ! Mon ceil ! (popular), expressive of refusal or disbelief, "don't you wish you may get it ?" or "do you see any green in my eye?" See Nefles. Monome, m. (students'), yearly procession in single file through certain streets of Paris of candi- dates to the government schools. Monorgue (thieves'), I, myself. Monseigneur, m. (thieves'), or pince , short crowbar 'with which housebreakers force open doors or safes. Termed "Jemmy, James, or the stick." Us font sauter gaches et serrures . . . avec une espece de pied de biche en fer qu'ils appellent cadet, monseigneur, ou plume. CANLER. Monseigneuriser (thieves'), to force open a door, " to strike a jigger." Monsieur, m. (artists'), le , the principal figure in a picture. (Popular) Un , a twopenny glass of brandy ; a five-sous glass of wine from the bottle at a wine retailers ; Vautour, or Pere Vautour, the landlord ; also an usurer. Vous accorder un nouveau delai pour le capital ? . . . mais depuis trois ans . . . vous n'avez pas seulement pu rattraper les in- terets. Ah ! pere Vautour, ga court si vite vos interets ! GAVARNI. Monsieur a tubard, a well-dressed man, one who sports a silk hat ; bambou, a stick, a gentleman whose services are sometimes put in requisition by drunken workmen as an irresistible argument to meet the remonstrances of an unfortu- nate better half, as in the case of Martine and Sganarelle in Mo- liere's Le Medecin malgrelui ; Lebon, a good sort of man, that is, one who readily treats others to drink; de Petesec, stuck-up man, with dry, sharp manner ; hardi, the wind ; Raidillon, or Pointu, proud, stuck-up man; (thieves') de 1'AfTure, one who wins money at a game honestly or not ; de la Paume, he who loses ; (theatrical) Dufour est dans la salle, expression ttsed by an actor to warn another that he is not act- ing tip to the mark and that he will get himself hissed, or " get the big bird." (Familiar and popular) Un a rouflaquettes, prostitute's bully, or " pensioner. " For list of synonyms see Poisson. Monsieur de Paris, the executioner. Formerly each large town had its own executioner : Monsieur de Rouen, Monsieur de Lyon, &c. Concerning the office Balzac says : Les Sanson, bourreaux a Rouen pendant deux siecles, avant d'etre revetus de la pre- miere charge du royaume, executaient de pere en fils les arrets de la justice depuis le treizieme siecle. II est peu de families qui puissent offrir 1'exemple d'un office ou d'une noblesse conservee de pere en fils pendant six siecles. Monsieur personne, a nobody. (Brothels') Monsieur, husband of the mistress of a brothel. Monsieur, avec son epaisse barbiche aux poils tors et gris. E. DE GONCOURT, La Fillt Elisa. 268 Monstre Monte-d-regret. (Cads') Monsieur le carreau dans 1'ceil, derisive epithet applied to a man -with an eye-glass ; has- du-cul, man with short legs. Monstre, m., any words which a musician temporarily adapts to a musical production composed by him. Monstrico, m. (familiar), ugly per- son, one with a " knocker face." Montage de coup, m. (popular), the act of seeking to deceive by mis- leading statements. Mon vieux, entre nous, Te n'coup' pas du tout Dans c'montage de coup ; Faut pas m'monter 1'coup. AUG. HARDY. Montagnard, m. (popular), addi- tional horse put on to an omnibus going up hill. Montagne du geant,/ (obsolete), gallows, " scrag, nobbing cheat, or government signpost." Montant, m. and adj. (thieves'), breeches, ' ' trucks, hams, sit-upons, or kicks." (Military) Grand tropical, riding breeches ; petit , drawers. (Familiar) Montant, term which is used to denote any- thing which excites hist. Montante, / (thieves'), ladder. Literally a thing to climb up. Monte-a-regret (thieves'), abbaye de , the guillotine. Formerly the gallows. This name was given the scaffold because crimi- nals were attended there by one or more priests, and on account of the natural repugnance of a man for this mode of being put out of his misery. Michel records the fact, that at Sens, one of the streets leading to the market- place, where executions took place, still bore, a few years ago, the name of Monte - a- regret. Chanoine de , one sentenced to death. Termed also " grognon, " or grumbler. Monter a 1'abbaye de , to be guillotined, meant formerly to be hanged, to suffer the extreme penalty of the law on " wry -neck day," when the criminal before being compelled to put on the "hempen cravat," would perhaps utter for the edifi- cation of the crowd his " tops, or croaks," that is, his last dying speech. It is curious to note how people of all nations have always striven to disguise the idea of death by the rope by means of some picturesque or grimly comical circumlocution. The popular language is rich in meta- phors to describe the act. In the thirteenth century people would express hanging by the term "mettrealabise;" in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries an exe- cuted criminal was spoken of as " vendangeant a 1'eschelle, avoir collet rouge, croitre d'un demi- pied, faire la longue lettre, tom- ber du haut mal," and later on : " Servir de bouchon, faire le saut, faire un saut sur rien, donner un soumet a une potence, donner le moine par le cou, approcherdu del a reculons, danser un branle en 1'air, avoir la chanterelle au cou, faire le guet a Montfaucon, faire le guet au clair de la lune a. la cour des monnoyes." Also, " monter a la jambe en 1'air." Then a hanged man was "un eveque des champs " (on account of executions taking place in the open country) "qui benit des pieds," and hanging itself, "une danse ou il n'y a pas de plancher," which corresponds to the expres- sion, "to dance upon nothing." The poor wretch was also said to Monte-a- regret. 269 be "branche," a summary pro- ceeding performed on the nearest tree, and he was made to " tirer la langue d'un demi-pied." The poet Fran9ois Villon being in the prison of the Chatelet in 1457, under sentence of death for a robbery supposed to have been committed at Rueilby himself and some companions, several of whom were hanged, but whose fate he luckily did not share, thus alludes with grim humour to his probable execution : Je suis Francois, dont ce me poise, Ne de Paris empres Ponthoise, Or, d'une corde d'une toise, Saura mon col que mon cut poise. \Vhen Jonathan Wild the Great is about to expiate his numerous crimes, and his career is soon to be terminated at Tyburn, Fielding makes him say : " D n me, it is only a dance without music ; ... a man can die but once. . . . Zounds ! Who's afraid ? " Master Charley Bates, in common with his "pals," called hanging "scragging" : " He'll come to be scragged, won't he ? " " I don't know what that means," replied Oliver. "Something in this way, old fel- ler," said Charley. As he said it, Master Bates caught up an end of his neckerchief, and holding it erect in the air, dropped his head on his shoulder, and jerked a curious sound through his teeth ; thereby intima- ting, by a lively pantomimic representation, that "scragging" and hanging were one and the same thing. DICKENS, Oliver Twist. The expression is also to be met with in Lord Lytton's Paul Clif- ford : " Blow me tight, but that cove is a queer one ! and if he does not come to be scragged," says I, "it vill only be because he'll turn a rusty, and scrag one of his pals ! " Again, the same author puts in the mouth of his hero, Paul Clif- ford, the accomplished robber, the "Captain Crank," or chief of a gang of highwaymen, a poetical simile, "to leap from a leafless tree ": Oh ! there never was life like the Robber's so Jolly, and bold, and free ; And its end why, a cheer from the crowd below And a leap from a leafless tree ! Penny - a - liners nowadays de- scribe the executed felon as " tak- ing a leap into eternity ; " facetious people say that he dies in a "horse's nightcap," i.e., a halter, and the vulgar simply declare that he is "stretched." The dangerous classes, to express that one is being operated upon by Jack Ketch, use the term "to be scragged," already mentioned, or " to be topped ; " and " may I be topped ! is an ejaculation often heard from the mouths of London roughs. Formerly, when the place for execution was at Tyburn, near the N. E. corner of Hyde Park, at the angle formed by the Edgware Road and the top of Oxford Street, the criminal brought here was said to put on the "Tyburn tippet," i.e., Jack Ketch's rope. The Latins used to describe one hanged as making the letter I with his body, or the long letter. In Plautus old Staphyla says : "The best thing for me to do, is with the help of a halter, to make with my body the long letter." Modern Italians say of a man about to be executed, that he is sent to Picardy, "mandatoin Picardia " They also use other circumlocu- tions, "andare a Longone," "andare a Fuligno," "dar de' calci al vento, " "ballar in campoazurro." Again, the Italian " tmcca.nte" (tfa'ff), in his "lingue furbesche " (cant of thieves), says of a criminal who ascends the scaffold, the "sperlunga, or fati- 270 Monter. cosa " (gallows), with the " mar- gherita, or signora " (rope) ad- justed on his "guindo" (neck) by the " cataron " (executioner), that he may be considered as " aver la fune al guindo." The Spanish " azor " (thief, in Germania, or Spanish cant), under sentence of a " tristeza " (sentence of death), when about to be executed left the "angustia" (prison) to go to the gallows, or " balanza," which is now a thing of the past, having been superseded by the hideous "garote." The German " broschem- blatter " (thief, in "rothwelsch," or German cant), when sentenced to death was doomed to the "dolm," or " nelle," on which he was ushered out of this world by the "earner " (German Jack Ketch). Monter (popular), d'un cran, to obtain an appointment superior to that one possesses already ; to be promoted ; a 1'arbre, or a 1'echelle, to be fooled. Alluding to a bear at the Zoological Gardens being induced to climb the pole by the prospect of some dainty bit which is not thrown to him after all. Also to get angry, " to get one's monkey up ; " en graine, to grow old. Literally to run to seed ; des couleurs, le Job, or un schtosse, to deceive one by false representa- tions, "to bamboozle;" une gamme, to scold, " to bully-rag;" un coup, to find a pretext ; to lay a trap for one. C'est des daims huppes qui veulent monter un coup a un ennemi. E. SUE. Monter le coup, or un battage, to deceive one by misleading state- ments. Ca ne prend pas, tu ne me monteras pas le coup, "No go," / am aware of your practices and *' twig " your manoeuvre, or "don't come the old soldier over me." Faire a 1'echelle, to make one angry, " to make one lose his shirt." Se le bourrichon, or le baluchon, to fly into a passion about some alleged injustice. Also to be too sanguine, to form illusions about one's abilities, or about the success of some project. Oh ! je ne me monte pas le bourrichon, je sais que je ne ferai pas de vieux os. ZOLA, L'Assommoir. Se le coup, se le verre en fleurs, to form illusions. Es- sayer de un bateau a quel- qu'un, to seek to deceive one, "to come the old soldier " over one. (Thieves') Monter un arcat, to swindle, "to bite;" un gandin, to deceive, " to stick, or to best ; " un chopin, to make all necessary preparations for a rob- bery, "to lay a plant ; " a la butte, to be guillotined. Un jour, j'ai pris mon surin pour le re- froidir. Apres tout, mon reve c'est de monter a la butte. Mtmoires de Monsieur Claude. Monter sur la table, to make a clean breast of it ; to inform against one, "to blow the gaff." It also means to tell a secret, "to split." While his man being caught in some fact (The particular crime I've forgotten), When he came to be hanged for the act, Split, and told the whole story to Cotton. Ingoldsby Legends. (Theatrical) Monter une partie, to get together a small number of actors to give out of Paris one or two performances; (military) en ballon, practicaljoke at the expense of a new-comer. During the night, to both ends of the bed of the victim are fixed two running nooses, the ropes being attached high up on a partition by the side of the bed. At a given signal the ropes being pulled, the occupant of the bed finds himself lifted in Montenr. 271 the air, with his couch upside down occasionally. Monteur, m. (theatrical), de partie, an actor whose spccialite is to get together a few brother actors for the purpose of performing out of town ; (popular) de coups, or de godans, sivindler ; one who is fond of hoaxing people ; one who imposes en others, "humbug." Concern- ing the latter term the Slang Dictionary says: "A very ex- pressive but slang word, synony- mous at one time with hum and haw. Lexicographers for a long time objected to the adoption of this term. Richardson uses it frequently to express the meaning of other words, but, strange to say, omits it in the alphabetical arrangement as unworthy of re- cognition ! In the first edition of this work, 1785 was given as the earliest date at which the word could be found in a printed book. Since then 'humbug' has been traced half a century further back, on the title-page of a singular old jest-book, ' The Universal Jester, or a pocket companion for the Wits : being a choice collection of merry conceits, facetious drol- leries, &c., clenchers, closers, closures, bon-mots, and humbugs, by Ferdinando Killigrew.' Lon- don, about 1735-40. The noto- rious orator Henley was known to the mob as Orator Humbug. The fact may be learned from an illustration in that exceedingly curious little collection of carica- tures published in 1757, many of which were sketched by Lord Bolingbroke, Horace Walpole filling in the names and explana- tions. Haliwell describes hum- bug as 'a person who hums,' and cites Dean Milles's MS., which was written about 1760. In the last century the game now known as double-dummy was termed humbug. Lookup, a noto- rious gambler, was struck down by apoplexy when playing at this game. On the circumstance being reported to Foote, the wit said, * Ah, I always thought he would be humbugged out of the world at last ! ' It has been stated that the word is a corruption of Ham- burg, from which town so many false bulletins and reports came during the war in the last century. ' Oh, that is Hamburg (or Humbug),' was the answer to any fresh piece of news which smacked of improbability. Grose mentions it in his Dictionary, 1785 ; and in a little printed squib, published in 1808, entitled Bath Characters, by T. Goosequill, humbug is thus mentioned in a comical couplet on the title-page : Wee Thre Bath Deities bee Humbug, Follie, and Varietee. Gradually from this time the word began to assume a place in periodical literature, and in novels written by not over - precise authors. In the preface to a flat, and most likelyunprofitable poem, entitled The Reign of Humbug, a Satire, 8vo, 1836, the author thus apologizes for the use of the word : ' I have used the term humbug to designate this prin- ciple (wretched sophistry of life generally), considering that it is now adopted into our language as much as the words dunce, jockey, cheat, swindler, &c., which were formerly only colloquial terms.' A correspondent, who in a num- ber of Adversaria ingeniously traced bombast to the inflated Doctor Paracelsus Bombast, con- siders that humbug may, in like manner, be derived from Hom- berg, the distinguished chemist of the Court of the Duke of Orleans, 272 Monteur de coups Morceau. who, according to the following passage from Bishop Berkeley's Siris, was an ardent and success- ful seeker after the philosopher's stone : Of this there cannot be a better proof than the experiment of Monsieur Homberg, who made gold of mercury by introducing light into its pores, but at such trouble and expense that, I suppose, nobody will try the exteriment for profit. By this injunc- tion of light and mercury, both bodies be- came finer, and produced a third different to either, to wit, real gold. For the truth of which fact I refer to the memoirs of the French Academy of Sciences. BERKE- LEY, Works." The Supplementary English Glos- sary gives the word " humbugs " as the North-country term for cer- tain lumps of toffy, well flavoured with peppermint. (Roughs') Mon- ter a cheval, to be suffering from a tumour in the groin, a consequence of venereal disease, and termed poulain, foal, hence the jeu de mots ; (wine retailers') sur le tonneau, to add water to a cask of wine, "to christen" it. Adding too much water to an alcoholic liquor is termed by lovers of the "tipple" in its pure state, "to drown the miller. ' Monteur de coups, m. (popular), story-teller ; cheat. Monteuse de coups, f. (popular), deceitful woman ; one who ' ' bam- boozles " her lover or lovers. Montparno (thieves'), Montpar- nasse. See Menilmonte. J'ai flasque du poivre a la rousse. Elle ira de turne en garno, De Me'nilmuche a Montparno, Sans pouvoir remoucher mon gniasse. RICHEPIN. Montrer (theatrical), la couture de ses bas, to break off a stage engage- ment by the simple process of leaving the theatre ; (familiar and popu- lar) toute sa boutique, to expose one's person. Ah ! non . . . remettez votre camisole. Vous savez, je n'aime pas les indecences. Pendant que vous y etes, montrez toute votre boutique. ZOLA. Montre-tout, m. (popular), short jacket. Termed also " ne te gene pas dans le pare." (Prostitutes') Aller a , to go to the medical examination, a periodical and compulsory one, for registered pros- titutes, those who shirk it being sent to the prison of Saint -Lazare. Monu, m. (cads'), one-sou cigar. Monument, m. (popular), tatthat t or " stove-pipe." Monzu, or mouzu, m. (old cant), woman's breasts. Termed, in other varieties of jargon, "avant-postes, avant-scenes, ceufs sur le plat, oranges sur 1'etagere," and in the English slang, " dairies, bubbles, or Charlies." Morasse, f. (printers'), proof taken before the forme is finally ar- ranged; final proof of a news- paper article. Also workman who remains to correct such a proof, or the time employed in the work. (Thieves') Morasse, uneasiness ; remorse. Battre , to make a hue and cry, "to romboyle," in old cant, or "to whiddle beef." Morassier, m. (printers'), one who prints off the last proof of a news- paper article. Morbaque, m. (popular), disagree- able child. See Morbec. Morbec, m. (popular), a variety of vermin which clings tenaciously to certain parts of the human body. Morceau, m. (freemasons'), d'ar- chitecture, speech ; (popular) de gruyere, pockmarked face, " cribbage-face ; " de sale, fat woman. Un , a slatternly girl. Mord Morningue. 273 (Thieves') Manger le , to peach, " to blow the gaff." Le morceau tu ne mangeras De crainte de tomber au plan. VIEOCQ. (Literary) Morceau de pate ferme, heavy, dull prodiiction. (Artists') Faire le , to paint details skil- fully. (Military) Le beau temps tombe par morceaux, it rains. Mord (familiar and popular), $a. ne pas, ifs no use ; no go. Mordante, f. (thieves'), file ; saw. The allusion is obvious. Mord re (popular), se faire , to be reprimanded, "to get a wigging;" to get thrashed, or "wolloped." Moresque,/ (thieves'), danger. Morfe, /. (thieves'), meal; vic- tuals, or " toke." Veux-tu venir prendre de la morfe et piausser avec meziere en une des pioles que tu m'as rouscaille'e tLe Jargon de FA rgot. Morfiante,/ (thieves'), plate. Morfigner, morfiler (thieves'), to do ; to eat. From the old word morfier. Rabelais uses the word morfialler with the signification of to eat, to gorge oneself. La, la, la, c'est morfialle cela. RABE- LAIS, Gargantua. Morfiler, ormorfiller (thieves'), to eat, ' ' to yam. " Un vieux fagot qui s'e"tait fait raille pour morfiller. VIDOCQ. (An old convict who had turned spy to get a. living.) Termed also morfier. Compare with morfire, or morfizzare, to eat, in the lingue furbesche, or Italian cant. Se le dardant, to fret. Dardant, heart. Morgane,/. (old cant), salt. C'est des oranges, si tu demandais ^du sel . . . de la morgane ! mon fils, 93 coute pas cher. VIDOCQ. (Here are some po- tatoes ; just you ask for salt, my boy; it's cheap enough.) Morganer (roughs' and thieves'), to bite. Morgane le gonse et chair dure ! Bile the cove ! pitch into him ! Moricaud, m. (thieves'), coal; wine-dealers wooden pitcher. Mori-larve, f. (thieves'), sunburnt face. Morlingue, m. (thieves'), money ; purse, "skin." Faire le , to steal a purse, " to fake a skin." Mornante, f. (thieves'), sheepfold. From morne, sheep. Morne, f. and adj. (thieves'), sheep, or "wool-bird." Termed " bleating cheat " by English vagabonds. Courbe de , shoul- der of mutton. Morne, stupid ; stupid man, " go along." Mornee,/ (thieves'), mouthful. Mornier, morneux, or marmier, m. (thieves'), shepherd. Morniffer (popular), to slap one's face, "to fetch a bang," or "to give a biff," as the Americans have it. Termed to give a " clo," at Winchester School. Mornifle, f. (thieves'), money, or " blunt." When the slow coach paused, and the gem- men storm'd, I bore the brunt And the only sound which my grave lips form'd Was " blunt "still " blunt !" LORD LYTTON, Paul Clifford. Mornifle tarte, spurious coin, or "queer bit." Refiler de la tarte, to pass off bad coin ; to be a " snide pitcher, or smasher." Properly mornifle has the signifi- cation of cuff on the face. Mornifleur tarte, m. (thieves'), coiner, or "queer-bit faker." Morningue, or morlingue, m. (thieves'), money, or "pieces;" purse. Faire le , to pick a T 274 Mornos Morviau. pocket. In the old English cant "to fang" a pocket. O shame o' justice ! Wild is hang'd, For thatten he a pocket fang'd, While safe old Hubert, and his gang, Doth pocket of the nation fang. FIELDING,/. Wild. Termed in modern English cant " to fake a cly," a pickpocket being called, according to Lord Lytton, a " buzz gloak " : The " eminent hand " ended with " He who surreptitiously accumulates bustle, is, in fact, nothing better than a buzz gloak. Paul Clifford. Porte , purse, "skin, or poge." Mornos, m. (thieves'), mouth, " bone-box, or muns. " Probably from morne, mutton, the mouth's most important function being to receive food. Morpion, m. (popular), strong ex- pression of contempt ; despicable man, or "snot." Literally crab- louse. Also a bore, one who clings to you as the vermin alluded to. Morpionner (popular), is said of a bore that you cannot get rid of. Morse (Breton cant), barley bread. Mort, / and adj. (popular), mar- ch and de subite, physician, "pill." C'est bien sur le me'decin en chef . . . tous les marchands de mort subite vous ont de ces regards-la. ZOLA. Lampe a , confirmed drunkard whose thirst cannot be slaked. (Familiar and popular) Un corps , an empty bottle. The English say, when a bottle has been emptied, " Take away this bottle ; it has 'Moll Thompson's' mark on it," that is, it is M. T. An empty bottle is also termed a "marine, or marine recruit." "This ex- pression having once been used in the presence of an officer of Marines," says the Slang Dic- tionary, " he was at first inclined to take it as an insult, until some- one adroitly appeased his wrath by remarking that no offence could be meant, as all that it could possibly imply was : one who had done his duty, and was ready to do it again." (Popular) Eau de , brandy. See Tord-boyaux. (Thieves') Etre , to be sentenced, " booked." Hirondelle de la , gendarme on duty at executions. (Military school of Saint-Cyr) Se faire porter eleve-mort is to get placed on the sick list. (Game- sters') Mort, stakes which have been increased by a cheat, who sli/y lays additional money the moment the game is in his favour. Morte paye sur mer, f. (thieves'), the hulks (obsolete). Morue,/; (popular), dirty, disgust- ing -woman. pelle . . . Oui, madame, elle vous appelle . . . morue ! GAVARNI. Also prostitute. See Gadoue. Grande dessalee, expression of the utmost contempt applied to a woman. Pedlars formerly termed " morue," manuscripts, for the printing of which they formed an association, "clubbed" together. Morviau, m. (popular), nose. Termed also "pif, bourbon, piton, pivase, bouteille, caillou, trompe, truffe, tubercule, trompette, naza- reth;" and, in English slang, " conk, boko, nob, snorter, handle, post-horn, and smeller." Lecher le , to kiss. The ex- pression is old. Le'cher le morveau, maniere de parler ironique, qui signifie caresser une femme, la courtiser, la servir, faire 1'amour. Dit Morviot Mouchard. 275 de meme que lecher le grouin, baiser, etre assidu et attache a une personne. LE Roux, Diet. Comique. The term "snorter" of the Eng- lish jargon has the corresponding equivalent "soffiante" in Italian cant. Morviot, m. (popular), secretion from the mucous membrane of the nose, " snot." Dans les veines d'ces estropie"s, Au lieu d'sang il coul' du morviot. Us ont des guiboll's comm' leur stick, Trop d'bidoche autour des boyaux, Et 1'arpion plus mou qu' du mastic. RICHEPIN. Morviot, term of contempt, not quite so forcible as the English expression " snot," which has the signification of contemptible indi- vidual. Petit , little scamp. Moscou, m, (military), faire bruler , to mix a vast bowl of punch. Alluding to the burning down of Moscow by the Russians them- selves in 1812. Mossieu a tubard, m. (popular), well-dressed man, a " swell cove. " Tubard is a silk hat. Mot, m. (popular), casser un , to have a chat, or "chin music." Motte, f. (general), pudenda mu- lierum. Termed also "chat," and formerly by the poets " le verger de Cypris. " Le Roux, con- cerning the expression, says : La motte de la nature d'une femme, c'est Eroprement le petit bois touffu qui garnit : penil d'une femme. Diet. Comique. Formerly the false hair for those parts was termed in English " merkin." (Thieves') Motte, central prison, or house of correc- tion. Degringoler de la , to come from such a place of confine- ment. The synonyms of prison in different varieties of slang are : " castue, caruche, hopital, mitre, chetard or jetard, college, grosse boite, 1'ours, le violon, le bloc, bolte aux cailloux, tuneon, austo, mazaro, lycee, chateau, lazaro." In the English lingo : " stir, clinch, bastile, steel, sturrabin, jigg er > Irish theatre, stone-jug, mill," the last-named being an abbreviation of treadmill, and signifying by analogy/mr article which has been refused 298 Ourserie Ovale. by every editor. Marchand, or meneur d' , playwright or lite- rary man whose specialite is to produce "ours," which he offers to every manager or editor. (Prin- ters') Ours, idle talk. Poser un , to bore one by idle talk. Se dit d'un compagnon, peu dispose au travail, qui vient en deranger un autresans que celui-ci puisse s'en debarrasser. BOUTMV. Ours, pressman, or "pig." Le mouvement de va-et-vient qui res- semble assez a celui de 1'ours en cage, par lequel les pressiers se portent de 1'encrier a la presse, leur a valu sans doute ce so- briquet. BALZAC. (Familiar and popular) Ours, prison ; guard-room, or cells, " Irish theatre, or mill." Flan- quer a 1" , to imprison, "to put in limbo." The latter term, ac- cording to the Slang Dictionary, comes from limbus, or limbus patrum, a mediaeval theological term for purgatory. The Catholic Church teaches that "limbo" was that part of hell where holy people who died before the Re- demption were kept. Envoyer a T , to send to the deuce. A 1' ! to the deuce ! Assez ! assez ! a 1'ours ! Mes enfants je vous rappelle au calme. E. MONTEIL, Cornebois. (Popular) Ours, goose. Ourserie, f. (popular), living the life of a bear. Oursin, m. (thieves'), young thief, or "ziff." Ous' (popular), qu'est mon fusil ? is expressive of feigned anger at some silly assertion or bad joke; que tu demeures ? is expressive of a mock show of interest ; que vous allez sans parapluie, you are a simpleton, " how's your brother Job?" Outil, m. (prostitutes'), de besoin, good-for-nothing bully. (Thieves') Des outils, hotisebreaking imple- ments, "jilts, or twirls." Outrancier, m., name given in 1870 to those who wished to con- tinue the war. Ouvrage, m. (popular), excrement, or " quaker ;" (thieves') rohbery, " push, or sneaking budge." See Grinchissage. Ouvrier, m. (thieves'), thief, or "prig." See Grinche. II me dit qu'il venait de travailler en cambrouze avec des ouvriers qui venaient de tomber malades. VIDOCQ. (He told me he had dune some job in the country -with thieves iv/tf> had just been convicted.) Ouvriere, f. (bullies'), prostfaite ; mistress of a bully. Ouvrir. See Compas. (Familiar) Ouvrir son robinet, to begin talk- ing. Oh ! bien ! si Linois ouvre son robinet! . . . On va en entendre de salees. E. MONTEIL. Ouvrir 1'ceil et le bon, to watch carefully ; to seek to avoid being deceived. Ovale, m. (thieves'), oil. De 1' et de 1'acite, oil and vinegar. PPagne. 299 P (popular), faire le , to look dis- pleased. Pacant, tn. (thieves'), peasant, or "clod;" clumsy fellcnv ; in- truder. Mais ce pacant-la va tout gater. BALZAC, Pierre Grassou. Paccin, or pacmon, m. (thieves'), pared, or " peter." From paquet, parcel. Pacquelin, m. (thieves'), country. Un suage est a maquiller la sorgue dans a tolle du ratichon du pacquelin. VIDOCQ. (A murder and robbery -will take place at night in the country priest' s house.) Breme de , map. Le du raboin, the infernal regions. Pacquelinage, ;;/. (thieves'), jour- ney. Pacqueliner (thieves'), to travel. Pacquelineur, m. (thieves'), tra- veller. Pacsin, paccin, or pacmon, m. (thieves'), parcel, or " peter." Paf, adj. (popular), drunk, or " tight." See Pompette. Vousavezdte jolimentpafhier. BALZAC. Paff, m. (thieves'), brandy, or " bingo," in old English cant. Quelques voleurs qui, dans un acces de cette bonhomie que prodnisent deux ou. trois coups de " paff" verses a propos, se laisseraient " tirer la carotte " sur leurs affUires passers VIDOCQ. Paffe,y. (popular), donner une , to thrash, " to wallop." See Voie. Paffe, shoe, " trotter-case." Paffer, or empaffer (popular), se , to get drunk, " to get tight. >r See Sculpter. Pagaie,/. (military), mettre en , literally en pas gaie, to play on recrtiits a practical joke, which, consists in arranging their beds in such a way that everything will come to the ground directly they get into them. Page,/, andm. (printers'), blanche, good workman. Etre blanche en tout, to be a good workman and good comrade ; to be innocent. En cette affaire vous n'etes pas page blanche. BOUTMY. (Popular) Page d'Alphand, scaven- ger in the employ of the city of Paris, M. Alphand being the chief engineer of the Board of Works of that town. Pagne, m. (popular and thieves'),. bed, " doss, bug-walk, or kip ;' r (thieves') provisions brought by friends to a prisoner. J'ai un bon coeur ; tu 1'as vu lorsque je lui portais le " pagne a la Lorcefe " (pro- vision a la Force). VIDOCQ. Pagnoten Faille. Pagnoten (Breton cant), shreiu ; girl of indifferent character. Pagnoter (popular), to go to bed; avec une grognasse, to sleep with a woman. Pagnotte, adj. (popular), cowardly (obsolete). Pagoure (thieves'), to take; to steal. 11s 1'ont fargue a la dure pour pagoure son bobinares, they at- tacked him in order to steal his watch. Paies (popular), c'est tout ce que tu ? have you nothing more interesting to say ? or, what next ? Prenez garde, mon fils ! la pente du vice st glissante ; tel qui commence par une peccadille peut finir sur 1'echafaud ! C'est tout ce que tu paies ? RANDON. Paillasse, /. (popular), body, or " apple - cart. " Termed also " paillasse aux legumes." Crever la a quelqu'un, to kill one, " to do for one." En voila assez avec " au chose," il faut lui crever la paillasse ; qui est-ce qui en CSt? G. COURTELINB. Manger sa , to say one's prayers by one's bedside, " to chop the whines." Bourrer la , to eat, " to peck." Paillasse, low prosti- tute, or " draggle-tail." Du temps qu'elle faisait la noce, Jamais on n'aurait pu rencontrer, c'est certain Paillasse plus cynique et plus rude catin. GILL. Paillasse & soldats, or de corps de garde, soldier's wench, or "bar- rack-hack." Termed also a troufion. (Prostitutes') Bruler , to make off without paying a prosti- tute, termed, in the English slang, "to do a bilk." Le client n'est pas toujours un miche consciencieux. Quelquefois elles ont af- faire a de mauvais plaisants qui ne se font aucun scrupule de ne pas les payer ; en argot de prostitution on appelle cela " bruler paillasse." Lo TAXIL. (Military) Traine , a fourrier, or non-commissioned officer who has charge of the bedding and fur- niture department. Paillasson, m. (theatrical), short play acted before a more important one is performed. Le spectacle commenga par une petite piece, le lever de ndeau habituel que 1'on a, deouis, appele en argot de coulisses le " paillasson," parcequ'on la joue pendant que les retardataires arrivent. A. SIRVEN, La Ckasse aux Vierges. (Popular) N 'avoir plus de a la porte, to be bald, ' ' to have a bladder of lard." For synonyms see Avoir. Eh ! ben ! en v'la un vieux gateux ! avec son crane a 1'encaustique. S'il avail des cheveux, il serait encore assez re"ussi. Mais il n'a plus de fil sur la bobine, plus de crin sur la brosse, plus de gazon sur le pre, il a 1'caillou deplume, quoi? Enfin, n'y a plus de paillasson a la porte. BAUMAINE ET BLONDELET. Paillasson, prostitutes lover. See Poisson. Un , one who is too fond of 'the petticoat, a "molrower, or mutton-monger." Paillasson, quoi ! Coeur d'artichaut. A c'fourbis-la, mon vieux gargon, Qu'vous m'direz, on n'fait pas fortune, Faut un' marmite, et n'en faut qu'une ; Y a pas d'fix' pour un paillasson. GILL, La Muse a Bibi. Paille, /. (thieves'), lace, or " driz." (Popular) C'est une ! only a trifle! The expression is ironical, and is meant to convey just the opposite. Ne plus avoir de sur le tabouret, to be bald. (Military) Paille de fer, bayonet, ' ' cold steel ; " sword. Avoir la au cul, to be declared physically unfa for military service. (Card- sharpers') Paille, rivindle at cards, which consists in betiding a certain card at the place where it is re- quired to cut the pack. Couper dans la , to cut a pack thus pre- Pailler Pallas. 30 r pared. Synonymous of "couper dans le pont." Pailler (gambling cheats'), to ar- range cards, when shuffling them, for cheating, " to stock broads." Pailletee, / (popular), gay girl of the Boulevards. For list of syno- nyms see Gadoue. Paillot, m. (popular), door-mat. Plaquer la tournante sous le , to conceal the key wider the door- mat. Pain, m. (popular), blow; a cacheter, consecrated "wafer. Also the moon. Tortorer le a cache- ter, to partake of communion. Du ! ironical expression of refusal. Prete-moi dix francs. Dix francs ? et du ? Lend me ten francs ? Ten francs? what next ? Manger du rouge, to live on the proceeds of thefts. (Military) Pain a trente- six sous, soldier's biscuit. Ton , son , a reply which is equivalent to nothing of the kind, not at all, Le brigadier a dit qu'il te ficherait au Mazarot. II y foutra son . The corporal said he would send you to the cells. He will do nothing of the kind. Paing, m. (popular), blow, "bang, clout, wipe," or, as the Americans say, "biff." Passer chez , to thrash, " to wallop." See Voie. Paire, f. (popular), de cymbales, ten francs. (Thieves') Se faire la , to run away, "to guy." Se faire une de mains courantes, to run away, "to guy." For synonyms see Patatrot. (Mili- tary) Une d'etuis de mains courantes, a pair of boots. Pairs, /. //. La chambre des , was formerly, at the hulks, the part assigned to convicts for life. Paix-la, m. (popular), usher in a court of justice. I find in Larchey's Dictionnaire d' 'Argot the follow- ing anecdote : Le parasite Montmaur fut un jour per- siffle dans une maison. Des qu'il parut sur le seuil, un des convives se mit a crier guerre ! guerre ! C'etait un avocat dont le pere avait ete huissier. Montmaur n'eut garde del'oubher en lui repondant: " Com- bien vous degenerez, monsieur, car votre pere n'a jamais dit que paix ! paix ! " Palabre, f, (popular), tiresome dis- course. Paladier, m. (thieves'), meadow. Palais, m. (thieves'), le courrier du , the prison van. Called " Black Maria " at Newgate. Termed also "panier a salade." Palas, atlj. (thieves'), handsome, pretty, nice, "dimber." Pale, m. (domino players'), the white at dominoes. Paleron, m. (thieves'), foot, "dew- beater." Palet, m. (popular), un , une thune, or une roue de derriere, a five-franc piece. Paletot, m. (popular), coffin, "cold meat box." (Familiar) Un court, a dandy or " masher " of the year 1882. See Gommeux. Palette, f. (popular and thieves'), guitar ; tooth, or ' ' ivory ; " hand, "duke." Le diable m'enleve si je me sauve ! Les palettes et les paturons ligotes (les mains et les pieds attaches). VIDOCQ. Palichon, m. (domino players'), double blank. Pallas, m. (popular and thieves'), puffing speech of mmtntebanks. Ah! c'etaitlebon temps du "boniment,"de 1' " invite," du " pallas" : Prenez, prenez, prenez vos billets. Journal A musant. Faire , to make a great fuss. Concerning this term Michel says: "Terme des camelots et des saltimbanques, emprunte a 1'ancienne germania espagnole ou 302 Pallasser Panas. 'hacer pala' se disait quand un voleur se plagait devant la per- sonne qu'il s'agissait de voler, dans le but d'occuper sesyeux." ( Printers') Pallas, emphatic speech. Faire , to make a great fuss apropos of nothing. Concerning the expression Boutmy says : " C'est sans doute par une remi- niscence classique qu'on a em- prunte ironiquerr.ent, pourdesigner ce genre .de discours, 1'un des noms de la sage Minerve, deesse de 1'eloquence." Combien qui y en a, des pegres de la haute qui apres avoir roule sur 1'or et 1'ar- gent et avoir fait pallas sont alles mourir la- faas. VIUOCQ. Pallasser (printers'), to talk in an emphatic manner. Probably for parlasser. Pallasseur, m. (printers'), one who makes diffuse incoherent speeches while seeking to be emphatic. Palme, m. and adj. (popular), stupid, foolish fellow, a "flat." Literally one with webbed feet like a goosfs. Palmipede. See Palm6. Palot, pallet, m. (thieves'), country- man, " clod." From paille. Palote,/ (thieves'), peasant-woman; moon, "parish lantern, or Oliver. " Palper (popular), de la galette, to receive money. Se , to have to do without. Je dirai tout ce que tu voudras ; seul'- ment, tu sais, tu peux t' palper, c'est comme des dattes pour etre regu au rapport. G. COURTELINE. Palpitant, m. (thieves ), the heart, or "panter." Va, nous 1'avons e"chappe" belle, j'en ai encore le palpitant (cceur) qui bat la gene"- rale ; pose ta main la-dessus, sens-tu comme il fait tic-tac? VIDOCQ. Pameur, w. (thieves'), fish. A fish gasps like one swooning. Pampeluche, Pantin, Pan- trucbe, m. (thieves'), Paris. Pampez (Breton cant), rustic. Pampine, f. (thieves'), ugly face, " knocker-face ; " sister of mercy. Pampine (obsolete), thick-lipped, coarse mouth. Et toi, oil qu' t'iras, vilaine pampine, figure a chien, tete de singe, matelas d'in- valide ? Riche-en-gueitle. Pamure,/; (popular), smart box on the ear, or "buck -horse." Pana, m. (popular), vieux , old miser, old "hunks." Panache, m. (familiar), avoir du , to be elegant, dashing, " to be tsing-tsing. " (Popular) Avoir le , to be drunk, or "screwed." See Pompette. Faire , to take a flying leap over one's horse's head, an unwilling one, of course. Panade,/. and adj. (popular), ugly person ; without energy, " sappy. " Panailleux, m. (popular), poor starving wretch, or " quisby. Panais, m. (popular), etre en , to be in one's shirt, in one's "flesh bag." Panama, m. (printers'), gross error, " mull." BeVue enorme, dans la composition, 1'im- position ou le tirage, et qui ne'cessite un carton ou un nouveau tirage. BOUTMY. (Popular) Panama, dandy, or "gorger." For synonyms see Gommeux. Panaris, m. (popular), mother-in- law. An allusion to the irritating pain caused by a white swelling on the finger. Panas, m. pi, (popular), dandy, or "gorger," see Gommeux; rags ; glass splinters and other refuse. Un , poor man out of work, out of " collar." Pancarte Panne. 303 Pancarte, f. (military), se faire aligner sur la , to get punished. Pandore, m. (familiar and popular), gendarme. From a song by Nadaud. Pane, adj. and m. (general), needy, hard tip, one " in Queer street." Tous des panes, mon cher ! Pas un n'a coupe dans le pont. Me menes-tu boulotter au Bouillon Duval? P. MAHALIN. Panier a salad e, m. (popular and thieves'), prison van, or "Black Maria." Puis il se detira et se secoua violemment pour rendre 1'elasticite a ses membres en- gourdis par 1'exiguite du compartiment du "panier a salade." GABORIAU. Panier au pain, stomach, or "bread-basket." Avoir chie dans le de quelqu'un jusqu'a 1'anse, to have behaved very ill to one. (Saint Lazare prisoners') Re- cevoir le , to receive provisions brought from the outside. (Popu- lar) Panier aux crottes, behind, or " Nancy." Pas de clarinette pour secouer le panier aux crottes des dames. ZOLA. Remuer le aux crottes, to dance, " to shake a leg." Le aux ordures, bed, "doss, or bug-walk." Panier a deux anses, man walking with a woman on each arm. (Journalists') Le aux ordures, that part of the paper reserved for quotations from hostile journals. (Thieves') Le a Chariot, the executioner's basket, that which receives the body of the executed criminal. Chariot is the nick- name of the executioner. A 1'autre extremite de la salle, un Croupe de detraque's devisagent une fille qui a e"te la maitresse d'un guillotine . . . ils aiment 1'odeur du panier a Chariot. LOUISE MICHEL. Paniot. See Revidage. Panioter. See Pagnoter. Paniquer (thieves), to be afraid, or " funky." Se , to be on one's guard. Synonymous of " taffer, avoir le taf, le trac, or la frousse. " Panne, /. (general), poverty ; bad circumstances, or " Queer street. " Quand il n'y a plus de son, les anes se battent, n'est-ce pas ? Lantier flairait la panne ; <;a 1'exasperait de sentir la maison deja mangee. ZOLA. (Picture dealers') Panne, inferior picture sold above value. Le brocanteur avail groupe un ramassis d'objets tares, invendables . . . vous m'en- tendez, vieux . . . pas de carottes, pas de pannes . . . La dame s'y connait. A. DAU- DET, Les Rois en Exit. (Theatrical) Panne, unimportant part, consisting of a few lines, or part which does not show to advan- tage an actor's powers. Puis, cette salete de Bordenave lui don- nait encore une panne, un role de cinquante lignes. ZOLA. (Sailors') Laisser quelqu'un en , to forsake one in difficulties ; to leave one in the lurch. Properly to leave one lying to. Amen ! re'pondit le matelot, mais sans vouloir vous facher, la mere, m'est avis que les saints, les anges, et le bon Dieu nous laissent joliment en panne depuis quelque temps. RICHEPIN, La Glu. Panne, adj. and m. (general), needy ; needy man ; comme la Hollande, very needy, very '' hard up." Etre , to be in bad circum- stances. J'suts un homme propre, moi, et lecteur . . . et ouvrier . . . sans ouvrage depuis qu' ma soeur est a Lazare. (La dame lui donne dix sous.) Dix sous ! Va done eh ! pannle ! (La dame lui dit zut !) MIRLI- TON, Gil Bias, 1887. Ca ne serait pas sans faute, car je suis "panne," dieu merci, ni peu ni trop. VIDOCQ. The English have the expression, " to be in Queer street." I am very high in "Queer Street " jfist now, ma'am, having paid your little bills before I left town. KINCSLEV, Two Yean Ago. 304 Fanner quelqu'un Pantoufle. Fanner quelqu'un (popular), to win one's money at some game, " to blew one " of his money. Panoteur, m. (popular), poacher. Panoufle,/ (popular), wig, " peri- winkle." Old word panufle, list- shoe. Panser de la main (popular), to thrash, " to wallop." Panser, to groom. Pantalon, w. (familiarand popular), donner dans le rouge is said of a girl who keeps company rvith a soldier, who has "an attack of scarlet fever." In the slang of English officers, a girl fond of their company, and who is passed on from one officer to another, is termed "garrison-hack, "an officer who is very attentive to such being called a " carpet tomcat." Une boutonniere en , a semi-prosti- tute; a sempstress who walks the street at night for purposes of pro- stitution. See Gadoue. Pantalonner une pipe (popular), to colour a pipe. From the ex- pression, culotter une pipe. Pantalzar, m. (popular), trousers, " sit-upons, hams, or kicks." Pante, m. (popular and thieves'), man, " cove." From pantin, da ncing puppet. C'est lorsque la marmite n'a pas donne son fade au barbillon, ou quand un pante re- fuse de payer 1'heureux moment qu'il doit a la dame de 1'assommoir. Alors if y a une buchade geneVale. M {moires de Monsieur Claude. (Thieves') Degringoler les pantes, to rob fools, that is, people, ' ' to do a cove." Jusqu'a la hardie gonzesse qui a degrin- gole les pantes et vide jusqu au fond les finettes des ballones. LOUISE MICHEL. (Up to the bold woman ivko has "done the flats," and emptied the pockets of rich people.) Faire le aumachabe"e, to murder a man. Ah ! c'est ... la celle qui est au grand pr^ ! Ca s'en donnait, des airs de la madame bienfaisante ! et <;a faisait le pante au ma- chabee pendant ce temps-la. LOUISE MI- CHEL. (Ah ! it's the tvomanivho is at the convict settlement ! She gave herself the airs of a kind lady, and she all the while was murdering men.) Pante argote, stupid fool, or "go along ; " arnau, man who is alive to the fact that he has been robbed, and who objects ; cle's- argote, wary man, not easily deceived, a " wide one, one who is up to the hour of day, or who is fly to wot's wot." Arranger le , plumer le , to sivindle a man of his money at cards. Un en robe, a judge, or " beak ; " priest, "devil-dodger, or snub- devil." J'ai pense, pour me tirer d'peines, A m'fair' frer' desecoles chretiennes. Ah ! ouiche ! Et 1'taf des tribunaux ? Puis, j' suis pas pour les pant' en robe, Avoir 1'air d un mal, v'la c' que j'gobe. J'aim' mieux et' dos. RICHEPIN, La Chanson des Guenx. Panthere, orpanthe,/ (popular), faire sa , or pousser sa , to walk up and dcnvn in a workshop ; to go from one wine-shop to another. Pantiere, /. (thieves'), mouth. From pannetiere, bread-basket. So it exactly corresponds to the English slang "bread-basket." Pantin, or Pantruche, m, (popu- lar), Paris. Properly one of the suburbs of Paris. J'ai fait la connaissance d'une petite fille corse, que j'ai rencontree en arrivant k Pantin (Paris). BALZAC. Pantinois, pantruchois, m. and adj. (popular), Parisian. Pantouflards, m. pi. (familiar and popular), name given during the siege ofi&Ji to Parisians serving in the "Garde nationale seden- taire," whose duties were to keep guard in the interior of the city. Pantoufle, / (popular), et cetera ... ! words used jocularly on Pantoufle Panturne. 305 completing some arduous, tiresome task, meaning nothing more, and so on. The expression is also used in lieu of an objectionable word forming a climax in sequence to an enumeration, and which, con- sequently, may easily be divined. In the phrase, C'est un sot, un ane bate, " et csetera pantoufle," the quaint term acts as a substi- tute for an obscene word of three letters, which, in the mouth of a Frenchman, expresses the acme of his contempt for another's intel- lectual worth. The Voltaire news- paper says concerning the ex- pression : " Et catera . . . pan- toufle ! Que signifie cette expres- sion, employee dans le langage populaire ? Loredan Larchey, repond le Courrier de Vaugelas, declare cette locution peu tradui- sible et dit que le peuple s'en sert comme d'un temps d'arret dans une enumeration qui menace de devenir malhonnete. Elle est meme tout a fait intraduisible si Ton ne considere que le mot francais en lui-meme et sa signifi- cation vulgaire de chaussure de chambre. A ce point de vue etroit, il est impossible de saisir la correlation existant entre cette pantoufle et un discours dont on veut taire la fin, ou plutot qu'on n'acheve pas parce que la con- clusion est trop connue. Le fran- fais, qui souvent s'est taille un vetement dans la chlamyde des Grecs, n'a pas dedaigne non plus de s'introduire dans leurs pan- toufles. Nous disons : Et ccztera pantoufle. Les Grecs entendaient par la : Et les antres chases, toutes de meme sorte. Nous sommes en France des traducteurs si ser- viles, nous avons serre le grec de si pres que nous nous sommes confondus avec lui, nous avons traduit le mot grec par pantoufle ! Mais d'oii nous est venue cette bizarre expression ? Comment a- t-elle passe dans notre langue? M. Ch. Toubin pense qu'elle nous est vraisemblablement arrivee par Marseille. C'est possible, mais nous aimons mieux croire que les ecoliers du moyen age, eleves dans le jardin des racines grecques, ont etc frappes de la consonnance de pantoufle avec 1'expression grecque et 1'ont adoptee en la francisant, a la fa$on plaisante des ecoliers." Pantoufle, m. (popular), tailor's assistant. Pantre, m. (thieves'), fool, "flat." An appellation applied by thieves to their victims. Eh oui, buvons ! qui payera ? {a sera les " pantres." VIDOCQ. Faire un coup a I'esbrouffe sur un , see Coup a I'esbrouffe. Arranger les pantres, see Ar- ranger. Pantriot, m. (popular and thieves'), employer, or "boss;" foolish young fellow, Pantriote,^ (popular and thieves'), foolish girl. N'allez pas, dit la grosse boulotte, me vendre, pantriotes que vous etes. LOUISE MICHEL. Pantrouillard, m. (popular and thieves'), man, the slang syno- nyms being " pante, gonce, chene, type, pekin," and the English, "cove, chap, cull, article, codger, buffer." Pantruche, (thieves'), Paris. Termed also " Pantin." Panturne, f. (bullies'), prostitute, " doxie." From the Italian cant. Les souteneurs, dans leur argot, disent : Gaupe, marmite, dabe, largue, ouvriere, gudnippe, ponante, ponisse, panturne, pa- nuche, bourre-de- sole. LEO TAXIL. 306 PanucJie Parade. Panuche, f. (thieves'), showily dressed woman, or "burerk;" prostitute who lives in a brothel, a "dress-lodger." See Gadoue. Papa, m. (popular), a la , in a quiet, sedate manner ; in negligent or slovenly style. Deux infectes petites salles e"clairees par une demi-douzaine de quinquets, tenues a la papa. RICHEPIN, Le Pavt. Pape, m. (popular), stupid fellow >, a " flat." (Students') Un , a glass of bitters. Au Quartier Latin, 1'absinthe s'appelle une puree, l'eau-de-vie un petrole, le bock un cercueil, le bitter un pape. Mimoires de Monsieur Claude. Papelard, m. (thieves') paper. Ma- quiller le , to write, "to scree ve." Papier, m. (familiar), a chandelle, insignificant neivspaper ; a dou- leur, dishonoured bill; Joseph, or de soie, bank-note, ' ' rag, screene, soft, or long-tailed one." Parler , to write, " to screeve." Une medaille de volant, or medaille des Pays-Bas (obsolete), lump of excrement. Oh ! je vais te faire voir a qui tu paries, va, me'daille de papier volant vis-a-vis de 1'hotel des Ursins. Les Raccoleurs, 1756. " In explanation of the above quotation, it must be mentioned that a piece of ground opposite the Hotel des Ursins in the Cite (that is, in one of the two islands which formed the nucleus of old Paris), was frequented by people for whom necessite n'apas de loi." Hence the allusion. Papillon, m. (thieves'), laundry- man ; d'auberge, table-linen; plate. BientSt a deTaut de flamberges Volent les papillons d'auberges ; On s'accueille a grands coups de poing Sur le nez et sur le grouin. Les Porcherons. Avoir des papillons noirs (or bleus) dans la sorbonne, to be despondent, to have the " blue devils." Elle soutient que Pavie avail en effet des papillons noirs dans la sorbonne et qu'il n'etait venu la trouver . . . que pour se prir. Mtmoires de Monsieur Claude. Papillonner (thieves'), to steal linen, 1 ' to smug snowy. " Papillonneur, m. (thieves'), a rogue who steals wet clothes hung on lines to dry, " lully prigger," or who rifles washenvomen 's carls. Papillotes, /. //. (familiar), bank- notes, "flimsies, or long-tailed ones." Papotage, m. (familiar), chat. Papote, or pochetS, m. (popular), fool, or " softy." Papoter (familiar), to chat, "to gabble. " Paquelin, m. (thieves'), for patelin, flatterer. Paqueliner (thieves'), to flatter. Paquemon, m. (thieves'), parcel, or " peter." Paquet, with suffix mon. Paquet, m. (popular), ridiculmtsly dressed -woman, a " guy. " Avoir son , to be drunk, "to be primed." See Pompette. (Fa- miliar and popular) Risquer le , to venture. (Card-sharpers') Faire le , to cheat by arranging cards in a peculiar manner when shuf- fling them. Paquetier, m. (printers'), compo- sitor who has to deal only with the composition of lines, without titles, &V. ; d'honneur, head " pa- quetier. " Parabole, f. (thieves'), paradise. Parade,/! (military), defiler la , to die, " to lose the number of one's mess." See Pipe. (Prin- Paradouze Parisien . 307 ters') Parade, any kind of joke, good or bad, a ' ' wheeze. " (Popu- lar) Benediction de , kick on the behind ; alluding to kicks clowns give one another in a preliminary farcical performance outside a booth. Paradouze, or part-a-douze, m. (military), paradise. A play on the word paradis. Paralance, m. (popular), umbrella, "mush, or rain-napper." From parer, to ward off, and lance, water, Parangonner (printers'), to adjust properly type of different sizes in the composing stick. Se , to steady one self when one feels groggy . Paraphe, f. (popular), slap, blow, "wipe," or "bang." Detacher une , or parapher, to slap one's face, " to fetch one a wipe in the mug." Parapluie, m. (popular), essence de , water, "Adam's ale." (Military) Envoyer chercher le de 1'escouade, to send for the squad's umbrella. A joke perpetrated at the expense of a recruit, or "Johnny raw," who gets crammed by the knowing ones, who make him be- lieve that each squad possesses a gigantic umbrella, entrusted to the care of the latest joined recruits. Pare, m. (thieves'), theatre, "gaff." (Popular) Ne-te-gene-pas-dans-le , short jacket. Pare, adj. (thieves'), etre , to be ready for execution. The convict's hair is shorn close by the execu- tioner a few minutes before he is led to the terrible engine. The operation is termed " la toilette du condamne. " Hence the expression. Pareil, adj. (thieves'), etre , to act in concert. Parent, m. (thieves'), parishioner. Parer (popular), la coque, to es- cape some deserved punishment by taking to flight ; to get out of some scrape. (Thieves') La a quelqu'un, to assist one, that is, to ward off a blow from fortune. La rien a un aminche, to readily assist a friend. (Cocottes') Parer sa cotelette, to dress, to adorn one- self. On n'a pas besoin de tant d'etoffe, d'abord. Et puis ces demoiselles dgottent un bou- cher dans 1'art de parer leurs cQtelettes. P. MAHALIN, Mesdames de Cceur-volant. Parfait, adj. (popular), amour, or creme de cocu, sweet liquor for ladies ; amour de chiffonnier, coarse brandy. Termed ' ' bingo " in old English cant. Parfond, m. (thieves'), pie ; pastry, " magpie." J'aime la croute de parfond, Nos luques nous leur presentons, Puis dans les boules et fremions, J'aime la croute de parfond. Chanson de F Argot. Parfonde, or profonde,/ (thieves'), pocket, " cly, sky-rocket, or brigh ; " cellar. C'est lui qui a rinc^ la profonde (cave) de la fille, dit Fil-de-soie a 1'oreille du Biffon. On voulait nous coquer le taffe (faire peur) pour nos thunes de balles (nos pieces de cent sous). BALZAC, La derniete Incar- nation de Vautrin. Parigot, m. (popular), Parisian. Paris, m. (familiar), Monsieur de , official title of the executioner. The office was held by the Samson family for a considerable time. See Monsieur. Parisien, m. (military), active, cheery, knowing soldier ; (sailors') awkward man, ' ' a lubber ; " (horse-dealers') worthless horse which finds noptirchaser, ' 'screw." Probably an allusion to Paris cab- horses, which are anything but 308 Parlement Partageuse. high-mettled steeds. (Domino players') Parisien, cheating at a game of dominoes. Parlement, or parlementage (popular), language, discourse. Un m^chant bailli de raalheur S'avisi de rendre eun' sentence . . . Mais si j'savions 1'parlementage, Tous ces Messieurs qui ont 1'honneur, Auriont repare not' malheur, En empechant tout' leux malice Par la bonte de leux justice. Les Citrons de jfavotte. Ouvrir le , to talk, " to jaw." Parler (popular), Chretien, to speak intelligibly ; (theatrical) du puits, to waste one's time in idle discourse ; sur quelqu'un, to give the cue before a brother per- former has concluded his tirade, "to corpse" him; (artists') en bas-relief, to mutter ; (popular) landsman, to speak German; (military) papier, to -write. Parloir des singes, m. (prisoners'), room where prisoners are allowed to see their friends from behind a grating. Le meurtrier . . . depassa la salle des gardiens, laissa a droite le " parloir des singes " et entra dans le greffe. GABORIAU, Monsieur Lecoq. Parlotter (familiar), to chat. Parlotterie,/ (familiar), chat. Parlotteur, m. (familiar), chatter- box, " clack -box." Parmesard, m. (popular), poor devil with threadbare clothes. A play on the word " rape," rasped, threadbare rape comme du Par- mesan. Paroissien, m. (familiar and popu- lar), individual. Un drole de , a queer fellow, a ' ' rum cove. " (Popular) Paroissien de Saint- Pierre aux boeufs, blockhead, "cab- bage-head." Paron, m. (thieves'), square, pas rond. Paroufle,/ (thieves'), parish. Parquet, m. (familiar), le , is the company of official stockbrokers, who transact business round ' ' la corbeille," or circular enclosure in the Stock Exchange. " Les cou- lissiers " are the unofficial jobbers, and "courtiers marrons," the kerbstone brokers, many of whom are swindlers. The offices of the Procureur de la Republique, or public prosecutor, go also by the name of parquet. Parrain, m. (thieves'), witness. Des parrains aboules dans le burlin du quart d'ceil ont bonni qu'ils reconnobraient ma frime pour 1'avoir allumee sur la pla- carde du fourmillon, au moment du grin- chissage. VIDOCQ. (Some witnesses who came to the office of the " commissaire de police" said that they knew my face be- cause they had seen it in the market-plact when the theft took place.) Parrain, barrister, "mouthpiece;" deputy judge ; d'alteque, wit- ness for the defence ; becheur, public prosecutor; fargueur, witness for the prosecution. Faire suer un , to kill a witness. Un a la manque, a false witness, or ' ' rapper. " It was his constant maxim that he was a pitiful fellow who would stick at a little rapping for his friend. FIELDING,/. Wild. Parrainage, m. (thieves'), depo- sitions. Part,/ (obsolete), kindness. C'est-t'y parler $a? Monsieux, j'pense tout d'meme que comme vous. Ma com- mere, c'est un effet de . . . de votre part. VADE. Part-a-douze, m. (military), para- dise. Tas de " gourgauts," vocifere-t-il, ce sont eux qui sont cause de ca ! . . . ah ! nom d'une soupe a 1'oignon ! I Is ne le por- teront pas en "part-a-douze." C. DUBOIS DE GENNES. Partageuse, woman. (familiar), kept Partageux Passe-de-cambre. 309 Partageux, m. (peasants'), re- publican. Parterre, m, (popular), prendre un billet de , to fall, " to come a cropper. " A pun : le parterre, the pit in a theatre ; par terre, on the ground. Parti, adj. (familiar and popular), drunk ; asleep. Aliens, les voila partis, dit Vautrin en remuant la tete du pere Goriot et celle d'Eugene. BALZAC. Parti pour la gloire, drunk, or "screwed." See Pompette. Particulier, m. (military), civilian; (familiar) individual, "party." Vous protestez comme un beau diable, t, si 1' particulier s'entete, vous allez sur !ui, vous montrez qu' vous n'avez point froid aux yeux en lui disant : "Toi, j'te vas sortir ! " Le Cri du Peuple, Janvier, 1887. Particuliere,/. (general), mistress. Ma , my little girl, my " lady- bird." The word had formerly the meaning of prostitute. Partie,/ (popular), faireune de traversin, to sleep two in a bed, " to read a curtain lecture. " Fille a parties, variety of prostitute. See Gadoue. En general, pour etre admis chez elles, il faut y etre presente par un habitue de leurs reunions ; elles donnent des diners et des soirees. Lo TAXIL. Partir (military), la paille au cul, to be discharged after having been under arrest or in prison. An allusion to the straw in the cells ; du pied droit, to act against regulations ; (familiar and popu- lar) pour la gloire, to get drunk, or " screwed." See Sculpter. Pas, m. (military), mettre au , to reprimand, to punish ; (thieves') si cher ! do not speak so loud ! hold your tongue ! ' ' mum your dubber ! " (popular) mal . . . pour le canal is said of an ugly woman. Pascailler (thieves'), to supplant one. Pasclin, pasquelin, m. (thieves'), country. Le boulanger t'entrolle en son , may the devil take you to his abode. Passade, f. (printers'), pecuniary aid allowed to workmen for whom work cannot be found ; (familiar) temporary intercourse with a wo- man. Donner une , to place one's hands on a bather's shoulders and pass over him, meanwhile sending him below the surface. Passant, m. (thieves'), shoe, or ' ' trotter-case. " Passante, /. (thieves'), shuttle. Pousser la , to weave. Elle pousse la passante, la-bas a Aube- rive pour du temps, va ! Elle aura de la neige sur la hurse (tete) quand tu la re- verras. LOUISE MICHEL. Passe,/, (thieves'), guillotine. Etre gerbe a la , to be sentenced to death. Ecornifler a la , to kill. (Prostitutes') Faire une , to meet a man in a house of accom- modation. En province ... les maisons de la plus haute classe sont assez luxueuses sans at- teindre au faste sardanapalesque des lu- panars aristocratiques de la capitale : le prix de la passe y est de dix francs, cinq francs au minimum. LEO TAXIL. (Familiar) Maison de , house of accommodation, " flash drum." Passe, adj. (popular) etre au bain de reglisse, to belong to the negro race, to be a " bit o' ebony." Negroes go by the appellations of " boite a cirage, bamboula, bille de pot au feu, boule de neige." Passe-eric, m. (thieves'), passport. Passe-de-cambre, /. (thieves'), slipper. 3io Passe-lacet Passes. Passelacet, m. (familiar), gay girl, ' ' mot." For list of synonyms see Gadoue. Passe-lance, m. (thieves'), boat. From passer, and lance, water. Passe-passe, m. (card-sharpers'), swindling trick at cards, which consists in passing a card over. Joueur de , swindler. Rabelais uses the term jouer de passe- passe with the signification of to steal: Qui desrobe, ravist et joue de passe- passe. Pantagruel. Passer (popular), au bleu, to dis- appear ; (military) a la casse- role, the operation consists in placing a man suffering from a dangerous venereal disease in a vapour bath, and leaving him there till he becomes unconscious. It is for him a case of " kill or cure ; " au dixieme, to become mad ; des curettes, to make a fool of one, " to bamboozle." Mon lapin, faut pas qu' 53 te la coupe, mais j'suis trop ancien au peloton pour qu'on essaye de me passer des curettes. G. COURTELINE. Passer la jambe a Thomas, or a Jules, to empty the privy tub. (Familiar) Passer devant la glace, to pay, "to shell out." An allusion to the looking-glass behind the counter of cafes or restaurants, and before which one must stand while paying for the reckoning ; to obtain gratis the favotirs of a prostitute at a brothel ; devant la mairie, to get married without the assistance of the re- gistrar, to live " tally ; " la main dans les cheveux, to praise, "to give soft sawder." Termed " genuine " at Winchester School ; (general) 1'arme a gauche, to die, " to kick the bucket." See Pipe. Termed, in the English military slang, ' ' to lose the number of one's mesi). " Un criminel que la debauche Avail conduit a 1'echafaud, Au moment d'passer 1'arme a gauche Dit a 1'oreille du bourreau : Y a plus moyen d'rigoler, Plus d'cascades, d'rigolades, C'est inutil" d'essayer, Y a plus moyen d'rigoler ! LEON GARNIER. Se quelque chose sous le nez, to drink, "to liquor up." See Rincer. (Shopmen's) Passer de- bout, to be punctual at the shop ; (thieves') a la plume, to be ill- treated by a detective, "to be set about by a nark ; " a casserole, to be informed against ; a la fabrication, to be robbed ; a la sorgue, to sleep, " to doss ; " chez paings, or au tabac, to thrash; par les piques, to be in danger. Se de belle, not to get one's share of booty, or "regulars;" to- find nothing to rob. (Theatrical) Ne pas la rampe is said of an actor or play that find no great favour with the public. (Familiar) Ne pas pouvoir, or ne plus pou- voir sous la porte Saint-Denis- is said of an unfortunate man whose wife has one or more lovers. (Roughs') Passer a travers, to- thrash, to be thrashed. See Voie. Se le chiffon, to wash one's face. (Police) Passer au tabac, to compel a prisoner to obey by ill- treating him; la censure, to inspect prisoners so as to pick out old offenders ; (convicts') sur le bane, to befiogged. Pass6-singe, m. (popular and thieves'), very cunning, knowing man, an old bird not to be caught by chaff. Pas d'ga Lisette, casquez d'abprd. Je vous connais, vous etes marlou mais je suis- passe"-singe. VIDOCQ. (None of your tricks ; pay first of all. I know you ; yott are a cunning fellow, but I am nn old bird, not to be caught by chaff.) Passes, m. pi. (thieves'), shoes; a la rousse, elegant shoes. Passez-moi le fit Pate. Passez-moi le fil (military), ironi- cal expression which may be ren- dered by, IVell, what next I wonder ! Passifleur, m. (popular and thieves'), shoemaker, or "snob." Passifs, m. pi. (printers' and thieves'), shoes. F.t mes passifs, deja veufs rfe semelle, M'ont aujourd hui plante Ik tout a fait. Chanson du Rouleur. Pastille, f. (familiar), venir en pas- tilles de Vichy, to go to an evening party without having been invited to the dinner which precedes it. Vichy salts facilitate digestion. (Popular) Pastille, fifty -centime coin. See Moule. Detacher une dans son culbutant, to ease oneself in a manner which may be better described by the Latin word "crepitare." Pastiquer (thieves'), to pass ; la maltouze, to smuggle. From passer. Pastourelle,/] (military), trumpet call for extra drill. Patagueule, adj. andm. (popular), one who gives himself airs ; a con- ceited ass. Etre , to shcnv ridi- culous affectation. C'est lui qui trouvait ga patagueule, de jouer le drame devant le monde ! . . . elle le prenait peut-etre pour un depuceleur de nourrices, venir 1'intimider avec ses his- toires. ZOLA. Patarasses, f. pi. (thieves'), small paas made of rags used by convicts to avoid the painfid friction of their fetters. II me semble encore le voir sur le bane treize faire des patarasses (bourrelets pour garantir les jambes) pour Us fagots (for- 9ats).~ VIDOCQ. Patard, m, (popular), a two-sons coin. Termed patac by Rabelais. Patatrot, m. (thieves'), faire le , to decamp, to run away. The synonyms for various kinds of slang are : " Faire la hlie de 1'air, le lezard, le jat jat, la paire, eric, gilles ; jouer la fille de 1'air, se deguiser en cerf, s'evanouir, se cramper, tirer sacrampe, se lacher du ballon, se la couler, se donner de 1'air, se pousser du Zeph, se sylphider, se la trotter, se la courir, se faire la debinette, jouer des fourchettes, se la donner, se la briser, ramasser un bidon, se la casser, se la tirer, tirer ses grinches, valser, se tirer les pincettes, se tirer des pieds, se tirer les baladoires, les pattes, les trimoires, or les flutes ; jouer des guibes, or des quilles, se carapater, se barrer, baudrouil- ler, se cavaler, faire une cavale, jouer des paturons, happer le taillis, flasquer du poivre, deca- niller, de'carer, exhiber son prus- sien, demurger, de'sarrer, gagner les gigoteaux, se faire une paire de mains courantes a la mode, fendre 1'ergot, filer son noeud, se defiler, s'ecarbouiller, esballonner, filer son cable par le bout, faire chibis, deraper, fouiner, se la fracturer, jouer des gambettes, s'esbigner, ramoner sestuyaux, foutre le camp, tirer le chausson, se vanner, am- bier, chier du poivre, se debiner, caleter, attacher une gamelle, cam- per." In the English slang : "To skedaddle, to cut one's lucky, to sling one's hook, to make beef, to guy, to mizzle, to bolt, to cut and run, to slip one's cable, to step it, to leg it, to tip the double, to amputate one's mahogany, to make or to take tracks, to hook it, to absquatulate, to slope, to slip it, to paddle, to evaporate, to va- mose, to speel, to tip your rags a gallop, to walk one's chalks, to pike, to hop the twig, to turn it up, to cut the cable and run before the wind." Pate, m. and f. (artists'), quality of the layer of colour in oil paintings, 312 Paid Patte. (popular) employer, or "boss." (Thieves') Une , orpatte, a file. (Printers') Mettre en , to allow a forme of composition to fall, the letters getting mixed up ; to make " pie." (Literary) Pate ferine, an article written throughout without any blanks. Se mettre en , to fall. Etre mis en , to receive a blow or a wound in a fight. Pate, m. (printers'), type of different kinds, which has got mixed up. Faire du , to distribute such type. Pate de la veille, meal pro- vided for the compositors who are about to do night work. (Popular) Pate d'ermite, walnut. II ne faisoit chez soi plus grand festin que de pastez d'hermite. Qu'est-ce que cette viande ? Noix, amandes, noisettes. Le Moyen de Parvenir. Patee, f. (popular), thrashing, "walloping." See Voie. Patente, f. (popular), bully's cap. Patente, m. (popular), woman's bully, " pensioner." For syno- nyms see Poisson. Paternel, m. (students'), father, ' ' governor. " Patinage, m. (popular), liberties taken with a woman, " slewther- ing," as the Irish term it, or "fiddling." Patiner (popular), to handle; to take liberties with a woman ; le trottoir, to -walk the street as a prostitute ; la dame de pique, or le carton, to play cards. Se , to hurry ; to run away, "to brush." See Patatrot. Se en double, to hurry. Donnez-moi votre bagage tout en bloc, que j'arrange tout $a en deux temps et cinq mouvements ; il s'agit de se patiner en double. C. DUBOIS DE GENNES. Patissier, m. (popular), sale , dirty man, " chatty ; " an un- scrupulous, heartless man. Patoche, f. (school-boys'), cut on the hand given by a schoolmaster with a ruler; (popular) hand, "daddle." Retire tes patoches, colle-moi ga dans un tiroir. ZOLA. Patouiller (popular), to handle. Patraque, f. (thieves'), patrol. (Military) Perdre la , to become crazy. Au colon ? C'est-y que tu perds la pa- traque ? Ou c'est qu' t'as vu que les hommes punis de cellule peuvent causer au colonel ? G. COURTEHNE. Patrarque, or patraque, /. (thieves'), police patrol. Mais deja la patrarque, Au clair de la moucharde Nous reluque de loin. VIDOCQ. Patrie, f. (Bohemians'), chest of drawers, Patron, m. (military), colonel. Termed also ' ' colon. " Patron-minette, m. (popular), dawn ; formerly a gang of noto- rious rogues. Patrouille, /. (popular), etre en , to have drinking revels, "to be on the tiles." Patte, f. (artists'), avoir de la , to have a skilful touch. Une d'enfer, a dashing style. Je le transportai le plus fidelement possible sur ma toile . . . il me dit d'un ton rogue : <: Cela est plein de chic et de ficelles ; vous avez une patte d'enfer." TH. GAUTIER, Lesjcune Frattce. (Popular) Un entonnoir a , a wine-glass. Fournir des pattes, to go away, ' ' to bunk. " Se payer une paire de pattes, or se tirer des pattes, to run away, "to crush." See Patatrot. Un fichu tour que m'a fait un voyageur, il s'est tire des pattes pendant que ma berline roulait. Memoires de Monsieur Claude. (Military) Pattes de crapaud, Patte-cToie Pavillonner. 313 epaulets. (Roughs') Ramasser les pattes a un gas, to thrash one, " to wallop" one. (Familiar and popu- lar) Pattes delapin, short whiskers. Termed also ' ' hauls de cote- lettes." Aller a , to go on foot. Patte-d'oie, f. (popular), cross- ways. Patu, m. (popular), flat cake. Paturer (popular), to eat, "to grub. " See Mastiquer. Paturons, m. pi. (popular and thieves'), feet, " dew-beaters." Jouer des , se tirer les , to run away, "to brush, to guy." See Patatrot. Paume,/; (popular), loss ; difficulty; fix. Faire une , to fail. Paumer (thieves'), to take, " to collar;" to apprehend, " to smug." Etre paume, to be apprehended, " to be smugged." Tu n'as pas oublie c't escarpe qui apres avoir voulu buter une largue sur le Pont au Change, se jeta a la lance pour chapper a la poursuite de 1'abadis et que tu fis en- quiller chez mzigue au moment ou il allait etre paume. VIDOCQ. Paumer la sorbonne, to become mad, or "balmy." Se faire marron, to be caught in the act, red-handed. Paume inarron, caught in the act. Les voila, comme dans la chanson de Manon, " tretous paumes marrons." Vi- DOCQ. (Thieves' and cads') Paumer, to lose, "to blew." T'es a 1'affure ? Non, j'ai paume tout mon carme. Have you made any profits ? No, I have lost all my money. Paumer son fade, to spend one's money ; 1'atout, to lose heart. Paupiere, /. (popular), s'en battre la , not to care a straw, not to care a "hang." Pauses,/".//, (musicians'), compter des , to take a nap. Pave, m. (familiar), reclame, over- done puff which misses the mark. An allusion to the proverbial pave de 1'ours, or act of an ill- advised friend who, thinking to render a service, does an ill turn. (Familiar and popular) Des paves, creditors. De la on communiquait avec les caves et la cour, ce qui permettait a Tom d'entrer, de sortir, sans etre vu, d'eviter les facheux et les creanciers, ce qu'en argot parisien oa appelle les "pave"s." A. DAUDET. A man who has several creditors living in a street which he deems prudent to avoid, will say, " II y a des barricades." (Popular) Faire la place pour les paves a ressort, to pretend to be looking for some work to do. Inspecteur des paves, idle fellow who pref ers saun- tering about to working. N 'avoir plus de paves dans la rue de la gueule, to be toothless. ( Freema- sons') Pave mosa'ique, hall of meet- ing of freemasons. For other expressions connected with the word see Fusilier, Gratter. Pavee, f. (popular), rue , street where one may fall in with one's creditors, and which, in conse- quence, is to be avoided. See Paver. Paver (familiar). On pave ! exclama- tion which is meant to denote that a certain street alluded to is to be avoided as being frequented by one's creditors. Pavilion, m. (popular), madcap; throat. S'humecterle , to drink, " to wet, or whet one's whistle." See Rincer. Pavillonner (thieves'), to drink ; to make merry. Ensuite on renquillera dans la taule mezigue pour refaiter gourdement et che- nument pavillonner. VIDOCO. Pa vois Peausser. Pavois, adj. (popular), intoxicated, "screwed." See Pompette. Etre , to be intoxicated, or to talk nonsense, like one in his cups, like one " cup shotten." Pavoiser (sailors'), se , to dress oneself in Sunday clothes. Etre pavoise en noir, to be in a towering rage, to look as black as thunder. Payer (popular), se -- une cu- lotte, to get drunk, to go on the "booze." J' mets pas d'habit, mais sacrebleu ! Faudra que j' me pale un' culotte. E. CARRE. (Theatrical) Faire la goutte, to hiss, "to goose." (Printers') Payer son article sept, to pay for one's footing. An allusion to some regulation of printers' by- laws. (Thieves') Faire , to get one convicted. II complota de me faire payer (con- dam ner). VIDOCQ. Payot, m. (thieves'), convict em- ployed as accountant at a penal settlement an office eagerly sought after. Pays, m. (literary), Breda, the Quartier Breda, one much pa- tronized by cocottes a kind of Paris Pinilico. (Popular) Le des marmottes, mother earth. S'en aller dans le des mar- mottes, to die, " to kick the bucket." (Familiar) Le des fourrures, group of certain specu- lators on ''Change. II (le Krach) a jet 1'alarme parmi les toquets de loutre et dans le Pays des four- rures. On appelle ainsi : d'un cot les femmes qui jouent, les timbalieres, comme je les a: appel^es ; de 1'autre, des gens du monde qui se groupent, couverts de pale- tots fpurrs d'astrakan ou de loutre, dans un coin de la Bourse. J. CLARETIE. Pays-Bas, m. pi. (popular), the breech, or " Nancy." Properly the Netherlands. Payse,/ (military), sweetheart. Pchutt, pschutt, gratin, vlan, m. (familiar), the pink of fashion. Pchutteux, m. and adj. (familiar), dashing, " tsing tsing ; " dandy, or "masher." For synonymous expressions see Gommeux. Peau, f. (popular), woman of 'ques- tionable character ; prostitute. Guy qui m'prefereune Christiane Ander- matt ! . . . pare" qu'elle a du linge, et de l'6ducation, et des principes. ... A faute bien, parbleu ! comm' les autres, c'te peau- la, mais y lui faut des accessoires : eul' clair d'lune, des ruines. Le Cri du Peiiple, 14 Janvier, 1887. Une de chien, same meaning. For list of synonyms see Gadoue. Une de bouc, skinny breasts. Une de lapin, a vendor of checks or countermarks at a theatre. Faire la de lapin, to sell countermarks. La ! no! blow it all ! Faire ronfler la d'ane, to beat the drum. Pour la , for nothing, gratis. Trainer sa , to be idling, not knowing what to do, "to loaf." (Sailors') Peau de bitte et balai de crin, nothing, not a farthing! (Sol- diers') Peau deballe, de libi, or de noeud, no, nothing ; d'zebe, d'balle et balai de crin, nothing. Ici, les hommes ed" la classe, comme v'la moi,ont tout juste peau d'zebe, peau d'balle et balai de crin ! G. COURTELINE. II est poli d'nceud, he is polite, oh, just I (Printers') La peau, nothing at all. De quoi ? on nous apprend la peau. Apres le bourrage des lignes, basta. Si on fait quelquechose en sortant de la c'est pas la faute au type qui est cens nous faire 1'ecole. Journal des hnprimeurs. Peaufiner (popular), to impart finish to some piece of work. Peausser (thieves'), se , to dress oneself ; to disguise oneself. Bien, je vais me peausser en gendarme, j'y serai ; je les entendrai, je reponds de tout. BALZAC, Vautrin. Peccavi Pe'grenne. 315 Peccavi, m. (thieves ), sin. Peche, f. (popular), head, or " tibby," see Tronche; coun- tenance, or " phiz." Deposerune , to ease oneself. Se faire epiler la , to get oneself shaved at the barber's. Une canne a , a lanky individual. (Literary) Une a quinze sous, cocotte of the better sort, a "pretty horse-breaker." The expression belongs to A. Dumas fils. N'^taient-elles pas plus sympathiques, ces filles de Paris, que toutesces drolesses, peches a quinze sous de Dumas fils. MAXIME RUDE. Pecher (familiar), a la ligne. See Ligne. Pecher une friture dans le Styx, to be dead. Aller une friture dans le Styx, to die. See Pipe. Pecheur. See Ligne. Pechon, m. (old cant), young scamp ; child, or "kid." Pecoreur, m. (thieves'), card- sharper, or "magsman;" street thief, or " gun." The latter is a diminutive of gonnuf, or gunnof. A " gun's " practice is known as "gunoving." Pectoral, m. (familiar), s'humecter le , to drink, "to have a drop of something damp, or to wet one's whistle." See Rincer. Pecune, /. (popular), money, " needful, or leaver." See Quibus. La lune au ras des flots e^incelants Casse en morceaux ses jolis 6cus blancs. Bon sang ! que de pdcune ! Si ton argent, folle, t'embarrassait Pourquoi ne pas le mettre en mon gousset, Ohe, la Lune ? RICHEPIN, La Mer. Pede, or pedero, m. (popular). From pederaste, Sodomist, or " gentleman of the back door." Pedzouille, m. (familiar and popu- lar), peasant, " clod, or chaw- bacon ; " fellow -without any energy ; coward. Pegale, or pegole, /. (popular), pawnbroker's shop, or " lug chovey." Pegoce, m. (thieves'), louse, "gold- backed 'un. " Pegocier, m. (thieves'), a lousy individual, a "chatty "fellow. Pegrage, orpegrasse, m. (thieves'), theft, "lay;" thieving, "prig- ging." See Grinchissage. Pegre, m. and f. (thieves'), un , a thief, or " prig." From the Italian pegro, idle fellow. See- Grinche. Montron drogue a sa largue, Bonnis-moi done, girofle, ui sont ces pegres-la ? es grinchisseurs de bogues, Esquinteurs de boutogues, Les conobres-tu pas ? VlDOCQ. Fielding uses the term "prig" for a thief : He said he was sorry to see any of his gang guilty of a breach of honour ; that without honour " priggery " was at an end ; that if a " prig " had but honour he would overlook every vice in the world. Mr. Jonathan Wild the Great. Un a marteau, rogue who con- fines his attentions to property of small value. La pegre, the con- fraternity of thieves, swindlers, burglars, &c., or "family-men." La haute-pegre, the swell-mob. La basse-pegre, low thieves. La Haute- Pegre comprend gne>alement tous les voleurs en habit noir ... la haute- pegre s'affirme par une adresse incompa- rable ; la basse-pegre, par une frocit qui ne se retrouve que dans le pays des cannibales. Memoires de Monsieur Claude. Un de la haute, one of the swell -mob. II re'sultera la preuve que le susdit mar- quis est tout simplement un pegre de la haute. Vioocy. Pegrenne, f. (thieves'), hunger. " Pigritia," says V. Hugo, " est un mot terrible. II engendri un 316 Pegrenner Ptkin. monde, la pegre, lisez le vol, et un enfer, la pegrenne, lisez la faim. Ainsi la paresse est mere. Elle a un fils, le vol, et une fille, la faim." Caner la , to be starv- ing, " to be bandied. " Si queuquefois la fourgate et Rupin ne lui collaient pas quelques sigues dans 1'ar- guemine, il serait forc6 de caner la pe- grenne. VIDOCQ. (Should the receiver and. Rupin not put some money in his hand now and then he would starve?) Pegrenner (thieves'), to have but scanty fare; to suffer from hunger, Pegrer (thieves'), to arrest, " to smug ; " to steal, " to claim." See Grincher. Pegrer, to be destitute, to be "quisby." Je me suis fait toute ma galette, I have been " done " ofallmy "tin." Je viens de 1'artiche a son gniasse, je me suis fait eric et la riflette a cavale derriere moi pour me , / have just eased him of his money and the policeman ran after me to apprehend me. Pegriot, m., (thieves'), young thief, "ziff." Le pegriot debute dans cette triste car- riere a 1'age de dix a dpuze ans : alors il vole aux etalages des epiciers, fruitiers ou autres. CANLER. Pegriot, thief "who steals only articles of small value. Le pegriot occupe les derniers degres de i'echelle au sommet de laquelle sont places les pegres de la haute. Memoires de Can~ ler. B ruler le , to obliterate all traces of a robbery or crime. Peigne, m. (thieves'), key, or ' 'screw ; " (popular) d'allemand, the fingers. The expression is old. Rabelais uses it : Apres se peignoit du peigne de Almaing, c'estoit des quatre doigts et le poulce. Gargantua. Peigne -cul, m. (popular), coarse, rude fellir soil avec <3u poison, soit en me jetant a 1'eau. CANLER. Peritoine, m. (popular) tu t'en ferais eclater le , expressive of refusal, ' ' don't you wish you may get it ? " or " yes, in a horn," as the Americans say. See Nefles. Peritorse, m. (students'), coat, or overcoat. Perlot, m. (popular), tobacco, " baccy." From perle. Perlotte, / (tailors') button-hole. Permanence, f. (gamesters'), a series of numbers which turn up in succession at roulette or trente et quarante. Permission, /. (familiar), de dix heures, a kind of lady's overcoat ; bludgeon ; sword - stick. (Mili- tary) Avoir une de vingt-quatre heures, to be on guard duty. La trempe, leave which is expected, but not much hoped for. Se faire signer une , to hand one a leaf of cigarette paper, and to ob- tain from him in return the tobacco wherewith to roll a cigarette. Perpendiculaire, /. (thieves' and cads'), watch-guard, or "slang." Secouer la , to steal a watch- guard, " to claim a slang." Perpete, /. (thieves'), a , for life. Eire gerbe a , to be sen- tenced to transportation for life, to be booked for a " lifer." Perpignan,w. (coachmen's), whip- handle. It appears that the best whip-handles come from Perpig- nan. Perroquet, m. (familiar), glass of absinthe. Asphyxier, etouffer, etrangler, plumer, or tortiller un , to drink absinthe. Perro- quet de savetier, blackbird. It is worthy of remark that blackbirds are great favourites with cobblers in all countries. Perruche, / (popular), glass of absinthe. Perruque, adj. and f. (familiar), old-fashioned. (Popular) Faire en , to procure anything by fraud. Used especially by workmen in reference to any of their own tools procured at the expense of the master. Perruquemar, m. (popular), hair- dresser. Fromperruquier. Termed also " merlan." Perruquier, m. (military). Dache, des zouaves, an imaginary character. Allez done raconter cela a Dache, tell that to the marines. (Popular) Perruquier de la crotte, shoeblack. Persiennes, / //. (popular), spec- tacles, "barnacles, or gig-lamps." Persigner (thieves'), to break open ; une lourde, to break open a door, " to strike a jigger ; " un client, to cheat a wan, " to slick a cove." 320 PersilPet. Persil, m. (familiar and popular), the world of cocottes who frequent places of entertainment. L'excentrique aventure d'un de ses mem- bres, heros du "Persil" et de la "Gomme." A. DAUDET. Aller au , cueillir le , tra- vailler dans le , faire son , to walk the street as a prostitute, or to be seeking for clients in public places. La grande lorette qui a chevaux et voi- ti:re, et qui fait son persil autour du lac, au bois de Boulogne. L6o TAXIL. Ces dames du , prostitutes in general. Le jour du , day on which a public entertainment is patronized by cocottes. C'est le grand jour du Cirque, jour du persil et du gratin ; le jour des demoiselles qui se respectent et qui sont seules, du reste, a remplir cette fonction et des messieurs dont la boutonniere se fleurit d'un gardenia achet un louis a la bouquetiere du cercle. P. MAHALIN, Mesdantes de Coiur-Vo- lant. Persillard, m. (familiar and popu- lar), Sodomite who lounges about. Voici comment un douillard, celui qui cherche son persillard ou sa persilleuse, se reconnait. . . . Le douillard porte une canne a bee recourbe". II fait un leger attouche- ment de sa canne, ou de l'paule gauche a 1'^paule droite du persillard. Memoires de Monsieur Claude. Persilleuse, f. and adj. (familiar and popular), street-walker, or "mot." SeeGadoue. La fille persilleuse attend son miche a la gare. Memoires de Monsieur Claude. Also a Sodomite. La persilleuse est toujours cravatee (cra- vat^, voulais-je dire) a la colin ; sa coiffure est une casquette dont la visiere de cuir verni tombe sur les yeux et sert en quelque sorte de voile ; elle porte une redingote courte ou une veste boutonne"e de maniere a dessiner forlement la taille qui deja est maintenue dans un corset. L6o TAXIL. Personne, f. (familiar), la , my mistress, my "little girl," or " tartlet." (Popular) Aller ou le roi n'envoie , to go to the IV. C., "to Mrs. Jones." See Mous- cailler. Perte,/. (thieves'), a de vue,y2>r life. Fagot a de vue, one sen- tenced to penal servitude for life t or "lifer." Pertuis, m. (popular), aux legumes, the throat, or " gutter-lane." Faire tour-mort et demi-clef sur le aux legumes, to throttle one. Pesciller, pesciguer (thieves'), to seize, to lay hold of , " to collar ;" d'esbroufife, to take by force. > Quel mal qu'il y aurait a lui pesciller d'esbrouffe tout ce qu'elle nous a esgar6, la vieille altriqueuse. VIDOCQ. (What harm 'would there be in taking away front her by force all that she has swindled us out of, the old receiver ?) Se , to get angry, "to lose one's hair, to lose one's shirt." Pese, or peze, m. (thieves'), col- lection of money made among thieves at large for the benefit of one who is locked up in jail, " break, or lead;" money, or "pieces." See Quibus. Descendre, or fu- silier son , to spend one's money. Pessigner (thieves'), to raise. Es-tu sinve (simple !), tu seras roide gerbd a la passe (condamn a mort). Ainsi, tu n'as pas d'autre lourde a pessigner (porte a soulever) pour pouvoir rester sur tes pa- turons (pieds), morfiler, te dessaler et goupiner encore (manger, boire, et voler). BALZAC. Peste, / (thieves' and cads') r police officer, or " reeler." See Pot-a-tabac. Pet, m. (popular), a vingt ongles, baby. Abouler un a vingt ongles, to be in childbed, "in the straw." Faire du , to kick up a row. Faire le , to fail in business, "to go to smash." Glorieux comme un , insuffer- Petage Peter. 321 ably conceited. Curieux comme un , extremely inquisitive. II y a du ! things look danger- ous j there is a row. II n'y a pas de , there's nothing to be done there ; all is quiet, "all serene." (Thieves') II y a du ! the police are on the look-out ! Pet ! a rogue's warning cry when he hears foot- steps or the police, " shoe-leather ! Philip !" Termed also " chou !" Petage, m. (thieves'), trial, "pat- ter." Ptarade, /. (thieves'), la , the hospital of La Salpetriere. Pdtard, m. (artists'), sensational picture. The Salome of Henri Regnault, his masterpiece, be- longs to that class of paintings. Rater s>on , is caid of an artist whose success in producing a sen- sation at the Exhibition has fallen short of his expectations. (Lite- rary) Petard, sensational book which has a large tale. Pourqupi ce qui n'avait pas reussi jusqu'- alors, a-t-il et, cette fois, un e'venement de librairie? ce qu'on appelle, en argot artis- tique, un petard. Gazette des Tribunaux, Also a sensational play, Si je fais du theatre, ce sera pour etre joue, et, tout en le faisant comme je com- prends qu'il doit etre, 1'image de la vie. Je ne casserai aucune vitre, ne lancerai aucun petard. ZOLA. (Popular and thieves') Petard, the behind. It has also the signi- fication of sou. J'aimerais mieux encore turbiner d'achar du matois a la sorgue pour affurer cinquante petards par luisant que de goupiner. VIDOCQ. (/ had rather work hard from morning till night to get fifty sous a day than to steal.) (Popular) Petard, a box on the ear, or ' ' bang in the gills ; " dis- turbance, noise, quarrel, scandal. Faire du , to create a dis- turbance, " to kick up a row." J'saisben c'que vousm'dit's : qu'il est tard, Que j'balpche et que j'vagabonde. Mais j'suis tranquill', j'fais pas d'p^tard, Et j'crois qu'la rue est a tout I'monde. RlCHEI'IN. Des petards, haricot beans. Faire du , to make a fuss. Inutile de faire lant de petard . . . 1'homme de garde refuse de se lever, c'ast tres bien, j'en rendrai compte an major. G. COURTEI.INE. P6tarder (popular), to create a sen- sation ; to cause sczndal, or a dis- turbance, "to kick up a row." Pctardier, ;/;. (popular), one who causes scandal, or a disturbance. Petee, f. (popular), se flanquer une fameuse , to have a regular "booze." See Sculpter. Pet-en-1'air, m. "'popular), short jacket. Centre 1'habit leger et clair La loutre a perdu la bataille. Nous arborons le pet-en-1'air, Et les fenimes ne vont qu'en taille. RlCHEPIN. Peter (thieves'), to make a complaint to the magistrates ; (popular) dans la main a quelqu'un, to be unduly familiar with one ; to fail in keeping one's promise ; dans le linge des autres, to wear bor- rowed clothes ; dans la soie, to wear a silk dress ; sur le mas- tic, to forsake work ; to send one to the deuce. Faire la cha- taigne, to make a woman of a maiden. Se faire la panne, to eat to excess, " to scorf." S'en faire la scus-ventriere. See Faire. (Sailors') Peter son lof, to die. See Pipe. (Military) Tu t'en ferais le compotier, ironi- cal expression of refusal. Et pour porter mon sabre sous le bras, macache, c'est midi sonn6 ; tu t'en ferais peter 1'compotier. G. COUKTHUNK. Y 3 22 P^te-sec Petit-creve. Pete-sec, m. (popular), strict em- ployer, who never trifles, and is not to be trifled with. Peteur, m. (thieves'), complainant; informer, " nose." Peteux, m. (popular), breech. See Vasistas. (Thieves') Eire , to feel remorse. Petit, adj. (familiar and popular), bleu, rough -wine, such as is re- tailed at the Paris wine-shops; (popular) homme noir, tankard of wine; noir, coffee; pere noir de quatre ans, tankard of wine holding four litres ; pot, paramour. Lingere a crochet (obsolete), female rag-picker. Ma mere yoyant qu'elle ne f roit rien dans le me'quier d'actrice publique pour le chant voulut entrer dans 1'commerce et s'mit lingere a p'tit crochet. Am-usemens d la Grecque. Petit sale, baby, " squeaker." Termed also "gluant." Avec mes ronds (sous) te voila fad (muni, qui a re<;u sa part). Tu pourras te payer ton petit sail (enfant) de carton. Oui, r^pondit-il, merci. Mais tout de meme j'aimerais mieux en piger un d'oc- case, a la foire d'empoigne. Ca serait plus mariolle (malin). Et avec la galette (ar- gent) j'acheterais a la daronne des oranges et du trefle a blaire (tabac a priser). RICHEPIN. Le Pavf. (Prostitutes') Le , tAe behind. (Roughs') Un , a cigarette end long enough to be smoked. (Thieves ) Du monde, lentils. Un faisan. See Bande Noire. Des petits pois, pimento, allspice. (Sodomites') Petit Jesus, a de- based wretch, the abettor of another who obtains money from persons by threats of exposure. Le chanteur est un homme jeune encore . . . toutefois, seul, il ne peut "travailler ; " il lui faut un compere, . . . puis un jeune et beau gargon qu'il appelle un " petit J^sus," entierement vendu a ses inte>ets, ayant perdu tout sentiment d'honnetet6, de pudeur. . . . Celui-ci doit servir d'appeau. L6o TAXIL. (Familiar) Bon camavade is said ironically of an ill-disposed malez'olent colleague. (Prostitutes') Petit Jesus, lover or associate of a prostitute, " Sunday - man." (Printers') Aligner les petits sol- dats de plomb, to compose. Quand on sait bien aligner les petits sol- dats de plomb, on vous colle devant une casse, et vous bourrez a quart de pieces ; un peu-plus tard vous avez demi-pieces et 53 vous mene a la fin de 1'apprenUssage. From a Paris printers newspaper. (Tailors') Petits bceufs, appren- tices. Pourquoi des coupeurs, des culottiers, des giletiers . . . des pompiers, des tartares (apprentis) nommes aussi petits-boeufs. MAC, Man Premier Crime. Petit - bocson, m. (popular), church. Termed also rampante. Petit-creve, m. (familiar), dandy, or "masher." For synonyms see Gommeux. A dandy in the seventeenth century went by the quaint appellation of " quand pour Philis." In explanation M. Genin, in his Recreations Philologiques, says that all the fops of the period thought themselves bound to be able to sing a certain ditty which was then all the rage and began by the words, "Quand pour Philis." Hence the expression. Tallemant des Reaux, in his Historiettes, says of a certain Turcan : Turcan ne saurait vivre S'il ne fait le coquet ; A 1'une il donne un livre Et k 1'autre un bouquet. II dit de belles choses, Ne parle que de roses, Que d'oeillets et de lys : C'est un quand-pour-Philis. Scarron also mentions the expres- sion : Petite Peze. 323 A cette heure de tous cost^s, Arrivent ici des beauts, Qu'y n'y viennent qu'a la nuit sombre ; A ceste heure quand-pour-Philis Poudrez, frisez, luisans, polls, Les appelans soleils a 1'ombre, Leur disent fleurettes sans nombre, Sur leurs roses et sur leurs lys. Petite, adj. (familiar), dame, an euphemism for " cocotte," or " pretty horse-breaker." II arriversi que les " petites dames," bien onseilles paries "petits messieurs," com- prendront qu'elles ont infiniment plus d'a- vantages a nous poursuivre devant les juges qu'a se faire suivre sur les boule- vards. Echo de Paris, Oct., 1886. Petite main, girl apprenticed to a fleuriste. Petit-hotel, m. (thieves'), police station. Faire une pose au , to be locked up in jail, "to be in quod." Petit-que, m. (printers'), semi- colon. II est ainsi nomme parceque le signe(;) rempla^ait autrefois le mot latin que dans les manuscrits et les premiers livres im- primis. BOUTMY. Petits, adj. (familiar), messieurs, despicable young men who live at the expense of prostitutes in fact, "pensioners" with an obscene prefix. (Rag-pickers') Charger des produits, to work at rag- picking. Petmuche, m. (thieves' and cads'), a signal that people are approach- ing, " Philip ! or shoe-leather ! " Acremuche, il y a une retentis- sante ; y a du voila le lonsgue. Look out, there's a bell ; someone is coming; here's the master of the house. Petoche, f. (popular), etre en , to follow close in the rear, at one's heels. Petouze, f. (old cant), pistole, old coin. Petra, m. (popular), clumsy man, awkward lout. Petrole, m. (popular), brandy, or " French cream." Des bouges oJi se rassemble la racaille de 1'egout, ou les faces blemes sont souvent tatouees de pochons noirs, oil il coule par- fois du sang dans les saladiers gluants de vin bleu, ou les pierreuses viennent se don- ner du coeur a 1'ouvrage en avalant un verre de p^trole qui leur flanque un coup de fer rouge dans 1'estomac. RICHEPIN, Le Pave. Allumer son . See Allumer. Petroleur, m. (familiar), oppro- brious name given to the insur- gents ofiSjo. Petronille, / (popular), devisser la , to smash one's head. Petrouskin, m. (popular), idle felloin, or " bummer ; " breech, or "Nancy," see Vasistas ; peasant, " clod." Petun, m. (obsolete), tobacco; snuff. From a Brazilian word. Petuniere, / (popular), snuff-box, "sneezer." Petzouille, m. (popular), the be- hind, or " Nancy." See Va- sistas. Peuple, m. (popular), faire un , to be on the staff of supernume- raries at a theatre. Se foutre du , to act as if one cared for no- body's opinion. Est-ce que vous vous foutez du ? Do you mean to laugh at me ? Peuplier, m. (popular), large twist of tobacco. Pevouine, f. (sailors'), little girl, a wee lassie. Peze, m. (thieves'), money, or "pieces." See Pese. Je voudrais bien que 'tous les chouettes zigues qui m'ont fait affurer du peze puis- sent en dire autant. VIDOCQ. (I wish all the jolly fellows who made me earn some money could say as much.) 324 Phalanges Piano. Phalanges, / //. (familiar), serrer les , to shake hands, ' ' to tip one's daddle." Pharamineux, adj. (familiar), astounding, marvellous, " stun- ning. " Vous savez, Nana vient d'arriver . . . oh ! une entree, mes enfants ! quelque chose de pharamineux ! ZOLA. Phare, m. (printers'), lamp. Pro- perly lighthouse. Pharmacope, m. (popular), apothe- cary, " pill-driver." Pharos, or pharaut, m. (old cant), governor of a town. Michel thinks the word comes from the Spanish faraute, head man. Philantrope, m. (pedlars'), thief, " prig." For synonyms see Grinche. Philibert, m. (thieves'), thief, "prig;" swindler or sharper, "shark." See Grinche. Philippe, m. (popular), silver or gold coin. An allusion to the effigy of Louis Philippe. On dit que tu as poisse nos philippes (fi- loute nos pieces d'or). BALZAC. Philippine, f. (familiar and popu- lar). When a person cracks an almond for another, should there be a double kernel, he who cries out first, " Bonjour, Philippine ! " can exact a present from the other. The word seems to be a corrup- tion of the German vielliebchen. Philistin, m. (artists'), a man -who belongs to a different set, an outsuier, a bourgeois, a " Philis- tine. " The Slang Dictionary says : ' ' Society is supposed to regard all outside its bounds as belonging to the Philistine world. Bohe- mians regard all cleanly, orderly people who conform to conven- tionality as Philistines ; " (medical) medical man who, not being on the staff of an hospital, visits tkf establishment, generally prolong- ing his stay more than is pleasant or convenient for the members of the staff ; (tailors') journeyman tailor. In the English slang a Philistine is a policeman. The German students call all towns- people not of their body " Philis- ter," as English ones say "cads." Thedeparting student says, mourn- fully, in one of the BurschenlieJeri " Muss selbernun Philister sein !" i.e. "I must now Philistine be ! " Philosophe, m. (popular), poverty- stricken, or " quisby ; " old or cheap shoe. Plus d'une ci-devant beaute, aujour- d'hui re'duite a 1'humble caraco de drap, Jt la jupe de molleton et aux sabots, si elle ne prfere les ' ' philosophes " (souliers a quinze, vingt et vingt-cinq sols). VIDOCQ. Philosophe, rag-picker, or ' ' bone- grubber." Philosophes de neuf jours, shoes out at the sole. (Thieves') Un , one of the light- fingered gentry, see Grinche ; card-sharper -who dispenses witJt the assistance of an accomplice. Philosophic,/ (popular), poverty, neediness. Photographier (popular), allez vous faire , go to the deuce, " go to pot." Pi, parler en , to add "pi" to each syllable of a word. Thus- couteau becomes coupiteaupi. Piaf, m. (thieves'), pride ; boasting, " bouncing." Pianiste, m. (popular), executioners assistant. He is the accompanyist to the executioner, the principal performer. Piano, m. (horse-dealers'), jouer du , is said of a horse which, has a disunited trot. Maitresse de . See Maitresse. Pianoter Pictcm. 325 Pianoter (familiar), to be a poor performer on the piano. On ne devait pas pianoter pendant la nuit BALZAC. Piau, m. (printers'), falsehood, "cram." Fromlapeau! nonsense! (thieves') bed. Pincer le , to go to bed, to gel into "kip." See Pieu. Piaulle, piole, or piolle, f. (thieves'), house, "crib, hangs-out, ken ; " tavern. Same origin as picter. La a 1'air rupin, there's plenty to steal in that house. Piausser (thieves'), to sleep, " to doss." Se i to dress ; to go to bed. See Pieu. Us sont alles se piausser (se coucher) chez Bicetre. VIDOCQ. (Printers') Piausser, to lie; to humbug. Piausseur, m. (printers'), liar; humbug. Picaillons, m. pi. (popular), money, "tin." See Quibus. Avoir des , to be well off, or "well bal- lasted." Picaillons is probably a corruption of picarons, Spanish coin. Picanti, adj. (thieves'), gau , louse, "gold-backed 'un." Q/ " Basourdir. See Piccolet, or picolo, m. (popular), thin -wine. From picton, which itself comes from the Greek viiiv, through picter. Le suave fromage a la pie . . . et qu'ils mangeaient avec un chanteau de pain bis, avant de boire un gobelet de picolo, de ce vert petit regtnglard qui leur piquait un cent d'e'pingles dans la gorge. RICHEPIN, Le Pave. Piche, m. (popular), lor pique, spades of cards. Pichenet, m. (popular), thin wine. See Picton. Le pichenet et le vitriol 1'engraissaient positivement. ZOLA. Pickpocketer (familiar), to pick pockets. Picorage, m. (thieves'), highway robbery. Picoure, / (thieves'), hedge. De- flotter, or defleurir la , to steal linen laid out on a hedge to dry, "lully prigging." A thief who steals linen is termed "snow- gatherer. " La est fleurie, there is linen on the hedge, ' ' snowy on the ruffman." Picter (popular and thieves'), to drink, "to liquor up," or, as the Americans say, "to smile, or to see the man." From the Greek Laissez-le done, nous le ferons picter i la refaite de sorgue. VIDOCQ. (Leave him alone, we'll make him drink at dinner.) Picter des canons, to drink glasses of wine. Comme moi gagne de la piece, Tu pourras picter des canons. Et sans alter trimer sans cesse, Te lacher le fin rigaudon. Ne crains pas le pre que je brave, Car de la bride je n'ai pas peur ; Dans une t61e enquille eji brave, Fais-toi voleur ! VIDOCQ. Aliens un kil, let us go and drink a litre of wine. Picter du pivois sans lance, to drink wine without water. Picter une rouil- larde, to drink a bottle of wine. La i la douce, to sit over a bottle of wine. Picton, m. (popufar and thieves'), wine. Termed also ' ' picolo, nectar, ginglet, ginglard, pichenet, briolet, pivois, bleu, petit bleu, vinasse, blanc, huile, "&c. Picton 326 Pictonner Pieds. sans lance, -wine without water. Un coup de , a glass of wine. Encore un coup d'picton, La mere Bernard, il n'est pas tard, Encore un coup d'picton Pour nous mettre a la raison. Old Song. Pictonner (popular), to drink heavily, " to swill." See Rincer. Pictonneur,w. (popular), drunkard, "lushington." See Poivrot. Piece, f. (military), de quatre, syringe; grasse, cook, or "dripping;" de sept, stout man, "forty guts;" (freemasons') d'architecture, speech; (literary) de bceuf, gushing article on the topics of the day; (theatrical) de boeuf, a play in which one obtains the most success; a tiroirs, play with transformation scenes; d'ete, bad play ; (pros- titutes') d'estomac, lover, " Sunday man." (Thieves') Vol a la forcee. This kind of theft requires two confederates, one of whom tenders in payment of a purchase a marked coin. His friend then steps in, makes a pur- chase, and maintains he has paid for it with a coin of which he gives a description, and which of course is found in the till by the amazed tradesman. (Popular) Une du pape, or suisse, an ugly woman. La de dix sous, or de dix ronds, the anus. N'avoir plus sa de d ix ronds, to be a Sodomite. Cracher des pieces de dix sous, to be parched, dry. Coupeau yoyant le petit horloger cracher la-bas des pieces de dix sous, lui montra de loin une bouteille ; et, 1'autre ayant accepte de la tete, il lui porta la bouteille et un verre. ZOLA. The English have the expression, " to spit sixpences," to be thirsty. He had thought it a rather dry discourse ; and beginning to spit sixpences (as his saying was), he gave hints to M. Wild- goose to stop at the first public-house they should come to GRAVES, Spiritual Quixote. Pied, m. (popular), a do'rmir debout, large Jlat foot ; de cochon, pistol, or " barking iron ; " de nez, one sou ; plat, a Jew, or "mouchey, Ikey, or sheney." Mettre a , to dismiss, "to give the sack." En avoir son , to have had enough of it. (Thieves') Pied de biche, short crowbar, or "jemmy." Termed also "Jacques, 1'enfant, sucre de pomme, biribi." Le , the ground; termed also "la dure ; " share, or "whack." Mon , ou je casse ! my share, or I peach, or "my whack, or I blow the gaff." (Mili- tary) Pied, or bleu, recruit, or "Johnny raw." Je t'en fiche ; y prend un air digne, toise 1'infirmier du haut en bas, et te 1'engueule comme un pied. G. COURTELINE. Pied de bane, sergeant. There are just as many sergeants in a company as there are feet to a bench. Les spus-oflficiers sont 1'ame de 1'armee si les officiers en sont la tete . . . les soldats le savent et le disent bien, et se rendant conipte de 1'utilite de ces humbles subalternes, ils les appellent les pieds de bane. Enlevez un officier a la compagnie, nul ne s'apercevra du vide ; otez un sergent elle deviendra boiteuse. HECTOR FRANCE, L'Homme qtii Tue. Pieds, m.pl. (popular), avoir mange ses , to have an offensive breath. Se tirer des , to go away, to run away, "to hook it." See Pata- trot. Oil mets-tu tes pieds? what are you meddling about? (Military) Avoir les de chalit, to be particular, careful. Avoir les nattes, to feel a disinclina- tion forgoing out, or not to be able to go out. (Printers') Pieds dc mouche, notes in a book, generally printed in small type. (Thieves') Avoir les attaches dans le dos, Pier Pieu. 327 to be doyged by the police, " to get a roasting." ( Popularand thieves') Benir des pieds, to be hanged, " to swing, to be scragged." Termed formerly " to fetch a Tyburn stretch," or " to preach at Tyburn Cross," alluding to the penitential speeches made on such occasions. In olden times a hanged person was termed in France "eveque des champs," alluding to the cap which was drawn over the face of the convict, and which represented the mitre, also to the convulsive movements of his legs. It was the custom to erect the gallows in the open country. Hence the expression, "eveque des champs qui donne la benediction avec les pieds." Pier (thieves'), old word, to drink. In English slang, " to liquor up," and, as the Americans term the act, " to smile," or "to see the man." See Rincer. Pierre,/ (popular), aaffuter, bread, or "soft tommy;" (freemasons') brute, bread ; (thieves') de touche, confrontation of a male- factor -with his victim or ^vith wit- nesses. Pierreau, m. (military), recruit, or ' ' Johnny raw. " Also soldier -who has been for one year in the corps. Us tranchaient les questions d'un met, . . . consideraient du haut de leur impor- tance les brigadiers qu'ils qualifiaient de bleus et de pierreaux, comme s'ils fussent arrives de la veille. G. COURTELINE. Pierreuse, /. (popular), prostitute of the lowest class, who generally prowls near heaps of stones on the road, or in building yards> "draggle-tail." See Gadoue. Concerning this class of prosti- tutes Leo Taxil says : " II est une classe absolument ignoble, qui est la lie des filles en carte : les pierreuses. On donne ce nom a un genre particulier de femmes qui ont vieilli dansl'exercice de la prostitution du plusbas etage . . . elles sortent la nuit . . . elles sta- tionnent aupres des chantiers ou a proximite des terrains vagues." Pierrot, m. (popular), glass of white wine. Asphyxier un , to drink a glass of white wine. Pierrot, properly, is a pantomimic cha- racter with face painted white and dressed in white attire. (Hair- dressers') Pierrot, application oj lather on the face ; (military) recruit, or ' ' Johnny raw. " Termed also "bleu." Les anciens commencerent par faire la sourde oreille, supporterent avec patience les quolibets et les piqures d'aiguille jusqu'au jour ou un "pierrot," tout nou- vellement arrive . . . re$ut une paire de ca- lottes. G. COURTELINE. Also bad soldier who shirks his duty and incurs punishment. De temps en temps, 1'adjudant Flick, en cherchant ses deux " pierrots," constatait leur disparition. Les deux pierrots . . . s'etaient donne un peu d'air. Ces bordees duraient six journees, au bout desquelles ils revenaient fiers comme des paons, fri- sant la desertion de cinq minutes. G. COURTELINE. Piesto, m. (popular), money, "the needful, gilt, or loaver." See Quibus. Pietre, m. (thieves'), rogue -who plays the lame man so as to excite the commiseration of the public. Pieu, m. (thieves'), crossbar ; de la vanterne, crossbar of a windmv ; (popular and thieves'] bed. From old word piautre, straw, rags. Hence the old peaul- traille, canaille, ragamuffins. An instance of the insertion of the i is shown by pieu, a, stake, from pan. Les pant's sont couches dans leurs pieux, Par consequent je n'gen' personne. Laissez-moi done ! j'suis un pauy' vieux. Oil qu' vous m'emm'nez, messieurs d'la sonne ? RlCHEPIN. Pieutt Pigeon. Spelt also pieux. Des que le reVeil entendras Tes deux chassis epongeras ; La botte aux Cocos donneras, Et leur crottin enleveras, A la chambre remonteras Faire ton pieux. Les Litanies du Cavalier. Se coller dans le , to go to bed, to get into the "kip." Eire en route pour le , to feel sleepy. Eire rive au , to be passionately attached to a woman. Pieute, adj. (popular), etre , to be in bed. II reflechit, partage entre 1'inquietude de coucher le soir a la boite et le plaisir de rester "pieute." G. COURTELINE, Les Gaietes de fEscadron. Pieuvre,/ (familiar), kept woman. Properly octopus. See Gadoue. Pieuvrisme, m. (familiar), prosti- tution ; the world of prostitutes. Pif, or pifre, m. (familiar and popular), nose, " handle, conk, or snorter." See Morviau. The word " pifre " is used by Rabelais with the signification of fife. It is, therefore, not improbable that the nasal organ received the appella- tion on account of its being assi- milated to that wind instrument, the more so as other parts of the body bear the names of musical instruments, as trompette, or musette, face; sifflet, throat; guitare, or guimbarde, head ; grosse caisse, body ; flutes, legs ; mirliton, nose. Ou que j'vas ? c.a YOUS r'garde pas. J'vas ou que j'veux, loin d'ou que j'suis. C'est a cote, tout pres d'la-bas. Mon pif marche d'vant, et je 1'suis. RICHEHIN. C'est pas pour ton , thafs not for you. (Thieves') Etre dans le comme grinche, to be noted as a swindler. (Prostitutes') Faire un d'ocas, to find a client, or "flat." J'ai fait que poiroter sous les lansquines en battant mon quart pour faire un pif d'ocas, qui me donne de quoi que mon marlou ne m'ereinte pas de coups. LOUISE MICHEL. Piffard, m. (popular), the possessor of a nose remarkable on account of its large proportions or vermilion hue, like that of a drunkard, an "Admiral of the Red," whose nasal organ bears "grog blossoms." PifFe, /. (thieves'), breech, or "blind cheek." See Vasistas. Piffer (popular), to be discontented, or to look disappointed, " down in the mouth." Synonymous of " faire son nez." Pige,/. (thieves'),^ar, or "stretch;" hour; prison, or "stir." See Motte. (Familiar) Faire la , to race. (Printers') Pige, a certain number of lines to be composed in an hour. Prenclre sa , to ascer- tain the length of a page or column. Pigeon, m. (card-sharpers'). Elever des pigeons, to entice dupes into playing in order to fleece them of their money. (General) Pigeon, agullibleor soft person, a "pigeon." The vagabonds and brigands of Spain also used the word in their ' ' germania, " or robber's language, "palomo," ignorant, simple. In the sporting world "sharps and flats " are often called " rooks and pigeons " respectively sometimes "spiders and flies." When the " pigeon " has been done, he then is entitled to the appellation of " muggins." Pigeon voyageur, a girl of indifferent character who travels up and down a line seeking for clients. (Cocottes') Avoir son , to have found a client, to have a "flat." (Theatrical) Pigeon, part payment of a fee due to an author by the manager of a theatre. ( Familiar) Ailede ,old-fas'iioned. An allusion to the headdress pre- Pigeonner Filer. 329 served by emigres on their return to France. Pigeonner (familiar and popular), to dupe, or "to do." Dans celle-la, ce n'est plus moi qui pige, c'est moi qui suis pigeonne. Meinoires de Monsieur Ctande. Pigeonnier, m. (familiar), the bou- doir of a cocotte. Piger (general), to detect ; to take, "to collar;" to apprehend, "to nab." Eh ! la Gribouille, comment que t'as etc pigee, dit une vagabonde a une autre. LOUISE MICHEL. Piger, to understand, " to twig," or, as the Americans say, " to catch on." Moi aussi . . . mais piges-tu, pas de braise ; ceux qu'ont du poignon dans les finettes peuvent decaniller. LOUISE MI- CHEL. (Ok, I also . . . but do you under- stand, no money ; those "who have money in their pockets can go.) Piger, to race ; to compete. Et je vous jure bien que dans cette foule de tillcttes de magasin qui descendent en capeline, . . . petites gueules fraiches tous- sotant a la brume, toujours talonnees de quelque galant, aucune n'aurait pu piger avec elle. A. DAUDET. Tiens, v'la Casimir, c'est ta femme, cette colombe-la? ou as-tu pige ce canasson-la, c'est bon pour le museum, mon cher. BAUMAINE ET BLONDELET, Les Locu- tions yicieuses. Piger la vignette, to look atten- tively and with pleasure on some funny person or amusing scene, " to take it in." Se faire , to allow oneself to be detected or ap- prehended; to allow oneself to be done, or " bested." Piger, to catch, " to nab." On grimp' pas su' les parapets ! Attends ! attends ! j'y vas . . . cre'garce, Pig, j'te tiens ! Dit's done, c'est farce Tout d'meme. GILL. Piget, orpipet, m. (thieves'), castle. The root of this word is pigeon, in the Low Latin pipio. Pignard, m. (thieves'), breech, or "blind cheek." See Vasistas. Pignocher (popular). Means pro- perly to pick one's food. Se , to fight, " to slip into one an- other;" (artists') to put too much finish in a work. Pignouf, m. (general), one who be- haves like a cad; coarse fellow ; mean, paltry fellow. J'ai vu que tu avais par moments ennuy les critiques. Tu sais, il ne faut pas faire attention a eux, c'est des tas de pignoufs. E. MONTEIL. (Shoemakers') Pignouf, apprentice, the master being denominated " pontife," and a workman " gniaf." Pignoufle, m. (general), cad. La faille rose braquant sa jumelle " A qui en ont-ils ces pignoufles ? " P. MA- HALIN. Pigoche, f., a game. Some coins being placed inside a circum- ference traced out on the ground, are to be knocked out of it by aiming with another coin. Nous arrachions tout, les boutons Des portes et des pantalons Pour la pigoche. DE CHATILLON. The word has passed into the language. Pile ! (popular), exclamation uttered when one sees a person falling, or hears a smash of crockery or other article. Properly tails! at pitch and toss. Termed also d'autant ! a favourite ejaculation of waiters. Filer (popular), du poivre, to walk on the tips of one's toes on account of blistered feet ; to wait ; to slander. Faire du poivre a quelqu'un, to throw one down re- peatedly. Filer le bitume is said of a prostitute who walks the streets ; (military) du poivre, to mark time ; to be on sentry duty ; 330 Filler Pincer. to ride a hard trotting horse ; du poivre a quelqu'un, to forsake one ; to leave off keeping company ivith one. Ah ! pompon du (liable ! il y a longtemps que j'avais envie de lui piler du poivre. C. DUBOIS DE GENNES. Filer le poivre, to be on sentry duty. Pilier, m. (familiar), de cabaret, drunkard, or " mop." See Poivrot. (Thieves') Le , the master. Un de boutanche, a shopman. Un , the master of a brothel. Un de pacquelin, a commercial traveller. Quel fichu temps ! -ie pilier de pacquelin ne viendra pas. VIDOCQ. Le du creux, the master of the house, the " omee of the carsey." From uomo della casa in lingua franca. Pille, f. (thieves'), one thousand francs. Pillois vain, m. (thieves'), village judge, a kind of " beak, or queer cuffin." Piloches, / //. (thieves'), teeth, " bones, or ivories." Termed also "chocottes." Montrer ses , " to flash one's ivories." Piloirs, m. pi. (thieves'), fingers, " forks, stealers, or pickers." Pilon, m. (thieves'), finger or thumb ; (popular) maimed beggar. Pimpeloter (popular), se , to eat and drink of the best, to take care of number one in that respect. Pimpions, m. pi. (thieves'), coin, "pieces." See Quibus. Pin?ants, m. pi. (old cant), scissors. Termed also ' ' fauchants, fau- chettes." Pinc^ard, m. (cavalry), horseman who possesses strong thighs, and has, in consequence, a firm grip in the saddle. From pince, grip. Pince, /. (thieves'), hand, o "duke." (Horsemen's) Pince, grip of the thighs. (Popular) Chaud de la , fond of women. La pince is the fork. Puis, comme c'etait un chaud de la pince qui faisait des enfants a toutes les figu- rantes de 1'Odeon. E. MONTEIU (Card-sharpers') Pince, a box con- stritcted on cheating principles, and used by sharpers at the game called consolation, a game played ivith dice. Pinceau, m. (military), broom. Allpns . . . nous sommes de corvee de quartier, il va falloir aller jouer du pin- ceau avant un quart d'heure. DUBOIS DK GENNES. (Freemasons') Pinceau, pen ; (popular) hand, or foot, "daddle, or hoof." Detacher un coup de dans la giberne, to kick one's behind, "to toe one's bum." Detacher un coup de sur la frimousse, to give a box on the ear, " to give a bang in the mug, to fetch a wipe in the gills, or mug," or, as the Americans term it, " to give a biff in the jaw." hall patronized by prostitutes and roughs. An allusion to the liber- ties which male dancers take with their partners. Pince -dur, m. (military), adjutant. From pincer, to nab. Pince-loque, m. (thieves'), needle. Pincer (familiar and popular), le cancan, to dance the "cancan." A kind of choregraphy which re- quires great agility, the toes of the female performers being more often on a level with the faces of their partners than on the floor. The cancan is in great favour at Bullier and kindred dancing-halls, Pince-sans-rire Piole. 331 itsdevoteesbeinggenerally medical students and their female friends, the " etudiantes ; " also '' horizon- tales " and their protectors, or "poissons;" au demi-cercle, to catch unawares, " to nab ; " quelqu'un, to catch one, to take one red-handed. Se faire , to be detected ; to be caught, to get "nabbed." Pinceruncoupdesirop, to be slightlv the worse for liquor, or slightly "elevated. " See Pom- pette. En pour une femme, to be smitten with a fair one's charms, "to be mashed on, sweet on, keen on, or to be spooney." (Thieves') Pincer, to steal, " to nick." For synonyms see Grinchir. Cartouche. Qu" avez-vous pince ? Har- pin. Six pieces de toile et quatre de mous- seline. LE GRAND, Les Fourberies de CartoucJie. Pincer de la guitare, or de la harpe, to be locked up in jail, to be "in quod." An allusion to the bars of the prison cell assimilated to the strings of a guitar. Pince - sans - rire, m. (thieves'), police officer, "copper," or "reeler." See Pot-a-tabac. Pincettes,/.//, (popular), affuter, or se tirer les , to decamp in a hurry, "to guy." See Patatrot. Pinchard, adj. (literary), vulgar, in bad taste, "jimmy." Pindares (thieves'), the gendarmes; city police, or rural police. Pin- dares ! we wash our hands of it ! an exclamation uttered by male- factors after committing some crime. Pinet, or pino, m. (thieves'), far- thing. Termed in English cant, " fadge." Pingouin, m. (popular), fool, or ' ' flat ; " good-for-nothing man. (Mountebanks') Le , the public. Vois-tu le pingouin comme il s'allume? . . . ca n'est rien, a la reprise je vas 1'incen- dier. E. SUE. Pingouin maigre, small audience ; gras, large audience. Pingre, adj. (thieves'), poor, " quisby." Pioche, f. (freemasons'), fork ; (popular) work, or "graft." Se mettre a la , to set oneself to work. Tete de , blockhead, "cabbage-head." (Thieves') Une ,a pickpocket, or "finger-smith." Piocher (barristers'), les larmes, to prepare a pathetic oration with a view to exciting the commiseration of the jtiry, and enlisting their sympathy in favour of the accused. There is an old joke about a bar- rister who, having undertaken to defend a scoundrel accused of murdering his own father and mother, wound up his speech by beseeching the jury to be merciful unto his client, on the plea of his being a " poor orphan left alone and unprotected in this wicked world." The celebrated and truth- ful author of a recent diatribe on the manners and customs of the French, reproduces the story, presenting it to his readers as a striking but " genuine" specimen of the forensic eloquence in favour with John Bull's neighbours ! (Thieves') Piocher, to carry on the business of a pickpocket, "to be on the cross." See Grinchir. Piole, or piolle,/ (thieves'), house. The synonyms are, " cambuse, cassine, bolte, niche, kasbah, bar- raque, creux, bahut, baite, case, taule, taudion," and, in the Eng- lish slang, "diggings, ken, hangs- out, chat, crib," &c. Piole, lodging-house, or "dossing-ken." Veux-tu venir prendre de la morfe et piausser avec meziere en une des pioles que tu m'as rouscaillees "iLe Jargon de I Argot. (Will you come eat attd sleep 332 Plotter Pipe. tirith me in one of the cribs which you were talking about ?) Piole, tavern, or " lush-crib ;" blindee, fortress; a machabees, cemetery ; de lartonnier, baker' 3 shop, or " mungarly casa. " The English cant term is a corruption of the Lingua Franca phrase for an eating-house. Mangiare, to eat, in Italian. Pioller (popular and thieves'), to fay frequent visits to the "wine- shop ; to get the worse for liquor, to get " cut, or canon." Piollier, m. (popular and thieves'), landlord of a drinking-shop, "the boss of a lush-crib. " Pion, m. and adj. (familiar), un , an usher at a school, or " bum- brusher." Properly a pawn; (thieves') louse, "grey-back, 01 German duck." The Slang Dic- ti0narysa.ys : "These pretty little things are called by many names, among others by those of ' grey- backs ' and 'gold- backed 'uns,' which are popular among those who have most interest in the matter." Etre , to be drunk. From an old word pier, to drink. Villon in his Grand Testament, fifteenth century, has the word with the signification of toper, drunkard : Brief, on n'eust sceu en ce monde chercher Meilleur pion, pour boire tost et tard. Faictes entrer quand vous orrez trucher 1,'ame du bon feu maistre Jehan Cotard. Rabelais uses pion with the same signification : Ce feut ici que mirent a bas culs Joyeusement quatre gaillards pions, Pour banqueter a 1'honneur de Bacchus, Buvants a gre comme beaulx carpions. Pantagruel, chap, xxvii. Pionce,/!, or piongage, m. (popu- lar), sleep, or "balmy." Cama- rade de , bedfellow. II avait couch dans un garno ou Ton -it deux par paillasse. Son camarade de pionce tait un gros pere a mine rouge qui avait une tete comme un bonnet d'as- trakan. RICHEPIN, Le Pavf. Pioneer (familiar and popular), to sleep. From piausser. Quoi? vrai ! vous allez rn'ramasser ? Ah ! c'est muf ! Mais quoi qu'on y gagne! J'm'en vas vous empecher d'pioncer J'ronfle comme un' toupi' d'All'magne. RICHEWN, La Chanson des Gueux. The synonyms are : " casser une canne, piquer un chien, piquer une romance, faire le lezard, faire son michaud, roupiller, se recueil- lir, compter des pauses, taper de 1'ceil, mettre le chien au cran de repos. " Pionceur, m. (familiar and popular), man who sleeps. Pionne, f. (scholars'), governess at a school. Piote, / (cavalry), insulting term applied by a cavalry man to a foot-soldier. Piou, or pioupiou, m. (familiar and popular), infantry soldier, tht French " Tommy Atkins." Pipe, f. (familiar and popular), head, face. Casser sa , to die. The synonyms are: "devisser, or decoller son billard, graisser ses bottes, avaler sa langue, sa gaffe, sa cuiller, or ses baguettes, cracher sen ame, n'avoir plus mal aux dents, poser sachique,claquer, saluei le public, recevoir son de- compte, ingurgiter son bilan, cracher ses embouchures, deposer ses bouts de manche, deteindre, donner son dernier bon & tirer, lacher la perche, eteindre son gaz, epointer son foret, etre ex- proprie, peter son lof, fumer ses terres, fermer son parapluie, perdre son baton, descendre la garde, passer I'arme a gauche, defiler la parade, tourner de 1'ceil, perdre le gout du pain, lacher la rampe, faire ses petits paquets, Piper. 333 casser son crachoir, remercier son boulanger, canner, devider a 1'es- torgue, baiser la camarde, camar- der, fuir, casser son cable, son fouet ; faire sa crevaison, deralin- guer, virer de bord, dechirer son faux-col, degeler, couper sa meche, piquer sa plaque, mettre la table pour les asticots, aller manger les pissenlits par la racine, laisser fuir son tonneau, calancher, laisser ses bottes quelque part, dechirer son habit, or son tablier, souffler sa veilleuse, pousser le bourn du cygne, avoir son coke, rendre sa secousse, " and, in the English slang, " to snuff it, to lay down one's knife and fork, to stick one's spoon in the wall, to kick the bucket, to give in, give up, to go to Davy Jones, to peg out, to hop the twig, to slip one's cable, to lose the number of one's mess, to turn one's toes up." The latter is to be met with in Reade's Cloister and Hearth : " Several arbalestriers turned their toes tip, and I among them." " Killed, Denys? Come now ! " " Dead as mutton." Pipe, adj. (thieves'), etre sur le tas, to be caught red-handed. Pipelet, m. (general), doorkeeper. A character in Eugene Sue's Les Mysteres de Paris. Je les ai vus causer ensemble, Mes deux Pip'lets. Et j'ai dit dans ma peau qui tremble, Dieu ! qu'ils sont laids. J. DE BLAINVILLE, Mes deux Pipelets. The Pipelet of Eugene Sue was the victim of a ferocious practical joker, a painter, Cabrion by name, who made his life a burden to him. The doorkeepers have re- taliated by calling "un Cabrion" a lodger who does not pay his rent. Je sais aussi qu'on me traite d'ivrogne, Si du raisin je rapporte le fard, Que Cabrion apergoive ma trogne II s'ec'riera : le Pip'let est pochard ! Mais ce matin, j'ai vu Anastasie, Qui du cognac savourait les roideurs ; Je m'consol'rai dans les bras d'une amie. Les m'lons sont verts, les chardons sont en fleurs. DUBQIS, Reves de Vieillesse oil le Depart de Pipelet. Pipelette, f. (general), the wife of a concierge or doorkeeper. Termed also Madame Pipelet. See Pipelet. Vous n'connaissez pas ma concierge, La nommee Madam' Benoiton, Une grand' sech' longu' comm' un cierge Et sourd' comm' un bonnet d'coton. Si malheureus'ment j'm'attarde, C'est 1'diable pour la reveiller. Pendant deux heur's je mont' la garde, D'vant la porte et j'ai beau crier : Ous-qu'est ma pip', ous-qu'est ma pip', ou^-qu'est ma pip'lette ? A. BEN ET H. U'HEKVILLE. Piper (familiar and popular), to smoke, or "to blow a cloud." II me semble qu'on a pipe ici. GA- VARNI. (Thieves') Piper, to catch. Comprend-on apres cela qu'un homme qui changeait si trequemment de nom . . . ait etc se joger . . . sous le nom de Ma- hossier qui lui avail servi a piper sa vic- time ? CANLER. Piper un pegre, to apprehend a thief, " to smug a prig." The different expressions signifying to apprehend or to imprison are: "poisser, grimer, coquer, enflac- quer, enfourailler, mettre dedans, fourrer dedans, mettre a 1'ombre, mettre au violon, boucler, grap- piner, poser un gluau, empoigner, piger, emballer, gripper, empioler, encoffrer, encager, accrocher, ramasser, souffler, faire tomber malade, agrafer, mettre le grappin dessus, enchetiber, enfourner, col- tiger, colletiner, poser le grappin, faire passer a la fabrication, fab- riquer," and, in the English slang, "to smug, to nab, to run in." 334 Pipet Piquer. i. (thieves'), castle, man- " chat, or hangings-out." Pipet, m. , , sion, "chat, or hangings- See Piget. II arriva que je trimardais juste la lourde de ce pipet . . . une cambrouze du pipet me mouchaillait et en avertit le rupin. Le Jargon de FA rgot. (It happened that I was just going by the door of that mansion . . . a servant girl of the mansion perceived me and warned the master.) Pipo, or pipot, m., the Ecole Poly- technique ; student at that school. This establishment is the great training school for government civil engineers, who are chosen, after a two years' course, out of those who come first on the com- petitive list, and for officers of the engineers and artillery, the latter being sent for a three years' course to the "Ecole d'application " at Fontainebleau, with the rank of sub-lieutenant. Piquage, m. (military), de romance, sleep, ' ' balmy ; " snoring, or " driving one's pigs to market." Les autres cavaliers . . . continuaient, a poings fermes, le piquage de leur romance. C. DUBOIS DE GENNES. (Popular) Faire un , to steal wine by boring a hole in a cask which is being conveyed in a van to its destination. Also to abstract wine or spirits from a cask by the insertion of a tube, or " sucking the monkey." The English ex- pression has also the mea-ning of drinking generally, and originally, according to Marryat, to drink rum out of cocoa-nuts, the milk having been poured out and the liquor substituted. Piquante,/. (thieves'), pin. Piquantine, f. (thieves'), flea. Called sometimes " F sharp," bugs being the " B flats." Piqu6, adj. (popular), pas des hannetons, good, or "bully;" ex- cellent. Pique-chien, m., dovrkccpfr at the Ecole Polytechnique. Literally slumberer. See Pipo. Pique-en-terre, m. (popular and thieves'), fowl, "cackling cheat, or margery prater." Piquelard, m. (popular), pork- butcher, or " kiddier." Pique-poux, m. (popular), a tailor. Termed also pique-prunes, .or pique-puces. Called among Eng- lish operatives a "steel-bar driver, cabbage - contractor, or goose- persuader ; " by the world, a " ninth part of a man ; " and by the "fast" man, a "sufferer." Termed also " snip," from "snipes," a pair of scissors, or from the snipping sound made by scissors in cutting up anything. Piquer (students'), to do; 1'etrangere, to be absent or dis- traught, " to go moon-raking," or "wool-gathering;" - un laius, to make a speech ; une muette, to remain silent, "to be mum." J'ai pique 17 a la colle, I obtained 17 marks at the examination. See Colle. Piquer le baton d'en- couragement, to obtain I mark, the maximum being 20 ; une seche, to get no marks at all, or a "duck's egg;" (familiar and popular) un chien, to sleep, " to have a dose of balmy ; " un fard, or un soleil, to blush ; un renard, to vomit, "to shoot the cat, to cast up accounts, or to cascade." Rabelais termed the act " supergurgiter ; " une victime, to dive from a great height with arms uplifted and body per- fectly rigid ; (sailors') sa plaque, to sleep ; to die. See Pipe. (Artists') Piquer un cinabre, to blush ; (popular) dans le tas, to choose. Piquet Pissote. 335 Nous v'la . . . nous sont point press^es : piquez done vite dans eul' tas, au p'tit bon- heur. TRUBLOT. Piquer une romance, " to sleep, "to have a dose of balmy;" to snore, " to drive one's pigs to market." Et puisqu'ils pioncent tous comme des marmottes. ... A ton tour, raon bon de pi- quer une romance. C. DuBOiSDEGENNKS. Se le tasseau, to get drunk, or "tight." For synonyms see Sculpter. Piquer un chahut, to dance the cancan. Revenant ensuite dans les environs de la Gare Saint-Lazare, dansant a Buliier, pi- quant un " chahut " a I'Elysee-Montmartre ou meme a la Boule-Noire, aux heures de deche. DUBUT DE LAFOREST, Le Gaga. Piquet, m. (popular), prayer-book. Also jtige aepaix, a kind of county court magistrate. Piqueton, m. (popular), thin wine. Et les verres se vidaient d'une lampee. ... II pleuvait du piqueton, quoi ? un piqueton qui avail d'abord un gout de vieux tonneau. ZOLA. Piqueuse de trains,/, (popular), prostittite who prowls about rail- way stations. See Gadoue. Pissat, m. (popular), d'ane, brandy, or ' ' French cream ; " beer ; de vache, sour or small beer, "swipes." Pisse-froid dans la canicule, m. (popular), man of an extremely phlegmatic disposition, who on all occasions remains ' ' as cool as a cucumber." Also "pisse-verglas." Pisse-huile, m. (schoolboys'), lamp- lighter. Pissenlits, m. pi. (popular), arroser les , to void urine in the open air. Manger les par la racine, to be dead and buried. Pisser (familiar and popular), a 1'Anglaise, to give the slip, "to take French leave." From the act of a man who, wishing to get rid of another, pretends to go to the "lavatory," and disappears. Pisser au cul de quelqu'un, to entertain feelings of utter contempt for one ; centre le soleil, to strive in vain, to make useless efforts ; dans un violon, to waste one's time in some fruitless attempt ; des enfants, to beget a large number of children ; des yeux, to weep, "to nap a bib ; " sa cotelette, to be in child-bed, or "in the straw;" sur quelqu'un, to despise one. Faire des lames de rasoir en travers, to annoy one terribly, to "rile" one, or to "spur" him. Mener les poules , to leave off working under false pretences. Une histoire a faire un cheval de bois, astounding story hard to swallovv, story told by one who can " spin a twister." (Literary) Pisser de la copie, to be a facile writer, to write lengthy journa- listic productions off-hand. Pisse-trois-gouttes, m. (popular), one who frequently stops on the road in order to void urine, one who "lags ;" dans quatre pots de chambre, slow man who does little work. Pisseur de copie, m. (literary), facile writer, one who writes lengthy journalistic productions off- hand. Pisseuse, / (popular), little girl, little chit. Pisse-verglas, m. (popular). See Pisse-froid. Pissin de cheval, m. (popular), bad beer, "swipes, or belly-ven- geance. " Pissote, f. (popular), urinals. Faire une , to void wine, " to pump ship." 336 Pistaclie Pistolier. Pistache, f. (familiar), mild stage of intoxication. Pincer sa , to be slightly the worse for liquor ', "to be elevated." Pistaon, m. (Breton cant), money. Piste, f. (military), suivez la , go on talking, proceed. Pister (popular), is said of hotel touts who follow and generally bore travellers ; (thieves') to fol- low. La riflette me pistait mais je me suis fait une paire de mains courantes a la mode, the spy was 'following me, but I ran away. Elle la piste, elle arrive essouflee au Bureau des raoeurs pour preVenir la police. DR. JEANNEL. Pisteur, m. (familiar), an admirer of the fair sex, whose principal occupation is to follow women in the streets. Rigaud makes the following remarks : " II ne faut pas confondre le pisteur avec le suiveur. Le suiveur est un fan- taisiste qui opere a 1'aventure. II embolte le pas a toutes les femmes qui lui plaisent, ou, mieux, a toutes les jolies jambes. Parmi cent autres, il reconnaitra un mollet qu'il aura deja chasse. II va, vient, s'arrete, tourne, retourne, marche devant, derriere, croise, coupe 1'objet de sa poursuite, qu'il perd souvent au detour d'une rue. Plus methodique, le pisteur surveille d'un trottoir a 1'autre son gibier. II suit a une distance re- spectueuse, pose devant les maga- sins, sous les fenetres, se cache derriere une porte, retient le nu- mero de la maison, fait sentinelle et ne donne de la voix que lors- qu'il est sur du succes. Le pis- teur est, ou un tout jeune homme Mmide, plein d'illusions, ou un homme mur, plein d'experience. Le pisteur d'omnibus est un des- ceuvre qui suit les femmes en omnibus, leur fait du pied, du genou, du coude, risque un bout de conversation, et n'a d'autre serieuse operation que celle de se faire voiturer de la Bastille a la Madeleine et vice versa. Cet amateur du beau sexe est ordinaire- ment un quinquagenaire dont le ventre a, depuis longtemps, tourne au majestueux. 11 offre a tout hasard aux ouvrieres le classique mobilier en acajou ; les plus entre- prenants vont jusqu'au palissandre. Les paroles s'envolent, et acajou et palissandre restent . . . chez le marchand de meubles. Peut- etre est-ce un pisteur qui a trouve le proverbe : promettre et tenir font deux." Pistole, / (popular). Grande , ten-franc piece. Petite , fifty - centime coin. Pistolet, m. (obsolete), de man- oeuvres, stone. Us chasserent le sergent et tous ceux qui toient avec lui, a grands coups de pierres que ces palots nommoient des pistolets de manoeuvres. L'Apothicaire einpoi- sonnt. (Familiar) Pistolet, a pint bottle of champagne, a pint of " boy, or fiz." Un drole de , a queer "fish." (Popular) Pistolet 'a la Saint-Dome, small hook used by cigar-end finders to whisk up bits of cigars or cigarettes. Ous qu'est mon ? expression of mock in- dignation. Faites done attention, jeiune homme. Vous allez chiffonner ma robe, c'est du 60 francs le metre ^a, mon petit! Quej'lui dis . . . soixante francs le metre, ous qu'est mon Fistolet ? Je ne donnerais pas cent sous de en-veloppe avec la poupee qu'est d'dans. Les Locutions Vicieuses. Pistolet, in the fifteenth century, a dagger manufactured at Pistoie. Pistolier, m. (prisoners'), prisoner who lives at the "pistole," a separate cell allmved to a prisoner for a consideration. Piston Pivot. 337 Piston, m. (students'), assistant to a lecturer on chemistry or physics ; (popular) man who is -well recom- mended for a situation. In the slang of naval cadets, a busybody, a bore. Pistonner (familiar and popular), quelqu'un, to give one who is seek- ing a fast the support of one's in- fluence ; to annoy, ' ' to rile ; " to guide one. Ayant rencontre un pprtefaix qu'il con- naissait, il s'est fait "pistonner" par lui, suivant son expression, a travers la ville. Le Voltaire, Nov., 1886. Pitaine- crayon, m. (Ecole Poly- technique), orderly acting as ser- vant at the drawing classes. Pitancher (popular), to drink, "to liquor up." Termed by the Americans, " to smile, to see the man ;" de 1'eau d'aff, to drink brandy. Piton, m. (popular), nose, " handle, conk, boko, snorter, smeller." See Morviau. J'ai 1'piton camard en trompette. Aussi soyez pa" etonnes Si j'ai rien qu' du vent dans la tete : C'est pa'c'que j'ai pas d'poils dans 1'ner. RICHEPIN. Un passe a 1'encaustique, red nose, " copper nose," or one with " grog blossoms," such as is sported by an " Admiral of the Red." Pitre du comme, m. (thieves'), commercial traveller. Pitre, pro- perly mountebank' s fool , or "Billy Barlow," and figuratively a literary or political quack. Pitroux, petouze, m. (thieves'), gun, or "dag;" pistol, "barking iron," or " barker." Pituiter (popular), to slander ; to prattle, to gabble, " to clack, or to jaw." Pivase, m. (popular), nose of large dimensions, "conk." See Mor- viau. Pivaste, m. (thieves'), child, "kid, or kinchin." Termed also " mion, loupiau, m6me." Five, or pivre, m. (popular), wine. Marchand de , landlord of a wine-shop. Rabelais called wine "puree septembrale," or " eau beniste de cave," as appears from the following : Maistre Janotus, tondu a la ce"sarine, vestu de son liripipion a 1'antique, et bien antidote 1'estomach de cotignac de four et eau beniste de cave, se transporta au logis de Gargantua. Gargantua. Pi vert, m. (thieves' ),_fine saw made out of a watch-spring, used by prisoners to file through the bars of a cell-window. An allusion to the sharp beak of the woodpecker. Pivoiner (popular), to redden. From pivoine, peony. Pivois, pive, or pie, m. (thieves'), wine. Charles Nodier says :" Un certain vin se dit ' pivois ' a cause de la ressemblance de son raisin avec la pive, nom patois du fruit appele improprerrient pomme de pin ; " & quatre nerfs, small measure of wine costing four sous ; citron, vinegar ; vermoise, red wine ; savonne, white wine. Mais que ce soit le petrole ou le pivois savonn^, dans le godet ou dans 1'entonnoir a patte, toujours les buveurs ont soin de dire : & la v6tre, patron ! RICHEPIN. The synonyms are the following : "picton, tortu, reginglard, picolo, bleu, petit bleu, ginglet, briolet, huile, sirop, jus d'echalas." Pivot, m. (thieves'), pen. Frangin et frangine. Je pesigue le piyot pour vous bonnir que mezigue vient d'etre srvi maron a la legre de Canelle. Vi- DOCQ. {Brother and sister. / take the fen to tell you that 1 have just been caught in the act at the fair of Caen.) 338 Pivoter Plan. (Military) Envoyer chercher le de conversion, to send one on a fool's errand, something like send- ing one for "pigeon's milk." Envoyer chercher "la clef du champ de manoeuvre, le moule a guillemets, or le parapluie de 1'es- couade," are kindred jokes perpe- trated on unsophisticated recruits. Pivoter (military), to work; to drill; to be on duty. Tour a tour, c'etait le brigadier de se- maine qui pivotait, les bleus qui en fichaient un COUp. G. COURTELINE. Placarded (thieves'), public square in a city, generally the one where executions take place. Before 1830 the death sentence was carried out at the Place de Greve, later on at the Place St. Jacques, and nowa- days criminals are executed in front of the prison of La Roquette ; au quart d'ceil, place of execu- tions. La de vergne, the town public place. Crompe, crompe, mercandiere, Car nous serions bequilles ; Sur la placarde de vergne, II nous faudrait garabiller. VIDOCQ. Place d'armes, / (popular), sto- mach, "bread-basket;" body, "apple-cart." Vous etes invite a passer la soiree chez des bourgeois. . . . Vous entrez. . . . Au lieu de dire : bonjour, cher ami ; madame est bien ? Allons tant mieux ! enchante de vous voir en bonne sante, Ton dit carre- ment ; bonjour, ma vieille branche, com- ment va la place d'armes ? Et le bour- geois pour se mcttre a la mode, repond ; merci, mon vieux, $a boulotte, et ta soeur ? Les Locutions Vicieuses. Placeur de lapins, m. (familiar), humbug who plays the moralist. Desgenais n'est, malgre ses maledictions a fracas, qu'un simple placeur de lapins. L. CHAPRON, Le Gaulois. It also means man who lives at the expense of others and introduces his friends to women of the demi- monde. Plafond, m. (familiar and popular), head, skull, "nut." Avoir une araignee dans le , to be "cracked," " to have a slate off." See Avoir. Voila encore un de nos jolis "toques," disait 1'un d'eux a demi-voix. II a une belle " araignee dans le pla- fond," murmurait un autre. P. AUDE- BRAND. Avoir des trychines dans le , same signification as above. Se defoncer, or se faire sauter le , to blow one's brains out. (Theatrical) Plafond d'air, long strips of painted canvas stretched across the upper part of the stage to represent the sky. Plaider la ficelle (lawyers'), is said of a counsel who has recourse when pleading to some transparent ruse, such as diverting the attention from the point at issue by treating of questions irrelevant to the case. Plamousse,/ (popular), box on the ear, " wipe in the gills." Plan, m. (familiar and popular), pawnbroker's establishment, " lug chovey. " Mettre au , or en , to pawn, " to put up the spout." Le lendemain elle mil son chile "en plan " pour cinq francs. LEO TAXIL. Etre en , to remain at a reslau- rant while a friend goes to fetch wherewith to defray the common expenses for a meal. Laisser en , to abandon, to leave one in the lurch. Laisser tout en , to leave or "chuck up" everything in hand. (Popular) II y a , it is possible. (Military) Plan, arrest. Etre au , to be under arrest, "to be roosted." (Thieves') Plan, prison, "stir." See Motte. Plan de couille, remand. Etre mis au de couille, to be imprisoned for an- other. Etre mis au , to be im- prisoned, "to get the clinch." Planche Planquer. 339 Tomber au , to be apprehended, or " smugged." See Piper. (Theatrical) Laisser en plan is said of the claque, or paid ap- plaztders, when they do not ap- plaud an actor. Vous ferez Madame B. (faire ici veut dire applaudir ou soigner) vous laisserez en plan Monsieur X. (cela signifie vous ne 1'applaudirez pas). BALZAC. Planche, f. (familiar and popular), woman the reverse of buxom, who is not " built that way ; " (popu- lar) a boudin, woman of indif- ferent character. Faire la , to be a prostitute, or "mot." Faire sa , to give oneself airs . Sans , -without any ceremonies, frankly. (Freemasons') Planche a tracer, table; sheet tif white paper ; letter. (Thieves') Planche, sword, or "poker ; " a grimaces, altar ; a sapement, police court ; au chiquage, or a lavement, con- fessional ; au pain, tribunal ; bench occupied by prisoners in the dock. Eire mis sur la au pain, to be committed for trial, "to be fullied." On m'empoigne, on me met sur la planche au pain. J'ai une fievre cerebrale. VIC- TOR HUGO. (Theatrical) Avoir des planches, to be an experienced actor. Bruler les planches, to play with spirit. Ce n'etait pas un mauvais acteur. II avait de la chaleur, il brulait meme un peu les planches. E. MONTEIL, Cornebois. (Military) Une a pain, a tall lanky man. (Tailors') Une , a " goose." Avoir fait les planches, to have worked as a journeyman tailor. Planche, adj. (thieves'), etre , to be convicted, "to be booked, or to be in for a vamp." Plancher (military), to be confined in the cells, or guard-room ; (popu- lar and thieves') to be afraid ; to laugh at ; to joke. Tu planches, mon homme. VIDOCQ. (You are joking, my good fellow.) Plancherie, /. (popular and thieves' ),joke, ' ' wheeze, " or prac- tical joke. Plancheur, m. (popular and thieves'), joker ; practical joker. Planque,/ (thieves'), en , on the watch. J'allai en compagnie de H. au Passage du Cheval Rouge, et, le laissant en planque (en observation). CANLER. Planque, place of concealment; police station. Le true de la , the secret concerning a place of concealment. Par une chouette sorgue, la rousse est aboulee a la taule . . . un macaron avait mange le morceau sur nouzailles et bonni le true de la planque ; tous les fanandels avaient te servis. VIDOCQ. (One fine night the police came to the house . . . a traitor had peached on us, and revealed the secret of the hiding place; all the comrades had been apprehended.) Planque a corbeaux, pries fs seminary ; a larbins, ser- vants' registering office; des gouapeurs, depdt of the Prefecture de Police ; a plombes, dock ; a sergots, police station ; a suif, gaming-house, or " punting - shop ;" a tortorer, eating-house, " grubbing-ken, or spinikin." Etre en , to be locked up, or "put away." See Piper. Planquer (popular), to pawn, "to put in lug ;" (thieves') to im- prison, "to smug." See Piper. Planquer, to conceal. A c'te plombe j'suis si bien planque> que je ne crams ni cognes, ni griviers, ni rallies, ni quart d'oeil, ni gerbiers. VIDOCQ. (/ am now so well concealed that I fear nj gendarmes, soldiers, detectives, police ma- gistrate, or judges.) Planquer le marmot, to conceal the 340 Plantation Plat. booty, to fut away the "swag." It also means to place, to put in. Planquer les paccins dans un rou- lant, to put tht parcels in a cab. (Printers : ) Planquer des sortes, to put by, for one's personal use, and with much inconvenience to fellcno- compositors, some particular de- scription of type required in large quantities for a common piece of composition. Plantation, f. (theatrical), arrange- ment of scenic plant, such as furni- ture, <5rV. J'avais dit de poser la une chaise pour figurer la porte. Tons les jours, il faut recommencer la plantation. ZOLA, Nana. Planter (theatrical), refers to the effecting of all scenic arrange- ments ; un acte, to settle all the scenic details of an act ; un comparse, to give directions to a supernumerary as to his make-up, position on the stage, movements, dfc. ; (sailors') le harpon, to express some idea, some proposal. (Popular) Planter, to make a sacri- fice to Venus ; son poireau, to be waiting for someone who is not making his appearance ; le drapeau, to leave without paying one's reckoning ; not to pay a debt ; (familiar) un chou, to deceive, " to bamboozle. " See Jobarder. Plantes, /. //. (popular), feet, " everlasting shoes." Eh ! bien, vous etes dela jolie fripouille, cria-t-il, j'ai us6 mes plantes pendant trois heures sur la route, meme qu'un gendarme m'a demand^ mes papiers. Ah ! non, vous savez, blague dans le coin, je la trouve raide. ZOLA, L'Assommoir. (Well, he cried, you are nice un's, you are; here I have been scraping the road 'with tny ever- lasting shoes these three hours. None of that you know, and no kid, you come tt rather too strong.) Plaque, f. (popular), avoir sa d'egout defoncee, to be a Sodomite. (Military) Des plaques de garde- champetre, an old servant's stripes. Plaquer (popular), to put, to leave, to forsake ; sa viande sous 1'edredon, to go to bed ; son niere, to forsake one's friend. Se , to fall flat ; to put oneself ; to have one's wet clothes sticking to one's body. Se dans la limo- nade, to jump into the water. Vous comprenez la rigolade Vous, la p'tit' mer' ; vrai que" potin ! C'est done marioll', c'est done rupin De s'plaquer dans la limonade? Pourquoi ? Peut-et' pour un salaud ; Pour un prop' a rien, pour un pant'e, Malheur ! . . . Tiens, vous prenez du vent'e. Ah ! bon, chaleur ! J'comprends 1'tableau ! GILL. Plastronneur, m. (popular), swell, "gorger." From the stiff plas- tron, or shirt-front, sported by dandies when in "full fig." See Gommeux. Plat, m. (popular), deux oeufs sur le , or deux cjeufs, small breasts. C'ment ca ! c'que vous m'f. . . la, cap'- taine ! n'allez pas m'dire qu'une femme qui n'a qu'deux oeufs poses sur la place d'armes, peut avoir une fluxion vraisemblable a une personne avantagee comme la comman- dante? CH. LEROY, Ramollot. Plat d'epinards, painting, or "daub." (Popular) Faire du , to create a disturbance; to make a noise, "to kick up a row." Prendre un d'amches, to have no breakfast in consequence of ab- sence of means to pay for it. Literally to walk about with an empty stomach, reading the bills posted up, to while away the time. Plats a barbe, ears, " wattles, lugs, hearing cheats." Le nez s'appelle un " piton ; " la bouche, un"four;" 1'oreille un "plat a barbe;" les dents des "dominos," et les yeux des " quinquets." Les Locutions Vicieuses. (Restaurants') Plat du jour, dish which is got ready specially for the day, and which consequently it Platane Plomb. 34f , generally the most palatable in the bill of fare. Ce que le restaurateur appelle dans son argot un plat du jour, c'e>t-a-dire un plat humain, possible, semblable a la nourri- ture que les hommes maries trouvent chez cux. TH. DE BANVILLE, La. Cuisiniire Poetique. (Military) Plat, gorget formerly worn by officers. Platane, m. (familiar), feuille de , rank cigar, " cabbage-leaf. " Plateau, m. (freemasons'), a dish. Plato. See Filer. Platre, m. See Essuyer. (Prin- ters') Platre, for eniplatre, bad compositor. (Thieves') Platre, sil- ver ; silver coin. Possibly an allusion to the colour and shape of the face of a watch. Je viens de degringolarer un bobinot en platre, / have just stolen a silver watch. Etre au , to have money. Platue,/ (thieves'), a kind of flat cake. Plein, m. and adj. (popular), avoir son , to be intoxicated, "to be primed ;" commeunceuf, comme un sac, drunk, ' ' drunk as Davy's sow." See Pompette. Gros de soupe, a stout, clumsy man. Pleine, adj. (popular), lune, breech, or " Nancy." See Vasis- tas. (Familiar) Faire une eau, to dive into a river or the sea from a boat, and swim about in deed water. Plette,/ (thieves'), skin, "buff." Pleurant, m. (thieves'), onion. From p^urer, to weep. The allu- sion is obvious. Du cabot avec des pleurants, a mess of dogfish -and onions. Pleurer (popular), en filou, to pre- tend to weep, crocodile fashion. Faire son aveugle, to void urine, " to pump ship." Pleut (popular), il ! ejaculation of refusal ; silence ! be careful ! The expression is used by printers as a warning to be silent when the master or a stranger enters the workshop. Pleuvoir (thieves'), des chasses, to weep, " to nap a bib." Termed also "baver des clignots." (Mili- tary) Pleuvoir, to void urine. Pli, m. (familiar), avoir un dans sa rose, to have something that mars one's joy or disturbs one's happiness. La Martiniere avail un " pli dans sa rose " comme il le disait lui-meme. H. FRANCE, A Trovers FEspagne, Pliant, m. (thieves'), knife, or "chive." Termed also " vingt- deux, surin, or lingre." Jouer du , to knife, " to chive." Plier (popular), ses chemises, to die. " to snuff it." See Pipe. Plier son eventail, to make signals to men in the orchestra stalls. Plis, m. pi. (popular), des , de- risive expression of refusal ; might be rendered by, Don't you wish you may get it ? or by the Ameri- canism, " Yes, in a horn ! " See Nefles. Plomb, m. (restaurants'), entre- mets. Probably from plum pud- ding ; (popular) venereal disease. Laver la tete avec du , to shoot one. Manger du , to be shot. Le , the throat, or " red lane ;" the mouth. Termed also " 1'ava- loir, le becot, la bavarde, la gar- goine,laboite, 1'egout, lababouine, la cassolette, 1'entonnoir, la gaffe, le mouloir, le gaviot." In the 342 Plombe Plume. English slang, "mug, potato- trap, rattler, kisser, maw-dubber, rattle-trap, potato-jaw, muns, bone-box." Ferme ton , hold your tongue, "put a clapper to your mug, mum your dubber, or hold your jaw." D'ou sprt-elle done celle-la? Elle ferait bien mieux de clouer son bee. Celle-la . . . celle-la vaut bien Madame de la Queue-Rousse. Ferme ton plomb toi-meme. H. FRANCE, Le Peche de Soeur Cunfgonde. Jeter dans le , to swallow. Qui qu'a soif? qui qui veut boire a la fraiche ? Sur mon dos au soleil ma glace fond. De crier, 93 me fait la gorge reche. J'ai le plomb tout en plomb. Buvons mon fond ! RICHEPIN, La Chanson des Gueux. Plombe, f. (thieves'), hour. An allusion to the weights of clocks, formerly " plomees. " Sixplombes se decrochent, it is six o'clock. Luysard estampillait six plombes, it was six o'clock by the sun. Voila six plombes et une meche qui crossent . . . tu pionees encore. Je crois bien, nous avons voulu maquiller a la sorgue chez un orphelin, mais le pantre etait chaud ; j'ai vu le moment pu il faudrait jouer du vingt-deux et alors il y aurait eu du raisinet. VIDOCQ. (// is half -past six . . . sleeping yet ? / should think so ; we wanted to do a night job at a goldsmith's, but the cove was -wide-awake. I was very near aoing for him "with my knife?) Plomber (popular and thieves'), to emit a bad smell. From plomb, sink. Birbe camard, Comme un ord champignon tu plombes. RICHEPIN. Plomber de la gargoine, to have an offensive breath. Plomber, to strike the hour. La guimbarde ne plombe pas, the clock does not strike the hour. Etre plombe, to be drunk, or "lumpy," see Pompette ; to suffer from a venereal disease. Plombes,/. pi. (thieves'), money * " pieces." See Quibus. De vieux marmiteux de la haute lui ont offert de 1'epouser. Mais ils n'avaient que le litre (elle veut, dit-elle, le litre avec les plombesX LOUISE MICHEL. Plonger (thieves'), les pognes dans la profonde, or fabriquer un poivrot, to pick the pockets of a drunken man who has come to grief on a bench. Plongeur, m. (thieves'), poverty- stricken man, or "quisby; " tatter' demalion ; (popular) scullery man at a cafe or restaurant. Plotte,/ (thieves'), purse, " skin, orpoge." Termed, in old English cant, "bounge." Faire une , " to fake a skin." Plouse, f. (thieves'), straw, " strommel." Ployant, or ploye, m. (thieves'), pocket-book, "dee," or "dummy." J'etais avec lui a la dine"e au lapis, lorsque les cognes sont venus lui demander ses escraches et j'ai remarque que son ployant e"lail plein de tailbins d'alleque. VIUOCQ. (/ was with him at dinner in the inn when the gendarmes came to ask him for his passport, and I noticed that his pocket- book was full of bank-notes. ) Pluc, m. (thieves'), booty, " regu- lars," or "swag." Plumade, f. (obsolete), straw mat- tress. Plumard, m. (popular), bed, "doss, "or "bug- walk." Termed also "panier, pagne, pucier." Plumarder (military), se , to go to bed. Plume, f. (thieves'), false key ; a short crowbar which generally takes to pieces for the convenience of housebreakers. Termed also, "Jacques, sucre de pommes, Plumeau Plumet. 343 I'enfant, biribi, rigolo. " Denomi- nated by English housebreakers, "the stick, Jemmy, or James." Passer a la , to be ill-treated by the police. Plume de Beauce (obsolete), straw, or "strommel." Quand on couche sur la plume de la Beauce (la paille), des rideaux, c'est du luxe. VIDOCQ. Piausser sur la de Beauce, to sleep in the straw. (Popular) Plumes, hair, or "thatch." Termed also " tifs, douilles, douillards." Se faire des plumes, or paumer ses plumes, to feel dull, to have the "blues." (Familiar) Ecrire ses memoires avec une de quinze pieds was said formerly of galley slaves. An allusion to the long oar which such convicts had to ply on board the old galleys. (Military) Plume ! an ejaculation to denote that the soldier referred towill spend the night at the guard- room or in prison. An ironical allusion to the expression ' 'coucher danslaplume," tosleep in a feather- bed, and to the hard planks which are to form the culprit's couch. (Journalists') Gen de , literary man. The term is used dispara- gingly. C'qet comme ga ! continue le gen de plume. X ... a ose m'envoyer son ouvrage en vers ... oh ! la ! la ! quelle guitare ! LOUISE MICHEL. Plumeau, m. (popular), va done vieux ! get along, you old fool, or "doddering old sheep's head." Plume patte, m., synonymous of Dache (which see). Plumer (thieves'), le pantre, or faire la grece, is said of rogues who, having formed an acquaintance with travellers whom they fall in with in the vicinity of railway stations, take them to a neighbour- ing caf: Avoir une de canne felee, to be deranged, ' ' to have a slate off," " to be balmy. " See Avoir. Aux pommes, or bate aux pommes, excellent, first-rate, "slap up." Concerning the expression Rigaud says : ' ' Deux consommateurs, un habitue et un etranger, de- mandent, dans un cafe, chacun un bifteck, le premier aux pommes, le second naturel, nature, dans 1'argot des restaurateurs. Le garfon charge des commandes vole vers les cuisines et s'ecrie d'une voix retentissante, ' Deux biftecks, dont un aux pommes, soigne ! ' Le mot fit fortune. C'est depuis ce jour qu'on dit, Auxpommes, pour soigne." (Mili- tary) C'est comme des pommes, it is useless. Pomme, adj. (familiar and popu- lar), excessive, "awful." Betise pommee, great stupidity. 352 Pommer Pompette. Pommer, or paumer (thieves' and cads'), to apprehend, " to nail," or "to smug." Enfin que'qu'fois quand on m'pomme, J 'couch' au post'. C'est chouett', c'est chaud, Et c'est la qu'on trouve, en somme, Les gens les plus comme il faut. KICHEPIN, La Chanson des Gneux. Paumer ses plumes, to feel dull. Pommier, m. (popular), en fleurs, breasts of a young maiden ; ste- rile, skinny breasts. Pompage, m. (popular), libations, ' ' lushing. " Pompe, f. (tailors'), touching up of ill-fitting garments. Petite , grande , respectively, touching up of waistcoats and coats. (Fami- liar and popular) Pompe funebre, a variety of prostitute. In Latin fellatrix. (Military schools') Le corps de , the staff of in- structors. La , work. La pompe ! k ce grand mot votre intel- lect se tend Et cherche a deviner. ... La pompe, c'est 1'^tude, La pompe, c'est la longue et funeste habi- tude De puiser chaque jour chez messieurs les auteurs Le sue et l'e"lixir de leurs doctes labeurs . . . La pompe, c'est 1'effroi du chasseur, du houzard, Du spahi, du dragon, et, malgre' sa cuirasse, Du cuirassier. Voila la pompe. THEO-CRITT, Nos Farces d Saum-ur. (Military) La du part-a-douze, imaginary pump in the paradise from which rain is supposed to spout. Parfait, s'e"crie Cousinet, il me paratt que le pere Eternel il a mis quatre hommes de renfort & la pompe du part-a-douze ! . . . Voili ce qui peut s'appeler une averse de bonheur ! DUBOIS DE GENNES. (Popular and thieves') Pompe, shoe, " trotter case, or daisy root." See Ripaton. Refiler un coup de dans 1'oignon, to kick one in the behind, "to root." Pomper (popular), to drink much, " to guzzle," see Rincer ; to work hard, ' ' to sweat ;" (shopmen's) le gaz, to be the victim of a practi- cal joke, which consists in making a new-comer ply an imaginary gas-pump. Pomper meant formerly to make a sacrifice to Venus. Le Roux gives the explanation in the following words : " Dans un sens equivoque et malicieux, pour faire le deduit." Pompette, adj. (general), etre , to be intoxicated. Ce serait moule de ne pas rigoler parfois. . . . On se separa a trois heures, delicate- ment pompettes. EMILE KAPP, La Joie des Pauvres. Rabelais uses the word with the signification of " grog-blossoms." The terms graduating the scale of drunkenness, beginning with those which denote mild intoxication, are : " Avoir sa pointe, son al- lumette, sa pistache, un grain ; etre bien, monte, en train, lance, parti, pousse, en patrouille, emeche, emu, bamboche ; voir en dedans, etre dessous, dans les brouillards, pavois, allume, gai, dans un etat voisin, mouille, humecte, casquette, bu, bien panse, pochard, poche, gave, cingle, plein, rond, complet, rond comme une balle, raide, raide comme la justice, paf, slasse, poivre, riche, charge, dans la pa- roisse de Saint-Jean le Rond, dans les vignes du seigneur, vent dessus dessous, fier, dans les broussailles, dans les brinde- zingues ; avoir un coupde bouteille, de sirop, de soleil, de gaz, de feu, sa chique, un sabre, son paquet, son casque, une culotte, le nez sale, son plumet, son jeune homme, son caillou, sa cocarde, une barbe, son pompon, son poteau, son to- Pompier Pompon. 353 quet, son sac, sa cuite, son affaire, son compte, son plein, sa pente, en avoir une vraie mufee ; etre saoul comme un ane, comme un hanneton, comme une grive, comme un Polonais ; etre pion, en avoir jusqu'a latroisieme capucine, saoul comme trente mille hommes, etre asphyxie. " According to the Slang Dictionary the slang terms for mild intoxication are certainly very choice; they are, "beery, be- mused, boozy, bosky, buffy, corned, foggy, fou, fresh, hazy, elevated, kisky, lushy, moony, muggy, muzzy, on, screwed, slewed, tight, and winey." A higher or more intense state of beastliness is represented by the expressions, "podgy, beargered, blued, cut, primed, lumpy, ploughed, muddled, obfuscated, swipey, three sheets in the wind, and top-heavy." But the climax of fuddlement is only obtained when the "disguised " individual "can't see a hole in a ladder," or when he is "all mops and brooms," or "off his nut," or "with his mainbrace well spliced," or with " the sun in his eyes," or when he has "lapped the gutter," and got the " gravel-rash," or is on the " ran-tan," or on the " ree-raw," or when "sewed up," and regu- larly "scammered," then,andnot till then, is he entitled, in vulgar society, to the title of " lushing- ton," or recommended to " put in the pin," i.e., the linch-pin, to keep his legs steady. We may add to this long list the expression which is to be found in A Supple- mentary English Glossary, by T. Lewis O. Davies, " to hunt a tavern fox," or "to be foxed." Else he had little leisure time to waste, Or at the ale-house huff-cap ale to taste ; Nor did he ever hunt a tavern fox. I. TAYLOR, Life of Old Parr, 1635. The same author gives " mucki- bus," tipsy, to be found in Wai- pole's Letters. Pompier, m. (popular), drunken man,onewhois "screwed ;" drun- kard, or ' ' lushington ; " a mix- ture ofvermout and cassis ; pocket- handkerchief, "snottinger;" de nuit, scavenger employed in empty- ing the cesspools, " gold -finder." (Tailors') Pompier, journeyman tailor whose functions are to touch tip the ill-fitting parts of garments ; (Ecole Polytechnique) musical rigmarole -which the students sing on the occasion of certain holidays ; (military) soldier -who is the re- verse of smart ; (literary) produc- tions written in a conventional, commonplace style ; (students') member of the Institut de France ; a student preparing for an examination. (Artists') Faire son , consisted in painting a large picture representing some Roman or Greek hero in full armour, and armed with shield, lance, or sword. For the following explanation I am indebted to Mr. G. D., a French artist well known to the English public : Du temps de David et plus tard on disait d'un artiste qui n'avait pas eu le prix de Rome : bah ! il fera son pompier, il reussira tout de meme. Or, faire son pompier, c'e'tait peindre un grand tableau repre- sentant un Grec ou un Remain celebre avec casque, bouclier et lance ; une ville en flammes dans le fond ; et si le nu, car il n'y avail d'autre costume que 1'armure, si le nu dis-je, etait bien, 1'artiste obtenait un succes. Le pompier etait achete" gne- ralement par le gouveniement pour etre place dans un musee de province. Quand vous visiterez les musees de France, vous n'aurez pas de chance si vous ne trouvez pas au moins trois pompiers. II parait que les greniers du Louvre en possedent des quantit^s qui y restent faute de place dans les musees. Pompon, m. (popular), head, "nut," or " tibby." See Tronche. De- visser le a quelqu'un, to break one's head. Un vieux , an old A A 354 Ponant Pontonniere. fool, "doddering old sheep's head." Avoir son , to be drttnk, or "screwed." See Pompette. J'avais mon pompon En r'venant de Suresnes ; Tout le long de la Seine, J'sentais qu' j'dtais rond. Parisian Song. (Military) Pompon, drunkard. Ponant, m. (popular), the behind. See Vasistas. Ponante,/. (thieves'), prostitute of the lowest class, "draggle-tail." The connection with "ponant"is obvious. See Gadoue. Ponce,/, (thieves' and roughs'), re- filer une , to thrash, ' ' to set about " one. See Voie. Pendant, m. (schools'), guardian of a school -boy whose parents live at a distance, who takes him out on holidays. Pondre (popular), to -work, " to graft ; " sur ses ceufs, to keep on increasing one's wealth ; un oeuf, to ease oneself, " to go to the chapel of ease. ' See Mous- cailler. Poney, m. (sporting),^,? hundred francs. Double , carriage and pair of ponies. Son petit air fripon et la cranerie avec laquelle elle conduit son double poney. Figaro, Oct., 1886. Poniffe, or poniffle, f. (thieves'), prostitute, "bunter." See Ga- doue. Et si la p'tit' ponif 'e triche Su 1 1'compt' des rouleaux, Gare au bataillon d'la guiche ! C'est nous qu'est les dos. RICHEPIN, La Chanson des Gueux. Ponifler (thieves'), to make love to a woman. Pont, m. (popular), d'Avignon, prostitute, or ' ' mot. " See Gadoue. (Card-sharpers') Faire le sec, to slightly bend a card at the place at which it is desired the pack should be cut. (Familiar and popular) Couper dans le , to be- lieve a falsehood ; to fall into a snare. (Thieves') Donner un a faucher, to prepare a snare for one. (Officials') Faire le , is to keep away from one's office on a day preceded and followed by a holiday. (Popular) Pont-levis de cul (obso- lete), breeches. Chausses & la martingale ce qui est un pont-levis de cul. RABELAIS. (Roughs') Le aux bergeres, the Halles, or Paris central market. Aller au aux bergeres, to go to that place for the purpose of meet- ing with a prostitute. Pontaniou, m. (sailors'), prison. Ponter (gamesters'), to stake; dur, to play high ; sec, to stake large sums at intervals. (Bohe- mians') Ponter, to pay, " to fork out. " Pontes pour 1'af, f. pi. (thieves'), a gathering of card -sharpers. Ponteur, m. (popular), man icho keeps a woman ; (familiar and popular) gamester. Pontife, m. (popular), shoemaker. An allusion to the souliers a pont in fashion at the beginning of the seventeenth century. Souverain , master shoemaker. Ponton, m. (popular), d'amarrage, hulks. (Sailors') Devenir , to become old, worn out. Jamais si longtemps qu'il vivra Si ponton qu'il devienne, Jamais ceux qui 1'ont pris sous 1'bras, Jamais le capitaine, 11 n'oubliera ! RICHEPIN, La Mer. Pontonniere, / (popular), prosti- tute who plies her trade under tJie arches of bridges. Les pontonnieres fr^quentent le dessous des ponts . . . toutes ces filles sont des Popotte Portefeuille. 355 voleuses. Le macque qui joue ici un role plus actif que le barbillon ne quitte sa [argue ni jour ni nuit. CANLER. Popotte,/; (familiar), table d'hdte. Faire la , to cook. Etre , is said of a very plain, homely wo- man. (Military) Popotte, military mess in a small way. L'unique cabaret de Hanoi le vit done a 1'heure de 1'absinthe, mele aux uniformes, et il connut les reunions de table par "frac- tions de corps," les popottes ou les officiers devoraient joyeusement les vivres ferru- gineux des boites de conserves. P. BON- NETAIN, L'Opium. Popotter. See Popotte. Populo, m. (familiar), populace, or "mob." Swift informs us, in his Art of Polite Conversation, that " mob " was, in his time, the slang abbreviation of mobility, just as nob is of nobility at the present day. It is perhaps this humour of speaking no more words than we need which has so miserably curtailed some of our words, that in familiar writing and conversation they often lose all but their first syllables, as in mob, red. pos. incog, and the like. ADDISON'S Spectator. Burke called the populace " the great unwashed." Pore -epic, m. (thieves'), the Holy Sacrament. An allusion to the metal beams which encircle the Host. Portanche, m. (thieves'), door- keeper. Port d'armes, m. (military), laisser au , to leave the service before another ; to leave one waiting. Porte, f. (familiar and popular), ne plus pouvoir passer sous la Saint-Denis, to be an injured husband. Alluding to the height of his horns. Un clos , a door- keeper. A play on the words clot porte and cloporte, wood- louse. It must be said that in Paris the concierges are generally much detested by lodgers, and deservedly so. Et quoique d'aucuns m'appell't clos porte J'n'ai pas fait 1'voeu d'passer pour sot. Lamentations du Portier den face. Porte, adj. (familiar and popular), sur 1'article, one with a well-de- veloped bump of amativeness ; (military schools') sur la liste des eleves morts, on the sick list. Porte - aumusse, m. (popular), master shoemaker, or " snob." Porte-balle, m. (popular), hump- back, or "lord." Porte-bonheur, m. (familiar and popular), pig. Termed in English thieves' cant, " grunting cheat, or patricoe's kinchen. " An allusion to certain trinkets which represent this animal and are said to bring luck to the wearer. Porte-bottes, m. (military), trooper, in opposition to " guetre," foot-soldier. L'hiver c'est a 1'ecurie que le porte-bottes precede de beaucoup le reveil de ses bons voisins les guetres. DUBOIS DE GENNES. Porte-chance, m. (popular), lump of excrement, or " quaker." Lite- rally luck-bearer. Superstitious people in France believe that treading by chance on the above- mentioned is an unfailing sign of a forthcoming moneyed windfall. Porte-creme, m. (popular), sca- venger employed at emptying the cesspools, "gold-finder." Porte de prison, f. (popular), ill- natured, snarling person ; one who is constantly " nasty," or " grum- ble guts;" one whose speeches jar on the ear as unpleasantly as the grating of a prison door. Portefeuille, m. (familiar and popular), bed, "doss, bug-walk, 356 Portefeuilliste Pose. kip." Se fourrer dans son , to go to bed, to get into " kip." Mettre un lit en , to make an " apple-pie " bed. De classe en classe les soldats se trans- mettent un certain nombre de faceties . . . mettre le lit du bleu en portefeuille, de facpn qu'il ne puisse entrer plus loin que les chevilles. G. COURTELINE. Portefeuilliste, m. (familiar), minister of state. Porte-luque, m. (thieves'), pocket- book, "dummy, or dee." Porte-maillot, m. (theatrical), ballet dancer. Literally one who wears tights. Porte-manteau, m. (popular), epaules en , high and flat shoulders. Porte-mince, m. (thieves'), pocket- book, "dee, or dummy." Porte-morningue, m. (thieves'), purse, "skin," or " poge." Termed also " porte-mornif. " Porte-nageoires, m. (familiar and popular), man who lives on pros- titutes' earnings, " pensioner." For synonyms see Poisson. Porte-pipe, m. (popular), mouth, " mug, rattle-trap, kisser, gob." Porte -poigne, m. (popular), glove. Porter (familiar and popular), en faire , to deceive conjugally. For faire porter des comes. Avoir un gendre ! Ah ! c'est superbe ! Quand nous irons tous a Meudon L'e"te prochain diner su' 1'herbe, Ca s'ra lui qui port'ra 1'melon. Ma femm', qu'a d' 1'esprit quand a'cause, Craint qu' Veronique ait fait le voeu D'y fair" porter . . . meme autre chose ! E. CARR& En , to be deceived conjugally. Porter a la peau, to inspire with carnal desires ; le deuil de sa blanchisseuse, to have linen the reverse of snow-white. Literally to be in mourning for one's washerwoman ; sa malle, to be a humpback, or "lord;" (thieves') gaffe, to be on sentry duty. Un grivier qui porte gaffe, a soldier on sentry duty. Porter du gras - double au moulin, to sell stolen lead to a receiver, or "fence." Porte-trefle, m. (popular), trousers, "kicks." See Trefle. Porteur, m. (thieves'), de camoufle, prostitute's bully, " ponce." See Poisson. " Camoufle " is equi- valent to chandelle, and "tenir la chandelle " ts to favour the intercourse of lovers. (Popular) Avoir casse la gueule a son d'eau, to have one's menses. Porteuse, / (thieves') hand, " picker, famm, duke, or daddle." Porte-veine. See Porte-bonheur. Portez ! remettez ! (cavalry), a mock command said when anyone has just uttered something foolish, or a " bull." Portier, m., portiere,/ (familiar and popular), scandal-monger. Alluding to the propensity of Paris doorkeepers for scandal. Portion, / (military), prostitute, or " barrack - hack." Demi , chum. . Mon bon camarade Cousinet, he done ! - Ah ! tu es la demi-portion du Merlan ? C'est un bon zigue. DUBOIS DE GENNES. Portrait, m. (popular), face, "mug." Degrader le a quelqu'un, to strike one in the face, to give one a " facer," "to fetch one a bang in the mug," or "to give a biff in the jaw " (Americanism). Portugal, m. (popular), une entre'e de , said of a bad, awkward rider. Pose,/ (familiar and popular), la faire a la , to assume an air of Poser Postiche. 357 superiority. Faut pas me la faire a la , "you mustn't come Shake- speare over me, you mustn't come Rothschild over me," &c. (Popu- lar) A moi la ! words used by a man who has just received a blow, to express his intention of returning it with interest. Literally, ex- pression used by domino players, my turn to play ! Poser (artists'), 1'ensemble, to pose nude ; (familiar and popular) un factionnaire, or un pepin, to ease oneself, ' ' to bury a quaker, " see Mouscailler; un lapin, or lapiner, to deceive, to take one in. More specially to enjoy the good graces of a cocotte and make off without giving her a fee, "to do a bilk." Si 1'abbe Roussel a essaye de " poser un lapin " et s'il laisse vraiment cette petite noceuse sous une prevention de ce genre, voila qui m'indigne. FRANCIS ENNE, Le Radical. For explanation see Lapin. Faire quelqu'un, to make one wait a longtime ; to fool one, " to bamboozle. " Poser pour le torse, to bear oneself so as to show off one's figure ; (popular) sa chique, to hold one's tongue, " to be mum." Pose ta chique, "hold your jaw, or stubble your whids." Poser et marcher dedans, to get bewildered ; to betray oneself; (thieves') un gluau, to lay a trap, or make preparations for the apprehension of a criminal, of one who is "wanted" by the police. Gluau, bird-lime. Poses,/!//, (gamesters'), faire des , to insert certain cards prepared for cheating purposes in a pack. Poseur de lapins, m. (familiar and popular), artful fellow who fools simple-minded folk. Le garfon. Trente-sept francs soixante- quinze, messieurs. Deuxieme provincial, bondissant. Trente-sept francs soixante-quinze ! Com- ment, nous n'avons que nos deux " as- sinthes " et les deux bocks de ce monsieur ! Le gar(on. Oui, mais il y a 1'addition de ce monsieur qui a dejeune avec une dame . . . vous etes du Midi, n'est-ce pas, messieurs ? . . . Eh bien, croyez-moi : a Paris, mieux vaut encore parler tout seul que de Her conversation avec un "poseur de lapins." PAUL MAHALIN. The epithet is also applied to a man who deceives a woman of indifferent character by making promises of money or presents, one who does a " bilk." Eva sonne sa femme de chambre qui vient pendant qu'il murmure : chamante, diamante ! Tu peux le prendre, s'il te conyient, moi, je n'aime pas les poseurs de lapins. MATHURINE, La Marotte. Poseuse, / (theatrical), female singer whose business is to pose. La, il put a son aise imposer son reper- toire aux chanteurs, repertoire fort varie, du reste, car pour les "poseuses" on fit murmurer le rossignol et le papillon se poser sur la rose a peine eclose. J. SERMET. Position,/, (thieves'), trunk, port- manteau, "peter." Thieves judge of a man s standing by his "traps." Possede, m. (thieves'), brandy, " bingo," in old cant. Posseder son embouchure (popu- lar), to have a natural talent for speechifying, " to have the gift of the gab." Poste, m. (sailors'), or auxchoux, victualling boat. Post6rieurs, m. pi. (popular), li- monadier des , apothecary, one who used to perform the ' ' cly- sterium donare" of Moliere. Termed also "flutencul," and formerly " mirancu." Postiche,/. (printers'), dull story ; humbug, "regular flam, or gam- mon ; " (thieves') gathering of 353 Posture Pot-a-tabac. people in the street, enabling rogues to ease someone of his valuables, "scuff." Postiere, f. (popular), female clerk employed at the post office. Postige, f. (mountebanks'), pre- liminary performance of mounte- banks. Postilion, m. (thieves'), pellet used as a mode of communication be- tween prisoners, or between a pri- soner and outsiders. Un postilion est tout simplement une boulette de mie de pain petrie entre les doigts et renfermant une lettre, un avis. Mf moires de Canler. Envoyer le , to correspond thus. (Popular) Postilion d'eau chaude, engine driver, ' ' puffing billy " driver ; hospital assistant whose functions consist in administering clysters to patients, an operation described by Moliere as " clyste- rium donare." Postillonner (thieves'), to corre- spond by means of the " postilion " (which see) ; (familiar and popular) to spit involuntarily when talking. Posture, /. (popular), en , apo- thecary, or " pill-driver." Termed also "potard." Pot, m. (thieves'), cabriolet, a kind of gig. Termed also "cuiller a pot, or potiron roulant." Enlevez le gre, le pot et les frusquins du sinve qui s'est esgare avec les miens. VIDOCQ. (Take away tlte horse, the gig, and the clothes of the fool who ran away with mine.) Pot, crucible used by coiners. (Popular) Fouille au , man who is fond of taking liberties with women. II fallait le voir toujours en petoche au- tour d'elle. Un vrai fouille-au-pot, qui tatait sa jupe par derriere, dans la foule, sans avoir 1'air de rien. ZOLA. Potache, m. (students'), pupil at a lycee, a government school. Pro- bably a corruption of " potasse," from "potasser," a slang term used by students to signify to work. L. Larchey says the origin of the word may be found in " pot-a-chien," college cap. Potager, m. (popular), brothel, "nanny-shop, flash-drum, or academy. " Pot-a-minium, m. (popular), painter or house decorator. Pot-a-moineaux, m. (popular), large hat, " mushroom." Potard, m. (popular), apothecary, "pill-driver, gallipot, or squirt." C't Arthur de Bretagne, n'fut meme pas 1'premier ouvrage d' Claude Bernard puisque . . . 1'eleve pharmacien avail fait representer a Lyon une bluette pas me- chante. . . . Avec son manuscrit dans sa malle le jeune potard vint a Paris. TRU- BLOT, Le Cri du Peuple. Potasser (students'), to work. Termed " to sap " at Winchester and many other schools. Also to work hard, " to mug." Pot-a-tabac, m. (popular), short and stout person, "humpty dumpty ; " dull, insignificant man, ' ' very small potatoes ; " (thieves') policeman. Termed also " rousse, roussin, baton de re'glisse, baladin, cagne, cogne, balai, serin, pousse, vache, arnif, peste, tranche a la manque, flaquadard, cabestan, raille (detective officer), railleux, sacre, grive, laune, flique, bec-de- gaz, estaffier, bourrique, pousse- cul, lampion rouge, escargot de trottoir, cierge, sergo ; " in the English cant and slang, " crusher, worm, pig, bobby, blue-bottle, reeler, copper, Johnny Darby (corruption of gendarme), philip, philistine, peeler, raw lobster, slop ; " and in ancient cant of beggars, " harmanbek.' Whence "beak," or magistrate. Pot-au-fcn Potred ann tok-tok. 359 Pot-au-feu, m. (popular), behind, see Vasistas ; (coiners') crucible in which coiners melt the metal used in their nefarious trade. (Familiar) Eire , to be common- place, plain, Ce n'est pas cet imbecile, qui m'aurait eclairee . . . il est d'ailleurs bien trop pot- au-feu. BALZAC. Pot au vin, m. (familiar and popu- lar), obsolete, the head. Si Dieu me sauve le moule du bonnet, c'est le pot au vin, disait ma mere-grand. RABELAIS. Pot-bouille,y. (familiar and popu- lar), kitchen and household duties in a small way. The term has passed into the language. Poteau, m. (thieves'), un , a friend, or "ben cull ; " a top man, or prince among the canting crew. Also the chief rogue of the gang, or the co tuple test cheat, " dimber damber." Termed " upright man" in old English cant. Poteaux de bal, prison chums, "school- men." (Engine-drivers') Avoir son kilometrique is said of a in an who is in a state of intoxica- tion, but ivho can yet find his way. Avoir son telegraphique, to be completely drunk, or "slewed." See Pompette. According to M. Denis Poulot the different stages are " attraper une allumette ronde," "avoir son allumette de marchand de vin," " prendre son allumette de campagne," "avoir son poteau," and as above. Potee, f. (popular), enfiler sa , to drink a litre measure of -wine. Potence, /. (popular), rascally per- son of either sex ; " bad egg," in the case of a man. Potet, m. (popular), whimsical man ; old fool, or " doddering old sheep's head." Potin, m. (popular), row, uproar. Faire du , to make loud com- plaints. I s'retourne, i fait du potin . . . Mais de la levrett' le larbin Le trait' de p'tit' gouape et d'fripouille ! GILL. Faire du , is said also of some event which causes great excite- ment. Avant-hier a ete donne" aux ambassa- deurs un diner de douze couverts qui cer- tainement fera du potin dans le monde qui s'amuse. Figaro, Oct., 1886. (Familiar and popular) Potin, scandalous report. Synonymous of cancans. Concerning the latter expression Madame de Genlis quotes the following conversation between General Decaen, who was at the time aide-de-camp to his brother, and who had been arrested by the gendarmerie on his way to the camp : Comment vous nommez-vous? lui de- manda le brigadier. Decaen. D'ou etes-vous ? De Caen. Qu' etes-vous ? Aide de camp. De qui ? Du gene'ral Decaen. Oil allez-vous ? Au camp. Oh ! oh ! dit le brigadier, qui n'aimait pas les calembourgs, il y a trop de cancans dans votre affaire ; vous allez passer la nuit au violon, sur un lit de camp. Me- moires. Potiner (familiar and popular), to talk scandal. Potinier (familiar and popular), scandal-monger. Potiron, m. (popular), the behind ; (thieves') roulant, gig. Potot, or poteau, m. (convicts'), friend, or " pal ; " Sodomist. Potred ann taouen (Breton cant), cod-fishers. Potred ann tok-tok (Breton cant), slaters. 360 Pou ajfam/ Poulet. Pou affam6, m. (popular), greedy man, a worshipper of money. Poubelles,/!//. (familiar), kind of dust-bins -which the inhabitants have to place at their doors every morning, in accordance with a recent regulation promulgated by M. Poubelle, Prefect of the Seine. Pouce, m. (popular), avoir le rond, to be dexterous, skilful. Donner le coup de , to give short weight ; to strangle. Et le ! and ever so many more ! (Artists') Avoir du , is said of a picture painted in bold, vigorous style. Poucette, or poussette, f. (card- sharpers'), act of adding to one's sta&es laid on the table directly the game is favourable. Pouchon, m. (thieves'), purse, "skin, or poge." From pochon, small pocket. Poudre, f. (freemasons'), faible, water ; forte, wine; ful- minante, brandy ; noire, coffee. Pouffiace, or pouffiasse, f. (thieves'), prostitute ; low prosti- tute, "draggle-tail." See Ga- doue. Si j'ai pas 1'rond, mon surin bouge. Or, quand la pouffiace a truque, Chez moi son beurre est pomaque'. Mieux vaut bouffer du blanc qu'du rouge. RICHEPIN. Pouffiasbourg, m. (popular), nick- name for Asnib-es, a locality in the vicinity of Paris, where many ladies leading a gay life have their abode ; a kind of Parisian St. John's Wood, in that respect. Poufiasser (popular), is said of per- sons of either sex whose fondness for the opposite sex leads them into living a life of a questionable de- scription. A man in that case is said to "go molrowing. " Poufs, m. pi. (familiar), faire des , is said of a person who runs into debt knowing he will be unable to meet his liabilities, and then suddenly decamps. Pouic (thieves'), "nix." no ; nothing, Pouiffe.yi (thieves'), money, ' f di- narly," "pieces," see Quibus ; woman of questionable character, or prostitute. Termed by English rogues, ' ' blowen, or bunter. " Pouilleux, m. (familiar), poor devil, or " quisby ; " miser, skinflint, " hunks." Properly lousy man. Poulailler, m. (popular), house of ill-fame, or " nanny-shop." Pro- perly hen-house ; upper gallery in a theatre, " up among the gods." Poulain, m. (military), faire un , to fall from one's horse, " to come a cropper. " Poulainte, / (thieves'), swindle on an exchange of goods. Poularde, f. (journalists'), kept woman. Poule, f. (popular), laitee, man de- void of energy, " sappy," or " hen- pecked fellow ; " d'eau, -washer- woman. Termed also " baquet insolent." Des pou\es, female in- mates of a house of ill-fame, "dress lodgers." Poulet, m. (popular), manger le , to be in confederacy with a builder, so as to divide the proceeds of un- lawful gains. The expression is used by masons, carpenters, and others employed in house-build- ing, in reference to architects and their accomplices. Poulet de careme, red herring, or ' ' Yar- mouth capon ; " frog. Frogs not being considered as flesh. Poulet d'hospice, lean, hungiy-looking fellow, one who looks like a half- drowned rat / d'Inde, fool, or Poulot Pousse-cul. "flat;" and in military slang, horse, or " gee." Oui, repondit-il en ramassant son cheval . . '. j'allais vous proposer un tour de pro- menade. Si cela vous sourit, en route ! J'ai dit a Said de seller votre poulet d'Inde. BONNETAIN, L'Opium. Ppulot, m. (popular), for poulailler, the gallery in a theatre, "up amongst the gods." Poupard, m. (thieves'), swindle, or crime, "plant." Nourrir un , to make all necessary preparations in view of committing a robbery or murder. Gouryde , accomplice, "stallsrhan." Poupee, f. (popular), paramour, "moll;" (thieves') soldier; (sailors') figure-head. Etre entre poupe et poupee, to be out at sea. Poupon, m. (popular), tool-bag; (thieves') any kind of crime, "job." Voici la balle ! Dans le poupon, Ruffard etait en tiers avec moi et Godet. BALZAC. Pour (cads' and thieves'), perhaps ; chiquer, nonsense, gammon ! (Familiar and popular) Ce n'est pas enfiler des perles is expres- sive of doubt as to the innocence of purpose or harmlessness of some action. Et veux-tu savoir ce qui t'embete, cheri ? . . C'est que toi-meme tu trompes ta femme. Hein ? tu ne decouches pas pour enfiler des perles. ZOLA. (Popular) Pour la peau, for no- thing. Alors c'est pour la peau que j'ai tire" cinquante-neuf mois et quinze jours de service? G. COURTELINE. (Printers') Aller chou chou, to imitate closely a printed copy when composing. (Prostitutes') C'est les has, gratuity to prostitutes in a brothel. Alluding to their habit of using their stockings as a recep- tacle for the money they receive. Pour-compte, m. (tailors'), misfit. Pourlecher (popular), s'en la face, to be delighted with something, the result being that one is in " full feather, or cock-a-hoop." Tu t'en pourlecheras la face, that will give you great pleasure, "that'll rejoice the cockles of your heart." Pourri, adj. (familiar), full; de chic, very elegant, dashing, "tsing tsing." Pousse, f, (thieves'), police, gen- darmerie. (Popular) Cequi se , money, "leaver." See Quibus. (Roughs') Filer, or refiler une a quelqu'un, to hustle, "to flimp ; " to throw down. Y veut m' coller un coup d' sorlot dans les acces- soires ; je 1'y file une pousse et j' te 1'envoie dinguer sur le trime. He tried to kick me in the privy parts ; I threw him down and sent him sprawling in the road. Poussd, adj. (thieves'), drunk, or "canon." See Pompette. Pousse -au- vice, f. (popular), Spanish fly. Pousse-bateau, m. (popular), water. Pousse-caf6, m. (familiar), a small glass of brandy or liqueur drunk after taking coffee, le repousse- cafe being a second glass. Pousse-cailloux, m. (popular), infantry soldier, "wobbler." In the slang of the cavalry, "mud- crusher, or beetle-crusher. " Pousse-cul, m. (familiar and popu- lar), obsolete, "archer," or soldier of the watch. Pousse-cul, pour archer, ou ce qu'on appelle vulgairement a Paris des sergens, ou des archers de 1'ecuelle, qui vont d'un cote" et d'autre pour prendre les gueux. LE Roux. Nisard, in his interesting work, 362 Poussee Pratique. De quelques Parisianismes popu- laires, says that the foot-soldiers of the watch were termed " pousse- culs, " whereas the mounted police went by the name of "lapins ferres," lapin being the general term for a soldier, as shown by a letter from a general of the army in Italy to Bonaparte, written in true Spartan-like spirit : Pousse-cul (obsolete), Lovelace. It now has the signification of police- officer. Poussee, f. (popular), reprimand, or "wigging;" urgent -work. Voila une belle de bateaux is expressive of disappointment at finding that something which has been praised falls short of one's expectations. Pousse-moulin, m. (popular), water, " Adam's ale." Termed " lage " in old English cant. Evi- dently the old French word " aigue, aige," preceded by the article. " Lagout " in old French cant. Pousser (popular), le bourn du cygne, to die, "to kick the bucket." For synonyms see Pipe. Pousser son rond, to ease oneself by evacuation. See Mouscailler. Pousser un bateau, to tell a Jalse- hood, or "flam;" son glaire, to talk, " to jaw." Se de 1'air, to go away, "to mizzle." S'en dans le battant, le cornet, or le fusil, to drink or eat heartily. (Familiar and popular) Se du col, to feel proud of one's achieve- ments. Qua.id j'la descendis de voiture J'me dis en me poussant du col, Vieiix veinard, c'est pas d'la p'tit" biere, J'vais r'cevpir dans mpn entresol, Je 1'parierais, une rosiere ! E. DU Bois (Roughs') Pousser son pas d'hareng saur, to dance; (thieves') la goualante, to sing, "to lip a chant." Se un excellent, to eat a dish of the ordinary prison fare. (Police) Pousser de la ficelle, to -watch a thief, "to give a roasting." Termed also " poiroter, prendre en filature." (Ecole Polytech- nique) Pousser une blague, to smoke, " to blow a cloud." (Bakers') Pousser, to rise, is used in reference to the dough. Poussier, m. (popular), bed, " doss ; " de motte, snuff. (Thieves') Poussier, gunpcnuder ; money, or "pieces." See Quibus. Poussiere, /. (popular), faire de la , to make a great 'fuss or show. (Thieves') Poussiere, spirits. (Fa- miliar) Couleur des routes, a kind of greyish brown. Elle etait en toilette de voyage, la robe poussiere des routes retrousseesur un jupon e"carlate. P. MAHALIN. Poussin, m. (popular), avaler son , to be dismissed from one's em- ploy, " to get the sack." Poussiniere,y; (thieves'), seminary. Poutrone,/. (popular), prostitute. Pouvoir siffler (popular). Vous pouvez siffler, you will have to do without it ; you will not get what you ask for. Prandion, m. (artists'), hearty meal, " tightener." Prandionner (artists'), to make a hearty meal. Prantarsac, m. (thieves'), purse, or " skin." Prat, m. (popular), girl of indiffe- rent character, ' ' mot. " Pratique, f. (military), worthiest soldier ; unscrupulous soldier who Praule Prendre. 363 is always seeking to shirk his duties, or to deceive others. Du reste, il n'y a ici ni blanc-bec, ni cara- patas, ni moutard ; vous etes deux pra- tiques qui, en voyant des conscrits vous etes dit qu'il serait facile . . . de leur faire payer la consommation. C. DUBOIS DE GENNES. II ne faudrait pas cependant exageVer 1'heroisme des " pratiques." Si d'aucuns se battent bien, un plus grand nombre ne sont que des maraudeurs et des pillards. HECTOR FRANCE, L'Armee dejohn Bull. Praule, m. (thieves'), central prison, "stir, or steel." Elles en avaient pour dix ans de praule (centrale) comme elles disaient et pourtant la mome (enfant) n'avait pas etc" estourbie (tue'e). LOUISE MICHEL. Pre, m. (thieves'), convict settle- ment. Formerly the galleys. Termed also " pre des fagots," or "grand pre." Acresto, gaffine labago. Tout est franco, y a pas cl'trepe. Quand le pante et la gonzesse decarreront de la cassine, nous les farguerons a la dure pour pagour leurs bobinares, et leurs prantarsacs. Toi, tu babillonne- ras la largue. S'ils font du renaud et de 1'harmonares, nous les em- platrerons et chair dure ! Si tu veux nous les balancarguerons dans la vassares ; et apres, pin- dares. Ne manquons pas le coup, autrement nous irions laver nos pieds d'agnet dans le grand pre. Which signifies, in the jargon of modern malefactors, Be careful, look yonder. All right, there's nobody. When the man and woman leave the house, we'll attack them to ease them of their watch and purse. You gag the female. Should they resist and make a noise, we'll knock them over and smash them. If you wish it, we'll pitch them into the water, after which we wash our hands of the matter. Let us not make a mull of it, ot ken vise we can make sure of being trans- ported. Faucher au grand , to be a convict in a penal servitude settlement. Le sale, the sea, or "briny." Etre au a vioque, to be at the penal servitude settle- ment for life. Apprete-toi a retourner au pre a vioque. . . . Tu dois t'y attendre. BALZAC. Le au dab court toujours, the prison of Mazas. Le est en taupe, it is a bad job. Voyons, c'est pas la peine de remontei dans vote guimbarde, le pre est en taupe d'abord. LOUISE MICHEL. Prefectanche, /. (thieves'), Pre- fecture de Police, the headquarters of the Paris police. Prefectancier, m. (thieves'), police- officer. Premier, m., premiere, / (shop- men's), head assistant in a linen- draper's shop. Premiero (military), firstly. Premiero : tu 1'etrilleras, Deuxo : tu le bouchonneras, Et troisso : tu le brossetas. De temps en temps tu jureras Tourne carcan ! Litanies du Cavalier. Premier - Paris, m. (common), leading article. Prendre (thieves'), un rat par la queue, to steal a purse, " to fake a poge ;" (gamesters') laculotte, to lose a large sum of money, ' ' to win the shiny rag;" (theatrical) au souffleur, to perform throughout with the aid of the prompter ; des temps de Paris, to add to the effect of a tirade by preliminary by-play. Also to bring in by-play when one has forgotten his part and wishes to P rends garde Prater. gain time ; (popular) Jacques Deloge pour son procureur, to run away, to escape, to abscond, Cette expression qui est encore usitee .avec ces autres " prendre de la poudre d'escampette, lever le paturon, dire adieu tout has " avait deja cours au xvii e siecle, oil Ton disait surtout, en plaisantant, " Faire Jacques desloges," pour s'enfuir. MICHEL. Prendre de 1'air, to vanish, "to bunk," see Patatrot ; son cafe aux depens de quelqu'un, to laugh at one, to quiz him ; un billet de parterre, to fall, " to come a cropper." A play on the words billet de parterre, fit-ticket, and par terre, on the ground. (Saint- Cyr cadets') Prendre ses draps, to go to the guard-room under arrest, " to be roosted ; " (police) en filature, to follow and watch a thief, to give him a " roasting." Synonymous of " poiroter, pous- ser de la ficelle ; " (roughs') d'autor une femme, to ravish a woman ; (printers') une barbe, to get drunk, or "tight." La " barbe " a des degres divers. " Le coup de feu " est la "barbe " commen5ante. Quand 1'etat d'ivresse est complet, la barbe est simple ; elle est indigne quand le sujet tombe sous la table, cas extremement rare. II est certains "poivreaux" qui commet- tent la grave imprudence de " promener leur barbe " a 1'atelier ; presque tous devien- nent alors "pallasseurs," surtout ceux qui sont taciturnes a 1'etat sec. BOUTMY. "Prendre une barbe" is "to quad out" in the slang of English printers. Prendre la mesure du cul avec le pied (obsolete), to bring one's foot in violent contact with another's posteriors. S'il me regarde de travers, je lui prends la mesure de son cul avec mon pied, de son muffle avec mon poing. Dialogue, 1790. (Military) Prendre le train d'onze heures, punishment inflicted on a soldier by his comrades, the culprit being dragged about in his bed by means of ropes attached. Prends garde (popular), de t'en- rhumer, ironical words addressed to one who is easing himself in the open air ; de casser le verre de ta montre, recommendation shouted out to one who has just fallen ; de te decrocher la fressure, ironical words addressed to one who is slcnv in his movements, " don't lose your hair." Preparateur, m. (thieves'), con- federate of thieves who rob shops by pairs. Termed " palming ; " one thief bargaining with ap- parent intent to purchase, whilst the other watches his opportunity to steal. Ceux qui remplissent le r6Ie de pre'para- teurs, disposent a 1'avance et mettent a part sur le comptoir les articles qu'ils d6- sirent s'approprier : des que tout est pret ils font un signal a leurs affid^s qui sont a 1'exterieur. VmocQ. Preparer sa petite chapelle (mili- tary), to pack up one's effects in the knapsack. Preponderance a la culasse, /. (military), large breech. Presse, /. (brothels'), la dame est sous , the lady is engaged. (Popular) Mettre sous , to pawn, " to put in lug." PrSt, m. (cavalry), soldiers' 1 pay ; (prostitutes') money allowed to a bully by a prostitute out of her earnings. Prater (popular), cinq louis a quelqu'un, to give one a box on the ear, "to warm the wax of one's ear ; " (thieves') loche, to listen. Loche, ear, "lug." Pretez loche, j'entrave cribler. Tiens, c'est vrai, c'est le clipet d'un homme. VIDOCQ. {Listen, I hear someone crying out. Why, 'tis true, it's a man's voice.) Pretre Profonde. 365 Pretre, /. (thieves'), actor, " cack- ling cove, or mug-faker." Preu, m. (schools'), for premier, first ; (popular) first floor. Tiens. v'la l"bijoutier du N. 10 qui n's'embete pas lui : il vous a loue tout son preu? HENRI MONNIER, L'JZxecutioH. Prevence, /. (thieves' and cads'), for "prevention," or remand, Le monde s'amasse . . . et les sergos s'amenent. . . . Moi, qui avais voulu seule- ment retenir Fluxion-de-Poitrine on me ramasse comme lui. Total : huit jours de prevence pour chacun. MAC, Man Pre- mier Crime. Prevot (prisoners'), head of a prison squad ; prison scout. Priat, m. (thieves'), beads, rosary. Priaute, f. (thieves'), church. Termed also " rampante," and in old English cant, "autem." On voit bien quc vous venez de la priaute car vous bigotez. VIDOCQ. Prie-Dieu, m. (thieves'), penal code. Prima dona. See Egout. Prin, m. (schools'), head of a school, the "gaffer." Abbreviation of principal. Prince, m. (popular), one who suf- fers from the itch. See Princi- paute. Prince du sang, mur- derer ; russe, man -who keeps a woman. Principaute, f. (popular), the itch. A play on principaute de Galles and gale, itch. Termed in Eng- lish slang, " Scotch fiddle. " "To play the Scotch fiddle," says the Slang Dictionary, "is to work the index finger of the right hand like a fiddlestick between the index and middle fingers of the left. This provokes a Scotchman in the highest degree, as it implies that he has the itch. It is sup- posed that a continuous oatmeal diet is productive of cutaneous affection." In Scotland the ejacu- lation, "God bless the Duke of Argyle ! " is an insinuation made, when one shrugs his shoulders, of its being caused by parasites, or cutaneous affection. It is said to have been originally the thank- ful exclamation of the Glasgow folk at finding a certain row of iron posts, erected by his Grace in that city to mark the division of his property, very convenient to rub against. Some say the posts were put up purposely for the benefit of the good folk of Glas- gow, who were at the time suffer- ing from the " Scotch fiddle." Prine, wife of the ' ' prin " (which see). Prison, / (popular), etre dans la de Saint-Crepin, to have tight boots on. Saint-Crepin is the patron saint of shoemakers. Probite, / (thieves'), kindness. Si je ne suis pas si gironde (gentille) j'ai un bon coeur ; tu 1'as vu lorsque je Ini por- tals le pagne a la Lorcefe (la provision a la Force) ; c'est la qu'il a pu juger si j 'avals de la probite (bonte> VIDOCQ. Probleme, m. (students'), watch chain in the possession of the owner. The problem is, how comes it that such an ornament is not at the pawnshop ? Produisante, / (thieves'), the earth. Profonde, or parfonde, f. (thieves ), cellar ; pocket, "cly, sky- rocket, or brigh. " II rode autour des beaux cafes Ou boivent les gommeux, ineptement coiffes, A la porte des grands hotels, autour des gares, II ramasse des boats, mordilles, de cigare?, Les met dans sa profonde. GILL, La M*se a Biln. Retirer 1'artiche de la , to pick a pocket, " to fake a cly." 366 Proie Prunot. Proie, /. (thieves'), share, or "whack;" one's share in the reckoning. Prolo, m. (popular), for proletaire, working man. Prolonge, f. (Polytechnic School), leave tip till midnight. Promenade. See Galette. Promener quelqu'un (popular), to make a fool of one, " to bam- boozle" one. Promoncerie,/., or promont, m. (thieves'), trial, " patter." Prompto (military), quickly. A peine tes yeux fermeras Demi-appel reentendras, Prompto, tu te releveras. Litanies du Cavalier. Pronier, #z.,proniere,/ (thieves'), father, mother. Termed also "dab, dabuche." Proprio, m. (popular), for pro- prietaire, landlord. Prose, m., orprouas, m. (popular), the behind. See Vasistas. Filer le prouas, to ease oneself. From filer le cable de proue. Prote, ;. (printers'), a manchettes, principal foreman at printing works. C'est le veritable prote ; il ne travaille pas manuellement ; son autorite" est incon- test6e. II repre'sente le patron vis-a-vis des clients tout aussi bien que vis-a-vis des ouvriers. BOUTMY. Prote a tablier, -workman who does duty as a foreman ; aux gosses, senior apprentice. Le prote a tablier est un ouvrier qui, en prenant les fonctions de prote, ne cesse pas pour cela de travailler manuellement. Le prote aux gosses est le plus grand des ap- prentis. BOUTMY. Protenbarre, or vingt-deux, m. (printers'), foreman. Prout, m. (popular), wind. Faire , to break wind. Proute,/ (thieves'), complaint. Prouter (thieves'), to complain ; (popular) to call out, to holloa. Prouteur, m., prouteuse, f. (thieves'), one who grumbles, snarling person. Proye, m. (old cant), the behind, "one-eyed cheek." See Prose. Prudhomme, m. (familiar), canting individual, man who is in the habit of giving utterance to grandiloquent platitudes. From the character of Monnier's Joseph Prudhomme. Monsieur Prudhomme, who has also been portrayed by the cari- caturist Cham, is the type of the pompous, silly bourgeois. He is made to say on one occasion, " Ce sabre est le plus beau jour de ma vie," and on another, "Le char de 1'etat navigue sur un volcan." Prudhommesque, adj. (familiar), after the fashion of Monsieur Prudhomme (which see). Prune, f. (popular), or pruneau, bullet, or shell ; de Monsieur Bishop. Literally a large violet- coloured plum. Prunes, testicles, or ' ' stones. " Gober la , to receive a mortal wound. Avoir sa , to be intoxicated, or " lushy." Mangeur de prunes, tailor, "goose-per- suader, or button-catcher." Pruneau, m. (popular), bullet; lump of excrement, or ' ' quaker. " Recevoir un , to be shot. Pru- neau, quid of tobacco. Sucer un , to chew tobacco. Les pruneaux, the eyes, or "peepers." Boucher ses pruneaux, to sleep, "to doss." Prunot, m. (popular), spirit and tobacco shop. Prusse Punaise. 367 Prusse, f. (familiar and popular), travailler pour le roi de , to work to no purpose, gratis. Prussian, m. (popular), the behind. Exhiber son , to take to one's heels, to show the white feather. See Patatrot. Pschutt, adj. and m. (familiar), un homme , a dandy, or "masher." See Gommeux. Le , the height, or "pink" of fashion ; swelldom. Dans le palais de cette fee. On y donne des soupers ou 1'extreme pschutt est seul admis. A. SIRVEN. Pschutteux, m. (familiar), dandy, or "masher." See Gommeux. Un tas de pschutteux, gratin verdegrise de races faineantes, popotent dans les coins les plus chauds de 1'etablissement. LOUISE MICHEL. Puant, m. (thieves'), capuchin; (popular) swell, or "masher." See Gommeux. Literally stinker. An allusion to the strong per- fumes which sometimes are wafted from a dandy's person. Public, m. (officials'). Officials of an administration thus term any person who comes to the offices on business matters ; (theatrical) de bois, ill-natured audience. Puce, /. (popular), a 1'oreille, creditor, or "dun;" travail- leuse, " celle qui cultive le genre de depravation attribue a Sapho la Lesbienne" (Rigaud). Secouer les puces a quelqu'un, to scold one, " to haul one over the coals," * ' to bully-rag " him, or to thrash him. See Voie. Boite a puces, bed, or "bug-walk." Charmer les puces, to sleep. (Thieves') Puce d'hopital, louse, or "gold- backed 'un." Puceau, m. (popular), unsophisti- cated, soft fellow, or "flat." Pro- perly one who has yet his virginity. Pucelage, m. (popular), avoir en- core son , to be new at, not to be acquainted with the routine of some business ; to have sold nothing. Pucelage, virginity. Pucier, m. (popular), bed, " bug walk." From puce, flea. Ma rouchi' doit batt' la berloque. Un gluant, ca n'f'rait pas mon blot. Et puis, quoi, Fifine a trop d'masse Pour s'coller au pucier. Mais non ! Pendant qu'elle y f 'rait la grimace, Quoi done que j'bouff'rais, nom de nom? RICHEPIN. Pudibard, m. (popular), one who affects virtuous airs. Puff, m. (familiar), bankruptcy. II serait homme a de'camper gratis. Ce serait un puff abominable. BALZAC. Also noisy, impudent eulogy. Puffisme, m. (familiar), puffingup, quackery. II est crit que le ge"ne"ral . . . passera par tous les echelons du puffisme . . . le voila qui fait crier sa biographic avec ses faits d'armes, ses blessures et son portrait pour 10 centimes. Le Figaro, 14 Aoflt, 1886. Puffiste, m. (familiar), literary, po- litical, or other kind ef quack. Puits, m. (theatrical), parler du , to waste one's time in talking of useless things. (Thieves') Badi- geonner la femme au , to tell Jibs. Alluding to Truth supposed to dwell in a well. Puloch (Breton cant), to fight ; to work hard. Punaise, f. (general), disagreeable woman ; prostitute. See Gadoue. Une femme. Au Bois ! Boire du lait ! A la vacherie du Pre-Catelan ! Toutes les attires. Oui, le Bois ! Un chiffonnier. Les punaises, faut tow- jours que , dont les Grecs se sont servis pour dire se promener haut et bas, frapper, et faire du bruit. . . . En somme, il n'est pas douteux que ' rabateux' ne vienne de ' rabater,' et ne signifie ety- mologiquement rodeur de nuit." Rabat teurde pantes, m. (thieves'), detective, " cop." Termed also "baladin." Literally a beater, man being the quarry. Rabatteuse, /. (popular), pro- curess; small omnibus which plies between Paris and the outlying districts. Rabattre (thieves'), to return. C'est egal, t'as beau en coquer, tu rabat- tras au pre". VIDOCQ. (Never mind, in spite of all your informing, you will one day return to tlie hulks.) Rabiage, m. (thieves'), income; profits. Rabiau, rabio, or rabiot, m. (military), what remains of pro- visions or drink after all have had their share ; profits on victuals or forage. The word has the general signification of remainder, over- plus. C'que c'est que c' paquet-Ia ? Mon colonel, c'est . . . du sel. Du sel . . . tant qu' ca de sel ! c'que vous f . . . d'tant qu' ca d sel? Mon colonel, c'est que . . . c'est un peu de rabio. Rabio ! c'ment ga, rabio ? Pour lors vous avez vote tout c'sel-la aux hommes ! S'crongnieugnieu ! . . . allons f . . . moi tout ga dans la soupe ! CH. LEROY, Guibollard et Ramollot. Rabiot, convalescent soldier ; what remains of a term of service ; term of service in the compagnies de dis- cipline, or punishment companies, termed " biribi." II acheva la journee dans des transes Rabiauter Raclure cT aubergine. 375 indicibles, poursuivi de 1'atroce pens^e qu'il allait faire du rabiot, se voyant deja a Biribi, en train de casser des cailloux sur les routes. G. COUKTELINE. Rabiauter, or rabioter (military), to eat or drink what others have left. Rabibochage, m. (familiar and popular), reconciliation. Rabibocher (familiar), to effect a reconciliation between people who have quarrelled. Se , to forget one's differences, to become friends again. Les moindres bisbilles maintenant, finis- saient par des attrapages, oil Ton se jetait la debine de la maison a la tete ; et c'etait le diable pour se rabibocher, avant d'aller pioneer chacun dans son dodo. ZOLA, L 'A ssom moir. Rabiot. See Rabiau. Rabioter. See Rabiauter. Raboin, w. (thieves'), devil, "ruffin, black spy, darble, old hairy." En v'la un de bigoteur qui a le taffetas d'aller en glier ou le Raboin le retournera pour le faire riffauder. VIDOCQ. Michel says : " Ce mot doit venir de 1'espagnol 'rabo,' queue, le raboin est done le personnage a la queue. Je ne serais pas etonne que le nom de rabbin, par lequel on designe encore les docteurs juifs, ne futl'origine de la croyance qui regnait parmi le peuple, au moyen age, que les Israelites nais- saient avec une queue." Termed also " rabouin." II lansquine a eteindre le riffe du rabouin. VICTOR HUGO. Compare the word with the Italian cant " rabuino," which has a like signification. Raboter (popular), 1'andosse, to thrash one, "to dust one's jacket." Se le sifflet, to drink a glass of strongbrandy. A metaphor which recalls the action of a plane on a piece of wood. Raboteux. See Rabateux. Rabouillere,/! (familiar), wretched looking house, a "hole." Rabouler (popular and thieves'), to return. American thieves term this, " to hare it ; " a la cassine, to return home, ' ' to speel to the crib." Raccord, m. (theatrical), partial rehearsal of a play. Raccourcir (familiar and popular), to guillotine. The expression dates from 1793- We find the following synonyms in Le Pere Duchene of '93, edited by Hebert : "cracher dans le sac," an allusion to the head falling into the basket and the blood spouting up ; " mettre la tete a la fenetre," shows the condemned one passing his head through the aperture; "jouer a la main-chaude," which alludes to his hands tied behind his back, la main-chaude being literally hot cockles ; " passer sous le rasoir national," which needsnoexplana- tion. After '93 Louis XVI. was called " Louis le raccourci." Raccourcisseur, m. (popular), the executioner. Called also " Char- lot." See Monsieur de Paris. Rachevage, m. (popular), depraved individual ; afoul-mouthed man. Racinedebuis,/ (popular), epithet applied to a humpback, to a " lord. " Also long yellow tooth. Racier (thieves'), to breathe. Tor- tille la vis au pante ; il racle encore, throttle him, he breathes still. (Popular) Racier du fro- mage, to play the violin. Raclette, f. (popular), chimney- sweep ; (thieves') spy, "nose;" detective, ' ' cop. " Raclure d'aubergine, f. (fami- liar), the ribbon of the decoration 376 Rade Rafiau. of cfficier cTAtademie, which is violet. Des hommes un peu plus ages et portant a la boutonmere la " raclure d'aubergine " (le ruban d'officier d'Academie). DIDIER, Echo de Paris, 1886. Rade, radeau, in. (thieves'), till, or "lob ;" shop, "chovey." Encas- quer dans un rade, to enter a shop. Radicaille, or radicanaille, /. (familiar), the Radical party. Radicaillon, m. (familiar), contemp- tuous epithet applied to a Radical. Radicon, m. (thieves'), priest, " devil -dodger." Termed also " Bible-pounder, white choker." Radin, m. (thieves'), fob. Friser le , to pick a fob. Un fleuri, a well-filled pocket. Un , a till, or " lob." Faire un coup de , to steal the contents of a till. Termed by English thieves, " lob sneaking,"or " to draw a damper." Un , a cap, or " tile." Vol au , robbery in a shop. Two rogues pretend to quarrel, and one of them, as if in anger, throws the other's cap into a shop, thus pro- viding his accomplice with a pre- text for entering the place, and an excuse should he be detected. See Vol au radin. Radiner (thieves'), to return, " to hare it ; " to arrive, " to tumble up." Rigaud says, " Radiner est sans doute une deformation du verbe rabziner qui, dans le patois picard, a la meme signification." Radis (familiarand popular), money, " tin." N'avoir pas un , to be penniless, to be " dead broke. " Ne pas foutre un , not to give a farthing. Qu'a pleur', qu'a rigol' ; c'est tout comme ; Sur ! J'y foutrai pas un radis. " T'as qu'a turbmer, comme j'y dis, J 'travaill' ben, moi qui suis un homme ! " GILL, La Muse 4 Bibi. Un noir, priest, "white choker ; " police " crusher." officer, Radouber (popular), se , or passer au grand radoub, to eat, "to yam." Radurer (thieves'), to whet. Radureur, m. (thieves'), grinder. Rafale, f. (popular and thieves'), poverty. A poor man without a farthing is said to be " dead broke, or a willow." Cela est assez etonnant, dit la brune, tous les " nierts " qui sont venus pioneer "icigo" etaient dans la "rafale;" c'est un vrai guignon. VIDOCQ. Rafale, m. and adj. (popular and thieves'), poor, "willow;" one with squalid clothes. (Familiar) Un visage , face with worn features. Rafalement, m. (popular), humilia- tion ; squalid poverty. Rafaler (popular), to humiliate ; to make one wretched. Se , to be- come poor or squalid. Raffe, f. (popular and thieves'), booty, spoil, "swag." "He cracked a case and fenced the swag," he broke into a house and took the booty to a receiver's, Raffiler la manquesse (thieves'), to give one a bad character. Raffine, m., name given to court gallants and to duellists under Charles IX. Un raffine" est un . . . homme qui se bat quand le manteau d'un autre louche le sien, quand on crache a quatre pieds de lui. P. MERIMEE, Chronique du Regne de Charles IX. Raffurer (thieves'), to recover ; to recoup. From re and affurer, to procure money. From the Latin fur. Raffut, m. (popular), uproar ; row, " shindy." Rafiau, m. (popular), servant at an hospital ; hospital attendant. Rafiot Raidir. 377 Rafiot, m. (popular), thing of small importance, "no great shakes;" adulterated article of inferior quality. Termed ' ' surat " in the English slang. This word affords a remarkable instance of the manner in which slang phrases are coined. In the report of an action for libel in the Times, some few years back, it was stated that since the American Civil War it has been not unusual for manufacturers to mix American cotton with Surat, and, the latter beingan inferior article, the people in Lancashire have begun to apply the term " surat " to any article of inferior or adulterated quality. Rafraichir (military), se , to fight with swords. From rafraichir, to trim, the swords being the trimming instruments. (Popular) Se les barbes, to drink, " to wet one's whistle." American thieves term this, " to sluice one's gob." Rage de dents, / (popular), great hunger. Ragot, m. (thieves'), quarter of a crown ; (popular) short fat person, "humpty-dumpty." The famous Ragotin of Scarron's Roman Comique is short and fat. Faire du , to talk ill of one, to slander. Ragougnasse, /. (popular), un- savoury steiv. Ragout, m. (painters'), vigorous style of painting. Les mots dont ils se servaient pour appre- cier le merite de certains tableaux etaient vraiment bizarres. Quelle superbe chose ! . . . comme c'est tripote ! comme c'est torche" ! Quel ragout ! TH. GAUTIER. (Popular) Ragout de poitrine, breasts, or "Charlies." T'as encore tine belle nature pour parler d'z'autres ! Est-ce parceque j'nons pas d'ragout d'poitrine sus 1'estoma ? J'ons la place, plus blanche que la tienne, et j'n'y mettons pas d'chiffons comme toi. Amitseiiietis a la Grecque. (Thieves') Ragout, suspicion. Faire du , to awake suspicion. Ragouter (thieves'), to awake sus- picion. Raguse. See Coup. Raide, adj. and m. (popular), drunk, "tight." See Pompette. Raide comme balle, with the ut- most rapidity. Filer comme balle, to disappear rapidly, ' ' like winkin'," or, as American thieves say, " to amputate like a go- away." " This panny's all on fire (house is dangerous). I must amputate like a go-away, or the frogs (police) will nail me." La trouver , to be dissatisfied or offended. Je la trouve raide, it is coming it rather too strong. Raide comme lajustice, completely drunk, or " drunk as a lord." Ces noceurs-la etaient raides comme la justice et tendres comme des agneaux. Le vin leur sortait par les yeux. ZOLA, L'As- sommoir. Du , brandy, " French cream." Termed ' ' bingo " in old English cant. Siffler un verre de , to have a dram, " a drop o' summat' short, or a nail in one's coffin." The lower orders say to each other at the moment of lifting a glass of spirits to their lips, "Well, good luck! here's an- other nail in my coffin." Other phrases are "shedding a tear, or wiping an eye." Raideur,/ (popular), la faire a la , to give oneself dignified, " noli me t anger e " airs. Raidir (popular), or 1'ergot, to die, "to snuff it." See Pipe. To express that one is dead English and American thieves 378 Rate Ramasser. say that he has been " put to bed with a shovel." Played out they lay, it will be said A hundred stretches (years) hence ; With shovels they were put to bed A hundred stretches hence! Thieves' Song, Raie. See Gueule. Raille,/; andm. (thieves'), la , the police, the "reelers." Etre , to be in the employ of the police, a " nose." C'est vrai, mais vous ne m'avez pas dit que vous etiez raille (mouchard). Vl- DOCQ. Un , or railleux, police officer, or "copper;" a detective, or police spy, I Is parlaient aussi des rallies (mouchards). A propos de rallies, vous n'etes pas sans avoir entendu parler d'un fameux coquin, qui s'est fait cuisinier (mouchard). Vl- DOCQ. Victor Hugo says the word comes from the English " rascal," but Michel derives it with more reason from "raillon," a kind of javelin with which the archers or police were armed formerly. Ci gist et dort en ce sollier, Qu" Amour occist de son raillon, Ung pouvre petit escollier Jadis nomme Frangois Villon. Le Grand Testament ae Francois Villon Raisine, m, (thieves'), blood. Pro- perly yaw made of grapes. Faire couler le , to shed blood, Je suis sur que tu es marque. Qu'avons- nous fait ? Avons-nous tue notre mere ou force la ct.isse a papa? Avons-nous fait suer le chene et couler le raisine? TH. GAUTIER. (Popular) Faire du , to bleed from one's nose. Raisins, m. pi. (popular), huile de , wine; "red tape," in the jargon of English thieves. Auguste, un peintre en bailment, Qui travaillait en face, Entre, et nous dit comm" 53 m'z'enfans J'ai 1'gosier qui s'encrasse. Faut y mettr' de 1'huil' de raisin. H. P. DENNEVILLE Raisons, f, pi. (familiar and popu- lar), avoir des avec quelqu'un, to have a quarrel with one. Raler (popular), to deceive, " to best ; " to cheapen. Raleur, m. (second-hand book- sellers'), person who handles the books without buying any, and generally one who bargains for a long time and buys nothing. Also liar. Raleuse,/ (shop-keepers'), female who cheapens many articles and leaves without having made a pur- chase. Also liar. Rallie-papier, m. (familiar), paper chase on horseback. Rama, parler en , formerly mode of using the word as a suffix to other words. The invention of the Diorama had brought in the fashion of using the word rama as stated above. It was much in vogue in Balzac's time, and had been first used in the studios. " Eh bien, Monsieur Poiret," dit 1'em- ploy6, "comment va cette petite sante'- rama ? " BALZAC. (Convicts') Mettre au , to place in irons. Le soir, apres la soupe, on nous mil au rama; nous etions etonnes. Ce n'6tait pas 1'habitude de nous enchainer sitot. HUM- BERT, Moti Bagne. Ramamichage, m. (familiar), re- conciliation. Ramamicher (popular), to bring about a reconciliation. Ramasser (military), de la boite, to be locked up. J'ai mon true a matriculer pour a c'soir ; si c'est pas fait, j' ramasserai de la boite. G. COURTELINE. Ramasse-toi Rameneur. 379 Ramasser les fourreaux de bayon- nette, to come up after the battle has been fought ; (thieves' and roughs') les pattes, or filer une ratisse i un gas, to thrash one. See Voie. Ramasser un bidon, to make off,"\.Q make beef." See Patatrot. (Popular) Ramasser ses outils, to die, "to snuff it;" quelqu'un, to apprehend, " to nail " one ; to thrash one. Se faire , to be locked up by the police, to be "run in;" to get a thrash- ing. Si le patron m'embete, je te le ramasse et je te 1'asseois sur sa bourgeoise, tu sais, colles comme une paire de soles ! ZOLA, L, ' Assommoir. Ramasse-toi (popular), words ad- dressed to a person who is talking incoherently. Ramastiquer (thieves'), to tick up; to do the ring-dropping trick, or " fawney rig." See Ramasti- queur. Ramastiqueur, or ramastique, variety of thief, " money-drop- per." The rogue scrapes up an acquaintance with a dupe by in- quiring about a coin or article of sham jewellery which he pretends to have just picked up in the street, and offers for sale, or other- wise fleeces the pigeon. Many of these rogues are rascally Jews. This kind of swindle is varied by dropping a pocket-book, the ac- complice being termed in this case " heeler." The heeler stoops behind the victim and strikes one of his heels as if by mistake, so as to draw his attention to the pocket-book. Also beggar who picks up halfpence in courts thrown to him Jrom windows. Les aicassineurs spnt les mendiants a domicile. Les ramastiqueurs les mendiants de cours qui ramassent les sous. Les ten- deurs dedemi-aune, les mendiants des rues. Mftnoires de Monsieur Claude. (Popular) Ramastiqueur d'orphe- lins, poor wretch who goes about picking up cigar and cigarette ends, a " hard up." Rambiner (popular), to patch up old shoes. Tout le monde sait que son pere ram- binait les croknaux. Le Tam-Tam. Rambuteau, m. (familiar and popular), urinals on the boule- vards. From the name of a pre- fect of police who caused them to be set up. Ramener (familiar), to brush the hairfonvard to conceal one's bald- ness. II ramene, he is getting bald. Termed also "emprunter un qui vaut dix." Rameneur, m. (gamesters'), man of gentlemanly appearance, whose functions are to induce people to attend a gaming-house or gaming club. Un personnel de rameneurs qui, membres reguliers du cercle, gentlemen en appa- rence . . . ont pour mission de racoler . . . ceux qui bien nourris a la table d'hote, seront une heure apres deVor^s a celle du baccara. HECTOR MALOT, Baccara. The American "picker-up" some- what corresponds to the " rame- neur." The picker-up takes his man to a gambling saloon, and leaves him there to be enticed into playing. The picker-up is always a gentleman in manners, dress, and appearance. He first sees the man's name on the hotel register and where he is from. Many of the servants of hotels are in the pay of pickers- up, and furnish them with information concerning guests. (Familiar) Ra- meneur, old beau who seeks to conceal his baldness by brushing forward the scanty hair from the back of his head. 380 Rameneuse Rapiat. Rameneuse, f. (popular), girl who makes it a practice to wait for clients at the doors of cafes at closing time. Ramicher, or ramamicher (popu- lar), to bring about a reconciliation. Se , to be friends again. Ramijoter (popular), to effect a re- conciliation. Se , to make it up. Us se sont ramijotes (reconcilies) ; et d'apres des mots de leur conversation, je repondrais bien qu'il a couche avec Felicite. VIDOCQ. Ramollot, m. (familiar and popu- lar), stupid old soldier. From a character delineated by Charles . Leroy. Ramonage, m. (popular), mutter- ing nonsense. Ramoner (popular), to mutter, to mumble. An allusion to the rumbling noise produced by sweep- ing a chimney. Se faire , to go to confession ; to take a purgative. Also to get thrashed or scolded. Ramoner ses tuyaux, to run away. For synonyms see Patatrot. Ramor, m. (Jewish tradespeople's), fool, "flat." Rampant, m. (popular), priest, or " white choker ; " Jesuit ; steeple. Probably from the old significa- tion of ramper, to climb, to ascend. Rampante,/; (popular), church, Rampe, /. (familiar), princesse de la , actress. Une pomme de , a bald head, or "bladder of lard." (Theatrical) Se bruler a la , to approach close to the foot- lights, and play as if no other actors were present. Lacher la , to die. See Pipe. Ramponner (popular), to drink, " to lush ; " to get drunk, or " screwed." Rancart, m. (familiar), object of little value, " no great shakes." (Thieves') Faire un , to procure information. Rancke, m. (thieves'), two-franc coin. Range des voitures, adj. (thieves'), is said of one who has become honest. A vingt et un ans range des voitures. From a thief s letter. Ranger (popular), se des voitures, to become honest. Is said also of a man who, after having sown his wild oats, leads a quiet life. Rapapiotage, m. (popular), recon- ciliation. Rapapioter (popular), to effect a reconciliation. Rapapioteur, m. (popular), one by whose kind efforts a reconciliation is effected. Rapatu, m. (thieves'), body-louse. Rape,/ (thieves'), back. Used more in reference to a humpback. Rape, m. and adj. (military), officer without any private means ; (popu- lar) comme la Hollande, very poor, "quisby." An allusion to raper, to rasp, and Dutch cheese. Raper (popular), to sing, "to lip." Also to sing in a monotonous fashion. Rapiat, subst. and adj. (familiar and popular), stingy, " close- fisted, or near." Termed "brum" at Winchester School. Une , a miserly woman. C'est egal, t'es une jolie fille ; a faisait mal de te voir chez cette mauvaisc rapiat de bonapartiste demere Lefevre. HECTOR FRANCE. Un , a native of Auvergne. The natives of each province of France are credited with some Rapiot Raseur. particular characteristics ; thus, as seen above, the Auvergnats are said to be thrifty, stingy, miserly ; tne Normans thievish, fond of going to law ; the Picards are hot-headed, of an irate disposition; the Bretons have a reputation for being pig-headed ; the Gascons for possessing a mind fertile in re- source, and for being great story- tellers also for bragging ; the Champenois is supposed to be stupid ; the Parisians are " artful dodgers ; " the Lorrains are, it is alleged, treacherous ; and the natives of Cambrai are all mad. Hence the proverbial sayings : avare comme un Auvergnat ; voleur comme un Normand ; en- tete comme un Breton ; 99 mou- tons et un Champenois font cent betes, &c. Again, among soldiers "unParisien" is synonymous with a soldier who seeks to shirk his duty; sailors apply the epithet to a bad sailor, horsedealers to a "screw," &c., &c. Rapiot, m. (popular), patch on a coat or shoe ; (thieves') searching on the person, "frisking, or ruling over. " Formerly the term referred to the searching of convicts about to be taken to the hulks. Le grand , was the general search- ing of convicts. Michel says, "II est a croire que ce mot n'est autre chose que le substantif rappel qui faisait autrefois rappiaus au singu- lier ; mais le rapport entre une visite et un rappel ? C'est que sans doute cette operation etait annon- cee par une batterie de tambour." Rapioter (popular), to patch up. Monsieur, faites done rapioter les trous de votre habit. MORNAND. (Thieves') To search, " to frisk." Butons les rupins d'abord, nous refroi- dirons apres la fourgate et nous rapioterons partout. II y a gros dans la taule. Vi- DOCQ. Rapioteur, m., rapioteuse, f. (popular), one who patches up old clothes. Georges Cadoudal, avantson arrestation, avail trouve asile chez une jeune rapioteuse du Temple. F. MORNAND, La Vie de Paris. Rapointi, m. (popular), clumsy, awkward workman. Rappliquer (popular and thieves'), to return, " to hare it ; " a la niche, or a la taule, to return home. Tout est tranquille ... la sorgue est noire, les largues ne sont pas rappliques a la taule, la fourgate roupille dans son rade. VIDOCQ. (^//"serene" . . . the night is dark, the ivomen have not re- turned home, the receiver sleeps inside his counter.) Rase, or razi, m. (thieves'), priest. From his shaven crown. Raser (familiar), to annoy, to bore one. Nous avons etc voir les Mauresques. Dieu ! les avons-nous rasees avec nos plaisanteries. LORIOT. Also to ruin one. Elle s'est essayee sur le sieur Hulot qu'elle a plum net, oh 1 plume, ce qui s'appelle rase. BALZAC! (Shopmen's) Raser, to swindle a fellow shop-assistant out of his sale ; (sailors') to tell " fibs ;" to humbug. Rase-tapis, m. (familiar), a horse that trots or gallops without lifting its feet much from the ground, " daisy-cutter." Raseur, m. (familiar), a bore. Ce type est en meme temps un " raseur " de I'espece spe'ciale dite "des debouton- neurs a histoires bien bonnes." Vous savez bien ces braves gens a qui vous ne pouvez pas adresser la parole sans qu'ils vous r- pondent par : "Je vais vous raconter une bien bonne histoire" et qui commencent immediatement par vous arracher, un a un, les boutons de votre redingote. Gil Bias. (Shopmen's) Raseur, one -who- swindles a fellow shop-assistant out of his sale. 382 Rasibus Rat. Rasibus, m. (popular), le pere , the executioner. A play on the word raser, to shave. Et le coup de la bagnole au pere Rasi- bus, quand il fouette les cadors au galop et it de ses demolitions . . . renferme toujours des Tapis francs comme au temps d'Eugene Sue ; leurs noms seuls ont chang6 ; ce sont des Bibines, des Re- posoirs, des Assommoirs dont le Chateau- Rouge, rue de la Calandre, possede en fait d'alphonses, d'escarpes ou de gonzesses, la flour du panier. Memoires de Monsieur Claude. Repoussant, m. (thieves'), musket, or "dag." Repousser (popular), du goulot, du tiroir, or du corridor, to have an offensive breath. Reprendre du poil de la bete (popular), to continue the previous evening's debauch, ' ' to have a hair of the dog that bit you." Reptile, m. (farmYiax), journalist in the pay of the government. Republique. See Cachet. Requiller. See Retoquer. Requin, m. (thieves'), custom-house officer; (popular) de terre, lawyer, ' ' land-shark, or puzzle- cove." The Slang Dictionary also gives the expression " sublime rascal " for a " limb of the law." Requinquer (popular), se , to dress oneself in a new suit of clothes. Devine qui j'ai rencontre 1 ... la petite modiste . . . et requinquee . . . je ne te dis que iives, ruffians, else I'll blow your trains out.) Faire , to cook. Se , to warm oneself. Le marmouzet riffaude, the pot is boiling. Riffauder, to burn. Ah ! pilier, que gitre 6t6 affure gourde- ment, car le cornet d'epice a riffaud6 ma luque ou etaient les arraoiries de la vergne d'Amsterdam en Hollande ; j'y perds cinquante grains de rente. Le Jargon de t Argot. Riffaudeur, m. (thieves'), incen- diary. Les riffaudeurs, better known under the name of "chauf- feurs," were brigands who, to- wards 1795, overran the country in large gangs, and spread terror among the rural population. They besmeared their faces with soot, or concealed them under a mask. They burned the feet of their victims in order to compel them to give up their hoardings. The government of the Directoire was powerless against these or- ganized bands, and it was only under Bonaparte's consulate in 1803 that they were hunted down and captured by the military. Le a perpete, the devil, or "Ruffin. " Riffer. See Riffauder. Riflard, m. (familiar and popular), umbrella, "mush." From the name of a character in a play by Picard. (Thieves') Riflard, rich man, or " ragsplawger ; " fire. (Masons') Compagnon du , mason's assistant. Le riflard sig- nifies a shovel. (Popular) Des riflards, old leaky shoes. Riflardise,/ (popular), stupidity. Riflart, m. (obsolete), police officer. From Rifler (which see). Rifle, m. (thieves'), fire. Nous serions mieux je crois devant un chouette rifle que dans ce sabri (bois) ou il fait plus noir que dans la taule du raboin (la maison du diable). VIDOCQ. Coquer le , to set afire. Ligotte de , strait-jacket. See Coup. Rifler (thieves'), to burn ; (popular) to take ; to steal, " to nick. " Com- pare with the English to rifle. The word is used by Villon in his Jargon Jobelin. Rifler du gousset, to emit a strong odour of humanity. Rifles, or riffaudes, m. pi. (old cant), rogues who used to go soliciting alms under pretence of having been ruined through the destruction of their homes by fire. Rifles ou riflfaude's, sont ceux qui triment avec un certificat qu'ils nomment leur bien : ces rifles toutimes menaut avec sezailles leurs marquises et mions, feignant d'avoir eu de la peine a sauver leurs mions du rifle qui riflait leur creux. Le Jargon de F Argot. Riflette,/. (roughs' and thieves'), detective, or "nose." Acresto, la riflette nous exhibe. Lookout, the detective is looking at us. Rifolard, adj. (popular), amusing, funny. Rigade, rigadin, or rigodon, m. (popular), shoe, "trotter-case." See Ripaton. He applied himself to a process which Mr. Dawkins designated as "japanning his trotter-cases." CH. DICKENS. Rigolade, / (popular and thieves'), amusement. 400 Rigolbocha.de Rigolo. Ma largue n'sera plus gironde, Je serai vioc aussi ; Faudra pour plaire au monde, Clinquant, frusque, maquis, Tout passe dans la tigne, Et quoiqu'on en jaspine, C'est un foutu flanchet. Douze longes de tirade, Pour une rigolade, Pour un moment d attrait. VIDOCQ. Etre a la , to be amusing one- self. Coup de , lively song, Enfile a la , dissolute fellow. Rigolage is used with the same signification in Le Roman de la Rose, by Guillaume de Lorris and Jehan de Meung. Rigolbochade, f. ( popular ), droll action ; amusement, "spree;" much eating and drinking. Rigolboche, adj. (popular), amus- ing ; funny. Parfait ! . . . Tres rigolo ! . . . rigolboche ! repondait le petit senateur. DuBUT DE LAFOREST. Une , female habitude of public dancing-halls. From the name of a female who made herself celebrated at such places. Ainsi jadis ont cavale, Le tas defunt des Rigolboches, Au bras vainqueur de Bec-SaM, Faisant leurs premieres brioches. GILL. Un , a feast, "a tightener." On va trimbaler sa blonde, mon vieux ; nous irons lichoter un rigolboche a la Place Pinel. HUYSMANS. Rigolbocher (popular), to have a feast, or drinking revels. Tu seras de nos teurnees, et apres la re- presentation, nous rigolbocherons. E. MONTKIL. Rigolbocheur, adj. andm. (popu- lar), funny ; licentious. Les mots rigolbocheurs, e"pars De tous c6te's dans le langage, Attrape-les pour ton usage, Et crfiment divide le jars. GILL. Un , one fond of fun, of amuse- ment, of revelling. Rigole,^! (thieves'), good cheer. Rigoler (familiar and popular), to amuse oneself . From rigouller. - Et la sus 1'herbe drue dansarent au son des joyeux flageolets, et doulces corne- muses, tant baudement que c'estoit passe- temps celeste les voir ainsi soi rigouller. RABELAIS, Gargantua. Quant au gamin, c'^tait 1'gavroche Qui parcourt Paris en tous sens, Et qui sans peur et sans reproche Flan', rigole et blagu' les passants. GILL. Also to laugh. J'peux m'parler tout ba' a 1'oreille Sans qu" personne entend' rien du tout. Quand j'rigol', ma gueule est pareille A cell' d'un four ou d'un egout. RICHEPIN, La Chanson des Gue-ux. Rigoler comme une tourte, to laugh like a fool. Rigolette, / (popular), female habituee of low dancing saloons. Rigoleur, m. (popular), one joyously disposed and fond of the bottle, a "jolly dog." Rigolo, m. and adj. (gamblers'), a swindle, explained by quota- tion : II n'ayait plus qu'a surveiller les mains de cet aimable banquier pour voir . . . s'il ne ferait pas passer de sa main droite dans sa main gauche une portee pr^paree a 1'avance un " cataplasme," si cette portee etait e"paisse ; un "rigolo" si elle etait mince. HECTOR MALOT, Baccara, An allusion to the mustard plas- ters of Rigolo. (Popular) Rigolo, amusing, funny. Moi j'emmene mes deux exotiques chez Coquet, au cimetiere Montmartre. C'est rigolo en diable. P. MAHALIN. Rien n'est plus rigolo que les petites filles, A Paris. Observer leurs mines, c'est divin. A dix, douze ans ce sont deja de fort gen- tilles Drolesses, qui vous ont du vice comme a vingt. GILL. Rigouillard Ringneur. 401 II est rien ! he is so amusing I Rigolo pain de seigle, or pain de Sucre, extremely amusing. Retour des choses d'ici-bas. Rigolo pain de sucre, ga par exemple ! E. MONTEIL. Rigolo, short crowbar used by housebreakers. Termed also " bi- ribi, 1'enfant, sucre de pommes, or Jacques," and, in the English slang, "James, Jemmy, the stick." Also arevolver. Acresto, rigolo ! Be on your guard! he's got a revolver. Rigouillard, m. (printers'), funny, am using felloiv. Rigri, m. (popular), over-particular man; stingy man, "hunks." Riguinguette, /. (popular), ciga- rette. Griller une , to smoke a cigarette. Rince - crochets, m. (military), extra ration of coffee. Rincee, /. (popular), thrashing, "walloping." See Voie. Rincer (popular), to thrash ; to worst one at a game ; la poche, to ease one of his money. Dans les cours il y en a qui achevent de se griser, de bons jeunes gens qu'elles la- chent apres avoir rince" leurs poches. P. MAHALIN. Se 1'ceil, to look onwith pleasure. Se 1'avaloir, le bee, le bocal, la gargoine, la corne, la corne- muse, le cornet, la dalle, la dalle du cou, la dent, le fusil, le goulot, le gaviot, le sifflet, le tube, la trente-deuxieme, la gar- garousse, to drink. The synonyms to describe the act in various kinds of slang are: " se passer un glacis, s'arroser le jabot, s'af- futer le sifflet, se gargariser le rossignolet, se laver le gesier, sabler, sucer, licher, se rafraichir les barres, se suiver, pitancher, picter, siffler le guindal, graisser les roues, pier, fioler, ecoper, en- fter, se calfater le bee, se blinder, s'humecter 1'amygdale or le pa- vilion, siffler, fluter, renifler, pom- per, siroter, biturer, etouffer, as- phyxier, se rafraichir les barbes, s'arroser le lampas, se pousser danslebattant, pictonner, soiffer ;" and in the English slang : " to wet one's whistle, to have a gargle, a quencher, a drain, some- thing damp, to moisten one's chaffer, to sluice one's gob, to swig, to guzzle, to tiff, to lush, to liquor up." The Americans to describe the act use the terms, "to see a man, to smile." Se faire rincer, to lose all one's money at a game, to "blew" /'/. Se faire la dalle, to get oneself treated to drink. Rincer la dent, to treat one to drink. C'est nous qu'est les ch'valiers d'la loupe. Les galup's qu'a des ducatons Noils rinc'nt la dent. Nous les battens Qu' les murs leur en rend'nt des torgnioles. L'soir nous sommes souls comm' des hann'- tons Du cabochard aux trottignolles. RICHEPIN. Rincette,/. (familiar), brandy taken after coffee. Rinceur de cambriole, m. (thieves'), housebreaker, or "bus- ter." Le voleur a la tire, le rinceur de cam- briole, ceux qui font la grande soulasse sur les trimards, menent une vie charmante en comparaison. TH. GAUTIER. Rincleux, m. (popular), miserly man, "hunks." Ringuer (sporting), to be a book- maker. From the English word ring, used by French bookmakers to denote their place of meeting. Ringueur, m. (sporting), book- maker. D D 402 Riole Rive gauche. Riole, or riolle, /. (popular and thieves'), river ; brook ; (popular) joy ; amusement. Etre en , to be out " on the spree." Ouvriers en riolle, soldats en borders, bourgeois en goguette et journalistes en cours d'observations. P. MAHALIN. Etre un brin en , to be slightly tipsy, " elevated " Les braves gens semblaient etre un brin en riole ; Mais 1'ouvrier est bon meme quand il rigole. GILL. (Thieves') Aquiger , to find amusement. Ripa, or ripeur, m. (thieves'), river-thief. Ripaton, or ripatin, m. (popular), foot, "crab, dew-beater, or ever- lasting shoe." Also shoe. La pittoresque echoppe du savetier . . . ou Ton voit, pele-mele entasses, le lourd ripaton du prple'taire, le rigadin ecule du voyou, la bottine claquee de la petite ren- tiere. RICHEPIN, Le Pavi. The synonyms are : "croque- neaux, bateaux, peniches, trot- tinets, trottins, cocos, pompes, bateaux-mouches, rigadins, esca- fignons, tartines, bichons, paffes, passants, paffiers, passes, bobe- lins, flacons, sorlots, passifs ;" and in the English slang : " trotter- cases, hock-dockies, grabbers, daisy- roots, crab-shells, bowles." Jouer des ripatons, to run. See Patatrot. Ripatonner (popular), to patch up old shoes. Ripopee, or ripopette,/ (popu- lar), worthless article ; mixture of wine left in glasses, or which flows on the counter of a wine- retailer. Dans la chambre de nos abbes, L'on y boit, 1'on y boit, Du bon vin bien cachete. Mais nous autres, Pauvres apotres, Pauvres moines, tripaillons de raoines, Ne buvons que d'la ripopee ! Song. Riquiqui, m. (popular), brandy of inferior quality, see Tord- boyaux; thing badly done, or of inferior quality. Avoir 1'air , is said of a woman attired in ridiculous style, who looks like a "guy." Rire (popular), comme une baleine, to open, when laughing, a mouth like a whale's ; comme un cul, to laugh with lips closed and cheeks puffed out ; comme une tourte, to laugh like a fool. En- tendre de 1'argenterie, to ring a bell. Faire les carafes, to say such absurd things as to make the most sedate persons laugh. (Theatrical) Rire du ventre, to shake one's sides as if in the act of laughing. Risquer un verjus (popular), to discuss a glass of wine or brandy at the bar of a wine-shop. Rivancher (thieves'), to make a sacrifice to Venus. Et mezig parmi le grenu Ayant rivanche la fraline, Dit : Volants, vous goualez chenu. RICHEPIN. Riper (popular), to have connection. Termed formerly ' ' river. " Ripeur, m. (popular), libertine, "rip." Ripioulement, m. (thieves'), bed- room, ' ' dossing-crib. " Ripiouler (thieves'), to sleep, " to doss." Dans Paris la bonne ville L'empereur est arrive ; II y a eu mainte fille Qui a eu le cul rive. Recueil de Farces, Moralitts et Sermons joyeux, 1837. Rive gauche,/, (students'), a part of Paris, on the left bank of tht J? iver Rognon. 403 Seine, wherein are situated the University higher colleges and schools, such as 1'Ecole de Mede- cine, 1'Ecole de Droit, la Sor- bonne, le College de France, &c. J'en viens de ce coin de Paris qu'on a appel jadis le pays latin puis le. quartier latin et ensuite le quartier des ecolesetqui aujourd'hui s'intitule simplement la rive gauche. DIDIER, Echo de Paris, 1886. River. See Pieu, Rivancher. Rivette,/ (popular and thieves'), prostitute, or ' ' punk. " See Gadoue. Also name given by Sodomites to wretches whom they plunder under threats of disclo- sures. La rivette se r^crie ; le faux agent per- siste, s'emporte, jure . . . il finit par obtenir une sorame d'argent. LEO TAXIL. Riz-pain-sel, m. (military), any- one connected with the commis- sariat, a " mucker." Les deux hommes tenaient conseil. T'as entendu ce qu'a dit le colonel 1 C'est pas un colonel, c'est un riz-pain-sel. Ca y fait rien. . . . Faut en finir avec nos deux particuliers. Nous aliens leur bruler la gueule d'un coup de flingot. BONNKTAIN, L'Opium. Robaux, or roveaux, m. pi. (old cant), gendarmes. Attrimer les , to run away from gendarmes, to show them sport. The term seems a corruption of royaux. Rober (thieves'), to steal ; to steal a man's clothes. This is the old form of derober, which formerly signified to disrobe, and nowadays to purloin. Proven9al raubar. Compare with the English to rob. See Grinchir. Robignol, adj. (thieves'), extremely amusing; extremely good. Robinson, or pepin, m. (popular), umbrella, "mush." Rochet, m. (thieves'), bishop ; Driest, or "devil-dodger." Rogne, adj. and f. (familiar and popular), etre , to be in a rage, " to be shirty. " Avoir des rognes avec un gas, to have a quarrel. Flanquer la , to get one in a rage. Properly rogne signifies itch, mange, and it stands to reason that anyone suffering from the ailment would naturally be in anything but a good humour. Les holes de la posada, intimides et mfiants, nous prenant pour des bandits, " avaient la frousse " selon 1'expression Eittoresque de L. M. qui, mourant de lim, comme d'habitude, declara furieux quecette reception lui "flanquait la rogne," surtout lorsqu'il vit la vieille m^gere, hor- rible compagnonne, faire signe a son mari de charger letromblon. HECTOR FRANCE, A Travers fEspagne. Avoir la , to be out of temper, or "riled." A person is then said to have his " monkey up." An allusion to the evil spirit which was supposed to be always present with a man, but more probably to the unenviable state of mind of a man who should have such a malevolent animal firmly esta- blished on his shoulders, compa- rable only to the maddening sen- sation expressed by " avoir un rat dans la trompe," i.e., "to be riled," to be badgered. Rogner (thieves'), to guillotine. Literally to pare off. (Popular) Rogner, to be in a rage. L'infirmier se fout a rogner, naturelle- ment. Comment, qu'y dit, vous osez dire Ca. G. COURTELINE. Rogneur, m. (military), fourrier, or non-commissioned officer em- ployed in the victualling depart- ment. Literally one who gives short commons, paring off part of the provisions. Rognon, m. (popular), un sale , a lousy, or "chatty" person, Applied especially to a low wo- man. (Familiar) Rognon, face- 404 Rognures Rondement. tious term applied to a man with a big sword across his loins. Literally un rognon brochette, broiled kidney. La lame, sans fourreau, attache'e dans le dos par une double chaine pouvant se croiser sur la poitrine. ... II entre et un spectateur 1'assassine de ce mot : " Tiens, un rognon brochette ! " A. GERMAIN, Le Voltaire. Rognures, f. pi. (theatrical), in- ferior actors. See Fer-blanc. Rogommier, m. (popular), a brandy- bibber. Rogommiste, m. (popular), re- tailer of brandy. Roi de la mer, m. (popular), pro- stitute's bully, ' ' ponce. " See Poisson. Romagnol, or romagnon, m. (thieves'), hidden treasure. Remain, m. (familiar), " claqueur ;" or man paid to applaud at a theatre. An allusion to the prac- tice of certain Roman emperors who had a kind of choir of official applauders. Les Remains de Paris n'ont rien de com- mun avec les habitants de la ville aux sept collines. . . . Leur champ de bataille, c'est le parterre du theatre . . . en un mot les remains sont ces memes hommes que Ton nommait vulgairement autrefois des cla- queurs. BALZAC. Romaine, /. (popular), scolding. Also a mixture of rum and orgeat. Romamitchel, romanitchel, or romanichel, m. (thieves'), gipsy. Romnichal in England, Spain, and Bohemia has the signification of gipsy man, and romne-chal, romaniche, is a gipsy woman. In England Romany is a gipsy, or the gipsy language the speech of the Roma or Zincali Spanish gipsies, termed Gitanos. " Can you patter Romany?" i.e., Can you talk "black," or gipsy "lingo." See Filendeche. Romance. See Camp. Rome,y. (thieves'), aller, or passer a , to be reprimanded. Romilly. See Insurge. Romture, orrousture,/. (thieves'), man under police supervision. Ronchonner (popular), tognimble; to mutter between one's teeth. Ronchonneur,wz.,ronchonneuse y f. (popular), grumbler. Elle m'en veut done toujours la vieille ronchonneuse? ZOLA. Rond, m. and adj. (popular), a sou. Termed also " rotin. " Deux rords d'brich'ton dans 1'estomac, C'est pas ga qui m'pes" sur les g'noux. RICHEPIN. Avoir le , to have money ; to be well off, or "well ballasted." Pousser son , to ease oneself by evacuation. Rond, drunk, or " tight ;" comme balle, comme une bourrique, or comme une boule, completely tipsy, or " sewed up." See Pompette. Au cidre ! au cidre ! il fait chaud. Tant mieux si j'me soule. Au cidre ! au cidre ! il fait chaud. J'sons plus rond qu'eun' boule. Du cidre il faut Dans la goule. Du cidre il faut Dans 1'goulot. RICHEPIN. (Familiar) Un de cuir, em- ploye 1 ; clerk, or "quill-driver." Rondache, f. (thieves'), ring, ' ' fawney. " Rondelets, m. pi. (obsolete), small breasts. Rondement (obsolete), chier , not to hesitate, to act with resolu- tion, without dilly-dallying. Pardienne, mamselle, vous I'avez deja fait. A quoi bon tant tortiller. ... II faut chier rondement, et ne pas faire les choses- en rechignant. Isabelle Double, 1756. Rondier Rossard. 405 Rondier, m. (thieves'), watchman, or overseer at the hulks. From faire une ronde, to go one's rounds. Rondin, m. (popular), lump of ex- crement, or " quaker ; " (popular and thieves') Jive-franc coin. Et combien qu'ca coute, ste bete ? Un rondin, deux balles et dix Jacques. N . . . de D . . . ! Sept livres dix sous ! VIDOCQ. Rondin jaune, gold coin, " yellow boy ; " jaune servi, gold coin stolen and then stowed away. Ah ! s'il voulait cromper ma sorbonne (sauver raa tete), quelle viocque (vie) je ferais avec mon fade de carle (ma part de fortune), et mes rondins jaunes .servis (et I'or que je viens de cacher). BALZAC, La Derniere Incarnation de Vautrin. Rondine, f. (thieves'), ring, or " fawney ; " walking-stick; ball. Rondiner (thieves'), to cudgel one ; (popular) to spend money. From rond, a sott ; des yeux, to stare. Rondinet, m. (thieves'), ring, " fawney." Rond -point -des bergeres, m. (roughs'), the Halles, or Paris market. Rondque, m. (popular), one sou. Ronflant, adj. (thieves'), well- dressed. Is also said of one who has a well-filled purse. Ronfle,/. (popular), jouer a la , to sleep soundly and to snore. (Thieves') Ronfle, prostitute, or " punk ; " woman, or " blowen ;" a grippart, same meaning. Ronfler (popular), faire Thomas, to ease oneself. (Thieves') Une poche qui ronfle, a well-filled pocket, one "chockful of pieces." A cette e"poque, quand un voleur avait fait un coup, quand la poche ronflait, toute sa bande se rendait au Lapin Blanc, boire, manger, faire la noce aux frais du meg. Memoires de Monsieur Claude. Ronfler a cri, to pretend to sleep. Ronge-pattes, m. (popular), child, or " squeaker." Rongeur, m. (familiar), or ver rongeur, cab taken by the hour. Paris cabs generally go at a snail's pace, with consequent in- crease of fare. Roquille, f. (popular), one-fourth of a setter, or eighth part of a litre. Rosbif de rat d'6gout ! m. (roughs'), insulting epithet. Might be rendered by ' ' you skunk ! " H ! dis done, Iclanche de bouledogue, rosbif de rat d'egout, tu vas te faire taper sur la rejouissance. A. SCHOLL, L'Esprit du Boulevard, Rose des vents, f. (popular), breech, "blind cheek" in the English slang. Rosiere de Saint-Laze, f. (popu- lar), for Saint-Lazare, an inmate of the prison of Saint-Lazare, which serves for prostitutes and unfaith- ful wives. Properly une ' 'rosiere, " or rose queen, is a virtuous, well- behaved maiden. At Nanterre and other country places a maid is proclaimed rosiere at a yearly ceremony in which the authorities play their part, the famous pom- piers of the not less famous song being one of the most important factors in the pageant. Rossaille,/. (horse-dealers'), worth- less horse, "screw." Rossard, m. (familiar and popular), man with no heart for work, a " bummer." Trubl' est un rossard, Toujours en retard, D'mandez a Massard . . . Trubl' est un flegmard Qui se fait du lard ! TRUBLOT, Le Cri du Penple. 406 Rosse Ronblardise. Rosse, f. (familiar and popular), lazy fellcnv. Eire , to be can- tankerous, ill-natured. Vanter la neig", c'te bet' feroce ! Nous sornm's pas dans 1'pays des ours ! C'est gentil, j'dis pas ; mais c'est rosse ; Comm' la femm', ga fait patt' de v'lours. JULES JOUY, La Neige. Une , a peevish, stubborn, or lazy woman. Rossignante,/. (old cant], flute. Rossignol, m. t or carouble, f. (thieves'), picklock, or"betty;" (familiar) any inferior article left unsold. The expression specially refers to books. Rossignoler (thieves'), to sing, " to lip." Rossignoliser (familiar), to sell articles without any value, or soiled articles. Rosto, m. (Ecole Polytechnique), gas-lamp. From the name of General Rostolan, who introduced the gas apparatus into the esta- blishment. Roter (popular), en , to be as- tounded. Literally to belch for astonishment. En disant que . . . les soldats n'etaient pas de la charcuterie, qu'on traitait les chiens mieux que ober sur les camions qui stationnent dans les rues ... a etc arretee hier. Le Radical, Dec., Roulure, /. (popular), -woman of the most abandoned description. Si bien que, la croyant en bois, il est a\\6 ailleurs, avec des roulures qui 1'ont regale" de toutes sortes d'horreurs. ZOLA, Nana. Also despicable, degraded fellow. Si c'est possible, une femme honnete tromper son mari, et avec cette roulure de Fauchery ! ZOLA. 4-10 Rou mard Rousse. Roumard, m. (thieves'), malicious fellow ; ( popular) rake, or "beard- splitter." Roupie, f. (popular), bug, or ' ' heavy dragoon ; " de singe, nothing; weak coffee ; de san- sonnet, bad coffee. Le zingueur voulut verser le cute lui- meme. II sentait joliment fort, ce n'etait pas de la roupie de sansonnet. ZOLA. Roupiller (general), to sleep, " to doss." Chenue sorgue, roupille sans taf, good night, sleep without fear. Tout est renverse, quoi ! Et du reste, voila le bouquet, ecoutez-moi 53, on ne dit plus : je t'aime ! on dit : j'te gobe. On ne dit plus : laisse-moi tranquille ! on dit : va t'asseoir ! On ne dit plus : tu m'ennuies ! on dit : tu m'la fais a 1'oseille ! On ne boit plus, on liche. On ne mange plus, on b- quille. On ne dort plus, on roupille ! On ne se promene plus, on se ballade ! Pour dire : je sors, on dit : je m'la casse ! Les Locutions Vicieuses. Roupiller dans le grand, to be dead. Roupillon, m. (thieves'), man asleep. Chatouiller un , to pick the pockets of a sleeping man. Roupiou, m. (medical students'), a student who practises in hos- pitals without being on the regular staff, and who administers pur- gatives, prepares blisters, &c. Rouscaillante,/ (thieves'), tongue, "glib, or red rag.'' Stubble your red rag, hold your tongue. Balancer la rouscaillante, to talk, ' ' to patter." Rouscailler (popular), to have con- nection. Probably from rousse- caigne (rousse chienne, or red bitch), which formerly signified prostitute. (Thieves') Rouscailler, to speak, "to patter ;" bigorne, to talk the cant jargon, " to patter flash." Rouscailler had the signi- fication of to mislead, and bigorne was an epithet applied to the police, so that " rouscailler bi- gorne " means literally to mislead the police. Rouscailleur, m. (popular), liber- tine, or " mutton-monger ; " (thieves') speaker. Rouscailleuse, f. (popular), de- bauched woman. Rouspetance, /. (popular), bad humour ; resistance. Voulez-vous me foutre la paix ! vous etes une forte tete a ce que je vois ; vous voulez faire de la rousp^tance. G. COUR- TELINE. (Prostitutes') Rouspetance, a de- tective whose particular functions are Jo watch prostitutes. Rouspeter (popular), to be in a bad humour ; to resist. Rouspettau, m. (thieves'), noise. Rouspetter (popular), used in a disparaging manner, to talk ; to reply. Qu'est-ce que vous me rouspettez-la ? What the deuce are you talking about ? Rousse, m. and f. (popular and thieves'), la , the police, the "reelers." Un , police officer, or "crusher;" detective, or "nark. " See Pot-a-tabac. Va, c'est pas moi qui ferais jamais un trait a un ami ; si je suis rousse (mouchard), il me reste encore des sentiments. Vi- DOCQ. La a 1'arnac, the detective force. Red-haired people are supposed to be treacherous, hence the epi- thet "rousse" applied to the police. According to an old proverb, Barbe rousse, noir de chevelure, Est repute faux de nature. Scarron expressed the following wish : Que le Seigneur en recompense Veuille augmenter votre finance . . . gu'il vous garde de gens qui pipent . . . 'homines roux ayant les yeux verds. Rousselette Roveau. 411 Judas was red-haired, as everyone knows. Shakespeare makes the following allusion : Rosalind. His hair is of the dissem- bling colour. Celia. Something browner than Judas 's : marry, his kisses are Judas's own children. As You Like It. Un a 1'arnache, or harnache, a detective. Un jour, avec ma largue, je venais d'bal- lader, T'vois la rousse a 1'arrach' qui voulait 1'em- baller. Je m'dis pas de betises, en vrai barbillon, Pour garer ma marquis' j'ai decroche 1'tam- pon. Memoires de Monsieur Claude. La a la flan, city police. Flasquer du poivre a la , to keep out of the way of the police, to escape their clutches. Rousselette, f. (popular and thieves'), spy, or "nark." Termed also une riflette, un baladin. Roussi, m. (thieves'), prisoner who acts as a spy on fellow-prisoners. Ton orgue tapissier aura te fait marron. ... II faut etre arcasien. C'est un galifard. II se sera laisse jouer 1'harnache par un roussin, peut-etre meme par un roussi, qui lui aura battu comtois . . . je n'ai pas taf, je ne suis pas un taffeur, c'est colombe, mais il n'y a plus qu'a faire les lezards, ou autrement on nous la fera gambiller. V. H UGO, Les Miserable!. ( Your friend the innkeeper must have been taken in the at- tempt. One ought to be wide awake. He is aflat. He must have been bamboozled by a detective, perhaps even by a prison spy, who played the simpleton. I am not afraid, I a in no coward, that 's well known ; the only thing to be done now is to run away, else we are done for.) Roussin, m. (thieves'), police officer, "crusher ; " detective. Entre eux, ils sent un peu freres, un peu cousins ; Aussi denichent-ils des gosses, des petites, Qu'ils envoient mendier, en guettant les roussins, Pour se payer deux ronds de frites. RICHEPIN, Les Mdmes. Roussiner (popular), to call the at- tention of the police to one. Roustamponne, / (thieves'), po- lice, " reelers, or frogs." Rousti, adj. (popular and thieves'), ruined, "smashed;" apprehended, "nailed, or nabbed." Roustir (popular and thieves'), to- cheat, " to stick ; " to rob one of all his valuables. A 1'heure qu'il est 1'entonne est roustie. VIDOCQ. (And now the church is stripped of all its valuables.) Neuf plombes. La fete bat son plein . . . eul' joueur d'bonneteau m'a deja rousti vingt ronds. TRUBLOT, Le Cridu Peuple, Sept., 1886. Roustisseur, m. (thieves'), thief, "prig." Roustisseuse,/ (popular), woman of lax morals, "poll." Roustissure, /. (theatrical), in- significant part ; (popular) bad joke; swindle; worthless thing. Roustons, m. pi. (popular), tes- ticulce. Rousture,/. (thieves'), man under police surveillance. Route, m. (popular), mettre au r to rout ; to break ; to destroy. Vous avez beau dire . . . faut que tout ca soil foutu au route, qu'i n'en reste pu miette. Le Drapeau Rouge de la. Mere Duchesne, 1792. Old word roupte, from the Low Latin rupta, signifying rout. The word is used by Villon : De maulx briguans puissent trouver tel route Que tous leurs corps fussent mis par mor- ceux. Ballade Joy euse des Tavemiers. Routiere, / (popular), prostitute who plies her trade on the high- road. See Gadoue. Roveau, or robau, m. (old cant), mounted police. 412 Ru Rup. Ru, m. (thieves'), brook (old word). Je vais dans le ru peche^r a la ligne. Beaux poissons d'argent je vous ferai signe. Voyez au soleil briller mon couteau, Oh ! oh ! Avec mon couteau Je vous ferai signe Dans 1'eau. RICHEPIN, La Chanson des Gueuje. Rub de rif, m. (thieves'), railway train, " rattler." Ruban de queue, m. (popular), never-ending road. Rubis, m. (popular), sur pieu, ready money ; cabochon (obso- lete), see Flageolet. Deux perles orientales Et un rubis cabochon. Pamasse des Muses. Rublin, m. (thieves'), ribbon. Rude, m. (popular), brandy. See Tord-boyaux. Rudement, adv. (familiar and popular), awfully. Rue,/, (popular), au pain, throat, "gutter lane;" barree, or oil 1'on pave, street in which a cre- ditor lives, and which is to be avoided ; du bee depavee, gap-toothed mouth, one with " snaggle teeth. " (Rag-pickers') Aller voir Madame la , to go to work picking rags, &*c., in the street. Ruelle,/. (popular), il ne tombera pas dans la , is said of a drunken man lying in the gutter, and who in consequence does not risk fall- ing from the wall side of his bed. In English slang he is said, when in that state, to "lap the gutter." Ruette, /. (popular), mouth, or " kisser." Ruf, m. (thieves'), prison warder. Rufan, m. (Breton cant), fire. Italian cant ruffo. Ruffante. See Abbaye. Ruine, adj. (horse-trainers'), un cheval sur son devant, a horse with bent knees, inclined " to say his prayers. " Ruisselant d'inouisme, ^'.(fami- liar), superlatively fine ; mar- vellous, ' ' crushing. ' ' Rumfort (familiar), voyage a la , is said of one who goes on a pre- tended journey, so as to escape the toll of new year's gratuities and gifts. Rup, or rupin, adj. and m. (popu- lar), excellent ; fine ; handsome. Su' le moment, 53 vous a bonn' mine ; C'est frais, c'est pimpant, c'est rupin ; Que'qu' temps apres, la blanche hermine S'transforme en vulgaire peau d'lapin. JULES Jouv, La Neige. Avoir 1'aspect , to look rich. Us s'emparent des portieres et les d- fendent centre les gens qui n'pnt pas 1'aspect rupin. Us ne les laissent libres que pour les gens qui leur paraissent avoir de la douille. Memoires de Monsieur Claude. C'est un , he is clever, tinder- stands thoroughly his business, "he is a regular tradesman." No better compliment, says the Slang Dictionary, can be passed on an individual, whether his profession be house-breaking, prize-fighting, or that of a handicraftsman, than the significant " He is a regular tradesman." Le des rupins, the best of the thing. Et puis, 1'plus bath ! Le rupin des rupins, C'est qu'on n'sait pus ou nous parquer. Parole! Ainsi dans 1'doute on nous laisse Ik. Le Contentement du Recidiviste, d I'ancre. (Thieves') Rupin, rich, ballasted." well Les plus rupins, depuis qu'on a imprime" des dictionnaires d'argot, entravent bigorne comme nouzailles. VIDOCQ. Rupin, gentleman, or "nib cove." Us s'enquierent ou demeurent quelques marpeaux pieux, rupins et marcandiers d^- Rupine Sabre. 413 vots, qu'ils bient trouver en leur creux. Le Jargon de t Argot. The word rupin is derived from the Gypsy rup, Hindustani rupa, money. In Breton cant rup has the meaning of citizen or -wealthy man. Rupine,/ (thieves'), lady. Rupinskoff, adj. (popular), ex- cellent, "out and out; " rich, Rural, m., name given to the Con- servative members of the Assemblee Nationale in 1871. Russes, adj. and m. (military), has, or chaussettes , strips of linen wrapped round the feet at the time -when soldiers were not provided with regulation socks. De bas russes tu garniras Tes bottes ou tu plongeras Les dix arpions de tes pieds plats. DUBOIS DE GENNES. (Common) Des , short whiskers. Rustau, m. (thieves'), variety of re- ceiver of stolen property, " fence." Le remisage, tenu par le rustau, est le fourgat des voleurs ou assassins de grandes routes travaillant en province et opeYant jusqu'a 1'etranger. Mcmoires de Mon- sieur Claude. Sabache, adj. and m. (popular), foolish; dunce, or "dunderhead." A corruption of " sabot," a dis- paraging slangy epithet Sable, m. (thieves'), sugar; sto- mach, or "middle piece." Les sables, the cells. (Popular) Sable, money. An allusion to the colour of gold. (Freemasons') Sable blanc, salt ; jaune, pepper. S abler (thieves'), to kill one by striking him with an eel-skin bag filled with sand. Saboche, /. (popular), awkward person ; bad workman. A cor- ruption of sabot. Sabocher, saboter (popular), to do bad work. Sabord, m. (popular), jeter un coup de , to examine the accu- racy of the work ; to control. Saborder (sailors'), to thrash. Sabot, m. (popular), nose, or "boko;" bad workman; car- riage, or " rambler ; " (popular and familiar) bad billiard table ; bad musical instrument ; small boat ; (thieves') ship. Saboteur, m. (popular), slovenly workman. Sabouler (popular), to work care- lessly ; to clean boots, ' ' to japan trotter-cases." Sabouleur, m. (popular), shoe-black. Sabouleux, m. (old cant), rogue who shams epilepsy. Termed now- a-days " batteur de dig-dig." These impostors chew a piece of soap to make it appear that they are frothing at the mouth. Now, soap is sabo in the old Provenfal, so that "sabouleux" literally means soapy. Sabre, m. (old cant), cudgel, or ' ' toko. " Also wood, from the furbesche "sorbe," which has the same signification. (Popular) Avoir un , to be drunk, or "screwed." Probably from the Sabree Sacqut. fact that a drunkard stumbles about as if he were impeded by a sword beating about his legs. See Pompette. Avoir un coup de sur le ventre is said of a woman -who has a military man for her lover, who has ' ' an attack of scarlet fever." Un joli coup de , a large mouth, like a slit made by a cut of a sword, a " sparrow mouth." Sabree, f. (old cant), a yard mea- sure. Sabrenas, m. (popular), cobbler, "snob." An allusion to a maker of wooden shoes, as " sabre " had the meaning of wood. Also clumsy workman. Sabrenasser, or sabrenauder, to work in a slovenly manner. Sabreneux, m. (popular), good-for- nothing fellow. Literally sale breneux. Sabrer (shopmen's), to measure cloth with a yard ; (popular) to do a thing hurriedly and badly. Sabre-tout, m. (general), fire- eater. Sabreur, m. (popular), slovenly workman. Sabri, m. (thieves'), wood ; forest. See Sabre. Sabrieu, m. (thieves'), rogue who steals wood. Sac, m. (thieves'), un , or un mil- let, one hundred francs. (Familiar) N 'avoir rien dans son , to be de- void of ability. Donnerle , to dis- miss from one's employ, "to give the sack. " Un a vin, drunkard, or " lushington." (Popular) Avoir le plein, to be drunk ; to be pregnant, or "lumpy." Cracher, or eternuer dans le , to be guillotined. See Fauche. En avoir plein son , to be com pletely drunk, or "obfuscated." Le de pommes de terre, pro- tuberance of the muscles. Un tout jeune homme . . . frele et char- mant dans une veste de chasse, dont le coutil laissait apercevoir aux biceps le " sac de pommes de terre" du savetier. E. DE GONCOURT, La Fille Elisa. Sac a diables, knowing, cunning person, a "downy, or leary " one. But stick to this while you can crawl, To stand till you're obliged to fall, And when you're wide awake to all, You'll be a leary man. The Leary Man. Un a os, a thin, skinny person, a "bag o' bones." Un au lard, a shirt, or " flesh-bag. " Un a puces, a dog, or ' ' buffer. " En avoir plein son , or son , to have enough of, to be disgusted with. J'en ai mon sac, moi, d'mon e"pouse ; Mince d'crampon ; j'y trouv' des ch'veux, C'est rien de 1'dire. C'que j'me fais vieux ! Par la-d'sus madame est jalouse ! GILL. (Military) Le a malices, a bag which contains a soldier's brushes, thread, needles, &*c. De mon , insulting expression, signifying worthless, good-for-nothing. S'pece de canaille ! sale patissier de mon sac ! bougre d'escroc ! CHARLES LEROY. Saccade, /. (obsolete), donner la , to sacrifice to Venus. Elle aura par Dieu la saccade, puisqu'il y a moines autour. RABELAIS. Sacdos, m. (popular), thin, skinny person, a "bag o' bones." Sacdoser (popular), to become thin. Sachets, m. pi. (populr.r), stockings or socks. Sacque, adj. (popular), etre , to be well off, to be " well ballasted." Sacquer Sain t-Jean . 415 Sacquer (popular), to throw; to dismiss one from one's employ, ' ' to give the sack. " Sacre-chien, m. (familiar and popular), coarse brandy. Vous vous raperez le gosier avec du rhum et du rack, avec le troix-six et le sacre-chien dans toute sa purete, tandis qu'ils se 1'humecteront avec les onctueuses liqueurs des iles. TH. GAUTIER. Sacrer (thieves'), to affirm. Sacristain, m. (obsolete), formerly husband of an "abbesse," the mistress of a house of ill-fame, " abbaye des s'offre a tous." Sacristie, /. (popular), privy, " chapel of ease." Saffre, m. (popular), gormandizer, " grand paunch." Saffre is an old French word to be found in Le Roman de la Rose, I3th and 1 4th centuries. Safran, m. (popular), accommoder au , to be unfaithful to one's spouse. Saffron is of the colour said to be the favourite one of in- jured husbands. Parail que ce sera tres gai chez Ma- dame P.rischkoff : rien que des femmes mariees ! Un bal jaune, quoi ! -Journal Aniu- snnt. Saignante, /. (thieves'). See Laver. Saignement de nez, m. (thieves'), examination of a prisoner, "cross- kidment." Saigner (thieves'), faire du nez, to kill, " to hush ;" to cross-exa- mine, or " to cross-kid." (Popular) Faire du nez, to borrow money, "to bite the ear," or " to break shins." Saint-ciboire, m. (popular), heart, "panter." Saint-Crepin, m. (popular), shoe- makers' tools. The brothers Cre- pin and Crepinien, after preaching the Gospel in Gaul in the third century, settled down at Soissons as shoemakers, and one of them is the patron of shoemakers. Etre dans la prison de , to have tight shoes on. Saint-Crepin, or Saint- Frusquin, savings ; property. Saint de carme, m. (popular), hypocrite, ' ' maw worm. ' ' Saint-Dome, m. (popular), tobacco. From Saint-Domingue, where to- bacco was grown in large quanti- ties. Sainte Chiette, m. (popular), good-for-nothing fellow. Sainte-Esperance, /. (popular), the eve of the pay -day. Sainte-Nitouche, or Sainte-Su- cree, f. (popular), prude. Faire sa , to play the prude. Sainte-Touche,/. (popular), pay- day. Saint-Frusquin, m. (familiar and popular), one's property ; effects. Manger tout son , to spend all one's means. An imaginary saint, from " frusques," cfothes ; "rusca," in furbesche. Saint-Hubert, m. (popular), me- daille de , five-franc piece. Alluding to the medal of the knightly order of Saint-Hubert, founded by a German duke in 1444. Saint-Jean, m. (printers'), effects. Probably from the expression, etre nu comme un petit Saint- Jean, the lack of effects being taken to mean the effects them- selves. Also printers' tools. Prendre son , to leave the work- shop for good. (Popular) Faire son petit , to put on innocent airs ; to play the fool. Saint-Jean le rond, 416 Saint-Jean-porte-latine Saliverne. the behind ; Baptiste, landlord of a wine-shop. An allusion to the water he adds to his wine. Saint-Jean-porte-latine, m. (prin- ters'), the fete-day of printers. Saint-Lache, m. (popular), patron of lazy people. Saint-Lambin, m. (popular), slow man. Saint-Laz, m. (popular), abbre- viation of Saint-Lazare, a prison for unfaithful wives and prosti- tutes. La confrerie de , the world of " unfortunates." Bijou de , prostitute imprisoned in Saint-Lazare. Saint- Lichard, m. (popular), gor- mandizer ', " grand paunch." Saint-Longin, m. (popular). See Longin. Saint-Lundi, f. (popular), feter la , to get drunk. See Sculpter. Saint-Pansart, m. (popular), man with a large paunch, "forty guts." Saint-Pris. See Entrer. Saisissement, m. (thieves'), straps which bind the arms and legs of a convict who is being led to the guillotine. Salade, /. (thieves'), answer. A play on the word raiponce (re- ponse), a kind of salad called ram- pion ; (popular) whip. Salade de Gascon (obsolete), rope, string. Salade de cotret, cudgelling. Je me souvien qu'i me menere chez trqis ou quatre capitaines qui leur dirent qu'ils leur ficheroient une salade de coteret. Dialogue sur let Ajfaires du Temps. Saladier, m. (popular), bowl of sweetenea wine, which is mixed in a salad basin. Salaire, m. (thieves'), shoe, "daisy root. " Corruption of soulier. Salbin, m. (thieves'), oath. Salbiner (thieves'), to take the oath. Salbrenaud (thieves'), shoemaker, or cobbler, "snob." Sale, adj. (popular), coup, or true pour la fanfare, a bad job for us, a sad look-out. The expres- sion is generally expressive of dis- appointment, or when any dis- agreeable affair occurs which there is no means of averting. "Here's the devil to pay, and no pitch hot," English sailors will say. Avoir une jactance, " to be the one to jaw," or " to be the one to- palaver." (Bullies') Un gibier, a prostitute who does not bring in much money. Sale, m. (printers'), wages paid in advance, or "dead horse." Mor- ceau de , part payment of debt. Demander du a la banque, to ask for an advance on wages. Le grand , the sea, or " briny." Saler (popular), to scold, "to haul over the coals ; " quelqu'un, to charge too much, to make one "pay through the nose," or "to shave " him. C'est un peu sale is said of an extravagant bill. Saliere, f. (popular), repandre la dessus, to charge too much, " to shave." Montrer ses salieres is said of a woman with thin breasts who wears low dresses. Elle a deux salieres et cinq plats is said of a woman with skinny breasts. A play on the words "seins plats, flat bosoms. Salin, m. (thieves'), yellow. Salir, or solir (thieves'), to sell. A corruption of saler, to charge too much. (Popular) Se le nez, to- get drunk. See Sculpter. Saliverne,orsalivergne(olclcant), cup ; plate ; platter, or "skew," Salle Sanglier. 417 in English beggars' and Scottish gipsies' lingo. Rabelais uses the word salverne with the signifi- cation of cup. When Pantagruel and Panurge pay a visit to "1'oracle de la Bouteille," they found : Le trophic d'un buveur bien mignonne- ment insculpe : sijavoir est . . . bour- raches, bouteilles, fioles, ferrieres, barils, barreaulx,bomides, pots ... en aultre, cent formes de verre a pied . . . hanaps, breusses, jadeaulx, salvernes. Pantagruel. Salverne, from the Spanish salva. Saliverne nowadays signifies salad. Salle, /. (theatrical), de papier, a playhouse fttll of people -with free tickets. ( Saumur school of cavalry ) La Cambronne, the W. C. Alluding to General Cambronne's more than energetic alleged reply at Waterloo when called upon to surrender. (Popular) Salle a manger, mouth. N 'avoir plus de chaises dans sa a manger, to be toothless. (Bullies') Salle de danse, the behind. Thus termed because they think it is the proper object on which to exercise one's feet. Salonnier, m. (familiar), art critic who reviews the art exhibition. Salopette, f. (popular), pair of canvas trousers worn over another pair. Salopiat, or salopiaud, m. (popu- lar), dirty or mean fellow, "snot." A diminutive of salope, which itself comes from the English sloppy. Salsifis, m. (popular), fingers, " docks, or dukes." Saltimbe, m. (popular), abbrevia- tion of saltimbanque, mountebank. Saluer le public (theatrical), te die, See Pipe. Salutations a cul ouvert, f. pi. (popular), much bowing and scraping of feet. Sanctus, m. (obsolete), mark, seal. A play on the words saint and seing. Us sont sortis ; le gendarme n'a plus etc qu'un jean-f . . ., 1'officier 1'y a foutu son sanctus, que le manche de son epee 1'y faisoit emplatre. Journal de la Rajree. Sang, m. (popular and thieves'), de poisson, oil. See Prince. Se manger les sangs, to fret. Sang-de-Versaillais, adj. (fa- miliar), facetious term for deep red. An allusion to the epithet of Ver- saillais given to the supporters of the government during the insur- rection of 1871. Journaliste , a journalist who is of rabid Re- publican opinions. Le bel Antony, Journaliste Sang-de-Ver- saillais et orateur dynamitard. A. SIRVEN. Sangle, adj. (popular), short of cash, with one's resources at " low tide." Sangler (popular), se , to stint oneself. Sanglier, m. (thieves'), priest. Literally wild boar. An allusion to his black robe, or from the words sans, without, and glier, infernal regions. The priest, or rather he who performed the marriage ceremony, was termed in old English cant, "patrico." Dekker says of the " patrico " that he performs the marriage ceremony under a tree, in a wood, or in the open fields. The bridegroom and bride place themselves on each side of a dead horse or other animal. The " patrico " then bids them live together until death do part them. Thereupon they shake hands, and all adjourn to a neighbouring tavern. E E Sanzsue Saoul comme un due. Sangsue,/". (popular), kept woman who ruins her lover. (Printers') Poser une , to correct a piece of composition for an absentee. Sangsurer (popular), to draw largely on one's purse. Se , to ruin oneself in favour of another. Sans (thieves'), conde, without per- mission or passport. Conde sig- nified mayor, authorities, and the word was imported by Spanish quacks. Sans dab, orphan. The word " dab " has the signification of father, chief, king. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries " dabo " meant master of a house, and probably was derived from dam, damp (dominus), used by Rabelais with the signification of lord. The English slang has "dab," expert, which the Slang Dictionary believes comes from the Latin adeptus. It is more likely the origin is the French dab, dabo. Etre canne is said of a convict under the surveillance of the police who has broken bounds. Sans-beurre, m. (popular), rag- picker, or " tot-picker." Sans-bout, m. (popular), hoop. Sans-camelotte, m. (thieves'). Termed also solliceur de zif, swindler who gets money advanced on imaginary goods supposed to be in his possession. Sans-chagrin, m. (thieves'), thief, "prig." See Grinche. Sans-chasses, m. (thieves'), blind man, " groper, or puppy." Sans-cceur, m. (popular), usurer. Sans-culotte, m., name given to the Republicans of 1793, either because they discarded the old- fashioned breeches for trousers, or as an allusion to the scanty dress of the Republican soldiers. The word has passed into the language. Sans-dos, m. (popular), stool. Sans-fade, m. (thieves*), etre , to be penniless, or " dead broke." Sans-feuille,/ (thieves'), gallows. This expression corresponds to the " leafless tree " of Paul Clifford's song. Hanging was termed for- merly, "etre e'leve sur une buche de quinze pieds, epouser cette veuve qui est a la Greve, danser sous la corde, danser une cabriole en 1'air sans toucher a terre, avoir le collet secoue, etre tue de la lance d'un puits, regarder par une fenetre de chanvre, jouer du haut- bois. " For other synonyms see Monte - a - regret. American thieves use the expression " to twist," i.e. to hang. Sans-le-sou, m. (popular), needy man, one who is " hard up." Sans-loches, adj. (thieves'), etre , to be deaf. Sans-mirettes, adj. and m. (thieves'), blind ; blind man, ' ' groper, or puppy. " Sansonnet, m. (popular), penis. Properly starling. Santache,/ (popular), health. Santaille, /. (popular), the prison of La Santt. Santarelle,/ (card sharpers'), faire une , to give cards to one^s partner in such a way as to be able to see them. Santu,/ (thieves'), health. Saoul comme un ane (familiar and popular), "drunk as a lord;" a common saying, says the Slang Dictionary, probably referring to the facilities a man of fortune has for such a gratification. The Saotille Saucier. 419 phrase had its origin in the old hard-drinking days, when it was almost compulsory on a man of fashion to get drunk regularly after dinner. Saoulle,/. (thieves'), blackguard. Sap, m. (popular), coffin, "eternity box." From sapin, fir wood. Taper dans le , to be dead, "to have been put to bed with a shovel. " Sapajou, m. (popular), vieux , old debauchee, old " rip." One as lecherous as a monkey. Sapement, m. (thieves'), or gerbe- ment, sentence. Saper (thieves'), to sentence ; au glaive, to sentence to death. Sapeur, m. (thieves'), judge, or " beak ; " (popular) cigar partly smoked. Sapin, m. (familiar and popular), hackney coach, or "shoful." Elle causait de 1'interieur de son landau, e'gayee, le trouvant cocasse, au milieu des embarras de voiture, quand " il s'engueu- lait avec les sapins." ZOI.A. (Popular) Redingote de , coffin, or "cold meat box." Sentir, or sonner le , to look dangerously ill. Elle avail un fichu rhume qui sonnait jolimenl le sapin. ZOLA. (Thieves') Sapin, floor; garret; de muron, garret where salt is stored away ; des cornants (ob- solete), the earth ; afield. Com- pare with the modern expression " plancher des vaches." Sapiniere, f. (popular), common grave for poor people. Saquet, m. (popular), shaking. Sardine, f. (popular). Serrer les cinq sardines, to shake hands. Rabelais uses the verb fourcher with a like signification. (Mili- tary) Sardines, stripes on the sleeves of a tunic. Sardines blanches, those worn by gendarmes. Deux gendarmes un beau dimanche, Chevauchaient le long d'un sentier. L'un avail la sardine blanche, L'aulre le jaune baudrier. G. NADAUD, Les Deux Gendarmes. Sardine, m. (military), non-com- missioned officer. Sarrasin, m. (printers'), workman who works at reduced wages, or refuses to join in strikes, a " knob- stick." Sarrasinage, sarrasiner. See Sarrasin. Satin,/ (popular), a " tribade." Denned by Littre as "une femme qui abuse de son sexe avec une autre femme. " From a character in Zola's Nana. Satonnade, / (convicts'), bastinado. La roule a balouf igo, there is much giving of bastinado here. Satou, or satte, m. (thieves'), wood; forest; stick; itinerant mountebank's plant. Satousier, m. (thieves'), joiner. Satte. See Satou. Sauce, f. (popular), reprimand, " wigging." Gare a la ! look out for squalls ! Gober la , to be reprimanded or punished for others. II va tomber de la , it is going to rain. Accommoder a la piquante. See Accommo- der. (Prostitutes') Sauce tomate, menses. Formerly donner la , had the signification given as follows : Maniere de parler libre, qui . . . signifie donner du mal venerien. LE Roux. Sauce, adj. (familiar), etre , to be wet to the skin. Saucier, in. (restaurants'), cook who has charge of the making of sauces in good restaurants. 420 Saucisse Savate. Saucisse, f. (popular), prostitute, or " mot ; " plate, thin prosti- tute ; municipale, poisoned meat thrown to straying dogs. Moi , / also. For moi aussi. Saucisson, m. (popular), a pattes, or de Bologne, short and fat person, " humpty dumpty." (Thieves') Saucisson, lead, or "bluey." Termed also "gras- double. " Saut, m. (familiar), faire le , ex- plained by quotation : Obliger une femme a se rendre, la pousser a bout, profiler de sa faiblesse, en jouir. LE Roux. Formerly faire le saut signified to steal. Saute-dessus, m. (thieves'), se prendre au , to assume a threatening tone. Apres avoir provoque' a la de"bauche celui qui a eu le malheur de les aborder, ils changent tout a coup de ton, le prennent, comme ils disent, au saute-dessus et se donnant pour des agents de 1'autorit^ les menacent d'une arrestation. TARDIEU, Etude Mtdico-legale. Sauter (popular), to stink ; a la perche, to be unable to procure food ; sur le poil a quelqu'un, to attack one. (Thieves') Sauter, to steal ; to conceal from one's accom- plices the proceeds of a robbery ; a la capahut, to murder an accom- plice in order to rob him of his share of the booty. (Familiar) Sauter le pas, to become a bankrupt, " to go to smash. " Also to die. See Pipe. Sauter le pas, to lose one's maiden- head, "to have seen the elephant;" une femme, to have connection with a woman. (Card-sharpers') Faire la coupe, to place the cut card on the top, by dexterous manipulation, instead of at the bottom of the pack, ' ' to slip " a card. (Cavalry) Sauter le bas- flanc, to jump over the walls of the barracks/or the purpose of spending the night in town. Sauterelle,/ (familiar), prostitute ; see Gadoue ; (thieves') flea, called sometimes " F sharp." (Shopmen's) Sauterelle, -woman who examines a number of articles without purchasing any. On appelle ainsi dans les magasins de nouveaute's les femmes qui font plier et d- plier vingt ballots sans acheter. L. NOIR. Executer une , to summarily get rid of such a troublesome person. Sauterie, f. (familiar), dance, or "hop." Sauteron, or sauterondolles. m. (thieves'), banker ; changer. Sau- teron is only another name for thief. Sauteur, m. (familiar), man not to- be relied on ; political turn-coat, "rat." In military riding schools, horse trained to buck jump, and ridden without a saddle or bridle. Sauteuse,/ (popular), ballet-girl ; girl of indifferent character, or "shake ; " flea, or " F sharp." Sauvage. See Habiller. Sauver la mise a quelqu'un. (popular), to help one out of a difficulty. Sauvette, f. (popular), money, or "oof." See Quibus. Sauvette, wickeY basket used by rag-pickers. Savate, f. (popular), bad work- man. (Familiar and popular) Jouer comme une ,to play badly. (Mili- tary) Savate, corporal punishment inflicted by soldiers on a comrade,. " cobbing ; " (sailors') - - pre- mier brin, rum of the first quality. Et le tafia du coup de la fin, du jus de bottes, ne plus ne moms, de la savate pre- mier brin ! Comme c'etait bon, ohe", les freres, de se suiver ainsi 1'estomac. Kl- CHEFIN. Savater Schtard. 421 Savater (popular), to work care- lessly. Savetier, m. (popular), clumsy workman; (familiar) man who does anything carelessly, without taste. Savon, m. (familiar), reprimand. Donner un , synonymous of laver la tete, to reprimand, to scold, " to haul over the coals." Savonne, adj. (thieves'), -white. Je vats alors chercher deux doubles cho- lettes de picton, du larton savonne. Vi- DOCQ. Savonner (popular), to reprimand, "to haul over the coals;" to chastise, "to dust one's jacket," see Voie ; (thieves') to steal, "to claim ; " une cambuse, to strip a house, " to do a crib." Savoyard, m. (familiar), rough, ill- mannered man, a "sweep." Sweeps hailed formerly from Savoy. Savoyarde, f. (thieves'), portman- teau, "peter, or rodger." Faire la , to steal a portmanteau, " to heave a peter from a drag." Scarabombe,/. (thieves'), astonish- ment. Scarabomber (thieves'), to asto- nish. Scene, f. (theatrical), etre en , to give all one's attention to one's part during the performance. (Familiar and popular) Avant- scenes. See Avantages. Schabraque, f. (military), vieille , old prostitute. Schaffouse, m. (popular), the be- hind. A play on the town of that name, chute du Rhin, and chute du rein, lower part of back. Schako, m. (popular), head, "nut." Schelingophone, m. (popular), the breech. SeeVasistas. Enlever le a quelqu'un, to kick one's behind, " to hoof one's bum." C'est moi, si eune dame m'parlait ainsi, que j'aurais vite fait d'i enlever le sche- lingophone. GR&VIN. Schlague, f. (popular), thrashing with a stick, "larruping." From the German. Schlaguer (popular), to thrash, "to larrup. See Voie. Schloff, m. (popular), sleep, or " balmy." Faire , to sleep, " to have a dose of the balmy. " Schloffer (popular), to sleep, "to have a dose of the balmy. " From the German. Schnaps, m. (popular), brandy. See Tord-boyaux. Et surtout n'oubliez pas le cafe" avec le schnaps. MAHALIN. Schness, m. (thieves'), physiog- nomy. Schnick, m. (popular), brandy, "French cream." See Tord- boyaux. Schniquer (popular), to get drunk on brandy. Schniqueur (popular), brandy- bibber. Schpile, adj. (popular), good ; ex- cellent, or "clipping;" fine. Synonymous of "becnerf." II n'est pas a frayer, he is not good company. Schpiler (popular), to do good work. Schproum, m. (thieves'), faire du , to make a noise, ' ' to kick up a row." Schtard, m. (thieves'), prison, "stir." See Motte. La aux frusques, a pawnbroker's shop. La des lascars, the prison of La Roquette. 422 Schtardier Sicker. Schtardier, m. (thieves'), prisoner, "canary." Schtosse. See Monter. Schtosser (thieves'), se , to get drunk, or ' 'canon." See Sculpter. Sciant, adj. (familiar and popular), tiresome, annoying. Scie, f. (familiar and popular), annoyance ; tiresome person ; exasperating rigmarole. Monter une a quelqu'unj to annoy one by the continual repetition of words or joke. (Popular) Scie, wife, or ' ' comfortable impu- dence." Porter sa , to -walk with one's wife. Scier (familiar and popular), or le dos, to annoy, "to bore." Je m'en fiche pas mal de votre Alexandra ! Voila trop longtemps que vous me sciez avec votre Alexandra ! J'en ai assez de votre Alexandra ! P. MAHALIN. Scier dubois, to play on a stringed instrument. Scieur de bois, m. (familiar), violinist. Scion, m. (popular), stick. From scier; (thieves') knife, "chive." Scionner (popular), to apply the stick to one's shoulders, "to lar- rup," see Voie ; (thieves' and cads') to knife. Scionne ! mor- gane ! stick him ! bite him ! Scionneur, m. (thieves'), murderer. See Sionneur. Scribouillage, m. (literary), bad style of writing, "penny-a- lining." Scrutin, m. (familiar), assister au de ballotage, to be present while a lady is undressing her- self. Sculpsit, m. (artists'), sculptor. Sculpter (popular), se une gueule de bois, to get drunk, or " screwed." The synonyms are: "s'allumer, se flanquer une cu- lotte, se poivrotter, partir pour la gloire, se poisser, se schtosser, se schniquer, se pocharder, se tuiler, prendre une barbe, se piquer le nez, se cingler le blaire, s'em- poivrer, s'empaffer, mettre son nez dans le bleu, se piquer le tasseau, se coller une biture, faire cracher ses soupapes, se cardina- liser, ecraser un grain, se coaguler, se farder, se foncer, s'emerillon- ner, s'emecher, s'enluminer," &c. For the English slang terms see Pompette. Seance, /. (thieves' and roughs'), refiler une , to thrash. See Voie. Scant, m. (popular), the breech, "Nancy." See Vasistas. Seau, m. (military), etre dans le , to be gone to the privy. Sec, m. and adj. (players'), joueren cinq , to play one game only in five points. (Thieves') Etre , to be dead. (Military) II fait , we are thirsty. Sec-aux-os, m. (popular), bony, skinny fellow. Ce grand dur-a-cuir, au cuir tanne, ce long sec-aux-os, tel qu'un pantin en bois des iles, avec son corps sans fin et noueux d 'articulations. RICHEPIN. Seche, f. (popular), cigarette. (Thieves') La , death. Seche, adj. (students'), etre , to be disqualified at an examination , " to be spun, or ploughed." (Popu- lar) Etre , to become sober again. (Military schools') Etre , to be punished. Sech6e, f. (military schools'), punishment ; arrest. Secher (schoolboys'), le lycee, to play truant ; un devoir, not to S /choir Stnat, 423 do one's exercise ; un candidat, to disqualify a candidate. (Popu- lar) Secher, to drink, " to lush." See Rincer. Secher un litre, une absinthe, un bock, to drink a litre of wine, a glass of absinthe, of beer. C'etait un singulier coco . . . il sechait des bocks a faire croire que son gosier etait capable d'absorber le canal Saint-Martin. Memoires de Monsieur Claude. Secher la tata, to bore one. Sechoir, m. (popular), cemetery. Secot, m. (popular), thin boy or man. Secouer (popular), les bretelles a. quelqu'un, to give one a good shaking. Secouer, or les puces, to scold, " to haul over the coals ; " to thrash. See Voie. Secouer ses puces, to dance ; la com- mode, to grind the organ ; (thieves') 1'artiche, to steal a purse ; la perpendiculaire, to steal a watch-chain, "to claim a slang ; " un chandelier, to rob with violence at night, " to jump." Secousse, /. (popular), prendre sa , to die. See Pipe. Un con- tre-coup de la , a foreman. Termed thus on account of his generally coming in for the greater share of a reprimand. (Military) N'en pas foutre, or fiche une , to do nothing, to be idling. Eh ben, mon colon, faut croire que c'est 1'monde ertourne, pisque c'est les hommes ed" la classe qui sont commandes de four- rage durant que les bleus n'en fichent pas une secousse. G. COURTELINE. Secretmuche, m. (popular), secre- tary. Seigneur a musique, m. (thieves'), murderer. From saigner, to Meed, and alluding to the shrieks of the victim. Seize, m. (popular), souliers , tight shoes. A play on the words " treize et trois," that is, "tres etroits." Seize-mayeux, m. (familiar), name given to the conspirators of \6th May, 1877, who, being at the head of the government of the Republic, were seeking to upset it. Pour les partisans du ministere du 16 mai, on a trouve le nom de seize-mayeux. Gazette A necdotique. Sellette a criminel, /. (obsolete), prostitute, an associate of thieves. Je veux te procurer un habit de vestale Pour une annee au moins au Temple de la gale. Selette a criminel, matelas ambulant. A musemens a la Grecque. Semaine, /. (familiar), des quatre jeudis, never, "when the devil is blind." (Military) N'etre pas de , to have nothing to do with some business. Semelle. See Chevaux, Feuil- letee. Semer quelqu'un (popular), to get rid of one ; to knock one down. Semer des miettes, to vomit, "to cast up accounts." Seminaire, m. (old cant), the hulks. Semper, m. (popular), tobacco, ' ' fogus. " For superfin, distorted into semperfinas, and finally semper. Senaqui, m. (thieves'), gold coin, "yellow boy." Senat, m. (popular), wine-shop fre- quented by a certain class of workmen. Depuis longtemps, les travailleurs appel- lent les marchands de vin ou ils se r^unis- sent par specialite, des senats. Le Sub- lime. 424 Stnateur Seringiie. Senateur, m. (popular), well- dressed man, " gorger ;" workman ivho freqitents " senats " (which see) ; (butchers') bull. Sens devant dimanche (popular), upside down. Sentinelle, f. (popular), lump of excrement, or ' ' quaker ; " (printers') glass of wine awaiting one at the wine-shop. Sentinelles, badly -adjusted letters. Sentir (popular), le bouquin, to emit a strong odour of humanity, to be a "medlar." The expres- sion reminds one of the " olet hircum " of Horace, and of Terence's " apage te a me, hircum oles." (General) Sentir le coude a gauche, to feel certain of the sup- port of friends. Cela sent mau- vais, there's something wrong, "I smell a raf.. " S'entrainer a la barre (ballet dancers'), mode of 'practising one 's steps. Sept, m. (rag-pickers'), hook used for picking up pieces of paper or rags. (Sporting) Sept-a-neuf, morning riding-suit. Quel joli sept-a-neuf cela ferait ! Le Figaro. Ser, m. (thieves'), signal. Faire le , to be on the watch, on the " nose." Serge, or sergot, m. (popular), police officer, or "crusher." See Pot-a-tabac. Sergent, m. (military), de crottin, non-commissioned officer at the Cavalry School of Saumur. The allusion is obvious ; d'hiver, soldier of the first class. An allu- sion to his woollen stripes, which are supposed to keep him warm in winter. (Popular) Sergent de vieux, nurse in hospitals. Sergo,or sergot, m. (popular) ,police officer. From sergent de ville. See Pot-a-tabac. Avoir des mots avec les sergots, to be appre- hended. Literally to quarrel with the police. Et apprit que Josephine, ayant eu des " mots avec les sergots," pour une vilaine affaire, avail t6 faire une saison a Saint- Lazare. GYP. Sergolle,/ (thieves'), belt. Serie, f. (university), the staff of examiners for the doctor's degree. Serieux, adj. (cocottes'), homme , one who has means. Serin, m. (popular), gendarme of the suburbs ; (familiar) foolish fellow, greenhorn. Seriner (familiar), quelque chose a quelqu'un, to keep repeating some- thing to one, so that he may get it into his head. (Thieves') Seriner, to divulge, " to blow the gaff." Serinette, f. (thieves'), man who swindles one under threat of ex- posure ; a caracteres, newspaper. Qu'est-ce qu'il vient faire ici ce jour- naleux de malheur ? . . . Si nous le suri- nions ! . . . Comme cela il ne jaspinera plus de 1'orgue dans sa serinette a caracteres. Mtmoires de Monsieur Claude. Serinette, Sodomite. La tante est tantot arpelle tapette, tantSt serinette. CANLER. Seringue, f. (popular), cracked voice. Chanter comme une , to sing out of tune. Seringue a rallonges, telescope. C'est Venus que je veux voir ou je te demolis, toi et ta seringue a rallonges. RANDOM. (Familiar and popular) Seringue, dull, tiresome person. Seringuinos Servir. 425 Seringuinos, m. (familiar), simple- minded fellow, " flat." Serpent, m. (Ecole Poly technique), one of the fifteen first on the list after the entrance examination ; (military) leathern belt used as a purse ; des reins, same mean- ing. Que ze veux dire, mon ancien, que vous n'aurez pas la peine de later mes cotes pour voir si ma ceinture elle est rondement garnie de picaillons. Ze connais le true ! et z'ai depose mon serpent des reins en lieu sur avant de venir ici. DUBOIS DE GENNES. Serpentin, m. (thieves'), convict's mattress. Serpettes, f. pi. (military), short and bandy legs. Ces pauvres tourlourous ! 53 vous a six pouces de serpettes et le dos tout de suite. RANCON. Serpilliere de ratichon, f. (thieves'), priesfs cassock. Ser- pilliere comes, through the old French sarpilliere, cloth, or robe, from the Low Latin serpeilleria, woollen stuff. Evandre et son cher fils Pallas . . . Et son senat en serpilliere . . . Entonnoient un beau vaudeville. Le Virgile Travesti. Grocers' assistants give this name to their aprons. Serrante,/ (thieves'), lock; (popu- lar) belt, sash. II se dandine dans son large pantalon de velours a cotes, la taille sangle"e par sa serrante ecarlate. RICHEPIN, Le Pavt. Serre, adj. (familiar), needy ; close- fisted, or "near." II parait meme qu'il est tres sore". HENRI MONNIER. (Thieves') Etre , to be locked up. La plus cruelle injure qu'une fille puiss- Jeter au front deshonore d'une autre fille c'est de 1'accuser d'infidelite envers un amant serre (mis en prison). BALZAC. Serrebois, m. (thieves'), sergeant. Serrepogne, m. (popular), hand- cuffs, "darbies, or hand gyves. " Serrer (popular), to imprison ; la vis, to strangle ; le brancard, or la cuiller, to shake hands ; les fesses, to be afraid, or "funky ;" le noeud, to marry, to get "switched." Se le gaviot, to go without food. (Thieves') Serrer la gargamelle, or le quiqui, to strangle ; (fami- liar) la pince, to shake hands ; (military) la croupiere a quelqu'un, to -watch one nar- rowly ; to become strict to one. Serrure, / (popular), avoir la brouillee, to have an impediment in one's speech. Avoir laisse la clef a la , to have failed in one's resolve of having no more children. Avoir mis un cadenas a la , refers to the determination of a woman to live in a state of chastity. Sert, or ser, m. (thieves'), signal. Servante, /. (theatrical), lamp. Ce fut Massourier, qui connaissait les devours, qui prit la servante dans un coin derriere les decors, la vissa a la rampe et I'alluma. E. MONTEIL. Service, m. (theatrical), free season ticket. Qu'est-ce que cela signifie ? VoilJi Fau- chery, du Bartholo, qui me renvoie son service. II n'entend pas avoir une loge de c6t, quand le Druide a une loge de face MAHALIN. (Roughs' and thieves') Le du Chateau, prison van, or ' ' Black Maria." Serviette, /. (thieves'), stick, cud- gel, " toko." Servir (thieves'), marron, to arrest in the act. Probably from as- servir. Le fait est, qu'avec son air effrayi et trcmblant, il tait bien capable de me fairc servir marron (arreter en flagrant delit). CANLER. 426 Severe Siffran. Servir, te inform against one, " to blow the gaff;" to steal, "to nim ;" to apprehend, " to smug." See Piper. Servir le trepe, to keep back the crowd ; de belle, to inform falsely against one. Maintenant il s'agit de servir de belle une largue (de dcnoncer a faux une femme). BALZAC. Severe, f. (familiar), en voila une ! is said of incredible news. It also means that is really too bad, " coming it too strong." Sevres, m. (popular), passer a , to receive nothing. From sevrer, to wean. Seziere, sezigue, or sdzingard (thieves'), he; him; she; her. Mezigo n'enterve pas mieux que seziere, / do not understand better than he does. Rouscaillez a seziere, speak to him. Et les punit en la forme qui suit : pre- mierement on lui 6te toutime son frusquin, puis on urine dans une saliverne de sabri avec du pivois aigre, une poignee de mar- rons et un torchon de fre'tille, et on frotte a sdziere tant son proye, qu'il ne demorfie d'un mois apres. Le Jargon de F Argot (popular), first-rate. Sgoff, adj. See Rup. Siamois, adj. (thieves'), les freres , the testicles. An allusion to the Siamese twins. Siante, f. (thieves'), chair. For seante. Sibdrie, f. (printers'), back part of workshop, where apprentices work in the cold. Sibiche, sibigeoise, or sibijoite, /. (popular), cigarette. Siecle, m. (familiar), fin de , dandy, or "masher." Un jeune "fin de siecle " est en train d'essayer un veston. Le vetement est ajusti cornme un maillot. Te voudrais, dit le jeune homme, que (a colle davantage. Tres bien, dit le conpeur, on mettra k monsieur des pains a cacheter en guise de doublure. Le Voltaire. Sifernet (Breton cant), drunk. Siffle,/ (thieves'), throat, or "red lane ; " voice, or " whistle." Siffler (popular), to spend money ; la linotte, to wait in the street. (General) Siffler au disque, to wait for money ; to wait. An allusion to a signal of engine- drivers. Rien a faire de cette femme-Ik. . . . J'ai siffl au disque assez longtemps. . . . Pas meche. . . . La voie estbarree. . . . Pardieu, nous savons votre fagon de siffler au disque, dit Christian, quand il cut compris cette ex- pression passee de 1'argot des mecaniciens dans celui de la haute gomme. A. DAU- DET. Avoir tout siffle, to be ruined. Tu peux , it is in vain, you'll not get it. Siffler, to drink. Elle-meme quand elle sifflait son verre de rogomme sur le comptoir prenait des airs de drame, se jetait c.a dans le plomb en souhaitant que ja la fit crever. ZOLA, L'Assommoir. Siffler (popular), to spend money , la linotte, to wait in the street. (General) Siffler au disque, to wait for money ; to wait. An allusion to a signal of engine-drivers. Rien a faire de cette femme-la. . . . J'ai siffle' au disque assez long temps. . . . Pas meche. ... La voie est barr^e. . . . Pardieu, nous savons votre faijon de siffler au disque, dit Christian, quand il cut compris cette ex- pression passee de 1'argot des mecaniciens dans celui de la haute gomme. A. DAU- DET. Avoir tout siffle, to be ruined. Tu peux , it is in vain, you'll not get it ; you may whistle for it. Siffler, to drink. (Military) Sifflet, gun. Siffran, or six-francs, m. (tailors'), board used by tailors for pressing clothes. Sigisbeisme Sirenes de la gare Saint-Lazare. 427 11 y avail en outre une planche en noyer, dite siffran, dont les tailleurs se servent pour repasser les coutures et presser les etoffes. MAC. Sigisbeisme, m. (familiar), danc- ing attendance upon one. Comme 1'a fort bien dit Henri Murger, lorsque cette sorte de sigisbeisme nait de la sympathie que Ton e'prouve pour les oeuvres d'un ecrivain et de 1'attachement que vous inspire sa personne, comme toute chose sincere, ce sentiment est tres hono- rable meme dans ce que peut avoir d'outre 1'admiration caniche du " strapontiniste." A. DUBRUJEAUD. Echo de Paris. Sigle, sigue, sigolle, or cig, f. (thieves'), twenty -franc coin. Double , forty-franc coin. Ser- vir des sigues, to steal gold coin. A sovereign is termed in the English slang or cant, " canary, yellow boy, gingle boy, shiner, monarch, couter." Signer (popular), se des orteils, to be hanged, "to be scragged." See Monte-a-regret. Sigris bouesse, or bouzolle (old cant), it freezes ; it is cold. These words seem a compound of gris, cant term for wind, and boue, mtid. Sime, m. andf. (thieves'), un , a townsman. La , townspeople. Passe devant et allume si tu remouches la sime ou la patraque. VIDOCQ. Simon, m. (popular), aller chez , to ease oneself. See Mouscailler. (Scavengers') Simon, a man whose ct* spool is being emptied. Simonner (thieves'), to swindle, "to best." Simonneur, m. (thieves'), swindler, or " mobsman. " Simphste (journalists'), one -who is in favotir of a reform in the spelling of words, who would have every word written as it is pro- nounced. II y a longtemps que des " simplistes " ont preconise 1'orthographe phonetique. Le Voltaire, 7 Janvier, 1887. Here is a specimen of the mode recommended : Notre ortografe actuelle est absurde, tou le monde e d'accor la-dessu. Elle fe le' desespoar des ecolie, elle absorbe le melieur tan de leurs etudes &c. Sine qua non, m. (familiar), money. See Quibus. Singe, m. (popular), foreman; master, or " boss ; " passenger on top of bus ; (printers') compositor, or "donkey." Also master. Un,' botte, a ftmny, amusing man f (Thieves') Singe a rabat, magis- trate, or "beak ;" de la rousse, police officer, or "reeler." See Pot-a-tabac. Singeresse, f, (popular and thieves'), mistress, or landlady. Sinqui (thieves'), that. Sinve, m. (thieves'), simple-minded man, "flat." Faire le , or sinvre, to flinch. L'ami, m'a-t-il dit, tu n'as pas 1'air brave. Ne va pas faire le sinvre devant la carline. Vois-tu, il y a un mauvais moment a passer sur la placarde. V. HUGO. Sinverie,/. (thieves'), foolery. Sionneur, m. (thieves'), murderer, See Scionneur. Les sionneurs sont ceux qui, apres minuit, vous attendent au coin d'une rue, vous abordent le poing sur la gorge en vous de- mandant ... la bourse ou la vie. M- moires de Monsieur Claude. Sir&nes de la gare Saint-Lazare, f. pi. (thieves'), gang of prosti- tutes who, in 1875, used to attract travellers to a cut-throat place where male accomplices stripped them of their valuables. 428 Strop Soiffer. Sirop, m. (popular), de 1'aiguiere, de barometre, or de grenouille, water, " Adam's ale." Cet animal de Mes-Bottes etait allume ; il avail bien dejk. ses deux litres ; histoire seulement de ne pas se laisser embeter par tout ce sirop de grenouille que 1'orage avail crache sur ses abattis. ZOLA, L'As- sommoir. Siroter (popular), to drink, "to lush." See Rincer. Siroter le bonheur, to be spending' one's honeymoon. (Hairdressers') Siro- ter, to dress one's hair carefully, Siroteur, m. (popular), drunkard, or " lushington. " Sitrin, adj. (thieves'), black. Sive, f. (thieves'), hen, " margery prater." According to Michel, from the Romany chi, chiveli. Six, m. (popular), un et trois font neuf, a silly and cruel expres- sion applied by low people to a lame man. In the English slang, " dot and go one." Six broque ! (thieves'), go away. Six-clous, m. (popular), roofer. Skasa (Breton cant), to steal. Skaser (Breton cant), cunning ; swindler ; thief. Skrap (Breton cant), theft. Skrapa (Breton cant), to steal. Skraper (Breton cant), thief. Slasse, or slaze, adj. (roughs'), etre , to be drunk, or " screwed." See Pompette. Slasser, or slassiquer (popular), to get drunk, or ' ' screwed. " See Pompette. Smala, f. (familiar), family ; house- hold. From the Arab. Snoboye, adj. (familiar and popu- lar), good, excellent, " tip-top, slap up, first-class." The syno- nyms are: " rup, chic, chicard, chicandard, chouette, bath, super- lifico, chocnosof, enleve, tape, aux pommes, bath aux pommes, aux petits oignons, numero un." Soc, m. (familiar), for " democ- soc," name given to Socialists. Societe,/. (popular), la du'doigt dans le cul, the Societe de Saint- Vincent de Paul, a religious asso- ciation chiefly composed of Jesuits. An allusion to their duties as assistants at hospitals. See Doigt. (Theatrical) Societe du faux-col, agreement between come- dians to help one another in order to get rid of bores. Sceur, f. (thieves'), de charite, a variety of female thief. Les soeurs blanches, the teeth, or "ivories." Sole, f. (popular), faire 1'asticot dans la , is said of a lazy woman who likes dress and pleasure. Fallait p'te'te pas 1'embocquer a faire 1'asticol dans la soie sans rien astiquer. LOUISE MICHEL. Aller comme des bas de a un cochon is said of apparel or anything else not suited to one's appearance or station in life. Le sifflet d'ebene, rien que ga d'chic ! ;a te va comme des bas d'soie k un cochon. RIGAUD. Soiffard, m. (familiar and popular), one too fond of drink, a " lushing- ton." Soiffer (familiar and popular), to drink to excess, " to swig." Moi je trouve que c'est bon de soiffer ! Qu'est-ce qu'elle nous devide de la melan- colie celle-lk ? LOUISE MICHKL. Soiffeur Solitaire. 429 Soiffeur, m. (familiar), bibber, or " lushington." Quant au copain que voila, c'est un bon garon ; mais soiffeur endiable, par ex- emple. II esc deja alcoolique. MACE. Soiffeuse, /. (familiar), -woman who is fond of drink. Une riche idee que j'ai eue d'envoyer la petite ... a la place de cette soiffeuse d'Aphrodite qui est restee huit jours a de- jeuner chez Coquet. P. MAHALIN. Soigne, m. (familiar), du , some- thing of the best quality. Soignee,/, (popular), sound thrash- ing. Soigner (theatrical), ses entrees, to get oneself applauded by paid applauders when making one's ap- pearance on the stage ; (popular) quelqu'un, to thrash soundly, " to knock one into a cocked hat." See Voie. Soir, m. (familiar), un , an even- ing paper. Soireux, m. (journalists'), dramatic critic. Et, 1'grand jour, avec tout' la presse th^atrale, pontifes, d'mi pontifes et soireux, M. Boscher, directeur du Theatre-Dejazet s'ra invite, parbleu ! Le Cri du Peuple. Soiriste, m. (journalists'), a jour- nalist whose functions are to report on events of the evening. Soissonnais, m. (thieves'), beans. Termed also "musiciens. " Soixante-six, m. (popular), prosti- tute's bully, or ' ' pensioner " with an obscene prefix. See Poisson. Soldat, m. (popular), du pape, bad soldier. (Printers') Les petits sol- dats de plomb, type. Aligner les petits soldats de plomb, to compose. (Thieves') Des sol- dats, money, or "pieces." See Quibus. Probably from the ex- pression, " money is the sinews of war." Money is a good soldier, sir, and will on. SHAKESPEARE, Merry Wives of Windsor. Solde, m. (familiar), cigare de , bad cigar. Diner de , bad dinner. Soleil, m. (familiar), avoir un coup de , to be the worse for liquor. See Pompette. Piqueruncoup de , to blush. Recevoir un coup de , to be in love, to be "mashed on, or sweet on." Soligage, m. (thieves'), sale. Solicer, or sollicer (thieves'), to sell, or "to do;" to steal, or "to claim;" sur le verbe, to buy on credit, " on tick." Soliceur, or sollisseur, m. (thieves'), tradesman ; a la gourre, a swindler -who sells to simple-minded persons worthless articles ; a la pogne, pedlar ; de lacets, gendarme ; de zif, rogue who sells imaginary goods and exhibits genuine sam- ples to entice the purchaser. Solir, or salir (thieves'), to sell, "to do." Le , the belly, or "tripes." From a similarity of sound between vendre, to sell, and ventre, belly. Solitaire, m. (thieves'), one who operates single-handed. Les tireurs se divisent en deux classes : le solitaire et le compagnon. Le premier, son nom 1'indique, opere toujours seul ; il constitue 1'exception dans 1'honorable con- frerie des tireurs. PIERRE DELCOURT. (Theatrical) Solitaire, man who only pays half-price on condition that he shall applaud. Etre en , is said of members of the claqut 430 Soliveau Sophie. or staff of paid applauders who are distributed among the audience. Puis on envoie quelques remains en soli- .taire, c'est-a-dire qu'on permet a ceux-la de se placer seuls au milieu des payants. BALZAC. Soliveau, m. (popular), head, or " nut." Sombre,/! (thieves'), the Prefecture de Police. Sommier de caserne, m. (popu- lar), prostitute who prowls about barracks, "barrack hack." Somno, m. (popular), sleep, or "balmy." .Son, m. and adj. (thieves'), gold, or " red ; " niere, or gniasse, me, him. Sonde, f. (popular and thieves'), physician, or "pill-box." Etre a la , to be cunning, wary, " downy." Sondeur, m. and adj. (popular), official of the octroi, thus termed from his long probe. Aller en , to act prudently. Pere , wily man, " leary bloke." Aller en pere , to seek adroitly for in- formation. (Thieves') Sondeur, spy, or "nark;" barrister, or "mouthpiece." Les sondeurs, the police, or " reelers. " (Fami- liar) Un , an amateur of the fair sex who at places of entertain- ment casts a lecherous glance on the charms of ladies with low dresses, and strives to see more than that which is exhibited, one who would not say like Tartufe Cachez, cachez ce sein que je ne saurais woir. Sonne, / (thieves'), the police, "reelers." Sonner (popular and thieves'), to strike ; to kill a man by knocking his head on the pavement. Route d'Allemagne. L'endroit oil des coquins . . . ont sonne 1'an dernier un in- specteur de police, mort le lendemain de ses blessures. P. MAHALIN. Se la , to have a hearty meal. Sonnette,/. (popular), silver coin, or "gingle boy." That which rings, chinks. Sur les bords du canal, il est dangereux de courir passe minuit, quand on a des sonnettes en poche. Paris & Vol de Canard. J'accours a 1'Opera et les sonnet's en poche. DitsAUGiERS. Des sonnettes, money. Scottish gipsies call money "sonnachie." The French slang has "graisse," fat, which reminds one of the proverbial expression, "graisser le marteau." On avail beau heurter et m'oter son cha- peau, On n'entrait point chez nous sans graisser le marteau Point d'argent, point de suisse. RACINE, Les Plaideurs. Sonnette, Rigaudsays: "Petit emigre de Gomorrhe." Deme- nager a la "sonnette de bois." See Demenager. Car il e"tait reduit a de"menager a la sonnette de bois. CHENU. Sonnettes, the signification may be gathered from the following : Je ne voudrois pas etre La femme d'un chatre. Us ont le menton tout pele 1 Et n'ont point de sonnettes. Pamasse des Muses. (Familiar) Une de nuit, silk tuft on a lady's hood. (Prisoners') Une , woman employed on the staff of assistants at the prison oj Saint-Lazare. (Printers') Des sonnettes, badly-adjusted type. Sophie, /. (popular), de carton, / girl of indifferent character. Faire sa , to put on prudish, disdain- ful, or " uppish " airs. Sans doute, il trouvait Lantier un peu fierot, 1'accusait de faire sa Sophie devant Sorbonne Souffler. 431 le vitriol) le blaguait parce qu'il savait lire . . . mais a part 53, il le declarait un bougre a poils. ZOLA, L'Assommoir. _.e fais done pas ta ! don't put on such airs! or, as the Americans say, ' ' come off the tall grass ! "/ orbonne,/ (thieves'), head. See Tronche. Je suis sur de cromper sa Sorbonne des griffes de la Cigogne. BALZAC. The term must have been first used by students of the Univer- sity. Sorbonner (thieves'), to think. Sorgabon, m. (thieves'), goodnight, " bene darkmans" in old English cant. An inversion of bonne sorgue. Sorgue, or some, /. (thieves'), night. From the Spanish cant sorna. Belle fichue vie que d'avoir continuelle- ment le taf des griviers, des cognes, des rousses et des gerbiers, que de n'pas savoir le matois si on pioncera la sorgue dans son pieu, que de n'pas pouvoir entendre aquiger a sa lourde sans que 1'palpitant vous fasse tic-tac. VIDOCQ. Faire devaler la a quelqu'un, to make one reveal a secret. Emmener la Maugrabine, la faire devaler la sorgue des autres ! elle ne dit pas une parole de vrai. LOUISE MICHEL. Se refaire de , to have supper. Si au lieu de pitancher de 1'eau d'aff nous allions nous refaire de sorgue chez 1'ogresse du Lapin Blanc? E. SUE. Sorguer (thieves'), to sleep, " to doss." Content de sorguer sur la dure, Va, de la bride je n'ai pas peur. Ta destinee est trop peu sure, Fais-toi gouepeur. VIDOCQ. Sorgueur, m. (thieves'), night thief. Les sorgueurs vont sollicer des gails a la lune. V. HUGO. Sorlot, m. (thieves'), shoe, or "daisy root." See Ripaton. Some, adj. (thieves'), black. Sort (popular), il me , an ab- breviation of a filthy expression, I cannot bear the sight of him. Sorte, f. (printers'), fib ; nonsense, " gammon ; " practical joke. Center une , to tell a fib. Faire une , to play a practical joke. Sortie d'hdpital, / (popular), long overcoat. Sortir (popular), les pieds devant, to be buried. Avoir 1'air de d'une boite, to be neatly dressed, to be spruce. Sosie-mannequin, m. (military), bolster arranged so as to represent a man in bed. II e"tait impossible en effet que son sosie- mannequin ne fflt pas pris pour luL DUBOIS DE GENNES. Soubise. See Enfant. Soubrette de Chariot,/, (popular), executioner's assistant. Souche, f. (popular), fumer une , to be buried, ' ' to have been put to bed with a shovel." Soudardant, adj. (old cant), said of anything referring to soldiers. Soudrillard, m. (thieves'), libertine, " rip." Soufflant, m. (thieves'), pistol, or "barking iron ;" (military) bugler. Termed also "trompion." L'appel aux trompettes vient eVeiller les e"chos . . . et un quart d'heure ne s'etait pas ecoule', que tons les soufflants firent resonner en choeur la retentissante fanfare du reveil. UUBOIS DE GENNES. Souffle, adj. (thieves'), caught; apprehended by the police, "smugged." See Piper. Souffler (popular), des pois, to snore, "to drive one's pigs to 432 Soufflet Soupeser. market ; " sa chandelle, to use one's fingers as a pocket-handker- chief ; sa veilleuse, to die, "to snuff it ; " ses clairs, to sleep. (Thieves') Souffier, to apprehend. Si dans 1'intervalle il etait souffle jamais la bande ne mangeait le morceau. CLAUDE. Souffler la camoufle, to kill, "to hush." C'est pour elle que son chevalier a souffle 1 la camoufle d'une vieille rentiere. LOUISE MICHEL. La donne souffle mal, the police are suspicious. Soufflet, m. (popular), head , breech. Avoir donne un a sa pelure, to wear a coat that has been turned. Vol au , consists in boxing a lady's ears while pre- tending to be an irate husband, and leaving her minus her purse. Souffleur, m. (popular), de boudin, chubby-faced fellow ; de poireau, flute player. Soufrante, f. (thieves'), lucifer match, " spunk." Souillot, m. (popular), low de- bauchee. Soulager (familiar), to steal, "to ease." Soulasse, /. (thieves'), informer, or "snitcher." FaLre la grande sur le trimar, to practise high- way robbery and murder, or "high Toby consarn." Also to be "on the snaffle-lay." I thought by your look you had been a clever fellow, and upon the snaffling-lay at least, but I find you are some sneaking budge. FIELDING, Amelia. Soulever (familiar), to steal. Souliers, m. pi. (familiar), a mu- sique, creaking shoes ; seize, tight shoes. See Seize. Souliers se livrant a la boisson, leaky shoes. Soulographe, m. (familiar), con- firmed drunkard. Soulographie,/. (familiar), intoxi- cation. Tiens, voilk dix francs. Si je les leur donne, Monsieur, ils feront de la soulo- graphie et adieu votre typographic. BAL- ZAC. Souloir, m. (thieves'), drinking glass, or "flicker;" des rati- chons, the altar. Soupape,/! (popular), serrer la , to strangle. Faire cracher ses soupapes, to get drttnk. Soupe, /. (familiar and popular), marchand de , schoolmaster, "bum brusher." Style de marchand de squpe . . . une lettre de directeur d'institution. . . . " Je suis tres mecontent d'Armand qui apres- avoir perdu sa grammaire, a trouve le moyen d'egarer son arithmetique." Si Ar- mand a perdu sa grammaire, le directeur nous semble 1'avoir legerement oubliee. ZADIG, Le Voltaire. Marchande de , head of a ladies' school. Elle me bassine, la marchande de soupe r Dis-lui done de me flanquer la paix, hein.a cette vieille cramponne ! ALBERT CIM. Une au lait, a man easily moved to anger. Une de perroquet, bread soaked in wine. (Popular) Faire manger la au poireau, to make one wait a long time. Soupente,/! (popular), the belly or stomach, "middle piece." Je t'vas defoncer la a coups de sorlots, /'// kick the life out of you. Vieille ! old slut ! Souper de la tronche & quel- qu'un (popular), to be disgusted with one. See Fiole. En , to be sick of it. Soupeser (popular), se faire , to- be reprimanded, "to get a wig- ging-" Soupe- toit t-seul Stores. 433 Soupe-tout-seul, m. (popular), bearish fellow. Je les entendois dire entre elles, parlant de moy : c'est un ry-gris (rit-gris), un loup- garou, un soupe-tout-seul. J^es Maistres d' Hostel aux Halles. Soupeuse, f. (familiar), woman fond of ' ' cabinets particuliers " at restaurants. Souquer (popular), to scold, or to thrash. Sourde, f. (thieves'), prison, " stir." Souriciere,/ (prisoners'), depdt at the Prefecture de Police. La voiture, apres avoir verse a la souri- ciere son chargement de coquins. GA- BORIAU. (Police) Souriciere, trap laid by the police. L'on a etabli une souriciere au tapis du Bien Venu. Avez-vous envie d'aller vous fourrer dedans ? VIDOCQ. Souris, f. (popular), a kiss on the eye. Faire une , to give a kiss on the eye. Ah ! mon minet . . . je te ferais plut6t une souris. VIDOCQ. Faire la , to tickle -with the finger tips. Sous (military), etre en verge, to be second in command. Sous-maitresse, f. (brothels'), kind of female overseer employed at such establishments. Sous-merde, f. (popular), man of utter insignificance ; utterly con- temptible man, "snot." Sous-off, m. (military), non-com- missioned officer. J'^tais simple sous-off. Sous-lieutenant? Eh ! non, sous-off. Nous disons sous- off, nous autres, abreviation de sous-officier. HECTOR FRANCE. Sous-ouille, m. (popular), shoe, or "trotter-case." Sous-pied, m. (military), tough piece of meat. Properly foot-strap. Sous-pied de dragon, infantry soldier, "mud-crusher." Soussouille,/. (popular), slatternly girl. From souillon. Sous-ventriere, / (popular), sash of a mayor, his insignia of office. See Faire. Soutados, m. (familiar), one-sou cigar. Soute au pain, / (popular), stomach, or " bread-basket." Soutellas, m. (popular), one-sou cigar. Soutenante, / (thieves'), stick, or " toko." Soutirer au caramel (popular), to wheedle one out of his money. Soyeux, m. (shopmen's), an assis- tant in the silk department, the lady assistant being termed " so- yeuse." Spade, f. (old cant), sword, or ' ' poker. " From spada. Spec, m. (thieves'), bacon, or "sawney." From the German. Spectre, m. (familiar), old debt ; (gamesters') de banco, ruined gamester who moves round the tables without playing. Stafer (thieves'), to say, " to rap." Stick, m. (familiar), small cane sported by dandies, " swagger." Us brandissent d'un air vainqueur une cravache ou un stick minuscule suivant qj'ils sont dans la garde a cheval ou a pied. HECTOR FRANCE, Stores, m. pi. (popular), eyes, or "peepers." Baisser les , to close one's eyes. F F 434 Stoubinen Su^on. Stoubinen (Breton cant), woman of indifferent character. Strapontin, m. (journalists'), pad worn tinder the dress, bustle, or "bird-cage." Une vitrioleuse lachee par son amant, alia tout tranquillement trouver son voisin 1'epicier, lui demanda une petite fiole de la liqueur en question, la cacha avec soin, peut-etresous son "strapontin." Un. Fla- neur. (Journalists') En , explained by quotation : Lie a un grand nom, leur petit nom vivra ; c'est ce que j'appelle aller a la pos- terite en strapontin, c'est-a-dire en lapin, par-dessus le marche. en compagnie d'un important qui se carre a la bonne place et paie la course : Corbinelli en strapontin avec la marquise de SeVign6 ; Brouette en strapontin avec Boileau ; d'Argental et autres en strapontin avec Voltaire. Si la posterite, laissant passer Voltaire, pretend barrer le tourniquet a d'Argental et de- mande : " Quel est ce gentilhomme ? " Vol- taire se retourne pour dire: "C'est quel- qu'un de ma suite." A. DUBRUJEAUD. Stroc, m. (thieves'), a "setter," small measure of wine. Stropiat, m. (thieves'), lame beggar. Mes braves bons messieurs et dames, Par Sainte-Marie-Notre-Dame, Voyez le pauvre vieux stropiat. Pater noster ! Ave Maria ! Ayez pitie. RICHEPIN. Stuc, m. (thieves'), share of booty, " regulars." Style, m. (popular), money. See Quibus. Style, adj. (popular), well-dressed ; rich. Suage, m. (thieves'), killing; murder. From suer, to sweat. Faire suer has the signification of to kill. Suageur, m. (thieves'), murderer. Subir l'6cart (gamesters'), to lose. Un joueur n'avoue jamais qu'il perd, il a horreur du mot perdre, il subit seulement un ecart. Memoires de Monsieur Claude. Sublime, m. (popular), lazy, good- for-notking workman. Ffls d'une poitrinaire et d'un sublime, il tait a la fois phtisique et rachitique. RICHEPIN. Sublimer (students'), to work hard, especially at night. (Popular) Se , to become debased. Sublimeur, w. (students'), hard- working student, a "swot." Sublimisme, m. (popular), idle- ness ; degradation. Subtiliser (popular), to steal, " to ease." Sea Grinchir. Sugage de pomme, m. (popular), kissing. Succes. See Estime. Succession, f. (familiar), c6telette a , a very inferior chop, one which is indigestible enough to give one's heirs a chance. Quand sous IMmail de leurs dents de crocodile, elles ont devore' . . . le beefteack a la Borgia et la "cotelette de succession " des alchimistes a prix fixe du Palais-Royal. P. MAHALIN. Suce-larbin, m. (thieves'), office for servants out of place. Larbin is a " flunkey." Sucer (popular), to drink, "to liquor up ; " la fine cdtelette, to havea " dejeuner a la fourchette ;" le caillou, la pomme, or le trognon, to kiss. Se les pouces, to have nothing to eat. Elle mettrait la main surla monnaie, elle acheterait les provisions. Une petite heure d'attente au plus elle avalerait bien encore ga, elle qui se sugait les pouces depuis la veille. ZOLA. Suceur, m. (theatrical), parasite, or " quiller ; " (popular) de pomme, one fond of kissing girls. Su?on, m. (familiar and popular), stick of barley sugar ; small bruise Sucre Suissesse. 435 produced by a kiss given in a peculiar -way, by sucking the spot. Un soir elle re5iit encore une danse parcequ'elle lui avait trouve une tache noire au cou. La matine osait dire que ce n'^tait pas un sugon ! ZOLA. Sucre, m. (popular), acochon, salt. C'est un ! that's excellent, "real jam." Sucre! euphemism for a coarse word, may be rendered by " go to pot ; " de giroflees, cuffs. Et cependant, bien sur une bonne roulee le remettrait au Nord. Ah ! c'est la vieille qui devrait se charger de tique au supreme degre. Ce n'est pas run homme, c'est un sucrier. A SIRVEN. Suee, f. (popular), reprimand, or " wigging ; " fear, " funk ; " de monde, large croivd. Suer (general), ca m'fait , that " riles " me, disgusts me. Ca m'fait suer, quand j'ai I'onglee, D'voir des chiens qu'ont un habit ! Quand, par les temps de gelee, Moi j'n'ai Hen, pas meme un lit. DE CHATILLON. Faire des lames de rasoir, to bore. Oh ! assez, hein? Tu nous fais suer des lames de rasoir en travers. . MONTEIL. Faire son argent, to bea usurer, or to invest one's money at a high percentage. Faire les cordes, to play on a stringed instrument. Faire le cuivre, to play on a brass instrument. (Theatrical) Faire le lustre, to play in such a wretched manner that even the claqueurs are disgusted. (Thieves') Faire suer, to kill. See Che'ne. Sueur de cantonnier,/ (popular), a thing of rare occurrence. A cantonnier is a labourer employed in the repairing of roads, and is supposed to be extremely lazy. Sufficit ! (popular), enough ! I understand, " I twig." Suffisance, f. (popular), avoir sa , to have drunk as much liquor as one can imbibe. Suif, m. (popular), money ; repri- mand, "wigging." Fianquer un , to give a " wigging." Gober son , to be reprimanded. ( Sharpers') Suif, concourse of card- sharpers. (Boulevards) Un , a dinner for which one has not to pay. II ... etait heureux de trouver au cercle un bon diner qui ne lui couiat rien, le " suif." HECTOR MALOT. Suiffard, m. and adj. (popular), stylish man ; rich ; stylish. Etait-il assez suiffard, 1'animal ! Un vrai proprietaire ; du linge blanc et des escarpins un peu chouettes ! ZOLA. Suiffe, adj. and f. (popular), fate; well-dressed ; stylish. Une femme suiffee, a stylish woman. Une , a thrashing. Suifferie, f. (popular), gaming- house, or " punting-shop. " A play on the word grece. Suisse, m. (military), guest. See Faire. Suissesse, f. (popular), glass of absinthe and orgeat. From ab- sinthe suisse. 436 Suiver Synagogue. Suiver (sailors'), se 1'estomac, to make a hearty meal. Suiveur, m. (familiar), man who makes a practice of following women ; (prostitutes') man who follows a prostitute. La grisette devoyee qui se fait suivre et conduit le suiveur dans un hotel borgne. L6o TAXIL. Suivez-moi jeune homme, m. (familiar), ribbons hanging from a lady's cloak. Nous avons garde nos suivez-moi jeune homme. GRVIN. The English have a similar ex- pression to designate curls hang- ing over a lady's shoulder, " fol- low-me-lads." Sultan, m. (theatrical), the public. Suna (Breton cant), to be a para- site. Suner (Breton cant), parasite. Superlificoquentieux, adj. (fami- liar), marvellous, ' ' crushing. " Supin, m. (thieves'), soldier. Pro- bably from soupe, the staple fare of the soldier. Sur le gril (thieves'), etre , to be awaiting judgment. Surbin, m. (thieves'), overseer ; spy. Surbine, f. (thieves'), watching, or "roasting;" surveillance by the police of a tickct-of-leave man. Surbiner (thieves'), to watch one, " to give one a roasting." Surclouer (popular), to renew a loan at a pawnshop. Surfinc, /. (thieves'), a variety of female thief. Surgerbement, m. (thieves'), fresh conviction in the Cour de Cassa- tipn. Surgerber (thieves'), to convict on appeal. Surie,/ (old cant), killing. Lite- rally sweating. Surin, or chourin, m. (thieves'), knife, or "chive ; " muet, life- preserver, " neddy." Scottish gipsies call a knife or bayonet a "chourie." Suriner, or chouriner (thieves'), to stab, " to stick." Les malfaiteurs lui prirent sa montre . . . si tu cries, nous te surinons. Le Radical, 1887. Surineur, or chourineur, m. (thieves'), murderer. Surmouleur, m. (literary), writer who imitates the defective features of another's style of writing. Surprenante, f. (gamesters'), one of the modes employed in arranging cards for cheating purposes. Surrincette,/. (familiar and popu- lar), second help of brandy after coffee. Surse, m. (shopmen's), faire le , to be on the look-out for the master. From Sur-seize (which see). Sur-seize ! (shopmen's), warning call when the master is approach- ing. Surtaille, / (thieves'), detective- force. From surete. Sydonie (hairdressers'), dummy. Sylphider (popular), se , to dis- appear, " to mizzle." Symbole, m. (popular), head, o* "nut;" credit, or "jawbone." Symphoneries, f. pi. (popular), nonsense, or "rot." Lacher des , to talk nonsense. Synagogue (popular), c'est , it comes to the same thing. Systeme Taf. 437 Systeme, in. (popular), the body. Taper sur le , to annoy ; to exasperate, "to rile." Se faire sauter le , to blmv one's brains out. Systeme ballon, pregnancy; Jardiniere, complete suit of clothes. An allusion to La Belle Jardiniere, a large outfitting firm ; Pinaud, silk hat. From the name of a celebrated hat-maker. Rompre le , to irritate, " to rile." S'en faire peter le , to undertake a task to which one is not equal. Tu t'en ferais peter le , is expressive of ironical refusal. See Nefles. Tabac, m. (students'), old student ; (military) adeux souslabrouette, canteen tobacco ; (popular) de democ, cigar ends chopped up. Etre dans le , to be in trouble, in difficulties. Foutre, or coller du , to thrash. This was termed formerly, "coller une prune, une chasteloigne, une aum6ne de Bour- gogne, un oignement de Bretagne, de la monnaie de 1'empire." Tabatiere,/ (popular), the behind. Tabernacle, m. (popular), the be- hind. Defoncer le , to kick one's behind. Table,/", (familiar), mettre les pieds sous la , to eat. Faire le tour de la , to eat of every dish. Table d'hote. See Avoir. Tableau, m. (popular), je com- prends le , / see what it is, I "catch on," as the Americans say. Tableau ! exclamation ex- pressive of comical surprise or malicious joy at the sight of some laughable accident. Tiens pig's-tu la lun' qui s'hallade ? Que'qu'a boit done, c'te bourriqu'-la Pour avoir la gueul' blanch" comme ca ? Y a pas d'bon sens. Vrai, que' panade ! Si j'y payais un lit' ? Tableau ! GILL, La Muse a Bibi. (Sportsmen's) Tableau, the "bag." Madame d' qui est une sportswoman des plus intrepides portait un superbe cos- tume de chasse, c'est elle qui a eu les hon- neurs de la journee en tuant 44. pieces. Le tableau etait superbe, il portait 204 pieces. Le Figaro, Oct., 1886. Tableau-radis, m. (artists'), picture returned unsold from the Arts Exhibition or from a picture- dealer's. Tableautin, m. (artists'), worthless picture, or "daub." Tablier, m. (popular), blanc, nurserymaid. Le leve is said of a woman in a state of advanced pregnancy. Faire lever le a une femme, to get a woman with child, to give her a ' ' white swelling. " Tabouret, m., figurea (obsolete), one who was put in the pillory with an iron collar round his neck, or one likely to be put there. Va done, figure a tabouret, J't'irons voir en face je Palais ; C'est la qu't'auras 1'air d'un butor, Monsieur 1'negociant z'en chiens morts. R iche-en-giieule. Taf, or taffe, m. (popular and thieves'), fear, "funk." Je n'ai pas coque' mon centre, de taffe du ravigno!6, ainsi si vouzailles brodez a 433 Taffer Talon. me'riKue fl fant balancer la lazagne au cen- tre de J. au castu de Canelle. VIDOCQ. Avoir le , to be afraid, " to come it." Que veux-tu, ZeViobie? chacun a sa misere. Le lievre a le taf, le chien les puces, le loup la faim . . . 1'homme a la soif Et la femme a 1'ivrogne ! GAVARNI. Coquer le , to frighten. Etre pris de , to be seized by fear. Seigneur ! qu'est-ce qu'il a done, repe- tait Gervaise prise de taf. ZOLA. Michel is inclined to believe that taf comes from a proverbial locu- tion, "les fesses lui font taf taf," he is quaking with terror, or " le cul lui fait tif taf. " According to L. Larchey the corresponding verb " taffer " is derived from the German taffein. Taffer, m, (popular and thieves'), to be afraid. See Taf. Taffetas, m. (thieves'), fear. From Taf (which see). Le taffetas les fera devider et tortiller la planque oil est le carle. VIDOCQ. Taffeur, m. (popular and thieves'), poltroon. Taffouilleux, m. (popular), ex- plained by quotation : Chiffonnier de la Seine, ecumant ses bords, rama-ssant les epaves et volant au besoin. F. DO BOISGOBEY. Literally un qui fouilledans le tas. Tafia, m. (popular), coffee. Pro- perly sweet rum. Tailbin d'alteque, m. (thieves'), bank note, or " long-tailed one." S'ils ne vous coquaient pas dix tailbins d'alteque de mille ballcs, vous mangeriez sur leur orgue. VIDOCQ. Tailbin is derived from the old cant word talle, tail. Tailler une bazane (popular), to make a certain contemptuous ges- ture. See Bazane. Et tandis que du revers de sa main il se caressait le menton, de 1'autre il se giffla la cuisse, taillant une bazane gigantesque au nez du colonel absent. G. COURTELINE. (Cavalry) Tailler une croupiere, to surpass ; (schoolboys') 1'e'cole, to play truant. Tais-toi mon cceur! (popular), an ejaculation expressive of mock emotion. Tal, m. (popular), the behind, or "tochas." Taper dans le , to be a Sodomist. Talar (Breton cant), meal. Talbin, m. (thieves'), attorney; note of hand ; de la carre, bank note, or " soft ; " d'encar- rade, theatre ticket. Literally entrance ticket. See Tailbin. Talbine, / (thieves'), market. Talbiner (thieves'), to summons. Talbinier, m. (thieves'), dealer at a market. Talentueux, adj. (familiar), talented. Taleri (Breton cant), to eat. Talochon, m. (popular), slight box on the ear. Talon, m. (familiar), rouge, aristo- crat. In the seventeenth century courtiers wore red-heeled shoes. Etre rouge jocularly means to have aristocratic manners. Avoir les talons courts. Rigaud says : Se dit d'une femme que le moindre souffle de 1'amour renverse dans la position horizontale. Diet, ef Argot. (Popular) Talon, postscript. Se donnerdu dans le cul (obsolete), to strut. Tout ca c'est bon pour s'aller donner du talon dans le c . . a une parade, pour s'quarrer avec d'belles epaulettes. Le Drapeau Rouge de la Mere Ditchesne. ' Faire tete du (obsolete), to flee. Tambouille- Tap. 439 Tambouille, f. (popular), very plain stetu ; small kitchen. Faire sa , to busy oneself with the cooking of food. Tambour, m. (cavalry), llhie brigadier fourrier, or one training to be a kind of quartermaster ; (thieves') dog, or " tyke." II n'avait pas deja si tort de croire au mec des mecs . . . nous n'avons pas ete jetes sur la terre pour vivre comme des tambours. VIDOCQ. Roulenient de , barking of a dog. Formerly " tambour de nature " signified woman's privities. (Mili- tary) Foutre au clou comme un , to punish a soldier without the slightest compunction, in an off- hand manner. Tampon, m. (popular), s'allonger un coup de , to fight. On s'est allonge un coup de tampon, en sortant de chez la mere Baquet. Moi je n'aiine pas les jeux de mains . . . vous savez, c'est avec le garden de la mere Baquet qu'on a eu des raisons. ZOLA, L'Assom- moir. Tamponne, /. (obsolete), faire la , to regale oneself. Tamponner (popular), to knock one about. Also to annoy ; de 1'ceil, to stare, "to stag;" 1'auriculaire, to tell. Si j'allais trouver vos patrons dans leur boutique pour leur tamponner 1'auriculaire de c'lui-ci : Ronchonot, col'nel, decore", une fesse gelee au siege d'Sebastopol, massacre d'blessures, sans compter les chevaux tues sous lui. G. PRISON. See Coquillard. Tam-tam, m. (popular), quarrel ; great noise. Faire du , " to kick up a row." Tangente, / The students of the Ecole Polytechnique thus term their swords. Tannant, adj. (popular), irksome, annoying. Etes-vous tannante avec vos idees d'en. terrement, interrompit Madame Putois, qui n'aimait pas les conversations tristes. ZOLA. Tanner (popular), to importune, "to bore;" le cuir, or le casaquin, to thrash, "to hide." See Voie. De meme qu'a Barochon on lui avail in- flige : huit jours de mazarot pour s'etre fait tanner le cuir par un gars qu'il ne voulait pas nommer. DUBOIS DE GENNES. Tante, f. (general), ma , the pawnshop, or "my uncle." Demander . . . a ce grand boheme qui cpnnaissait tons les monts-de-piete pari- siens, s'en etait servi depuis vingt ans comme de reserves oil il mettait 1'hiver ses vetements d'el, l'6te' ses vetements d'hiver ! . . . s'il connaissait le clou ! s'il connaissait ma tante ! A. DAUDET. Termed also ma Dumont, i.e. du Mont de Piete, pa^unshop. Accrocher quelque chose chez sa , to pawn an article, " to spout, to pop, to lumber, or to blue it." (Thieves') Une , an informer, or "nose." (Familiar and popu- lar) Une , a passive Sodomist. Dans la socie'te' ordinaire ou ce penchant centre nature est en quelque sorte inne chez certains individus, ces antiphysiques s'appellent tantes ; chez les marins, cor- vettes ; dans 1'armee, e'tendards. . . . Ces courtisanes, hommes-femmes, sont plus nombreuses qu'on ne le pense dans tous les rangs de la society. Elles forment une franc-magonnerie qui part du sommet de I'e'chelle sociale pour se perdre jusque dans ses bas-fonds. Mtmoires de Monsieur Claude. Taouanen (Breton cant), beggar. Taouen (Breton cant), lice. Tap, m. (thieves'), mark with which thieves used to be branded. The practice was discontinued in 1830. Faire la parade au meant formerly to be placed in the pillory. Jardiner sur le vert (tapis vert). to play cards. 440 Tapage Tapis. (popular). Rigaud Tapage, m. says : Seduction exercee sur tine femme. Est d'un degre plus releve que le " levage," en ce sens que la femme " tapee " songe moins a ses interets qu'au plaisir qu'elle aura. Diet, d' Argot. Tapage, borrowing money ', ' ' break- ing shins." Tapamort, m. (popular), drummer. Tapance, f. (popular), mistress or wife. Literally a thing made to be beaten. Termed a " tart " in the English slang, as appears from the following : Two bally black eyes ! Oh ! what a surprise ! And that only for kissing another man's tart. Two bally black eyes. Music-hall Song. La du meg, the employer's wife. Tap6, adj. (general), good ; excel- lent, or " nap ; " -well got up. Jupiter avail une bonne tete, Mars tait tape. ZOLA. (Popular) Tape a 1'as, or dans le nceud, " first-class, or ripping ; " aux pommes, excellent ; well- dressed ; handsome. Une particuliere tapee aux pommes. Pas cocotte pour deux Hards. Jamais je n'en ai vu une pareille venir dans la boite a Monsieur. P. MAHALIN. Tape-cul, m. (cavalry), aller a , to ride -without stirrups. Tape-dur, m. (thieves'), locksmith. Tapee, f. (familiar), a quantity, a "lot." Taper (familiar and popular), to borrow money, " to bite one's ear." II songea un instant a taper Theophile, rnais il etait deja son debiteur de dix louis. VAST RICOUARD, Le Tripot. Ikuvin qui tape sur la boule, wine that is heady. Taper dans le tas, to strike at random ; sur le ventre a quelqu'un, to be familiar or intimate with one; sur les vivres et sur la bitture, to eat and drink nntch ; (popular) dans le tas, to act in a straightforward blunt manner. Se de quelque- chose, to do without or deprive oneself of something. S'en , to drink to excess, " to swill." (Roughs') Taper sur la rejouis- sance, to thrash. Rejouissance is bone added by butchers to meat retailed. Tapette, f. (common), a young Sodomite ; a chatterbox. Avoir une fiere , to be a great talker. Tapeur, m. (familiar), needy man who lives on small loans wliich he procures from acquaintances. II va, il revient, il arpente le trottoir. II a la guigne aujourd'hui . . . celui-ci couperait peut-etre dans le pont ? mais quoi ! il a deja casqu hier . . . il desespere, car il entend partir derriere lui, de toutes les tables, ce mot cruel : attention ! voila le tapeur ! RICHEPIN. Tapeuse de tal (popular), prosti- tute. See Tal. Tapin, m. (popular), drum; drummer. Ficher un , to give a blow. Ficher le (obsolete), to importune. Tapiquer (thieves'), to inhabit. Tapis, m. (familiar), amuser le , to divert the company by pleasant conversation. Cheval qui rase le . See Rase-tapis. (Game- sters') Le brule ! expression used to excite one into playing. Jardiner sur le vert, to gamble. Eire au , to have lost all one's money. (Popular) Le bleu, the skies. Tapis de pied, courtier. (Thieves') Tapis, wine- shop; inn ; de degeles, the Morgue, or Paris dead-house ; d'endosse. Tapisserie Tartine. 441 shawl ; degrives, soldiers' can- teen ; de malades, prison can- teen ; de refaite, eating-house ; vert, gaming-house, or " punt- ing-shop ;" thieves' coffee-house; meadow. Tapisserie, f. (familiar), faire , is said of ladies at a ball, who, being neglected for some reason or other by gentlemen devoid of gal- lantry, are compelled to sit and look on as mere spectators. This unpleasantness is termed " doing the wall-flower." (Gamesters') Avoir de la , to have several figure-cards in one's game. Tapissier, m. (thieves'), inn-keeper, or landlord of a wine-shop, "boss of a lush-crib." Nous ne voulons enquiller chez aucun tapissier. VIDOCQ. (Gamblers') Allumeur , confede- rate -who entices others into play- ing, but who does not take an active part in the game. Celle qui vit du jeu et desjoueurs, depuis ls gros mangeurs. . . jusqu'aux rameneurs, aux dineurs, aux allumeurs-tapissiers. HECTOR MALOT. Tapon, m. (popular), heap of rags. Mettre sa cravate en , to tie one's necktie in a slovenly manner. Tapoter (familiar), to be an indiffe- rent player on the piano. Tapoteur, m. (familiar), indifferent pianist. Tapotoir, m. (cocottes'), the piano. Taquete (ballet dancers'), explained by quotation : C'est la vivacite, la rapidite, ce sont les petits temps sur les pointes. CH. UE BOIGNE. Taquiner (popular), le dandillon, to ring, " to jerk the tinkler;" les dents d'elephant, to play tne piano. Tarauder (popular), to make a dis- agreeable noise by shifting chairs about ; to thrash. Se , to quar- rel ; to fight. Tard-a-la-soupe, m. (popular), guest who is late for dinner. Tariek (Breton cant), tobacco ; tip of money. Taroque,. /. (thieves'), mark on linen. Taroquer (thieves'), to mark linen. Tarre, /. (thieves'), vol a la , picking pocket-handkerchiefs, or "stook-hauling." Tartare, m. (tailors'), apprentice. Tarte, tartelette, adj. (thieves'), bad, spurious, or "snide." The word snite is found in Urquhart's Rabelais, with the modern signifi- cation of "snot," or base fellow: Here enter not vile bigots, hypocrites, Externally devoted apes, base snites. Or in Rabelais' words : Ci n'entrez pas hypocrites, bigots, Vieux matagots, mariteux boursofle. Tarte bourbonnaise (obsolete). See Tarter. Tarter, tartir(popularand thieves'). In Latin alvtim deponere. In furbesche ' ' tartire " has the same signification, and also means to ease one's conscience by confessing to a priest. a m'fait , that bores me. J'couch' que'qu'fois sur un bane d'gare ; Mais 1'ch'min d'fer a cot6 Fait tout 1'temps du tintamarre. Les ronfleurs, ca. m'fait tarter. RICHEPIN. Tartine, f. (familiar), dull, long speech, or writing. (Popular) Des tartines, shoes, or boots, ' ' trotter- cases." Fais done au moins cirer tes tartines. . . . C'qu'elles sont sales ! Ah ! j'avais pas pige 1'coup ! C'est pas des pieds, mon 442 Tartimr Taupe. yieux, s'est des cercueils d'enfant ! C'est- H vrai que c'est la-dessus qu'on va batir la tour Eiffel? Ah ! mince alors. Gil Bias, 1887. Tartiner (familiar), to write articles. Tartinier, m. (familiar), -writer of newspaper articles. Tartouiller (popular), to scribble. Tartouve,/. (thieves'), handcuffs, "bracelets." Us m'ont mis la tartouve, Grand Meudon est aboule, Dans mon trimin rencontre, Un pegre du quartier. V. HUGO, Le Dernier Jour ci'un Condamne. Tas, m. (popular), person devoid of energy, "sappy." Prendre sur le , to take one red-handed. Synonymous of " prendre la main dans le sac." Repiquer au , to begin afresh. (Bullies') Faire le , or le turbin, to walk the streets as a prostitute. (Popular and thieves') Le de pierres, the prison, or " stone jug." Tous ceux qui rigolent encore a Pantin viennent d'etre fourrs dans le tas de pierres. VIDOCQ. Tasse, f. (popular), nose, or "boko." See Morviau. (Fami- liar) La grande , the sea. Called in the English slang, "briney," " herring-pond," or, in the lan- guage of sailors, " Davy's locker." See Boire. (Printers') Buvons une , let us have a glass of wine. Tasseau, m. (popular), the nose. See Morviau. Se secher le , to sneeze. Tassee, adj. (theatrical). A play is said to be "tassee " when it is performed more rapidly in conse- quence of the actors knowing their parts better after a few perform- ances. Tata,/ See Faire, S6cher. Tate-minette, /. (popular), mid- wife. Literally feel pussy. Tate-poule, m. (popular), simple- minded man, a "duffer." Tateur, m. (popular), de femmes, man fond of taking liberties with women. (Thieves') Tateur, skeleton key, or " betty." Tatez-y, m. (popular), trinket worn on the bosom. Une bague de cornaline, une paire de manches avec une petite dentelle, un de ces coeurs en double^ des " tatez-y " que les filles se mettent entre les deux n^nais. ZOLA, L 'Assommoir. Tatouille, / (popular), sound thrashing. Tatouiller quelqu'un (popular), to give a sound thrashing, ' ' to knock into a cocked hat." Taude,/, taudion, m. (popular), small lodging-house, small " crib." From taudis, wretched, disorderly room. Taule, m. andf. (old cant), execu- tioner, "Jack Ketch." The various modern or old synonyms are : " Chariot, le pere Rasibus, bequillard, buteur, tolle, tollart, aricoteur, rouastre, Chariot casse- bras, marieux, lamboureur." (Thieves') Une , a house. Etienne Lardenois avail et gerb a cinq longes de dur, pour un grinchissage au fric-frac dans une taule habitue. VIDOCQ. (Popular) La , the "tibby." hcaa, A-t-il 1'air feroce ! II doit avoir tue bien du monde, O le gueux ! le sc^l^rat ! C'te balle ! oh, c'te taule ! TH. GAU- TIER. Taupage, m. (cads' and thieves'), selfishness. Taupe, f. (familiar), girl of indiffe- rent character ; (military) de rempart, soldier of the engineers. Tauper T^nor. 443 Tauper (popular), to work, " to graft ; " dessus, to thrash. Taupier, m. (thieves'), selfish fellow. Taupin, m. (students'), student in the division of mathematiques speciales, or higher mathematics. Name given specially t* those who prepare for the Ecole Polj tech- nique. Aussi le jeune Anglais a-t-il le mepris du cul-de-p'omb scientifique, du fort en theme, du "book-worm" comme il 1'appelle, s'il n'est rembourr6 de muscles solides ; du taupin, si le taupin est un faiblard. HEC- TOR FRANCE. The " taupins " are divided into "taupin carre " and "taupin cube," respectively second and third year student in the course of higher mathematics. (Military) Taupin, soldier or officer of the engineers. From taupe, a mole. Taupiner (thieves'), to murder. Taupiniere, / (students'), cram- ming establishment which pre- pares candidates for the army. Te Deum, m. (popular), faire chanter un raboteux, to thrash. Teigne, /. (popular), etre , to have a bad temper. Mauvaise , snarling, evilly-disposed person. Teinte, adj. (popular), etre , to be in a fair way of being intoxi- cated, to be slightly " elevated." Teinturier, m. (popular), wine re- tailer; (familiar) literary man who revises another's writings. Telegraphe, m. (familiar), sous- marin, signals made by lovers by pressure of the foot under a table. (Gambling cheats') Faire le , to stand behind a player and by sundry signals to give informa- tion to an accomplice. Temp6rament, m. (familiar), acheter a , to buy on the instal- ment system. Ce genre d'operation est tres usite entre filles galantes et marchandes a la toilette. Ces dames qui ont le petit mot pour rire, appellent encore ce mode de pavement " a tant par amant." RIGAUD. Temp6te. See Cap. Temple, m. (freemasons'), hall of meeting; (thieves') cloak. Second- hand clothes are mostly sold in the Quartier du Temple. Temps, m. (popular), sale, warm- weather which makes one feel dry ; de demoiselle, weather which is neither hot nor cold ; (theatri- cal) froid, prolonged silence, when, for instance, an actor's memory fails him. (Fencing) Voir le coup de , to see the feint. Tenante,/ (thieves'),//;^ measure. Tendeur, m. (cads'), man under the influence of a well-developed bump of amativeness, ' ' homo salax." Vieux , old debauchee, old " rip. " ( Popular) Tendeur de demi-aune, beggar. Tend-la-main (popular), beggar. Tendresse,/; (journalists'), euphe- mism for prostitute. Literally vendeuse de tendresses. Tenir (familiar), la chandelle, to favour, willingly or unwittingly, the loves of a couple ; la corde, to surpass ; to excel. En , to be in love with, or "mashed on." II en tient, his wife deceives him. (Popular) Se a quarante sous avec son croque-mort, to die hard. (Theatrical) Get auteur tient 1'affiche, this author's play has a long run. (Thieves') Tenir quel- qu'un sur les fonts, to be a witness for the prosecution ; (sailors') bien sur &es ancres, to enjoy good health. Tenor, m. (journalists'), writer of leading articles. 444 Tenue Tete. Tenue, /. (freemasons'), meeting. (Thieves') En petite de dragon, in one's shirt, in one's "mish." Terreau, tn. (popular), snuff. Se flanquer du par le tube, to take snuff. Terre-neuve. See Bane. Terrer (thieves'), to murder; to guillotine. On va terrer (guillotiner) Theodore . . . oui Theodore Calvi morfile (mange) sa der- niere bouchee. BALZAC. Terreur, f. (thieves'), desperate scoundrel of herculean strength who lords it over his fellow-male- factors. Chaque quartier, aux portes de Paris, possede sa terreur. Le champs-clos des terreurs . . . se tient aux voisinages de la Roquette ou du Pere Lachaise. . . . La, celui qui a tombe son adversaire a le droit de lui retirer son titre de Terreur des qu'il parvient a lui manger une partie du nez, a lui supprimer un peil ou la moiti6 de la machoire. Mimoires de Monsieur Claude. Terreuse, f. (popular), prostitute who prowls about deserted spots. See Gadoue. Terrien, m. (sailors'), landsman, or "land-lubber;" (familiar) pea- sant, "clod-hopper." Terrine, f., etre dans la (obso- lete), to be drunk. Terriniere,/; (popular), lowest sort of prostitute, or " draggle-tail." Tesson, m. (roughs'), head, or "tibby." Tetard, m. (popular), stubborn, or " pig-headed " man ; long-headed Bien sorbonne" (raisonne'), mpn homme, tu es toujours le roi des tetards (hommes de tetej. E. SUE. JTetasses, / //. (popular), large, pendulous breasts. Termed by Voltaire, "grands pendards." Tetassiere, / (popular), woman with large, lank breasts. Tete,/! (familiar and popular), de buis, bald head, "bladder of lard ;" de canne, or de pipe, ugly, grotesque head or face, " knocker- face ; " de choucroute, or carree, German. Une superbe paire de pantoufles de satin qu'il avait d6nichee, je ne sais ou, dans une chambre abandonnee par les " tetes carrees." Almanack Illustrt de la Petite Republique Franfaise, 1887. Une bonne , a simple-minded person, one easily imposed upon. Je suis trop bon, on me prend pour une bonne tete. Zut ! a partir de ce matin, je fous tout le monde dedans et voila ! G. COURTELINE. Faire sa , to give oneself airs. Y* a-t'y rien qui vous agace Comme une levrette en pal'tot ! 8uand y'a tant d'gens su' la place ui n'ont rien a s'mett' su' 1'dos ? fai 1'horreur de ces p'tit's betes, 'aim' pas leux museaux pointus ; aim' pas ceux qui font leux tetes ass' qu'iz'ont des pardessus. DE CHATILLON, La Levrette en Paletot. Avoir une qui depasse les cheveux, to be bald, or " to have a bladder of lard." Avoir une bonne > to have a grotesque face. Mon pauvre vieux, si je vous disais que vous avez une bonne tete ! N'acheve pas, 6 ange ! tu me la met- trais a 1'envers ! Journal Amusant. (Military) Tete mobile, instructor in musketry ; a corvees, block- head ; (printers') de clous, worn-out type; (theatrical) a 1'huile, director of the staff of super- numeraries. Faire sa , or se faire une , refers to the " make- up " of one' s countenance. (Fami- liar) Tete de lure, person taken as a butt for ironical hits, jokes, or insults. An allusion to the Turk's Teter Tigne. 445 head used at fairs to be pummelled by persons desirous of testing their strength. Je savaisque dans les reunions publiques, mes collegues et moi etions la " tete de turc," sur laquelle s'exerqaient a plaisir et essay aient leurs forces les orateurs plebeians de 1'epoque. MAClt. Avoir une , better explained by the following : Que diable appelez-vous ' ' avoir ou n'avoir pas une tete ? " . . . Avoir une tete, c'est n'etre pas guillotine^. Ne pas avoir une tete, c'est etre guillotined Cette expli- cation vous suffit-elle? Non? Eh bien ! avoir une tete, c'est jouir de la plenitude de sa beaute. C'est avoir . . . un aspect, un air, une physionomie qui ne soient pas ceux de tout le monde. A. SCROLL. (Popular) Tete d'acajou, negro, or " bit o' ebony ; " de boche, or de pioche, very stupid man, "dunderhead." See Boche. Tete de patere, prostitutes biilly, or "ponce;" de veau lavee, white face, or "muffin-face." Teter (popular), to drink, "to lush." Teton, m. (popular), de satin blanc tout neuf, virgin's breasts. Tetons de Venus, well-shaped breasts. Comme elle portait une robe tegere malgre' decembre, on voyait sous son fichu pointer les tetons de Venus que le froid raidissait. Et pas de flic-flac . . . non, c'etait plante solidement. RICHEPIN, Le Pave. Tetonniere, f. (popular), woman with -well-developed breasts, like Juno's. Tetue,/. (thieves'), pin. Teziere, or tezigo (thieves'), thoti, thee. Tezigue (thieves'), thee, thou. Le dardant a coque" le rifle dans mon pal- pitant qui n'aquige plus que pour tezigue. VlDOCQ. Theatre, m. (popular), le rouge, the guillotine. Theta X., m., second year student at the Ecole Polytechnique. See Pipo. Thomain, m. (theatrical), insignifi- cant fart. Thomas, m. (familiar and popu- lar), a facetious synonym for pot de chambre. Thus termed in con- nection with the alleged inquisitive disposition of the apostle of that name. The English have the ex- pression "looking-glass," which probably originated from a mali- cious pun not easy to explain in polite language. (Popular) La mere , or la veuve , night- stool. Avoir avale , to have an offensive breath. (Thieves') Pipe a , a -variety of cheating game. Thunard, m. (thieves' and popular),. silver coin. Thune, or tune,/ (thieves'), money; coin. See Tune. Thune de camelotte, spurious coin ; de cinq balles, five-franc coin. Si tu veux qu'elle t'obeisse, montre-lui une thune de cinq balles (piece de cinq^ francs) et prononce ce mot-ci : Tondif ! BALZAC. Tibi, m. (familiar), stud for the shirt collar. Tiche,_/I (shopmen's), profits. Ticquage,#z.(card-sharpers'),.r?V7a/ made to a confederate by moving cards up and down. Tierce, f. (thieves'), gang; de pegres, gang of thieves, "mob." Il>y a de la , the police are in full force. (Popular) Tierce a 1'egout, tierce of nine at the game of piquet. J'ai une tierce a 1'egout et trois colombes ... les crinolines ne me quittent pas. ZOLA. Tiffes, or tifs, m. pi. (roughs' and thieves'), hair, or ' ' thatch. " Tigne,/ (thieves'), crowd. 446 Tigner Tirelire. Tigner (thieves'), d'esbrouffe, to pick pockets in a crowd. Tigre, m. (familiar), small groom, or " tiger ; " (theatrical) young ballet dancer ; (popular) a cinq griffes, five-franc coin. (Military) Tigre, urinals. Timbaliere, f. (familiar), woman who speculates on the Stock Ex- change. Timbre-poste, m. (sportsmen's), cartridge. Tinette, f. (popular), mouth. Che- valier de la , scavenger employed in empty ingprivies, "gold-finder." Couvre ta , hold your tongue. Plomber comme une , to stink. Ca me remettra un peu du sale mec qui vie'nt de me r'faire, y plombe comme une tinette. LOUISE MICHEL. (Thieves') Tinette, boot, or " daisy-root." Tinteur, m. (old cant), Sodomist. Tintouiner (popular), se , to fret. Tipe, m. (sporting), piece of infor- mation, "tip." Tique, /. (popular), saoul comme une , completely drunk, ' ' sewed up." Tiquer, or ticquer (card-sharpers'), to signal by moving the cards up and down. Tirades,/, pi. (thieves'), convict's fetters, " wife." Tirage, m. (familiar), difficulty. Tiraillon, m. (thieves'), explained by quotation : Vetus tres mesquinement . . . ils se bor- tient & fouiller les poches des habits et des paletots, et exploitent ordinairement les curieux qu'un ev^nement fortuit rassemble Brians les rues ou qui forment cercle autour gres d'P^lago. RICHEPIN. Tire-moelle. or tire-molard, m. (popular), pocket-handkerchief, or " muckinger." Tire-mome,/. (popular), midwife. Tire-point, m. (thieves'), buter au , to kill by stabbing in the back with a saw-file. Tire-poire, m. (popular), photo- grapher. Poire is the head. Tirer (familiar), a boulets rouges sur quelqu'un, to sue one -without mercy ; la corde, or la ficelle, to be in bad circumstances ; la langue d'un pied, or d'une aune, to be -very thirsty, " to be as dry as a lime-basket." Also to be in great distress ; une dent, to ob- tain a loan of money under false pretences. See Ligne. (Popular) Tirer le chausson, to run away. In the English slang, " to pike it," as appears from quotation : Joe quickly his sand had sold, sir, And Bess got a basket of rags ; Then up to St. Giles's they roll'd, sir ; To every bunter Bess brags. Then unto the gin-shop they pike it, And Bess was admitted, we hear ; For none of the crew dare but like it, As Joey, her kiddy, was there. The Sand-Man's Wedding. Tirer une rapee refers to coition, Se la , or se les balladoires, to run away. See Patatrot. Se d'epaisseur, to extricate oneself from some difficulty. En une d'epaisseur. See Ca- rotte. Tirer la dig-dig, to pull the bell, " to jerk the tinkler ;" (police) la droite, or de la droite, to have a peculiar limp of the right leg, caused by the weight of the fetters which a convict has worn when at the penal servitude settle- ment. Ce n'est pas un sanglier, . . . c'est un cheval de retour. Vois comrae il tire la droite ! II est ne'cessaire d expliquer ici . . . que chaque format est accouple a un autre (toujours un vieux et un jeune en- semble) par une chaine. Le poids de cette chaine, rivde a un anneau au-dessus de la cheville, est tel, qu'il donne, au bout d'une anne, un vice de marche eternel au forcat. . . . En termes de police, il tire la droite. BALZAC. (General) Tirer la carotte, to take in, "to bamboozle;" - une carotte, to obtain something from one imder false pretences ; to de- ceive, " to bilk." Nul, d'ailleurs, n'entrait a la malle sans avoir passe par ses mains, Flick tenant a bien se convaincre qu'aucun de ses lascars ne lui tirait de carotte. G. COURTELINK. The Italians have the correspond- ing expression, " plantar carota," the origin being that, in a soft soil, an appropriate image of credulity, the carrot will thrive wonderfully. The wary Italian only plants the aforesaid vege- table, biding his time and watch- ing his opportunity, whilst the impetuous Gaul at once plucks it by the roots. (Military) Tirer de la cellule, to be confined in a military cell. Oui, c'est comme ca, je tire de la cel- lule avant que je me tire moi-meme. G. COURTELINE. Tirer au cul, to shirk one's duties. An allusion to unfair thrusts not allowed in fencing. Tu vas me foutre le camp au pansage, tout de suite, et tu coucheras k la boite ce soir pour t'apprendre a tirer au cul. Ah ! carotier ! ah ! fricoteur ! G. COURTELINE. Termed also Tirer au grenadier, au renard, aux flancs. De tous les coins de I'infirmerie des cris de colere montaient : Y tire aux flancs, ce cochon-la. G. COURTELINE. Tirer au cul, to deceive one's 448 Tiretaine T ocas son. superiors by feigning sickness, &v. Eh bien oui, hurla-t-il, c'est vrai ! C'est vrai que j'ai tir au cul . . . mais si j'ai pas la diarrhee, comme j'ai voulu le faire ac- croire, c'est pas faute que j'age tout fait pour 1'attraper ; je vous en fiche mon bil- let . . . j'm'ai flanqu6 douze paquets de bis- muth dans 1'estomac ; j'pouvais pourtant pas faire pluss ! G. COURTELINE. Ca se tire, things are progressing favourably. La chose se tire, the plan is being carried out, the thing is being done. II faut lui crever la paillasse ; qui est-ce qui en est? . . . II n'y eut pas une deser- tion . . . ni parmi ceux de la classe, pour qui " $a se tirait." G. COURTELINE. (Thieves') Tirer la longe, to limp j sa crampe, to escape from prison ; son plan, to be in prison ; un conge a la Maz, to be imprisoned in the prison of Mazas. Moi, j'ai besoin qu'ma Louis turbine, Sans ca, j'tire encore un conge A la Maz ! Gare a la surbine ! J'deviens grinch' quand j'ai pas mange. RICHEPIN. Tirer une coupe sur le grand flanche, to be transported, "to lump the lighter." Tiretaine, m. (thieves'), country thief. Tire-t'arriere (sailors'), une dcge- lee de , an awful thrashing. II se demandait s'il ne fallait point sauter sur le gas . . . le ramener de force a la maison. sous une degelae de tire-t'arriere. RICHEPIN, La Glu. Tireur, m. (thieves'), pickpocket, " cly-faker. " Tireuse de vinaigre,/. (obsolete), explained by quotation : Femme prostitute, coureuse, putain, garce, fille de joye, de mauvaise vie. LE Roux. Tiroir, m. (card-sharpers'), -variety of swindling by abstracting one or more cards from the game ; (popu- lar) de 1'ceil, gains on odd pieces of material. Tirou, m. (thieves'), by-road. Tisanier, m. (popular), hospital attendant. Titi, m. (popular), typographer; fowl. The word is used also as a name for a Paris street-boy. Toe, m. and adj. (familiar and popular), gold or silver plated metal. Ca? c'est une boucle d'oreille en imita- tion. . . . Ah ! de mon temps, les femmes qui fr^quentaient le Caf6 de Paris se re- spectaient trop pour porter du toe! P. MAHALIN. Toe, ridiculous. II est joliment tpc, va ! quand il la fait a la dignit^ et qu'il est en chemise. E. MONTEIL. Toe, crazy ; inferior, deteriorated, "pinchbeck." Une femme , an tigly woman. II est un peu , he is slightly crazy, or a "little bit balmy in his crumpet." C'est , itisinferior, or "jimmy." (Thieves') Le , the ikectitioner at the convict settlement. (Artists') Un tableau , a picture not painted in good style, not up to the mark. Tocandine, f. (popular), kept woman. Tocard, m. and adj. (popular), old beau ; ugly, bad, ill. Diminutive of Toe (which see). C'est , it is not right. Etre pour le galtos, to have but scanty means. Also to be stingy. Tocarde,/. (popular), old coquette. Tocasse, adj. (thieves'), wicked ; malicious. Tocasserie, f. (thieves'), -wicked- ness ; malice. Tocasson, m. (popular), ugly ivornan. Tocquardement Tondeur. 449 Tocquardement (popular), badly; roughly. Harponner , to lay rough hands on. Toc-toc, adj. (popular), cracked. Togue, adj. (thieves'), cunning. Toile,/. (popular), d'emballage, shroud. Les toiles se touchent, expression -which denotes that one has no money in his pocket. (Tailors') Faire de la , not to have sufficient means to procure food. Toilette, f. (shoemakers'), green canvas wrapper for boots; (general) cutting the hair of convicts previous to execution. La chambre de , room at Mazas where that opera- tion is performed. C'est au dpot que se fait la toilette sur un escabeau, toujoursle memedepuistrente ans. . . . Des que le condamn^ est sorti de sa cellule pour entrer dans cette chambre de toilette, il appartient au bourreau. Memoires de Monsieur Claude. Toilier, m. (shopmen's), an assis- tant in the linen department. Toise, adj. (familiar), il est , used disparagingly, we knoiu his worth, or -what he is capable of. Toiture, f. (popular), hat, "tile." Tok-tok (Breton cant), hammer. Tolede (familiar), de (jocular), of the best quality. Tollard, m. (thieves'), office ; execu- tioner, see Taule ; (convicts') camp bed. Tom ate, f. (popular), restercomme une , to be confused, to look foolish. Tombage, m. (gambling cheats'), extortion of money by gambling cheats from their confreres, or loan made by a gamester and not likely to be repaid, " biting the ear." Tombeau, m. (popular), bed, or "doss." Tomber (familiar), quelqu'un, to nonplus one. Si vous me toinbez jamais sous la coupe (threaten- ingly)) if cver I have any power over you. (Popular) Tomber une femme, to obtain awoman'sfavours; dans la melasse, to become poor, to be ruined ; dans la limonade, to fall in the wafer; dans 'le boeuf, to become poor ; en figure, to fall in with a person whom one would rather avoid ; pile, to fall on one's back ; sur le dos et se casser le nez, to be constantly unsuccessful ; sur le dos et se faire une bosse au ventre, words nsed to denote that a girl has been seduced, with, the natural conse- quences ; sur un coup de poing, to receive a black eye, and to pre- tend that it is the result of a fall ; une bouteille, to drink a bottle of -wine ; (thieves') dans le malheur (euphemism), to be transported, "to go over the water ; " to be apprehended ; en frime, to meet with; en litharge (lethargic), to be in soli- tary confinement ; malade, to be apprehended, or "smugged." Tombeur, m. (popular), redoubtable wrestler; Lovelace; (theatrical) bad actor ; (familiar) sfanderous journalist. Tompin, m. (familiar), le genre , something between vulgarism and elegance. Tondeur, m. (popular), de nappes, parasite, or " quiller ; " d'ceufs, over-particular man, one who sticks at trifles ; a pedantic person ; a miser, or "hunks." G G 450 Tonneau Torchon. Tonneau, m. (popular), etre d'un bon , to be ridiculous. Etre d'un fort , to be extremely stupid, a "dunderhead." (Roughs') Ton- neau diviseur, cab. Properly privy tub. Tonnerre de poche, m. (obsolete), wind. In Latin, crepitus ven- tris. Toper (military), to seize ; to appre- hend. Topiser (thieves'), to recognize ; to stare at. Topo, m. (military), topographic survey ; staff; staff officer. Toquade,^ (familiar), fancy for a girl or for a man ; whim. Avoir une , to be " spooney." J'ai pour toi une toquade insens^e depuis la premiere de Marion Delorme. E. MON- TEIL. Toquadeuse, f. (familiar), cocotte of a sentimental turn of mind, capable of loving a man "for love. " Toquante,/ (popularand thieves'), watch, or " tatler." Son auber j'ai engante, Son auber et sa toquante, Et ses attach's de c. V. HUGO. Toque, f. (thieves'), watch, or " tatler." Toque, m. and adj. (familiar), eccentric man ; one who is cracked, or "queer." Etre de, to be in love with, ' ' spooney on, mashed on, sweet on, or keen on." Et moi qui tais toque de Blanche. Oh ! mais toqu6 comme une enclume depuis que je lui avais vu jouer la machine a coudre dans la Revue. P. MAHALIN. Toque, from toquet, cap. Com- pare with the expressions, avoir la tete pres du bonnet, and to have a bee in one's bonnet. Toquemann, m. (cocottes 1 ), eccen- tric, extravagant man. Toquer (familiar), se , to fancy ; to fall, or to be in love, "to be spooney, or gone on." (Popular) Toquer, to ring. Toquet, m. (familiar), de loutre, name given in 1881 to females who speculated on the Stock Ex- change. (Popular) Avoir son , or en avoir dans le , to be drunk, or "tight." Torchecul, m. (popular), disparag- ing epithet used in reference to a newspaper or document. Torcheculatif, adj. (familiar). Propos torcheculatifs, dirty talk. See Rabelais' Gargantua, chap, xiii. : Or poursui ce propos torcheculatif ; je t'en prie. Et par ma barbe, pour un bus- sart, tu auras soixante pipes. Torchee, f. (popular), blows ; set to. Torchenez, m. (popular), mettez un a votre langue, hold your tongue, "put a clapper to your mug." Torcher (popular), to do something hurriedly and carelessly ; de la toile, to do anything hurriedly ; les plats, to have an appetite. Se , to fight. Se le cul de quelquechose, not to care a straw for a thing. S'en le nez, to have to do without. Se la gueule, to fight. (Literary) Tor- cher, to write a neat article. Torchette,/! (popular), net comme , very tidy. Torchon, m. (popular), dirty pros- titute ; (familiar and popular) slattern. Le briile a la maison, words used to denote that a do- mestic quarrel ts taking place. (Military) Se flanquer un coup de , to fight. Tord-boyanx Tortne. 451 Tord-boyaux, m. (familiar and popular), brandy, or strong brandy, "French cream," and in old cant, "bingo." Le tord-boyaux est verse a la ronde dans les lourds godets de verre sale, et les nez enchifrenes le reniflent bruyamment, avant qu'on ne 1'envoie d^truire ce fameux ver qui a la vie si dure. RICHEPIN. "Tordre (popular), le cou a une negresse, to discuss a bottle of wine. (Familiar and popular) Se , to laugh enough to split one's sides. II disait comme un parfait gommeux : " Chic, tres chic . . . c'est infect . . . on se lord "... niais 11 le disait moins vulgaire- ment, grace a son accent etranger qui re- levait T'argot. A. DAUDET, Les Rois en Exit. Tordu, m. (gambling cheats'), " pigeon " who has been robbed by card-sharpers. Literally pigeon whose neck has been twisted. Torniquet, m, (popular), mill. Torpiaude, f. (peasants'), woman of bad character. Torpille, f. (familiar), woman of lax morals ; d'occasion, street- walker. "Torse, m. (familiar), poser pour le , to show off one's figure. (Popular) Torse, stomach. Se velouter le , to comfort oneself with a glass of wine or brandy. Torta (Breton cant), to sleep; to kill. Tortillade, f. (thieves'), food, or "toke." The other English synonyms are : " mungarly, grub, prog, crug." Tortillante,/. (thieves'), vine. Tortillard, m. (popular), lame man ; (thieves') wire. Tortille, adj. (popular), etre , to be dead. Bah ! . . . un petit verre de eric, ce n'est pas mauvais. Moi, ca me donne du chien. . . . Puis, vous savez, plus vite on est tor- tille, plus c'est drole. ZOLA. Tortiller (popular), to limp ; to eat; to hesitate. II n'y a pas a , or a des fesses, there must be no hesitation. Tonnerre de scrongnieugnieu, murmure Ronchonot en se promenant d'un air grognon dans son cabinet ; n'y a pas a tortiller des fesses, c'est pour d'main matin a dix heures et demie. G. PRISON. Tortiller de 1'ceil, to die. See Pipe. (Thieves') Tortiller, to confess ; to inform against, ' ' to snitch;" la vis, or le gaviau, to strangle. Si vous me tortillez le gaviau, de la vie ni de vos jours, vous ne verrez Micro- scopique. DE GENNES. (Gamesters') Tortiller le carton, to play cards. (Sailors') Se du boyau, to vomit. Tortillette, /. (popular), girl who wriggles when dancing or walking. Tortillon, m. (popular) , young girl; young servant maid, or ' ' slavey ; " the behind. See Vasistas. Tortorage, m. (thieves'), food, or " mungarly." Tortore,/! (thieves'), meal. Passer a la , se 1'envoyer, or casser la croustille, to eat. Tortorer (thieves'), to eat, " to grub." See Mastiquer. Tor- torer le pain a cacheter, to par- take of the Lord's Supper. Tortouse, / (thieves'), rope. Li- goter une , to tie a rope. Tortu, m. and adj. (thieves'), wine. Bois , vine. Tortue, / (popular), mistress ; wife, "tart." Faire la , to fast. J'aime mieux faire la tortue et avoir des philosophes aux arpions que d'etre sans eau-d'aff dans 1'avaloir et sans trefoin dans ma chiffarde. E. SUE. 452 Toto Tourne-autour. Toto (Breton cant), beadle. Touche,/. (familiar and popular), appearance ; physiognomy. Bonne , grotesque face or appearance. Une sacree , a wretched appear- ance. Touches de piano, teeth. Attention an mouvement . . . ne craignez pas de casser vos touches de piano sur les cotelettes des palates. DUBOIS DE GENNES. (Popular) Gare la ! look out or you will get a thrashing. La sainte , pay-day. On celebrait la sainte Touche, quoi ! tine sainte bien aimable, qui doit tenir la caisse au paradis. ZOLA. Touche, adj. (familiar), c'est , it is well done. Un article , article to the point. Toucher (theatrical), les frises, to obtain a great success ; (prostitutes' bullies') son pret, to share a prostitutes earnings. Tous deux se me"nagent des entrevues et des sorties oil ils reglent leurs comptes. Un marlou appelle cela " toucher son pret." LEO TAXIL. Toucheur, m. (thieves'), murderer; the leading manin a gang of mur- derers. L'assommeur n'est . . . que 1'aide du pe"griot. Son chef d'attaque, c'est le tou- cheur. On qualifie de toucheur celui qui, apres avoir donne le premier coup a la vie- time, est aussi le premier a faire sauter le tiroir et a toucher la monnaie . . . d'ordi- naire le toucheur est un gamin de dix- sept a dix-huit ans, aassi grele, aussi che'tif que son assommeur est d'aspect redoutable. Metnoires de Monsieur Claude. Touillaud, m. (popular), sturdy fellow ; one fond of the fair sex, or "molrower." Toul (Breton cant),/rw. Toulabre, or Toulmuche, m. (thieves'), the town of Toulon. Toupet, m. (popular), head ; im- pudence ; coolness. Avoir un boeuf, to show cool impudence. Toupet de commissaire, extra- ordinary impudence. Se mettre, or se foutre quelquechose dans le , to get something into one's head ; to remember. Toupie,/. (popular), head ; woman of very lax morality. Avoir du vice dans la , to be cunning, " up to a dodge or two." Tour, m. (familiar), du baton, un- lawful profits on some business transaction. (Popular) Faire voir le , to deceive, " to bamboozle. >r Connaitre le , to be cunning, wide awake, " to be up to a trick or two." (Military) Passer a son de bete, to be promoted accor- ding to seniority. II passa capitaine a 1'anciennete, a son. tour de bete, comme il disait en rechignant. E. ABOUT. (Thieves') Donner un de era- vate a quelqu'un, to strangle one. La , or la pointue, the Pre- fecture de Police, or headquarters of the police. Sedonnerun de clef, to rest oneself. Tourbe, f. (popular), etre rien dans- la , to be in great distress. Tourlourou, or tourloure, m. (general), infantry soldier. Tourmente, / (thieves'), colic, or "bolts." Tournant, ^ m. (thieves'), mill ; head. Detacher une beigne sur le , to hit one on the head, " to- fetch one a wipe in the gills." Tournante, /. (thieves'), key, or ' ' screw. " Tourne-a-gauche, m. (popular), man. Alluding to a physical pe- culiarity. Tourne-autour, m. (popular), cooper. The allusion is obvious. Tourne- clef Tracquer. 453 Tourne-clef, m. (roughs'), life- preserver, or "neddy." "Tournee, f. (popular), offrir une , to treat all round to drink. Payer une a quelqu'un, to thrash one. Recevoir une , to get thrashed. (Familiar) Faire une pastorale, to go with a number of friends to a house of ill -f ante ivithplatonicintentions. (Thieves') Faire une rouge, to murder. Tourner (popular), 1'oeil, to be sleepy ; de 1'oeil, to die. Deux toiles. . . . L'une Aait brune et 1'autre blonde. . . . Et toutes deusses avaient du talent. . . . Et toutes deusses ont tourne' d'l'ceil, avant 1'age. Le Cri du Peuple. (Thieves') Tourner la vis, to strangle one. Tournevis, m. (roughs'), infantry soldier. Chapeau a , gen- darme. Tourniquet, m. (sailors'), surgeon, " sawbones ;" (thieves') mill. Tourte, f. (popular), head, or " tibby ; " arrant fool. J'vous dis qu'vous n'etes qu'une tourte, tendez-vous c'que j'vous parle, s'pece de moule ! CHARLES LEROY, Le Colonel Ra- ntollot. Avoir une ecrevisse dans la . See Avoir. Rire comme une , to grin like an idiot. Tourtouse, tortouse, or tour- tousine,/. (thieves'), rope. Tourtouser (thieves'), to bind. Tourtousier, m. (thieves'), rope- maker. Touser (thieves'), to ease oneself. Tousse (popular), ce n'est pas cher 9a, non ! c'est que je , that's not dear that, oh dear no ! C'est de 1'argent $a comme je , thafs no more silver than I am. Tousser (popular), dessus, to reject with disdain. Faire , to make one pay, or "fork out." Tout, adj. (familiar), le Paris, the select portion of the pleasure- seeking society of Paris. Son profil narquois et fin ... avail pris place desormais dans les medallions du " tout Paris" entre la chevelure d'une ac- trice en vogue et la figure d^composee de ce prince en disgrace. A. DAUDET. (Thieves') Tout de ce, very -well, ' ' bene. " Tout-a-1'ceil, m. (popular), mem- ber of parliament. Literally one who can procure everything gratis. Toutime, adj. (old cant), all. A etc aussi ordonne' que les argotiers toutime qui bieront demander la thune, soil aux lourdes ou dans les entiffes ne se departiront qu'ils n'aient etc" refuses neuf mois, sous peine d'etre bouillis et plonges en lance jusqu'au proye. Le Jargon de I' Argot. Tout-potins des premieres, m. (journalists'), select set of play- going Parisians. Toxon, m. (obsolete), ugly, gro- tesque-looking man. Si tu n'tires pas tes guetres d'ici, j 'boxons, vilain toxon, soldat de Satan. Ricke-en- Gueule, Trac, or trak, m. (general), fear, "funk." En veVite, sa voix devenait tout a fait agre'able, maintenant que le " trac " dis- paraissait. J. SERMET. Flanquer le , to frighten. Avoir le , to be afraid, " funky." Cornebois repta. II avail un Irak pa- tanl. II avail figure^ c'etait facile ; mais parler en public . . . c'est une autrepairede manches. E. MONTKIL. Ficher le , to frighten. Tout s a > c'est des histoires pour nous ficher le trac, a cause que nous ne sommes pasanciens a 1'escadron. G. COURTELINE. Tracquer (general), to be afraid, or ' ' funky. " The word seems to be 454 Tracqnenr Trait. derived from traquer, to track. He who is tracked has reasons for being afraid, and both the cause and result are expressed by one and the same word. Quoi ! tu voudrais que je grinchisse Sans tracquer de torn her au plan? J'doute qu'a grinchir ou s'enrichisse, J'aime mieux goueper, c'est du flan. Viens done remoucher nos domaines, De nos fours gouter la chalcur. Crois-moi, balance tes alenes : Fais-toi gouepeur. VIDOCQ. Spelt also "traker." Tache de ne pas traker. . . . Cc serait d'un sot. E. MONTEII . Tracqueur, m. (general), poltroon. Tractis, adj. (thieves'), tractable; soft. Tractis is an old French word. 8u'est devenu ce front poly, es cheveulx blonds, sourcils voultyz, Grand entr'oeil, le regard joly, Pont prenoye les plus subtilz ; Ce beau nez droit, grand ne petiz ; Ces petites joinctes oreilles, Menton fourchu, cler vis traictis t ces belles levres vermeilles. VILLON. Train, m. (popular), noise ; uproar. Faire du , " to kick up a row." Du ! quick. Donner un coup de pied dans le a quelqu'un, to kick one's behind, " to land one a kick in his bum." Train des vaches, tramcar. Le blanc, a train which used to be chartered by Madame Blanc of Monaco for the use of ruined gamesters. Le jaune, Saturday till Monday cheap train taken by husbands who go to see their wives at the seaside. A mali- cious allusion to the alleged fa- vourite colour of injured husbands. Un de charcuterie, train '.-nth third class carriages. Un direct pour Charenton, a glass of absinthe. Charenton is a Paris depot for lunatics, and many cases of deli- rium tremens are due to excessive drinking of absinthe. Un direct coupe, litre of wine poured out into a couple of glasses, a kind 1 of" split." Prends le , run away, " hook it." Prendre le d'onze heures, to loiter, to stroll. Manquer le , to be late, to lose a goad opportunity. Traineau, m. (popular), faire , to drag oneself on one's behind. TraJne-cul-les-housettes, m. (familiar), vagrant, tramp. Train6e, f. (familiar), woman of indifferent character. A son age la petite Maria Blond avait up joli toupet. Avec ja que de pareilles histoires arrivaient a des trainees de son espece ! ZOLA. Traine-gue'tres, m. (popular), lazy fellow who strolls about j vagrant, " pikey." Traine-paillasse, m. (military), " fourrier, " or commissariat non- commissioned officer, who in this: instance has charge of the bedding. Trainer (popular), le cheval mort, or faire du chien, to do work paid for in advance, " to work the dead horse ;" la savate quelque part, to go for a walk ; ses- guetres, to idle about. Traineur de sabre, m. (familiar), uncomplimentary epithet applied to a soldier. Traineuse,/; (familiar and popular), prostitute who prowls about rail- way stations. See Gadoue. Train-train, m. (general), allerson, petit , to live a quiet, unobtrusive life, free from care. Trait, m. (familiar). Faire des traits, to be guilty of conjugal unfaithful- ness. (Gay girls') Avoir un pour un miche, to have a tender feeling for a man. Trait-carr/ Travaillcuse. 455 Trait-carre, m. (obsolete), the ab- solution given by a priest to a re- pentant sinner by making the sign of the cross, Tralala, m. (popular), faire du , to make a great fuss, a great show. Se mettre sur son grand , to dress oneself in grand attire, " in full fig." Tranchant, m. (thieves'), paving stone. Tranche,/, (military), j'ai soupe de ta , I am tired of you. Se payer une de, to treat oneself to. Refers to anything, from a bottle of wine to a theatrical performance. C'qui m'fait rigoler, c's'rin de poete, Avec son bout d'alexandrin ! Vanter la neige ! Faut-i' etr' bete ! Pourquoi pas Cartouche et Mandrin ? S'i' la gob', qu'i s'en payc un" tranche ! Qu'i' crach' pas su' les gazons verts ! Ca lui suffit pas qu'a soy' blanche ; Faut encor' qu'i' la mette en vers ! J. JouY, La Neige. Tranche-ardent, m. (thieves'), snuffers. Tranche-fromage, m. (military), sword. Trancherde 1'elephant (obsolete), to give oneself an air of impor- tance. II estoit encore jeune enfant Qu'il tranchoit de son elefant. Paraphrase sur le Bref de sa Saintete envoye a la Reyne Regente, 1649. Tranquille comme Baptiste (popular), as cool as a cucumber. Transaill (Breton cant), small change. Traquer, traqueur. See Trac- quer, tracqueur. Trav (thieves'), bonne a , a likely place for a robbery. Travail, m. (freemasons'), eating ; (thieves') stealing; cheating. (Popular) Le du casaquin, act of thrashing soundly. (Prosti- tutes') Le , prostitiition. Travailler (theatrical), le succes, to be head of the staff of paid ap- plauders at a theatre. Se faire , to be hissed, ' ' to get the big bird." (Popular) Travailler pour Jules, or pour Monsieur Domange, to eat. Alluding to the contractor for the emptying of privies ; le cadavre, le casaquin, les cotes, to thrash, "to wallop." See Voie. Se le trognon, to torture one's brains. (Prostitutes') Travailler, to walk the streets. The word has the general meaning of to ply. Quelles sont done vos sources principales de renseignements ? Les chiffon niers, . . . nous nous abouchons avec les Diogenes qui travaillent cette rue et nous leur achetons tous les papiers trouves devant la porte de la maison signaled. A. SIRVEN. (Thieves') Travailler, to steal; to murder ; a la tire, to pick pockets; to be a pickpocket, or ' ' buz- faker. " Que faites-vous maintenant ? Je m'exerce a voler. Diable ! repondis-je avec un mpuve- ment involontaire et en portant la main sur ma poche. Oh ! je ne travaille pas a la tire, soyez tranquille, je meprise les foulards . . . je vole en 1'air. TH. GAUTIER. Travailler dans le rouge, to murder. Un meurtre ! travailler dans le rouge ! C'est grave ! P. MAHALIN. Travailler dans le bat (bailment), to break into houses, " to crack cribs." Travaiileur, m. (thieves'), gam- bling cheat, or "shark ;" thief, or "prig;" (popular) de nuit, rag- picker. Travailleuse, /. (thieves'), variety of Sodomite. La troisieme classe est entierement forme'e d'individus appartenant a la grande famille 456 Travers Trempage. des ouvriers et ne vivant que du produit de leur travail. De la est venu le nom. de " travailleuses." LEO TAXIL. Travers (roughs'), passer quelqu'un a , to hustle, to thrash one, " to wallop." See Voie. Si tu ne dis pas fion je vais te passer a , if you dont apologize, I 'II thrash you. Traverse, f. (thieves ), penal ser- vitude settlement. From traversee, passage across the sea. Etre en a perpete, to be a convict for life, to be a "lifer." They know what a clever lad he is ; he'll be a lifer. They'll make the Artful nothing less than a lifer. CH. DICKENS. Alleren , to be transported, "to lump the lighter," or "to go abroad." The Artful Dodger going abroad for a common twopenny-haltpenny sneeze-box ! CH. DICKENS. The corresponding expression in furbesche is " andar a traverse." Traverser un litre (popular), to drink a litre bottle of wine. Traversin, m. (popular), infantry soldier. Alluding to the small size of the infantry. Se foutre un coup de , to sleep, " to doss." Travesti, m. (theatrical), part of a male character played by a female. Traviole, f. (popular and thieves'), cross-road ; ravine. Avoir des travioles, to be uneasy. De (de travers), crosswise; awry; all wrong. T'ons la chance d'traviole. V'la les mendigots, les indigents. Bon jour bon an, les bonn's gens, J'allons pas en carriole. RICHEPIN. Trebuchet, m. (thieves'), the guil- lotine. Trefle, or tref, m. (popular and thieves'), tobacco, "fogus;" (popu- lar) behind. Vise au , apothe- cary, or " squirt." (Familiar) Roi de , rival of a fast girl's lover, termed " roi de cceur." (Military) Boucillon de , roll of tobacco, ' ' twist of fogus. " Tenez, mirez un peu, mes bons cama- rades . . . voici d'abord deux boucillons de trefle qui ne seront pas mauvais a fumer ? DUBOIS DE GENNES. Trefliere, or trefouine, f. (popu- lar and thieves'), tobacco pouch. Treizieme, adj. (familiar), se marier au arrondissement, to live as man and wife though not married, to live " tally." The expression has become obsolete, Paris being now divided into twenty arron- dissements instead of twelve. Tremblant, m. (popular), bed, "doss, or bug-walk." Tremblante,/ (thieves'), fever. Tremblement, m. (theatrical), mixture of Vermont, cassis, and brandy ; (military) fight. (Popu- lar) Et tout le , all complete; a grand show. Et des chantree, et des enfants de chosur, et un commissaire en habit et Tepee au c:6te ; enfin, comme disait Fumeron, tout le tremblement. HECTOR FRANCE. Trembler (popular), faire la \o\a\\\Kmoicte,to utter stupendously foolish things. Trembleuse, f. (popular), electric bell. Tremblotte, f. (popular), fear. Termed also " trouille, flubart, trac." Tremousser (familiar), faire le baluchon is said of wine which gets into the head. Pour du vin, dit la petite Linois tout-a- coup, si celui-Ia ne vous fait pas tremousser le baluchon ! E. MONTEIL. Trempage, m. (printers'), intoxica- tion. Trempe Trifouiller. 457 Trempe, ortrempee,/. (popular), thrashing. Madame, si je ne me respectais pas, je vous ficherais une drole de trempee ! GAVARNI. Tremper (popular), une soupe a quelqu'un, to thrash one. See Voie. (Military) Tremper son pied dans 1'encre, to be confined to barracks, " to be roosted. " Trempette, f. (popular), rain. Tremplin, m. (theatrical), the stage. (Prostitutes') Le , the particular street or boulevard where prostitutes ply their trade. Trente-et-un, m. (familiar), tre sur son , to be dressed in one's best clothes. Vous n'etes pas habitue's k me voir comme a sur mon trente-et-un, la pelure et le pantalon noirs avec un tuyau de poele et des souliers vernis. From a Parisian song. From the game termed trente-et- un, that figure being the highest score. Trente-six, m. (popular), le du mois, never, " when the devil is blind." Trente-sixieme. See Dessous. Treo-torret (Breton cant), pastry. Trepe, m. (thieves'), crowd, or " push." The word comes either from the Italian cant treppo, which has a like signification, or from the old French treper, to press, to trample. Roulotte a , omnibus, or "chariot." S'ebattre dans le , to move about in a crowd. Trepeligour, m. (old cant), vaga- bond. From treper, to trample, and le gourd, the high road. Trepignard, m. (thieves'), thief who moves about in a crowd picking pockets. Trepignee,/! (popular), thrashing. Flanquer une dans le gite, to thrash soundly. Trepigner (popular), to give a sound thrashing. See Voie. Tresser des chaussons de lisiere (familiar), to be in prison. Treton, m. (old cant), rat. Defor- mation of trottant. Triangle, m. (freemasons'), hat; (artists') moiith. Clapoter du , to have an offensive breath. Tribu, /. (military), se mettre en , to start a mess. Tribunalier, m. (journalists'), re- porters at courts of justice. Un proces, dont les " tribunaliers " des journaux parisiens . . . n'ont pas souffle 1 mot. Gil Bias, 1887. Trie, m. (old cant), meeting. Faire le , to leave the workshop "en masse " to repair to the wine-shop. Tricher (familiar), to act upon the suggestions of Malthus. Trichine,/ (popular), gay girl. Trichiner (popular), to eat pork. Tricorne, m. (popular), gendarme. Tricoter (popular), des flutes, to run away ; to dance ; les cotes a quelqu'un, to thrash one ; les joues, to slap one's face. (Mili- tary) Aiguille a les cotes, sword, "cheese-knife." Comment se fait-il que tu sois si ferre 1 a glace sur les aiguilles a tricoter les cotes ? DE GENNES. Triffonniere, / (popular), tobacco pouch. Trifoin, m. (popular and thieves'), tobacco, " fogus." Trifouiller (popular), to search; to fumble ; les guiches, to comb. 458 Trimancher Trinqiter. Trimancher (thieves'), to walk along the road. Trimar, trimard, m. (thieves'), road, or "Toby." Trimar, from trimer, to run about on some un- pleasant duty. Aller au , to be a highwayman. In English cant a highwayman was termed a "bridle-cull." A booty of .10 looks as great in the eye of a "bridle-cull," and gives as much real happiness to his fancy, as that of many thousands to the statesman. FIELDING, Jonathan Wild. (Prostitutes') Faire son , to walk the street. Synonymous of " faire le trottoir, faire son quart, aller au persil, aller au trot. " Trimardant, m. (thieves'), way- farer. Trimarde, f. (thieves'), street, or "drag." Trimarder, or trimer (thieves'), to walk along the road or street. II va passer tout k 1'heure un pilier de paquelin qui trimarde a gaye. VIDOCQ. Trimardeur, m. (thieves'), high- wayman, a "High-Toby man." Trimbaler (familiar and popular), quelqu'un, to take a person about ; quelquechose, to drag or carry a thing about ; son cadavre, to take a walk ; son crampon, to take one's wife or mistress for a walk. Se , to walk about. The corresponding expression for trim- baler in the Berry patois is trique- baler. Rabelais uses the term triquebalarideau with the signifi- cation of/iw/. that is, one who will allow himself to be ordered about. Trimbaleur, m. (popular), man not to be relied on, one who puts you off with excuses ; des conis, or de refroidis, driver of ahearse. Termed also de machabees ; de rouchies., or de carne pour la seche, prostitute's bully, ' ' Sun- day-man ; " d'indigents, omni- bus driver. (Thieves') Trimbaleur, coachman, " rattling-cove ;" de piliers de boutanche, rogue who having purchased goods which he- is to pay for at his residence, gets them taken away by a shopman, and on the way manages to obtain possession of the property. Trimballee,/ (popular), a number, a quantity. Trime, f. (thieves'), street, or "donbite ;" way ; road, "Toby." Nous ne rencontrerons pas seulement un ferlampier sur la trime. VIDOCQ. En , let us go, away ! Ilyagras (du butin), mes enfants ; aliens, en trime, nous faderons (partagerons) au plus prochain tapis (auberge). VIDOCQ. Trimer (familiar and popular), to work hard ; to be waiting. Faire , to make people wait. Faire les mathurins, to eat. Literally to make the teeth work. (Thieves') Trimer, to walk along the road ; (commercial travellers') to walk about in order to get orders. Trimilet, m. (thieves'), thread. Trimoires, / pi. (thieves'), legs. Trinckman, m. (popular), wine retailor. Tringle (popular), nothing; no ; naught. Tringlot, m. (military), soldier of the army service corps. From. train and a suffix. Trinquer (popular and thieves'), to be compelled to pay for others, or to have to make good any damage for which one is held responsible ; to lose at a game. Le trefle gagne. Trop petit, bibi, t'as mal maquille ton outil. V'la celle qui perd. J'ai trinque (perdu), c'est pas gai. Via. celle qui gagne. La v'la encore. Du car- Triomphe Trogner. 459 reau, c'est pour ton veau. Du coeur, c'est pour ta soeur. Et v'la la noire. RICHEPIN. Faire quelqu'un, to thrash one, " to wallop." Triomphe, m., explained by quo- tation : Le triomphe est une vieille coutume de Saint-Cyr, qui consiste a promener sur une prolonge d'artillerie les vainqueurs du jour (lors de 1'inspection), tandis que les eleves forment dans la cour une immense faran- dole et chantent le chojur legendaire de la galette. Figaro, Tripaillon de sort ! (popular), ejaculation expressive of intense disappointment. Tripasse,/. (popular), ugly and fat woman. Triper (popular), to stickle an infant. Tripes, / pi. (popular), large, soft breasts. Secouerles a quelqu'un, to thrash one. See Voie. Porter son argent aux (obsolete), to employ one's money in the purchase of very cheap articles. Used to be said by fishwives to customers who cheapened too much. Tripiere, / (popular), girl or woman with well-developed breasts. Forte , one with enormous breasts. Tripoli, m. (popular), rank brandy, " French cream " and " bingo " in old English cant. Un coup de , a glass of brandy. Tripot, m. (popular and thieves'), police officer ; municipal guard. Tripoter (familiar), le carton, to play cards. Un braconnier, qui n'a pas employ^ sa journee a tripoter le carton, sort d'un fourre avec son arme. P MAHALIN. Comme les heroines de Moliere n'ont d'esprit que 1'eventail en main, d'Axel ne retrouvait un pen de vie qu'en tripotant le "carton." A. DAUDET. (Artists') Tripoter la couleur, to paint. Tripote, painted in mas- terly style. Comme c'est tripote ! . . . quel beurre T II est impossible d'etre plus chaud et plus grouillant. TH. GAUTIER Les Jeune France. Triquage, m. (rag-pickers'), sorting of rags. Triquart, m., or trique, f. (thieves'), liberated convict under the surveillance of the " haute police." Similarly to ticket-of- leave convicts in Flngland, a man under the surveillance of the police is obliged to report himself from time to time, and a place of residence is assigned to him which he cannot leave without permis- sion. Trique, f. (thieves'), tooth, or "ivory;" cab, or "cask;" a convict returned from transporta- tion before his time, or "yoxter." Also one under police supervision. (Popular) Trique a larder, or a picoter, sword-stick. Faire flamber la a larder, to use a sword - stick. Trique, properly cudgel, termed " trucco " in the Italian cant. Triquebille, m. (obsolete). See Flageolet. Triquer (popular), to sort rags ; t& cudgel ; (thieves') to be tender police surveillance a* a tickei-of-leave, Triquet, m. (thieves'), police spy, one who watches ticket-of-leave men, termed ir triques." Triqueur, m. (popular), masterrag- picker, one who sorts rags. Troez (Breton cant), porridge. Trognade (schoolboys'), dainties, such as sweets, fruit, cakes. Trogner (schoolboys'), to cat dainties. 460 Trogneur Tranche. Trogneur, m. (schoolboys'), one who eats dainty things. Trognon, m. (popular), head, or " nut." Comment, Scrongnieugnieu, faut done que j'vous 1'repete cinquante fois, qu' c'est a cause des sales ides qu' vous m'avez foutues dans 1'trognon, vous et Kelsalbecq, que d'puis huit jours j'suis d^vaste d'un embetement vraiment conse'cutif. G. PRI- SON. Devisser le , to kill. (Familiar and popular) Mon petit , my sweet littleone, my little " ducky." Otherfond expressions are: " mon loup, mon chien, mon petit chou, mon chat, mon loulou, mon gros minet, ma petite chatte, ma bi- chette, ma minette, ma poule, ma poupoule, mon gros poulet, ma petite cocotte," and others quite as ridiculous. Our fathers used the endearing term, " mon petit bouchon," from bouchonner, to fondle. Sganarelle (embrassant sa bouteille). Ah ! etite friponne. Que je t'aime, mon petit ouchon. MOLIERE, Le Medecin malgri M. Troisieme. SeeDessous. Trois-mats, m. (military), veteran with three stripes. Trois-ponts, m. (familiar), high silk cap. Casquette a , prosti- tute's bully. See Poisson. Troleur, m. (popular), commis- sionnaire ; vagrant, "pikey;" rabbit-skin man. street- From the verb troler, to go about, derived from the German trollen. In English, to troll, hence trull. Trombille,/. (thieves'), beast. Trombine, f. (popular), head, or " tibby ; " physiognomy, or "phiz." See Tronche. Trom- bine en deche, ugly face, Troleuse, f. (popular), walker. See Gadoue. "knocker-face." Une rude , a grotesque face. Tromblon, m. (familiar), hat, or " stove-pipe." Tromboller (roughs'), to love ; les gonzesses, to be fond of women. Trombone, m. (military), faire , to pretend to take money out of one 's pocket to pay for the reckon- ing. The movement to and fro of the hand is likened to the action of playing the trombone. Trompe,/. (popular), nose. Trompe-chasses, m. (thieves'), picture. Trompe-la-mort, m. (familiar), swell, "masher." Trompette, f. (popular), face, or "mug;" mouth, or "rattle- trap ; " nose, or " conk ;" cigar. Trompeur, m. (obsolete), melon. Thus termed probably from its yellow colour, which is supposed to be that in favour with de- ceived husbands. Trompion, m. (military), bugler. Tronche, f. (thieves' and roughs'), head, or " tibby." J'espere bien qu'on lui coupera la tronche a celui-la. Je parie que je 1'attrape a la sorbonne avec un trognon de chou. TH. GAIITTER. The slang synonyms are: " le baldaquin, le coco, la boule, la balle, la ciboule, la calebasse, la boussole, lapomme, lacoloquinte, le caillou, la cafetiere, le caisson, le tesson, la cocarde, la bobine, le citron, la poire, le grenier a sel, la boite au sel, la boite a sardines, la boite a surprises, la tire-lire, la hure, la gouache, la noisette, le char, le reservoir, le chapiteau, le bourrichon, la goupine, la tourte, le trognon, Troncher Trottoir. 461 la guitare, la guimbarde, le so- liveau, le bobechon, la bobi- nasse, le kiosque, le vol-au-vent, 1'omnibus, la sorbonne, la ca- boche, le ciboulot, 1'ardoise, le soufflet, le jambonneau, 1'armoire a glace, la baigneuse, le schako ; " and in the English slang : " knowledge-box, tibby, costard, nut, chump, upper storey, crumpet, and nab." Tronche a la manque, police officer, or ' ' reeler. " See Pot- a-tabac. Theproper signification of tronche is billet of wood, piece of wood which has been cut off the trunk. Trencher (thieves'), to kiss. Termed also " sucer la pomme." Tronchiner (obsolete), used to signify to take a morning walk, a "constitutional." From the name of a celebrated doctor of the eighteenth century, by name Tronchin, whom it was then the fashion to consult. Tronchinade had the meaning of walk. Tronchinette,/. (roughs'), young girl's head or face. Trone, m. (popular), night-stool. Etre sur le , to be at the W. C. Troploc, m. (popular), employer, " boss." Troquet, m. (popular), abbrevia- tion of mastroquet, landlord of wine-shop. Called also " bistrot, empoisonneur, mannezingue." Tout ce que je sais, c'est que je sortais du troquet quand j'ai re9u mon atout par trois zigs qui ont pu me deshabiller, apres avoir eu des nouvelles de mon biceps. S'ils m'ont donn6 des chataignes, je les ai bien arranges. Memoires ae Monsieur Claude. Trot, m. (prostitutes'), aller au , to walk the street as a prostitute in full "fig." (Military) Au ! a favourite expression in the cavalry, look sharp ! Allez mettre votre blouse, et au trot '. qu'est-ce qui m'a ban un pierrot comme ja f G. COURTELINE, Trotach (Breton cant), soup. Trottant, m. (thieves'), rat. Trottante,y! (thieves'), mouse. Trotter (popular), se , or se la , to go away. II m'a donn<* du poignon pour me trotter toute seule a Paris. Je suis revenue, avec le sac de l'homme sauvage, a la turne de 1'ogresse. Memoires de Monsieur Claude. Trotte-sec, m. (cavalry), foot- soldier, " mud-crusher." Trotteuse, f. (popular), railway engine, "puffing, or whistling Billy." Trottignole, /. (popular and thieves'), foot, "crab;" shoe, "crab-shell." Du cabochard aux trottignoles,/n?#z head to foot. Trottin, m. (popular), errand boy or girl. Les trottins se feront des reverences comme les marquises de 1'ancien temps. Le Voltaire, Nov., 1886. Trottins, feet, or " everlasting shoes ; " shoes, or "trotter-cases." Des trottins feuilletes, worn-out, leaky shoes. (Thieves') Trottin, horse, or " prad." Trottinard, m. (popular), child, "kid." Trottinet, m. (popular), lady's shoe. Trottoir, m. (familiar), femme de , prostitute, or ' ' common Jack. " Le grand , fashionable co- cottes, high-class "tarts" of that description. Le petit , the street-walking females, or "un- fortunates." (Theatrical) Le grand , stock of classical plays. Le petit , class of lighter produc- tions. 462 Trou True. Trou, m. (familiar), faire son , to get on in the world, (Popular) Le aux pommes de terre, the mouth, " potato-trap." Le de balle, de bise, or du souffleur, anus. Avoir un sous le nez, to be a great bibber of wine. Etre dans le , to be dead and buried, " to have been put to bed with a shovel ; " to be in prison, in "quod." Un du cul, an arrant fool, " bally flat ; " a meau fellow, or " skunk." On lui bou- cherait le du cul avec un grain de sable explained thus by Rigaud : Se dit en parlant de quelqu'un que la peur paralyse, parceque, alors, selon 1'ex- pression vulgaire, il " serre les fesses." Diet, d' Argot Moderne. Faire un a la lune, to fail in business, to be bankrupt. It formerly signified to disappear. Literally to vanish behind the moon. (Thieves') Trou, prison, or "quod." Vive le vin ! vive la bonne chere ! Vive la grinche ! vive les margotons ! Vive les cigs ! vive la bonne biere ! Amis, buvons a tous les vrais gar$ons ! Ce temps heureux a fini bien trop vite, Car aujourd'hui nous v'la tous dans 1'trou. Song 'written by CLEMENT, a burglar. Troubade, or troubadour, m. (popular), infantry soldier. Ta tournure guerriere, Ta de rata, tata, ta de rata, ta taire, Sait captiver la plus fiere ! Et, pour le parfait amour, En filant un doigt de cour, Tu te montreras toujours Plus fort que dix troubadours. DUBOIS DE GENNBS. Trouee, f. (thieves'), lace, or "driz." Troufignard, troufignon, m. (popular), the behind ; the anus. Troufion, m. (popular), soldier. Trouillarde,/. (popular), prostitute. From the verb troler, to roam about. Trouille, f. (popular), dirty ser- vant ; slut ; dissipated-looking woman; trull ; (thieves') fear. Avoir la , to be afraid. Synony- mous of " avoir le taf, le trac, le flubart, la frousse." Trouilloter (popular), to stink. Troupe, f. (theatrical), d'argent, second-rate company ; de carton, company composed of very inferior actors ; de fer-blanc, one numbering actors of ordinary ability. Termed also " troupe d'ete," the Paris season taking place in winter ; d'or, ord'hiver, first-rate theatrical company. In the language of journalists the ex- pressions, " troupe de fer-blanc," " troupe d'or," are used to denote respectively a middling or excel- lent staff of writers. Trousse, f. (thieves'), anus. Troussequin, m. (popular), the be- hind, or " Nancy. " See Vasis- tas. Trouve, adj. (artists' and journa- lists'), new, original. Trouver (familiar), la mauvaise, to be highly dissatisfied. Trouver des puces, to have a quarrel, or to get a thrashing. Se mal sur, to appropriate another's property. Troyen, m. (domino players'), three of dominoes. True, m. (familiar and popular), affair; mode; knack; dodge. Avoir le , to have the knack, to have the secret. Est-ce que je ne connais pas toutes les couleurs? J'ai le true de chaque com- merce. BALZAC. Avoir le , to find a dodge. Ce farceur de Mes-Bottes avail eu le true d'epouser une dame tres decade. E. ZOLA. True, any kind of snail trade in Trucage Trucsin. 463 the streets. Avoir du , to be ingenious; to possess a mind fer- tile in resource. Le vert, bil- liards, or " spoof." (Popular and thieves') Piger le , to discover the fraud, the dodge. Le de la morgane et de la lance, christen- ing. A la chique a six plombes et meche pour /tp r or "pikey." Les deux truqueurs de cambrouse nous- entendront si on rebatit le sinve. VIDOCQ. Truye Tutler. 465 Truye, /., fils de (obsolete), used to be said of a man who vanishes, alluding to La Truye qui file, the signboard of a celebrated wine- shop of the seventeenth century. Tual (Breton cant), fox. Tuant, adj. (familiar), dull in the superlative degree. Tubard, m. (popular), silk hat. Various kinds of covering for the head are termed: "capet, car- beluche, combre, combrieu, cap- sule, tuyau de poele, tromblon, tube, tubeahaute pression, casque, viscope, bolivar, couvre-amour, tuile, epicephale, galurin, lam- pion, nid d'hirondelle, calo- quet, cadratin, ardoise, marquin, bache, decalitre, corniche, cou- vercle, couvrante, loupion, bosse- lard ; " and in the English slang : "tile, chimney-pot, stove-pipe, goss. " To complete this chapitre des ckapeattx, which has nothing in common with the one said by Sganarelle to have been written by Aristotle, we may add that Fielding calls hats "principles," and in explanation of the term he says : As these persons wore different " prin- ciples," i.e. hats, frequent dissensions grew among them. There were particularly two parties, viz. those who wore hats fiercely cocked, and those who preferred the " nab " or trencher hat, with the brim flapping over their eyes. The former were called " cava- liers" and "tory rory ranter boys," &c. The latter went by the several names of "wags, roundheads, shakebags, oldnolls," and several others. Between these con- tinual jars arose, insomuch that they grew in tune to think there was something essen- tial in their differences, and that their in- terests were incompatible with each other, whereas, in truth, the difference lay only in the fashion of their hats. Jonathan Wild. Tube, m. (familiar and popular), silk hat, " stove-pipe." See Tubard. Et . . . le tube sur 1'oreille . . . suivi d'horizontales, de verticales, de dehanche'es et d'agenouillees, on le verra s'en aller dans les rues. Le Voltaire. (Popular) Le , the throat, "gutter-lane, or whistler;" the nose, or "smeller." See Mor- viau. Se coller quelquechose dansle , to eat, " to grub." Se piquer le , to get drunk, or " tight." Se flanquer du terreau dans le , to take snuff. Un , a musket, or "dag." Un a haute pression, silk hat. Tuber (popular), to smoke. Tubons en une, let's " blow a cloud." Tubercule, m. (familiar), big nose, "conk." Tu6, adj. (familiar), astounded, aghast, ' ' flabbergasted. " Tuer (thieves'), le ver, to silence the calls of one's conscience, a not un- usual thing for thieves to do. (Popular) Tuer les mouches a quinze pas, to have an offensive breath ; le colimacon, to have a morning glass of white wine ; le ver, to have an early glass of spirits, a "dew-drink." Knsuite on tue le ver abondamment : vin blanc, mele-cassis, anisette de Bordeaux, d'aucunes grognardes, a la peau couleur de tan ne crachent pas sur une couple de perroquets, le demi-setier de casse-poitrine ou la chopine d'eau-de-vie de marc. P. MAHALIN. Tuffre, m. "stuff." (thieves'), tobacco, Tuile, / (freemasons'), plate ; (fa- miliar) disagreeable and unforeseen event ; (roughs') hat, or "tile." Tuileau, m. (roughs'), cap, " tile." I'm a gent, I'm a gent, In the Regent-Street style,- Examine my costume And look at my tile. Popular Song. Tuiler (popular), to measure, to judge of one's character or abilities; to survey one with suspicious eye. Se , to reach the stage of intoxi- H H 466 Tulipe orageuse Turin, cation -when the drunkard looks apoplectic, when he is as ' ' drunk as Davy's sow." Tulipe orageuse, /., a step of the cancan, a pas seul danced in such placesas Bullier orL'Elysee Mont- martre by a young lady with skirts and the rest tucked up so as to disclose enough of her person to shock the sense of decorum of virtuous lookers-on, whose feelings must be further hurt by the ener- getic and suggestive gyratory mo- tions of the performers body. This pas is varied by the " presentez armes ! " when the lady handles her leg as a soldier does his mus- ket on parade. Other chore- graphic embellishments are, "le passage du guet, le coup du lapin, la chaloupe en detresse, le pas du hareng saur," &c. Tune, or thune, /. (thieves'), money, or "pieces;" Jive-franc piece. {'suis un grinche, un voleur, un escarpe ; uterais le Pere Eternel pour affurer une tune, mais . . . trahir des amis, jamais ! VIDOCQ. La , ortunebee(old cant), the old prison of Bicetre. In the fifteenth century the king of mendicants was called Roi de Thune, or Tunis, as mentioned by V. Hugo in his description of La Cour des Miracles under Louis XI. (see Notre Dame de Paris), in imita- tion of the title of Roi d'Egypte, which the head of the gipsies bore at that time. It is natural that rogues should have given the ap- pellation to the prison of Bicetre, where so many of the members of the ' ' canting crew " were given free lodgings, and which was thus considered as a natural place of meeting for the subjects of the King of Thune. Tunesoh, /. (old cant), prison, or " stir." Tuner (old cant), to beg, "to maun- der." The latter term seems to be derived from mendier, to beg. Tuneur, m. (old cant), beggar, " maunderer." Tunnel, m. (medical students'), the anus. Tunodi (Breton cant), to talk cant, " to patter flash." Tunodo (Breton cant), cant expres- sions ; minson, falsehoods. Turbin, m. (popular), annoyance. Bon sang d'bon Dieu ! quel turbin ! J'viens d'mett'mon pied dan' eun' flaque : C'est 1'hasard qui m'offre un bain, V'lan ! v'la 1'vent qui m'fiche eun' claque. RICHEPIN. Turbin, work, " graft." Apres six jours entiers d'turbin J'me sentais la gueule un peu sale. Vrai, j'avais besoin d'prend'un bain ; Seul'ment j'l'ai pris par 1'amygdale. RICHEPIN. (Thieves') Le , thieving. (Pros- titutes') Le , prostitution. Aller au , to walk the streets as a street' walker. Turbiner (popular), to work, to do "elbow grease." Plus joyeux encore 1'ouvrier qui turbine en plein air, suspendu sur un ^chafaudage, plus pres du bleu, evente par les souffles de 1'horizon. RICHEPIN, Le Pavt. Turbiner une verte, to drink a glass of absinthe. (Thieves') Turbiner, to thieve. Turbineur, m. (popular), labourer. Turc, m. (thieves'), a native of Tou- raine. See T6te, Face. Turcan, m. (thieves'), the town oj Tours. Turin, m. (thieves'), earthenware pot. This word is no doubt a corruption of terrine. Turlurette Typote. 467 Turlurette, /. (popular), fast girl. Turlutaine, f. (popular), caprice, whim. Turlutine,/! (military), campaign- ing ration consisting of. pounded biscuit, rice, and bacon. Turne, /. (familiar and popular), ill-furnished, wretched room or lodgings. This word is derived from the Gipsy " turno," castle. L'immeuble . . . je me suis tout de suite Souvenu de cette turne. XAVIER MONTEPIN. Turquie,/". (thieves'), Tonraine. Tutoyer (popular), une chose, to take hold of a thing unceremo- niously ; to purloin ; un porte- morningue, to steal a purse. Tutu, m. (familiar), kind of short muslin drawers worn by ballet girls. Termed also " cousu." Son maillot tendu sans un pli, avant d'enfiler cette sorte de jupon-calegon de mousseline, bouffant aux hanches, ferme au-dessus du genou et qui repond au joli petit nom harmonieux de tutu ou cousu. A. SIRVEN. Tuyau, m. (popular), ear, or " wattle ; " throat, or " red lane." Se jeter quelque chose dans le , to eat or drink. A voi r le bouch e , to have a cold in the head. (Fa- miliar and popular) Tuyau de poele, silk hat, " stove-pipe." Ni blouses, ni vestes, ni casquettes : re- dingotes, paletots, tuyaux de poele. A. SIRVEN. (Military) Tuyau de poele, regula- tion boots. ( Popular) Les tuyaux, legs, "pins." Ramoner ses tu- yaux, to run away ; to wash one's feet. See Patatr,ot. (Sporting) Tuyau, " tip," that is, confidential information about a horse that is likely to win. Given in le tuyau de 1'oreille. Apres mon operation, le cheval que j'ai pris devient subitement le tuyau. Le Gil Bias. Donner un , to give such infor- mation, " to give the office." Tuyaux de poele, m. pi. (popular), high boots ; worn-out shoes. Des tuyaux de poele qui reniflent la poussiere cles ruisseaux. E. DE LA BEDOL- LIKRE. Type, m. (familiar and popular), individual, "bloke, cove," or " cuss," as the Americans say. Nous ne parlerons que pour memoire du garson de cafe qui, dedaignant aujourd'hui le pourboire, ne rend jamais exactement la monnaie, lorsqu'il a flaire un type a ne pas compter. A. SIRVEN. Type has also the signification of odd fellcnv, " queer fish." The term "type" was first used by cocottes as synonymous of dupe, or " flat," as appears from the following dialogue between two " soupeuses," frequenters of Bre- bant's restaurant. Avec qui as-tu passe ta soiree ? M'en parle pas : avec deux types qui m'ont embet^e a cent francs par tete. P. AvDEBRA.NOjPeiitsMJmoiresd'uHeSiatie tfOrckestre. Typesse,/.' (familiar and popular), woman. Typo, m. (popular), compositor. Typote, /. (popular), female com- tositor. 468 Ulcere Usine. u Ulcere, m. (popular), faire degorger son , to make oneself vomit, Unch' (popular), the first words of a mild form of swearing, nom d'un .... Bravo . . . Nom d'unch ! C'est presque aussibien qu'a 1'Ambigu. VICTOR HUGO. Un peu de courage a la poche (mountebanks'), a phrase used as an appeal to the generosity of the public when the sum required be- fore the performance of any feat is not forthcoming. May be rendered by " tuppence more and up goes the donkey," a vulgar street phrase, says the Slang Dictionary, for extracting as much money as possible before performing any task. The phrase had its origin with a travelling showman, the finale of whose performance was the hoisting of a donkey on a pole or ladder. (Familiar) Un de plus refers to an injured husband. Uonik (Breton cant), the sun. Urf, adj. (popular), excellent, first- class. C'est rien ! excellent, " real jam." Le monde ,fine people. Urge, m. The word is used by the ladies or " tartlets" of the Boule- vards to qualify a man's financial status. The scale ranges from the humble " un urge," denoting a poor or very stingy man, to the superlative "dix urges." A stingy man is also said to wear gloves of the size 65, whilst a generous ffne sports the 8J. Ainsi un gandin passe d'un air de'gage' sur le boulevard, lorgnant les femmes qui font espalier a la porte des cafes. Trois urges ? diront celles-ci en 1'apercevant. Trois urges, c'est-a-dire : ce monsieur n'est pas fenereux, il gante dans les numeros bas. i, au contraire, elles disent : Six urges ! ou huit urges ! oh ! alors, c'est un banquier mexicain qui passe la, elles le savent, il leur en a donne des preuves la veille ou 1'avant- veille. L'^chelle n'a que dix echelons ; le premier urge s'emploie a propos des pignoufs ; le dixieme urge seulement a propos des grands seigneurs. DELVAU. Urine de lapin (popular), bad and weak brandy. Urle,/; (thieves'), the room where prisoners have interviews witk visitors. Urne,/ (popular), head, or "tibby." Avoir un depute dans 1' , to be enceinte. Urpino, adj. (popular), excellent, " fizzing ;" elegant. For rupino, rupin. C'est aux pommes, it is the height of elegance. Ursule,/. (familiar), old maid. Usager (popular), is said of a man with genteel manners. User (military), son matricule, to serve in the army. Le numero matricule is the soldier's number. (Gamesters') User le tapis, to play low; (familiar) sa salive, to argue uselessly. Ne pas avoir use ses culottes sur les banes, to be ig- norant. (Thieves') User la pierre ponce, to be a convict at a penal servitude settlement. From a simile. Pumice stone takes a long time to wear away. Usine, f. (popular), place where one- works. Usiner Vadrouillarde. 469 Usiner (popular), to work, "to graft." Ustensile, m. (bullies'), mistress. Ustensilier, m. (theatrical), one who has charge of the minor articles of the plant. Ustoches, m. pi. (popular) ,scissors, Deformation of eustache, knife. Ut ! (printers'), your health! First word of a sentence formerly used by printers when drinking to- gether, " Ut tibi prosit meri potio ! " The Germans use the expression, " prosit ! " Utilite,yi (theatrical), useful actor, an "all round " one. Vachard, m. (popular), man with noenergy ; lazy fellow, "bummer." Vache, f. (popular), woman of in- different character ; a lait, pros- titute. See Gadoue. Vache! an insulting epithet applied to either eex. Ce fut, pendant une minute, une clameur assourdissante. . . . Cochon ! Salaud ! Bougre de vache ! G. COURTELINE. Etre , faire la , to be lazy. Prendre la et le veau, to marry a girl who is pregnant. Le train des vaches, the tramcar. A play on the word tramway. (Thieves') La , the police, " reelers." Une , police spy, or policeman. Elle avail ete amene'e Ik par deux horri- bles petits droles. . . . Us 6taient en train de dresser la " gonzesse " avant de 1'envoyer battre le trimar (le trottoir) lorsque les roussins, les vaches, survinrent. ALBERT CIM, Institution de Demoiselles. Mort aux vaches ! is a motto often found tattooed on malefactors' bodies. Vacher, m. (thieves') police officer, or " reeler." Vacherie, f. (popular), laziness; a place where drinks are served by women. Va - comme je - te pousse, f. (popular), a la , at haphazard. Vacquerie,/. (thieves'), alleren , to sally forth on a thieving expe- dition. Vade, /. (thieves'), crowd, or "push." Termed also " tigne." Va-de-la-gueule, m. (popular), gormandizer, or ' ' grand paunch ; " orator. Va-de-la-lance, m. (popular), boon companion, a kind of ' 'jolly dog. " Vadoux, m. (obsolete), servant. Vadrouillard, vadrouilleur, m. (popular), low fellow fond of 'hold- ing revels with prostitutes. Vadrouillarde, vadrouille, va- drouilleuse, /. (familiar and popular), low prostitute, or "draggle-tail." Vadrouille, low graceless fellow. Fais-toi connaitre. II faut Que je saches ou tu perches. Je fais mille recherches, O gibier d'echafaud. Et je reviens bredouille ! . . . Ainsi chantait T or, Mais 1'horrible vadrouille Ricana : cherche encor. RAMINAGROBIS. Vadrouille is properly a nvab. 470 Vadrouiller Vanterne. Aller en , or faire une , to go and amuse oneself with gay girls. (Thieves' and roughs') En , wandering about, "on the mooch." Vadrouiller (popular), to go with prostitutes, to be a " mutton monger." Vague, m, (thieves'), allerau ,to go about seeking for a "job," queer ens quern devoret. Coup de , theft. Pousser un coup de , to commit a robbery. Un certain soir etant dans la debine, Un coup de vague il leur fallut pousser, Car sans argent Ton fait bien triste mine. Song written by CLEMENT, a burglar. (Bullies') Envoyer une femme au , to send a woman out for pur- poses of prostitution. (Popular) Du ! an expression of refusal, which may be rendered by the Americanism, "yes, in a horn." Se lacher du , lancer une gousse au , to send a -woman out to -walk the streets. Vaguer (prostitutes'), to wander about. Vain, adj. (thieves'), bad. Vaisseau du desert, m. (popular), euphemism for chameau, prosti- tute. Vaisselle,/ (popular), de poche, money, "needful." (Military) Vaisselle, decorations. Mettre sa a 1'air, to put on one's decorations. Valade, / (thieves'), pocket, or "cly."" J'ai toujours de 1'auber dans mes va- lades, bogue d'orient, cadenne, rondines et frusquins. VIDOCQ. From avaler, to swallow up. Son- der les valades, to feel pockets in a crowd. Valet de cceur, m. (popular), the lover of a prostitute, or " S^nday- man." See Poisson. Valoir (popular), ne pas cher, to have a disagreeable, " nasty " temper. Valoir son pesant de mou- tarde, not worth much ; (thieves') le coup de fusil, to be worth robbing. Valser (popular), to go away ; to run arvay, ' ' to hook it. " Balzare in furbesche ; du bee, to have an offensive breath. Valtreuse, /. (thieves'), portman- teau, or " peter." Valtreusier, m. (thieves'), rogue who devotes his attentions to port- manteaus, "dragsman." Vandale,/ (thieves'), empty pocket. Vannage, m. (gambling cheats'), faire un , to allow a " pigeon " to win the first game. Termed also maquiller un . Vann6, adj. (familiar and popular), exhausted, "gruelled." C'est vrai que je suis un peu vann . . . dit Elysee en souriant, et il montait ses cinq Stages, le dos rond, ecrase. A. DAUDET. Vanner (thieves'), to run away, " to speel." Alluding to the mo- tions of the body and arms of a winnower, or from the old French word vanoyer, to disappear. Vannes,/. //. (popular), falsehood; humbug, "flam." Am I dreaming ? or what ? Pinch me, Jesse ! I am quite awake, am I not? And the thing is no "flam?" The Globe, Dec., 1886. Des ! ejaculation of disbelief, "over, or over the shoulder." C'est des ! that's all humbug, " all my eye." Vanneur, m. (thieves'), one who runs away ; co~it>ard. Vanterne, or venterne,/. (thieves'), window, or "jump." From the Spanish ventana, or more pro- Vanternier Vas-y-vas-y. 471 bably from vent, wind, so that venterne literally signifies which lets in the wind. Ventosa in Spanish cant. Vanterne (for lan- terne), lantern ; saris loches, dark lantern, or " darky." Vanternier, m. (thieves'), robber who effects an entrance through a win- dcnv, " dancer, or garreter." Vapeur,/! (popular), une demi , a glass of absinthe. Vaquerie, /. (old cant), bier en , to sally forth on a thieving expe- dition. Vase, m. andf. (familiar), etrusque, chamber-pot, or "jerry." Con- cerning this utensil Viscount Bas- terot, in his work De Quebec a Lima, speaks of a curious cus- tom of the Peruvians. He says : "On a su de tout temps que les Espagnols ne se font pas prier pour annoncer bruyamment qu'ils ont bien dine ; temoin une cer- taine histoire du Marechal Bas- sompierre. Mais il est une certaine habitude peruvienne dontvraiment je n'avais jamais entendu parler. II est un peu embarrassant de la decrire, mais pourquoi la tairais- je ? Ne faut-il pas raconter, quels qu'ils soient, les usages et les mosurs ? Quel serait sans cela 1'interet des voyages ? Le fait est qu'au Perou, le pot de chambre est arrive^ a la hauteur d'une in- stitution nationale. On se met- trait plutot en route sans malle que sans cet ustensile precieux. Les person nes riches les font faire en argent. Mais, helas ! la vieille aristocratic est sur son declin, et la faience domine aujourd'hui. Les dames surtout les etalent avec une complaisance infinie ; il est vrai qu'ils servent aussi quelquefois de meuble de toilette. On voit arriver une brillante senora ; elle tient quelque chose a la main : c'est sans doute un bouquet de fleurs, ou un mouchoir de den- telle ? Non, c'est son vase de nuit ! Encore si elles se dispen- saient de s'en servir publiquement ! Mais elles pensent probablement, avec quelques cyniques, que les choses naturelles ne sont pas in- decentes." (Popular and thieves') De la , rain, or " parney." II tombe de la , or de la flotte, it rains. Vaser (popular and thieves'), to rain. Termed also ' ' lansquiner, tomber de la lance." Vasinette,/; (popular), bath. Aller a la , to bathe. Termed "to tosh" by the gentlemen cadets of the R.M. Academy. Vasistas, m. (popular), monocular eye-glass ; the behind. The sy- nonyms are : " le piffe, le me- daillon, 1'arriere-train, le trefle, messire Luc, le moulin a vent, le ponant, la June, le bienseant, le petard, le ballon, le moutardier, le baril de moutarde, 1'obusier, la tabatiere, la tire-lire, la giberne, le proye, cadet, la figure, la ca- nonniere, 1'oignon, la machine a moulures, la rose des vents, le de- partement du Bas-Rhin, le democ, le schelingophone, le Prussien, le panier aux crottes, le visage de campagne or sans nez, le fignard, le petrouskin, la face du Grand Turc, le tortillon, le fleurant, le pedzouilie, le cadran, le foiron, le tal, le garde-manger, le naze, le soufHet, le prouas, la contre- basse, le cyclope, le schaffouse, le gingin." Vassares, /., (thieves'), water. Vas-y-t'assir, m. (roughs'), chair. Vas-y-vas-y, m. (roughs'), casement of a window. Play on vasistas. Va-te-faire-suer Velours. Va-te-faire-suer! (popular), go to the deuce ' Va-te-laver, m. (popular), box on the ear, right and left. Et il regardait les gens, tout pret a leur administrer un va-te-laver s'ils s'etaient permis la moindre rigolade. ZOLA. Va-t' faire-panser, m. (popular), box on the ear ; blow, or " wipe." Je lui ai flanque 1 un va-t' faire-panser sur 1'oeil. RANDON. Vaticanaille,/! (familiar), clericals. Va-trop, m. (thieves' and roughs'), servant ; de charretier, carter's man. Ah ! ah ! personn" ne sail c'qu'il fiche Depuis qu'il roul' par les grands ch'mins. Oh ! oh ! p't'et' qu'il est merlifiche, Va-trop d'chartier, ou tend-la-main. RICHEPIN. Vaudevilliere (literary), actress of no ability who is engaged only on account of her personal attractions. Vautour, m. (popular), hard- hearted landlord ; gambling cheat, or " hawk." Veau, m. (military), knapsack, or "scran-bag;" (popular) young prostitute. Un soir a la barriere Un veau, un veaii Tortillait du derriere, Song. Vedette, / (theatrical), avoir son nom en , or etre en , to have one's name in large type on a play- bill. Laissez-moi, re'pondait-elle, vous me dchirez. Tu seras en vedette. Vous etes insupportable. En etoile ! Assez ! J. SERMET. Veilleurs de morts, m. pi. (bro- thels'), young scamps -who amuse themselves by causing an uproar in brotheft and putting everything topsy-turvy. En argot de lupanar, on appelle " veil- leurs de morts " les jeunes vauriens qui emploient leur soiree mettre sens dessus dessous les maisons de tolerance. Us sont la terreur des maquerelles, et les pertes qu'ils leur font subir sont les revers de la medaille du proxenetisme. LEO TAXIL. Veilleuse, /. (thieves'), stomach, " middle piece ; " a sec, empty stomach. Une , a franc. Demi , fifty centimes. (Familiar) Soumer sa , to die, " to kick the bucket, or to snuff it." Veinard, adj. and m. (familiar and popular), lucky ; lucky fellow. J'suis connu d'Charonne a Plaisance Sous le nom d'Changard dit 1'veinard . . . Via Chanijard, un veinard Qu'a d'la chance en abondance. A. JAMBON, Via Chanfard. Veine, f. (familiar and popular), de cocu, great luck. Veine alors ! what luck ! Le colonel lui jeta un coup d'oeil, rendit le salut et passa. Laigrepin, stupefait, se dit Veine alors ! II est myope comme une chaufferette. G. COURTELINE. Veler (popular), to be in childbed, "in the straw." Velin, m. (printers'), wife. Arrange- maner, or secouer son , to chas- tise one's better half. Velo, in. (old cant), postilion. Velocipede, m. (popular), casser son , to die. For synonyms see Pipe. Ah ! ben ! en v'la un creve, ca veut fumer, $a n'tient pas sur ses pattes, s'il ne dgele pas cet hiver, s'il ne devisse pas son billard au printemps, pour sur a 1'automne, il va casser son velocipede. BAUMAINE ET BLONDELET. Velours, m. (gamesters'), gaming- table. Eclairer le , to lay one's stakes on the green cloth. Jouer sur le , to stake one's winnings. (Familiar) Faire un , or cuir, to put in a consonant at the end of a word and carry it on to the nsxt. Velouter Verdousier. 473 as : Je suis venu z'a Paris. (Popu- lar) Un , crepitus ventris. Ri- gaudsays: "Le velours seproduit dans le monde avec une certaine timidite melancolique et rappelle les sons files de la flute (ceci pour les gens qui aiment la precision). ' C'est un , that is excellent (of drink). (Thieves') Un , robbing without violence. Faire du , to plav i 'he good fellow ; to seek to wheedle one out of something. Velouter (familiar), se , to com- fort oneself by a drink. Velu, adj. (students'), synonymous of chic, excellent, first-rate, ' ' true marmalade. " Vendanger (old cant), to ill-treat; to execute ; a 1'echelle, to hang. Vendangeuse d'amour, f. (fa- miliar), gay girl. The expression is Delvau's. Vendre (thieves'), la calebasse, to inform against, "to blow the gaff, or to turn snitch." Toujours est-il, reprit le receleur, que c'est lui qui a vendu la calebasse, et que sans lui . . . VIDOCQ. (Popular) Vendre des guignes, to squint, " to have swivel eyes ; " (familiar and popular) la meche, to reveal a secret. Vendu, m. (popular and journa- lists'), epithet expressive of a vague accusation of extortion, but gene- rally used -with no particular meaning. Out, je lui en preterai, hurla Mes-Bottes. Tiens ! Bibi, jette-lui sa monnaie a travers la gueule, a ce vendu ! ZOLA, L'Assom- moir. Venerable, m. (popular), the be- hind. Vent, m. (popular), du ! is ex- pressive of derisive refusal, " go to pot." (Hawkers') Vent du nord, fan. (Students') Donner du , to bully. (Sailors') Avoir du dans les voiles, etre dessus, de- dans, to be in a state of intoxi- cation, ' ' to have one's mainbrace well spliced." Vente. See Abattage. Ventre, m. (popular), benit, beadle; verger; chorister. An allusion to "pain benit," supposed to be their staple food. C'est le de ma mere, / shall never return there, or I shall have nothing more to do with this. Un d'osier, a drunkard, or " lushington." (Familiar) Nous allons voir ce qu'il a dans le , we will see what stuff he is made of. Se brosser le , to go without food. J'aime mon art . . . ma foi, dit un acteur, si je pouvais passer mes jours a me brosser le ventre, le theatre . . . E. MONTEIL. Avoir du chien dans le , to have pluck, endurance ; to be made of good stuff. Je suis sur que ce nez 1'aidera a faire son chemin. II joue ce soir. Jugez-le. Vous verrez qu'il a du chien dans le ventre. P. AUDEBRAND. Ventree,/! (popular), copious meal, "buster." Se foutre une - , to make a hearty meal, or "tightener. " Venus, f. (artists'), mouler une , to ease oneself by evacuation. Ver, m. (familiar), rongeur, cab taken by the hour. Tuer le , to have an early glass of spirits " to keep the damp out." Verbe, m. (thieves'), sur le , on credit. Verdet, m. (old cant), wind. Verdouse, or verdouze, f. (thieves'), apple ; meadow. In the Italian cant verdume signifies grass. See Arroseur, Cribleur. Verdousier, m. (thieves'), apple- tree; garden ; fruiterer. 474 Verdousiere Verver. Verdousiere, f. (thieves'), frui- terer's wife, Verds, m. pi. (thieves'), formerly name given to the Paris police. Oh ! c'est que nous avons eu la moresque (la peur) d'une fiere force : je sais bien que quand je ra'ai senti les verds au dos le treffe (coeur) me faisait trente et un. Mt- moires de Vidocq. Vereux, m. (thieves'), ticket-of-leave man. Vergne, / (thieves'), town. La grande , Paris. Une de misericorde, literally une ville de misere et corde, a town where thieves have little chance of success. Michel says vergne is literally winter quarters, from the Italian verno, winter. More probably, however, it comes from vergne, alder plantation. Every small town has a square planted out with trees, used as a promenade, or for the holding of fairs, &c., a meeting-place for pedlars (who have contributed so many ex- pressions to the jargon). Thus aller a la vergne possibly signified to go to the public square, and, by an association of ideas, to go to the town. It is to be noted, on the other hand, that the Latin verna, vernaculus, respectively mean slave born in the house of his master, native ; so that the word vergne would be a native house, collection of native houses hence town. Vermeil, m. (thieves'), blood, " claret." Vermicelles, m.pl. (popular), hair, " thatch." Le Pierrot birbe, avec ses vermicelles autour du gniasse ! oh ! esbloquant, ga ! RICHEPIN. (Thieves') Vermicelles, or ver- michels, blood-vessels. Par'te meg des fanandels, tu es sans raisine dans les vermichels (sans sang dans les veines). BALZAC Vermilion, m. (thieves'), an Eng- lishman, supposed to invariably sport a red coat. Verminard, vermineux, m. (students'), contemptible man, "skunk." Vermine, f. (thieves'), lnwyer, " land-shark." Vermois, m. (thieves'), blood, "claret." Vermoise, adj. (thieves'), of a red colour. Veronique, / (rag-pickers'), lan- tern. Verre, m. (popular), de montre, the behind. Casser le de sa montre, to fall on one 's behind. (Gambling cheats') Montrer le verre, more correctly le vert (tapis vert), en fleurs, one of two confederates engaged in a game of cards shows such a good array of trumps thai lookers-on are induced to stake. Verseuse,/ (familiar), waitress at certain cafe's. Versigo, m. (thieves'), the town of Versailles. Vert, m. (popular), se mettre au , to play ; to gamble. Montrer le enfleur. See Verre. (Thieves') II fait , it is cold. Verte, adj. (familiar), la , ab- sinthe. Gar9on, une , waiter, a glass of absinthe. L'heure de la , the time of day when absinthe is discussed in the cafes, generally from five o'clock to seven. Verticale,/. (familiar), a variety of prostitute best described by the ap- pellation itself. Verver (thieves'), to weep, "to nap a bib." A deformation of verser. Verveux Vice. 475 Verveux, adj. (journalists'), pos- sessing verve or spirit. Le plus verveux des journalistes un Gascon devenu parisien. La Vie Popu- laire, 1887. Vervignoler (obsolete), to have connection. Mais vervignolant, me faisait quelquefois dechaudes caresses. Parnnsst des Pluses. Vessard, m. (popular), poltroon. Vesse, f. (popular), avoir la , to be afraid. (Schoolboys') Vesse ! cave! or " chucks ! " Vesser du bee (popular), to have an offensive breath. Vessie, /. (popular), low prosti- tute. See Gadoue. Veste, f. (familiar), remporter une , to meet with complete failure. Vestiaire, m. (familiar), laisser sa langue au , to have lost one's tongue. Vestige, m. (thieves'), coquer le , to frighten; to be afraid. Des vestiges, or vestos, haricot beans, which generate wind in the bowels. From vesse, wind. Vesto de la cuisine, m. (thieves'), detective officer, ' 'cop. " La cuisine, vesto, respectively detective force, haricot bean. Vesuve, m. (familiar), faireson , to make a fuss ; to show off. Vesuver (popular), to bevery liberal with one's money. Vesuvienne, f. (familiar), gay girl. For synonyms see Gadoue. Veuve, f. (thieves'), formerly the gallows, "scrag;" nowadays the guillotine. Grosser chez la , tirer sa crampe avec la , or epouser la , to be guillotined. (Familiar) Veuves de colonel, female adventurers who attend gaming-tables, passing themselves off as widows of military men. Veuve d'un colonel mort . . . d'un coup de pied dans le cul, woman who passes herself off as a colonel's widow. Veux-tu-cacher-ga, m. (familiar and popular), short coat. Maintenant on ne dit plus les paletots d'hommes, on dit des veux-tu-cacher-ga. BAUMAINE ET BLONDELET. (Auctioneers') Veuve rentree, seller whose property has not been knocked dcnun at an auction-room. Eire loge chez la j'en tenons (obso- lete), to be enceinte. Veziner (thieves'), to stink. Je voudrais avoir un homme comme toi f II me degoute. . . . D'abord il ve'zine (il sent rnauvais), puis il est marie ! Rien ne me dit qu'il ne me serrera pas un jour la vis pour sa largue. Memotres de Monsieur Claude. Vezou,/ (popular), prostitute. See Gadoue. Quant aux filles publiques, les hommes les designent par un grand nombre d'appel- lations ... les autres termes employes, avec le plus de grossierete sont les suivants : toupie, bagasse, caleche, grenouille, tortue, volatile, rouscailleuse, couillere, vessie, ve- zou. LEO TAXIL. Vezouiller (popular), to stink. Viande, f. (popular), collar sa dans le torchon, to go to bed, " to get into kip." Montrer sa , to wear a low dress. Ramasse ta , pick yourself up. Viande de Morgue, insulting epi/het applied to a person who imprudently im- perils his limbs or life. Morgue, dead-house. Basse , or viancle cle seconde categoric, woman wit ft flabby charms. Viauper (popular), to lead a dissolute life, or " to go molrowing ; " to weep, or "to nap a bib." Vice, m. (popular), avoir du , to be cunning, "to be fly." La femme qui a un peu de vice, s'e'man- cipe tot ou tard de la tutelle d'une maitresse 476 Victoire- Vingt-deux. de maison et travaille pour son compte. E. DE GONCOURT. Victoire, /. (rag-pickers'), shirt, "flesh-bag." Vidange,/. (thieves' and roughs'), largue en , woman in childbed, " in the straw." Videe, f. (rag-pickers'), basketful of a rag-picker's findings, Vider (popular), le plancher, to go away, " to slope ; " ses poches, to play the piano. (Familiar) Etre vide, to be spent in point of intel- lecttial productions. ( Prostitutes') Vider un homme, to leave a man penniless, Vie, f. (familiar), faire une de Polichinelle, to make a great noise ; to lead a dissolute life. Vi6daser (obsolete), to work care- lessly. Vieille, adj. (familiar), un verre de , a glass of old brandy. La garde, the set of superannuated cocottes, of "played-out tarts." Tout ce qu'on appelait deja, il y a quinze ans, la vieille-garde, a passe par le Moulin- Rouge. C'etaient Esther Guimond, dont un ministre de la guerre disait : "Elle est de ma promotion." MAHALIN. (Familiar and popular) Ma branche, old fellow, my hearty, " old chump, my ribstone, or my bloater. " D'la-haut j'applaudis chaque acteur Surtout si la piece est bien franche. J'cri" : chaud ! chaud ! vas-y, ma vieill" branche. BURANI ET BUGUET. Vieille barbe, old-fashioned poli- tician who will not keep up with the times. Invitez la tous ces fossiles Remis a neuf et rempailles. L^s vieilles barbes indociles, Fourbus, cassis, creves, rouilles. Le Triboulet, 1880. The term is applied specially to the Republican politicians of 1848. Vieux, adj. (familiar and popular), se faire , to feel dull ; to be waiting for a long while. Se faire de os, to wait for a long ivhile. Un cabas, a stingy old woman. (Popular) Vieux meuble, old man; comme Mathieu-sale, very old. (Literary) Vieux jeu, old- fashioned ; (familiar) tison, old "gallivant." Un de la vieille, old veteran. (Military) C'est ! I am not to be taken in, " tell that to the marines." Vieux plumeau, m. (popular), old fool, "doddering old sheep's head." Ell' dit : II ne sent pas bon ! Pas bon ? . . . Espec' de vieille cruche ! Dit la marchand' Vieux plumeau ! T'en mang'rais plus que d'merluche ! . . . Va done, eh ! fourneau ! A. QUEVRIAUX. Vif-argent, m. (thieves'), cash. Vignette,/! (printers'), face. Vigousse, f. (popular), energy, strength. For vigueur. Villois, m. (thieves'), village. An old French word from the Low Latin villaticum. Si j'venais d'faire un gerbement et que j'en aye de la surbine on m'enverrait dans un trou d'vergne ou dans un villois de la Jargole. VIDOCQ. Vinaigre, m. (thieves'), rum. (Familiar) Du vinaigre ! faster! Expression used by children who are rope-skipping. Vinasse, f. (popular), wine. Vingt-cinq (popular), a francs par tete, superlatively. Rigoler a francs par tete, to amuse one- self enormously . Vingt-deux, m. (thieves'), knife, or "chive." Prends le vingt-deux en cas de malheur. VIDOCQ. Vingt-huit-jours Vitrine. 477 (Printers') Le , the master or chief overseer. Vingt-deux ! is used to notify that the master is ap- proaching. A signal of the same description used by English schoolboys or workmen is " nix ! " Vingt-huit-jours, ;//. (popular), soldier of the reserve. Thus termed on account of his yearly twenty-eight days' service. Viocque, adj. and f. (thieves') old ; life. From the old word viouche, pronounced viouque. Violon, m. (popular), bolte a , lock-up at a police station. J'suis connu d'tous les sergents d'ville, J'connais tout's les boil's a violon, C'est chez eux qu' j'elis domicile, J'pourrais pas vivr' dans les salons ! E. DU Bois, C'est Pitanchard. The word violon itself signifies lock-up, on account of the window- bars of a cell being compared to the strings of that instrument. The lingo terms, "jouer de la harpe," to be in prison, and "jouer du violon," to file through, the 'ivindmv-bars of a cell, seem to bear out this explanation. Some philologists, however, think that the stocks being termed psalte- rion, " mettre au psalterion," to put in the stocks, became syno- nymous of to imprison, the ex- pression being superseded in time by " mettre au violon " when that instrument itself superseded the psalterion. Violone, adj. (thieves'), poor. A man who comes out of prison is generally "hard-up." Virolets, m. (obsolete), explained by quotation : Pour les testicules, les genitoires, les marques de virilite d'un homme. LE Roux. Vis,/ (familiar and popular), tor- tiller, or serrer la , to strangle. See Refroidir. Visage, m. (popular), a culotte, cousu, thin, spare man, " a scare crow ;" de bois flotte, haggard face ; de constipe, sour coun- tenance ; de campagne, or sans nez, the behind ; a cu- lotte, ugly face. Viscope, /. (thieves' and roughs'), cap, " tile." Vise - au- trefle, ;//. (popular), apothecary, "squirt." Visqueux, m. (popular), most de- graded variety of prostitutes' bul- lies. See Poisson. Visser (thieves'), to abash by a stern glance. Visuel, m. (popular), s'en injecter, or s'en humecter le , to look attentively. Vitam (Breton cant), brandy. Vitelotte, f. (popular), red nose, one with " grog blossoms." Vitres, f. pi. (popular), eyes, or " glaziers." Vitriers, m. pi. (military), chas- seurs a pied, or rifles. Thus nick- named, either from their high knapsack compared to an itine- rant glazier's plant, or from the expression, casser les vitres, to be reckless. The appellation forms the theme of the following verse set to one of their bugle marches: Encore un carreau d'casse, Via 1'vitrier qui passe, Encore un carreau d'casse, Via 1'vi'rier passe. (Popular) Les vitriers, diamonds of cards. Tierce major dans les vitriers, vingt- trois ; trois boeufs, vingt-six ; trois larbins, vingt-neuf; trois borgnes, quatre-vingt- douze. ZOLA. Vitrine, /. (popular), opera glass ; spectacles, or "barnacles." (Fami- liar) Etre dans la , to be well- dressed. 478 Vitriol Voir. Vitriol, m. (popular), brandy. Vitrioler (general), to throw oil of vitriol at one's face. Je la vitriolerais ! . . . je la tuerais plutSt, la vieille gredine, a coups de revolver. D. DE LAFOREST. Vitrioleuse, f. (general), woman who out of revenge throws vitriol at her lover or rival. Les vitrioleuses font decidement fortune : les graves jures les acquittent avec une complaisance singuliere . . . place aux re- cidivistes du vitriol. Un Flaneur. Vitriolisateur, m. (journalists'), imaginary instrument recom- mended for the use of those of the fair sex who throw oil of vitriol at their lovers. Get instrument n'est autre que le vitrioli- sateur, qui, sur la table de toilette de ces dames, prendra place a cot6 du vaporisa- teur. Un Fl&ntur. Vlan, adj. and m. (familiar), pink of fashion ; the world of dandies^ or " swelldom." Voici, d'abord, les Trossuli, comme ils s'appelaient autrefois : le "pschutt," le " vlan," les " luisants," comme nous les nommons aujourd'hui. Oh ! ce n'est plus a des "Troyens" qu'ils ont 1 'ambition de ressembler. P. DE MAHALIN. Vlan, or v'lan, elegant ; of the fashionable world. La pauvre Mathilde C. est dans la de- solation. Elle croyait avoir mis la main sur un homme v'lan et voila qu'elle de- couvre que c'est rien du tout. Gil Bias. Voie, /. (popular), foutre une de bois a quelqu'un, to thrash, to cudgel one. Refiler une , to thrash. The synonyms to describe the act in the various kinds of slang are : "donner une tournee, graisser les bottes, reconduire, faire la conduite, donner du tabac, passer chez paings, rouler, retourner, donner une roulee, une frottee, une fro- tesl^a, de la salade ; faire valser, de'shabiller, faire danser sans vio- lons, faire chanter un Te Deum raboteux, chiquer, refiler une purge, une seance, une ratisse, une pousse, estuquer, bucher, demolir, mettre en compote, flauper, manger le nez, aplatir, astiquer, suifer, murer, donner une dandinette, caresser or tri- coter les cdtes, pointer, schlaguer, savonner, faire danser la malaise'e, amocher, faire chanter une gamme, sabouler, saborder, don- ner une raclee, une danse, une torchee, une brulee ; flanquer une tripotee, une cuite, une degelee, une peignee, une brossee, une tatouille, une ratatouille, une trempe, une trempee, une rincee, une pile, une trepignee, une grattee, de 1'huile de cotterets ; tremper une soupe, descendre le crayon sur la colonne, raboter 1'andosse, balayer, dandiner, coller des chataignes, accomtnoder au beurre noir, passer quelqu'un a travers, foutre du tabac, faire trinquer, tomber sur le casaquin, tamponner, tanner le cuir, tra- vailler le cadavre, le casaquin j ramasser les pattes, atiger, tomber sur le poil, trepigner, pommader, cogner, faire etrenner, secouer les tripes, les puces ; ratisser la couenne, panser de la main, donner une patee, repasser le bufle, em- platrer, encaisser, flanquer une ratapiaule ; " and in the English slang : "to give a hiding, a walloping, to dust one's jacket, to set about, to tan, to walk into, to slip into, to quilt, to pay, to manhandle, to give one Jessie, to give one gas, to dowse," &c. Voile, m. (freemasons'), table-cloth. Termed also "grand drapeau." Voir (familiar), to have one's menses ; (popular) en dedans, to sleep , "to doss." Also to be Voirie Voltigeur. 479 drunk. See Pompette. Voir la lune, to lose otters maidenhead. A girl whose " rose has thus been plucked" is said to have " vu le loup," or, in the English slang, "to have seen the elephant;" a travers la verte, to labour under a delusion caused by over- indulgence in absinthe drinking. (Military) Ne pas quelqu'un blanc, to entertain fears concern- ing one's prospects or one's affairs. (Thieves') Voir, to apprehend, ' ' to smug. " Voirie, f. (popular), disreputable woman; vagabond. Voite, f. (popular and thieves'), vehicle, "drag." Regarde done ce pante qui s'fait trimballer dans une voite, look at that " cove " who sports a carriage. Voiture a talons, /. (popular), the legs, or " Shanks's mare." Vol, m. See Americain, Bon- jour, Grinchissage, Rendeme. (Thieves') Vol a 1'endormage, robbery by hocussing the victim. The thief is called "drummer" in the English lingo. Une certaine quantite de pavots et de pommes epineuses (datura stramonium) mise dans un litre d'eau . . . produit un narcotique tres violent . . . 1'endormeur en emporte toujours sur lui dans une petite fiole. CANLER. Vol a la bousculade, robbery by hustling the victim ; au pou- pon, robbery from a shop by a woman with a baby in her arms ; au radin. See Grinchissage. Vol sous-comptoir, robbing a tradesman of articles taken away for another person to choose from. Volailler (familiar), to make friends with the first comer ; (popular) to keep company with disreputable women. Volaillon, m. (popular), clumsy thief. Volant, m. (old cant), cloak, or " ryder." Volante, /. (thieves'), feather; pen. Volapuk, m. (familiar), bustle, or " back -staircase." Properly "volapuk, "says the Echo, "is the artificial language, or gibberish, which an industrious German sa- vant has been inventing by eclectic process from all languages of the world. It is intended by its in- genious author to undo the mis- chief caused by the confusion of tongues at Babel. But, judging by the published specimens of it, it is horribly cacophonous." A Volapuk grammar has already been published in Paris. Vol-au-vent, m. (popular), head. See Tronche, Avoir. (Thieves') Vol-au-vent, kind of robbery from the person described as follows : L'ope>ateur choisit son sujet parmi les passants qui n'ont pas leur chapeau bien assujeti sur la tete. II s'^lance alors vers lui, le heurte, re$oit son couvre-chef entre les mains et le lui rend avec un gracieux sourire. Pendant que le monsieur se con- fond en remerciements, 1'escroc lui fait son porte-monnaie avec une adresse exquise. E. FREBAULT. Voleur, m. (printers'), scrap of paper which gets stuck to the co/npo* it ion in the press ; (military) d'eti- quettes, quartermaster. He is supposed to steal the card (which is placed over every soldier's bed, and bears his name, number, and other particulars) so as to be able to charge for a new one. Tour a tour, c'etait . . . le " voleur d'e'ti- quettes " qui n'y couperait pas a cause que depuis un quart d'heure le trompette le sonnait au trot. G. COURTELINE. Volige, /. (popular), thin person. Voltigeante, /. (popular), mud. Voltigeur, m. (popular), hodman. 480 Vousaille Wiou. Vousaille, vouzaille, vouzigo, vozieres, vozigue (thieves'), you. Vousoyer (familiar), to say " vous" to a person whom one is in the habit of addressing as ' ' tu" Voyage, m. (common), faire un au long cours, to be transported. Voyager (ballet-dancers'), to -whirl rapidly tip and down the stage. Voyageur, m. (hotel -keepers'), sec, traveller who spends little in the hotel at which he puts up. (Popu- lar) Voyageurs a quinze francs le cent, passengers on top of bus. Voyante, f. (thieves'), the guillo- tine. Termed also: "butte or bute, le monde renverse, Mari- anne, la veuve, la passe, la mere au bleu, la bute a regret, 1'abbaye de Monte-a-regret, 1'abbaye de Monte-a-rebours, la bascule, la bequillarde, les deux mats." C'est le docteur Louis, secretaire du Col- lege des chirurgiens, qui fit, en 1792, le rapport pour 1'adoption de la premiere guil- lotine. Elle fut etablie par un nomm6 To- bias Schmitz, fabricant de pianos . . . c'etait a tort que le nom du docteur Guillotin avait etc donne 1 a 1'instrument de supplice. G. PRISON. Voyeur, m. (brothels'), better ex- plained by quotation : Je ne puis pourtant omettre une categorie de sadistes assez etonnants ; ce sont ceux qu'on designe sous le nom de " voyeurs." Ceux-ci cherchent une excitation dans les spectacles impudiques. L6o TAXIL. Voyoucratados, m. (familiar), one- sou cigar. From voyou, cad. Qu'y voulez-vous faire ? II y aura tou- jours plus de fumeurs de voyoucratados a un sou que d'aristocrates a un franc. SCAPIN, Le Voltaire. Voyoucrate, m. (familiar), a poli- tician whose sympathies, real or pretended, are with the mob. Voyoucratie, / (familiar), mob government, mobocracy. Voyoutados, m. (familiar), one- sou cigar. Vrignole, f. (thieves'), meat, or " carnish." Wagon, or wagon abestiaux, m. (popular), dirty prostitute, "drag- gle-tail." Wagon, large glass of wine. Wallace, m. (popular), water. Et comme il faut boire en mangeant, Comme ils adorent boire a la fraiche, a la glace, Comme ils ne veulent pas de"penser leur argent, Ils s'ingurgitent du Wallace. RICHEPIN, water at a fountain. Sir Richard Wallace has endowed Paris with numerous drinking fountains. Wateri (Breton cant), to rain ; to void urine. Waterloo, m. (roughs'), the behind. Watriniser (popular), to lynch. An allusion to the murder of the engineer, M. Watrin, by the Decazeville miners in 1886. Wallacer (popular), to drink Wiou (Breton cant), no. X You-yon. 481 X X, m. (students'), un , a stu- dent at the Ecole Polvtechnique. A Her a 1'X, to go to that school. (Familiar) L' , mathematics. Termed the " swat " by gentle- men cadets of the Royal Military Academy. Un , a thorough mathematician, one ivho devotes himself entirely to the study of mathematics. There is a story about a mathematician (some say he was no other than Arago) who u^ed to work out problems wher- ever he found himself at the time they occurred to him. One day he was drawing figures with a piece of chalk on the back of a hackney coach when it began to move, but so wrapped up was he in his favourite occupation that he followed his extemporized, blackboard at a walk at first, then at a run, but never stopped till he had found a solution of the problem. Un fort en , one well up in mathematics, but who knows little of other subjects. Une tete a , one who has a good head for mathematics. A pun on the for- mula 9 x, pronounced theta X. Y (military), a du bon, good neius. Eh ben, mon vieux, y a du bon .' les bleus ne vont pas y couper ! G. COURTE- LI.NE. (Popular) Y a pas meche, it is impossible. Mais y parait qu'I'il' des Pins, y a pas meche. Y a deja quelqu'un c'est epatant. L'gouvernemciit maronn' ! Mo: j'suis con- tent. J'suis en bateau et j'ai lache la deche. GRINGOIKE, Le Conttntement du Recidiviste, a fane re ! Yeux, m. pi. (familiar), culottes, eyes surrounded with a dark circle ; en trou de vrille, small eyes with stupid expression. Youte, or youtre, m. (popular), Jew. From the German. Termed also " frise, pied plat, guinal," and, in the English slang, "ikey, sheney, mouchey." Jardin des youtres, Jewish cemetery. Youtrerie, f. (popular), gathering of Jews ; avarice. You-you, m. (convicts'), warder at the penal servitude settlement. I I 482 ZephZig. Zeph, m. (popular), wind. Se pousser du , to run aivay. See Patatrot. Zephir, m. (military), soldier of the il bataillon d'Afrique" a corps serving in Africa only, composed of soldiers who have been in prison for a common law offence, and who have not completed their term of service. A pun on the words voler comme le zephir. Pans la plaine tourbillonne La nuee aux burnous blancs; A la tete de la colonne Aliens rejoindre nos rangs. Deja le soleil levant Nous jette un regard oblique ! Pan ! du bataillon d'Afrique, Pan ! les zephirs en avant. H. FRANCE, Chanson tin Bataillon d'Afrique. Zer (Breton cant), apples. Zerasined-douar (Breton cant), potatoes. Zif, m. See Solliceur. Zig, zigue, zigorneau, or zigard, m. (popular), a jolly fellow, a " regular brick ; " a friend. Polyte Chupin lui cut tendu la main comme a un ami ... a un "zig." GA- BORIAU. Mince ! s'ecria 1'autre, j'me fais rien de belles journees depuis quelque temps. Vous etes vraiment des zigues, les artisses ! J. RICHEPIN, Braves Gens. Mon vieux , old "cock," old fellow, ' ' my bloater, my rib- stone. " Mes bons zigues, my good fellows, old fellows. Mes bons zigues, dit le lutteur, inutile de crier ainsi comme la truie de David. HECTOR FRANCE. Bon d'attaque, a staunch friend. Un a la rebifife, old offender. Quel ! a splendid chap ! a rare im? / Quel sacre zig, tout de meme, ce Mes- Bottes. Est-ce qu'un jour il n'avait pas mange douze ceufs durs et bu douze verres de vin pendant que les douze coups de midi sonnaient. ZOLA. Un bon zig is synonymous of un bon bougre (whose origin is Bul- gare), and concerning the expres- sion M. Genin says: " Un fait d'argot des plus curieux, c'est le synonyme que donne aujourd'hui le peuple a un mot (bougre) qui commence apparemment a lui sembler trop grossier : ' c'est un bon zigue ! ' ' tu es un bon zigue ! ' Or il se trouve que les Zigues figurent a cote des Bui- gares dans une chronique grecque, Zinc Zut. 433 en vers politiques, des premieres annees du XlV e siecle. 'Theo- dore Lascaris, dit 1'auteur, appro- visionna ses forteresses et prit a son service, moyennant salaire, des Turcs, des Cumans, des Lains, des Zigues et des Bulgares ' (\$\ic\\o'n,ChroniqiiedeRoumanie). Comment peut-etre venue, a des hommes du peuple, 1'idee de cette maligne substitution des Zigues aux Bulgares? C'est un trait d'erudition tres raffinee ! Je ne vois d'autre explication sinon que ce mot et ce rapprochement s'etaient conserves au fond de la tradition populaire depuis la con- quete de Constantinople et 1'eta- blissement des Francais en Moree. Mais cette explication meme donne beaucoup a reflechir, et montre combien le langage du peuple merite 1'attention des philosopb.es. " Zinc, m. (popular), money ; vene- real ailment, "Venus' curse;" elegance, dash ; wine-shop bar. Tomber un , to have a glass of liquor at the bar. (Theatrical) Avoir du , or etre zingue, to possess a clear, sonorous voice ; to play in dashing style. Je joue le role d'un pigeon du Jockey- Club qui se croit aime pour lui-merae. . . . II faut que j'y aie du zinc ce soir. Sans <;a, les vieux de 1'orchestre regretteraient trop Dejazet ; et ils appelleraient Azor. P. AUDEBKAXD. Zingo, m. (wine retailers'), a good fellow, "a brick." Zinguer (popular), to drink at a bar. Etre zingue, to be well off, " well ballasted." Zingueur, m. (cocottes'), le , he who furnishes the funds, who keeps a woman. Je t'engage done ;i raconter tout ce que tu me racontes la au zingueur ! II te croira parcequ'il t'aime ! Et lui du moins est assez riche pour se permettre le luxe de la paternite. Memoires de Monsieur Claude. Zinguot, m., shed in the court- yard at the Ecole de Saint- Cyr. Zousill (Breton cant), drink; drunken man. Zousilla (Breton cant), to get drunk. Zousilladen (Breton cant), drink. Zousiller (Breton cant), drunkard. Zousill hirr (Breton cant), cider. Zousill-tan (Breton cant), brandy. Zouzou, m. (familiar), a Zouave. Zozotte, _/"., appellation given by bullies to the money given them by prostitutes. Zut ! (familiar and popular), excla- mation expressive of refusal, care- less defiance, &c. Je te dis zut ! you be hanged ! go to the deuce ! Ah ! zut alors ! confound it, then ! I give it up, ' ' it's no go. " Je dis zut au service, / say good-bye to the service. Zut pour les aristos ! Coupeau envoyait le monde a la balangoire. ZOLA. Cilistoicfc Ertss PRINTED BY CHARLES WHITTINCHAM AND CO. TOOKS COURT, CHANCERY LANE, LONDON. E.G. tig AttE-UNIVERS/A ^v ^1? ' =: