Viennent aussi des bat-la-flemme, des sans-douilles,Fainéants, suce-pots, grands dépendeurs d’andouilles,Qui dans tous les cabarets ont tué leur je dois,Et qui ne font jamais œuvre de leurs dix doigts.Richepin,La Mer.(Cod-fishers’)Andouille,wind blowing to sea-ward.Angauche, orangluce,f.(thieves’),goose.Tortiller de l’——,to eat goose.Ange-gardien,m.(popular),man whose calling is to see drunkards home; muslin inside a chemisette.Anglais,m.(familiar),creditor, “dun;”man who keeps a mistress; a carefully made up dummy parcel in shops.Il a de l’——,is said of a horse which shows blood.Anglais à prunes,voyageurs à prunes,prudent travellers, who, being aware of the long price asked for fruit at restaurants, are satisfied with a few plums; (cabmens’)—— de carton,an expression of contempt applied to a stingy“fare.”Anglaise,f.(mountebanks’),the share of each partner in the business; the expenses of each guest at a meal. (Popular)Danser à l’——,a practice followed by girls who pretend to go to the ball of the opera, and stop at a restaurant where they await clients.Faire une ——,to pay one’s share in the reckoning; also a favourite game of loafers. One of the players tosses all the pence of the party; those which turn up heads, or tails as the case may be, are his; another player adjudges to himself the tails, and so on with the rest.Filer, orpisser à l’——,to give the slip,to take“French leave.”Angluce, orangauche,f.(thieves’),goose.Angoulême,f.(thieves’),the mouth, “muns.” From “engouler,”to swallow.Se caresser l’——,to eat and drink,to take“grub and bub.” SeeMastiquer.Anguille,f.(thieves’),belt. Properlyeel; (familiar)—— de buisson,snake.Anis,m.(popular),de l’——!exclamation expressive of refusal, may be rendered by “you be hanged!” SeeNèfles.Anisette,f.(popular),de barbillon,water, or “Adam’s ale.”Anjez(Breton cant),father.Ann doouzeg abostol(Breton cant),twelve o’clock. Literallythe twelve apostles.Annoncier,m.(printers’),compositor of advertisements; alsoman who belongs to an advertising firm.Annuaire,m.(military),passer l’—— sous le bras,to be promoted according to seniority.Anonchali(popular),discouraged,cast down, “down in the mouth.”Anquilieuse,f.(thieves’),female thief who conceals stolen property between her legs. From “quilles,” a slang term for legs.Anse,f.(popular),arm, “bender.”Faire le panier à deux anses,towalk with a woman on each arm,to play the“sandwich.”Antif,m.,antiffe,f.(thieves’),act of walking.Battre l’——,to walk, to “pad the hoof;”to deceive, “to kid;”to dissemble; to spy, to “nark.”Antiffer(thieves’),to enter,to walk in;to walk, “to pad the hoof.”Antiffle(thieves’),church.Battre l’——,to be a hypocrite, “mawworm.”Antiffler(thieves’),to be married in church, “to be buckled.”Antilles,f.pl.(thieves’),testicles.Antipather(popular),to abominate.Antique,student of theEcole Polytechniquewho has completed the regular course of studies.Antonne,entonne,f.(thieves’),church.Au matin quand nous nous levons,J’aime la croûte de parfond.Dans les entonnes trimardons,Ou aux creux de ces ratichons.Chanson de l’Argot.Antroler,entroller(thieves’),to carry away, “to chuff.”Un de ces luisans, un marcandier alla demander la thune à un pipet, et le rupin ne lui ficha que floutière: il mouchailla des ornies de balle qui morfiaient du grenu en la cour; alors il ficha de son sabre sur la tronche à une, il l’abasourdit la met dans son gueulard et l’entrolle.—Le Jargon de l’Argot.Apascliner(thieves’),s’——,to get used to,acclimatized.A perpète(thieves’),for life.Gerbé à ——,to be sentenced to penal servitude for life,to be a“lifer.”Apic(thieves’),garlic;eye, “daylight, “glazier,” or “ogle.”Aplatir(familiar),quelqu’un,to thrash soundly, “to lick;”to reduce one’s arguments to nought, “to nonplus.” Properlyto flatten.Aplatisseur,m.(familiar),de pièces de six liards ——,one who is over particular; one who attaches undue importance to trifles.Aplomb,m.(popular),être d’——,to be strong,sound, “game.”Reluquer d’——,to look straight in the face.Aplomber(thieves’),to abash a person by one’s coolness.Aponiché(popular),seated.Apoplexie,f.(popular),de templier,a fit of apoplexy brought on by excessive drinking. From the saying,Boire comme un templier.Apothicaire,m.(popular),sans sucre,workman with but few tools; tradesman with an insufficient stock in trade.Apôtres(thieves’),fingers, or “forks.”Appeler(theatrical),azor,to hiss, or “to goose.” Literallyto whistle a dog.Azor, a common name for a dog.Appuyer(theatrical),to let scenes down.Aquarium,an assembly of prostitutes’ bullies, or “ponces.” From their being denominatedmaquereaux,mackerels.Aquicher(thieves’),to decoy,allure.Aquiger,quiger(thieves’ and cads’),to steal, “to lift;”to wound; to beat, “to wallop;”to make, or “to fake;”—— les brèmes,to mark cards for cheating, or to “stock broads.” It means alsoto take,to procure,to find.Dévalons donc dans cette pioleOù nous aquigerons riole,Et sans débrider nos pouchons.Richepin,La Chanson des Gueux.Aquilin(popular),faire son ——,to pout, or “to hang one’s latch-pan;”to turn up one’s nose.Arabe,m.(popular),savage,unrelenting fellow, or “tartar.”Araignée,f.(popular),bicycle with a large fly-wheel;—— de bastringue,female habituée of low dancing halls;—— de comptoir,counter jumper, or “knight of the yard;”—— de trottoir,dealer at a stall, or in the open air.Avoir une —— dans le plafond,to be cracked,to have“a bee in one’s bonnet.” SeeAvoir.Arbalète,f.(thieves’),neck-cross;—— d’antonne,de chique,de priante,church-cross.Arbi,arbico,m.(army),Arab.Arbif,m.(thieves’),violent man.Arcasien,arcasineur,m.(thieves’),thief who employs thearcat(which see);a beggar who calls on people;cunning man.Arcat,m.(thieves’),monter un ——,to write a letter from prison to a person asking for an advance in cash on a supposed buried treasure which, later on, is to be pointed out to the donor. Fromarcane,mystery,hidden thing.Arcavot,m.(Jew traders’),falsehood.Arche,f.(popular),aller à l’——,to fetch money.Fendre l’——,to weary, “to bore.”Archicube,m.,student who has completed his three years’ course of study at theEcole Normale, an institution where professors are trained for university professorships, and which holds the first rank among special schools in France.Archipointu,m.(thieves’),an archbishop.Archisuppôt de l’argot(old cant),learned thief,arch-thief, “gonnof.”Les archisuppôts de l’argot sont les plus savants, les plus habiles marpeaux de toutime l’argot, qui sont des écoliers débauchés, et quelques ratichons, de ces coureurs qui enseignent le jargon à rouscailler bigorne.—Le Jargon de l’Argot.Architecte de l’Univers(freemasons’),the Deity.Arçon(thieves’),sign of recognition made by passing the thumb down the right cheek and spitting at the same time.Si c’étaient des amis de Pantin, je pourrais me faire reconnaître mais des pantres nouvellement affranchis (des paysans qui font leurs premières armes), j’aurais beau faire l’arçon.—Vidocq.Arçonner(thieves’),to make one speak out;to speak, or “to patter.”Arcpincer,arquepincer(thieves’ and popular),to take, or “to collar;”to seize, or “to grab;”—— l’omnibus,to catch the ’bus.Veuillez —— mon anse,pray take my arm.J’ai promis de reconobrer tous les grinchisseurs et de les faire arquepincer.—Vidocq.Ardent,m.(thieves’),candle, or “glim.”Fauche-ardents,snuffers.Ardents,m.pl.(thieves’),eyes, or “glaziers.” SeeQuinquets.Ardoise,f.(popular),head, or “tibby;”hat, or “tile.”Avoir l’——,to have credit, or “jawbone.” An allusion to the slate used for drawing up the reckoning.Arga,m.(thieves’),share of booty, or “snaps.”Arganeau,m.(thieves’),a link connecting two convicts’ irons.Argot,m.(thieves’),animal;fool, or “go along;”thieves’ brotherhood, or “family men.”Argoté(thieves’),one who lays claim to being witty.Argotier,m.(thieves’),one of the brotherhood of thieves, or “family man.”Argousin,m.(popular),foreman, or “boss.”Arguche,m.(thieves’),cant, or “flash;”a fool,dunce, or “go-along.”Arguemine,f.(thieves’),hand, or “famm.”Aricoteur,m.(thieves’),executioner.Aristo,m.foraristocrat(popular),a man in comfortable circumstances.Aristocrate,m.,an appellation given by prisoners to one of their number whose means allow him to obtain victuals from the canteen.Arlequin(popular),broken victuals of every description mixed up and retailed to poor people. The word has passed into the language.Autrefois chez Paul NiquetFumait un vaste baquetSur la devanture.Pour un ou deux sous, je crois,On y plongeait les deux doigtsDeux, à l’aventure.Les mets les plus différentsEtaient là, mêlés, errants,Sans couleur, sans forme,Et l’on pêchait sans fouiller,Aussi bien un vieux soulierQu’une truffe énorme.Richepin,La Chanson des Gueux.Arme,f.(military),passer l’—— à gauche,to die, “to lose the number of one’s mess.” SeePipe.Armée roulante,f.(thieves’), formerlygang of convicts chained together which used to make its way by road to the hulks.Armoire,f.(popular),à glace,the four of any card;head; (military)—— à poils,soldiers’ knapsack, or “scran bag.” An allusion to the hairy skin that covers or covered soldiers’ knapsacks.Arnac,m.(thieves’),à l’——,with premeditation.Arnache,f.(popular),deceit;treachery.Etre à l’——,to be cunning,wide-awake, a “deep one;”to deceive, and not allow oneself to be deceived.Arnacq,arnache,m.(thieves’),detective,informer, “nark.”Arnaud,m.(popular),avoir son ——,être ——,to be in a bad humour, to be “nasty.”Arnauder(popular),to grumble.Arnelle(thieves’),the town ofRouen. FromLa Renelle, a small river.Arnellerie,f.(thieves’),rouennerie,printed cotton.Arnif,m.(thieves’),policeman or detective. Also denominated “bec de gaz, bourrique, cierge, flique, laune, peste, vache.” In English cant or slang “crusher, pig, copper, cossack, nark.”Arpagar,m.(thieves’),the town ofArpagon, near Paris.Arpette,m.(popular),apprentice.Arpion,m.(thieves’ and popular),foot, “trotter;”toe.Moi, d’marcher ça n’me fout pas l’trac.J’ai l’arpion plus dur que des clous.Richepin,Chanson des Gueux.Arpions,m.pl.(thieves’ and popular),toes.Arquepincer. SeeArcpincer.Arquer(popular),s’——,to be bent down through age.Arracher(thieves’),du chiendent,to be on the look-out for a victim(chiendent,dogs’ grass); (popular)—— son copeau,to work, “to grind” (copeau,shaving).Arrangemaner(thieves’),to cheat, or “to stick.”Arranger(swindlers’),les pantres,to cheat the public by means of the three-card trick or other swindling dodges.Arrangeur,m.(gamesters’),one who sets a game going, or “buttonner.”Arrêter(familiar),les frais,to put a stop to any proceedings. (Les frais,the fee for a game of billiards.)Arrière-train,m.(familiar),the behind, or “tochas.” SeeVasistas.Arriver premier(sporting),to be the winner. Used figuratively to denote superiority of any kind over others.Arriver bon premier, “to beat hollow.”Arrondir(popular),se faire —— le globe,to become pregnant, or “lumpy.”On s’a fait arrondir el’globe,On a sa p’tit’ butte, à c’qué vois....Eh! ben, ça prouv’ qu’on n’est pas d’bois.Gill,La Muse à Bibi.Arrondissement,m.(popular),chef-lieu d’——,woman in an advanced stage of pregnancy, “lumpy,”or with a“white swelling.”Arrosage,m.(popular),action of drinking,of“having something damp.”Arroser(gamesters’),to stake repeatedly on the same card;to make repeated sacrifices in money; (military)—— ses galons,treating one’s comrades on being made a non-commissioned officer, “paying for one’s footing;” (familiar)—— un créancier,to settle small portion of debt.Arroseur,m.(thieves’),de verdouze,gardener, or “master of the mint.”Verdouze, forverdure.Arrosoir,m.(thieves’),coup d’——,a glass of wine;a watering-pot.Arsenal,m.(thieves’),arsenic.Arsonner(thieves’),to overhaul pockets, to “frisk,” or “to rule over.”Arsouille,m.(familiar),a man foul in language,a low cad, a “rank outsider.” The expression has passed into the language.Milor l’——,a rich man with eccentric, low tastes. The appellation was first given to Lord Seymour.Arsouiller(popular), synonymous ofengueuler, to “jaw,” to “slang.”Arthur,m.,a would-be lady-killer; also synonymous ofAmant de cœur, which see.Arthurine,f.(popular),a girl of indifferent character,a“Poll.”Artichaut,m.(popular),cœur d’——,fickle-hearted..... Cœur d’artichaut,C’est mon genre: un’ feuille pour tout l’monde,Au jour d’aujourd’hui, j’gobe la blonde;Après-d’main, c’est la brun’, qu’i m’faut.Gill.Artiche,m.(thieves’),retirer l’——,to pick the pockets of a drunkard.Article,m.(familiar),faire l’——,to puff up, “to crack up.” (Printers’)Payer son —— quatre,to pay for one’s footing. An allusion to some item of a code of regulations. (Popular)Porté sur l’——,one of an amatory disposition.Articlier,m.,one whosespécialitéis writing newspaper articles.Artie,artif,artiffe,lartie,larton,m.(thieves’),bread;—— de Meulan,white bread;—— du gros Guillaume,brown bread;—— de guinaut,mouldy bread.Ecoutez marques et mions,J’aime la croûte de parfond,J’aime l’artie, j’aime la crie,J’aime la croûte de parfond.Chanson de l’Argot.Artilleur(popular),drunkard;one skilful in working the“canon,”or glass of wine at wine-shops;—— à genoux, orde la pièce humide,a military hospital orderly;—— à l’aiguille,tailor;—— de la pièce humide,a fireman; also,one who is voiding urine, or “lagging.”Artis,m.(thieves’),langage de l’——,cant, or “flash.”Artiste,m.(popular),veterinary surgeon, “vet;”spendthrift leading a careless life;sweeper;comrade, or “pal.”Arton. SeeArtie.Artoupan,m.(thieves’),guard or warder at a penal servitude depôt, or “screw.”Art royal(freemasons’),freemasonry.As,m.(popular),être à l’——,to be short of cash, “hard up;”at a restaurant or café,to be at table, or in private room No. 1.Un —— de carreau,soldier’s knapsack, thus called from its shape;a town adjutant, an allusion to the red facings of his uniform. (Thieves’)As de carreau,the ribbon of the Legion of Honour, which is red. (Familiar)Fichu comme l’—— de pique,with a clumsily built form,badly dressed.As de piquemeant formerly a man of no consequence, of no intellectual worth.Asinver(thieves’),to make stupid.Asperge montée,f.(popular),very tall,lanky person; “sky-scraper,” or “lamp-post.”Asphalte,m.(familiar),polir l’——,to lounge on theBoulevards.Asphyxié,adj.(popular),dead-drunk, or “sewed-up.”Asphyxier(popular),to drink;—— le perroquet,to drink a glass of absinthe, green, like a parrot;—— un pierrot,to drink a glass of white wine.Pierrot, a pantomimic character, with face painted white, and costume to match.Aspic,m.(popular),a slanderer, an allusion to “aspic,” aviper; (thieves’)a miser, or “hunks.”Aspiquerie,f.(popular),calumny.Asseoir(popular),s’——,to fall.Envoyer quelqu’un s’——,to throw one down,to silence, get rid of one.Allez vous ——,shut up,go to“pot” (an allusion to the customary intimation of the judge to a witness whose examination is concluded).S’—— sur le bouchon,to sit on mother earth.S’—— sur quelqu’un,to silence one,sit upon him.S’—— sur quelquechose,to attach but slight importance to a thing.Assesseur(gamesters’),player.Asseyez-vous dessus et qu’ ça finisse!(familiar),silence him! sit upon him!Assiette,f.(popular),avoir l’—— au beurre,to be lucky,fortunate in life.Assis,m.(literary),clerks, or “quill drivers.”Oh! c’est alors qu’il faut plaindre... les malheureux qu’un travail sédentaire courbe sur un bureau.... c’est alors qu’il convient de se lamenter sur le sort des assis.—Richepin,Le Pavé.Assister(thieves’),to bring victuals to a prisoner from outside.Associée,f.(printers’),mon ——,my wife,my“old woman.”Assommoir,m.(familiar),name of a wine-shop at Belleville, and which is now common to all low drinking-shops. Fromassommer,to knock over the head.Astec,m.(familiar),stunted and weakly person, or “barber’s cat;” (literary)a weak, despicable adversary. An allusion to the Mexican dwarfs.Astic,m.(thieves’),steel,sword, or “poker” (from the Germanstich); (soldiers’)a mixture of pipe-clay for the furbishing of the brass fixtures of equipment.Aller à l’——,to clean one’s equipment.Asticot,m.(popular),vermicelli;mistress of a bully or thief, “mollisher;”—— de cercueil,glass of beer(a play on the words “ver” and “bière,”asticotbeing aflesh-worm).Astiquageorastique,m.(military),cleaning the equipments.Astiquer(popular),to beat, or “to towel;”to tease. Literallyto clean,to furbish.S’——,to have angry words, as a prelude to a set to;to fight. Literallyto make oneself neat, or “smug.”As-tu fini, oras-tu fini tes manières!words implying that a person’s endeavours to convince or to deceive another have failed. The expression corresponds in some degree to “Walker!” “No go!” “What next?”A table(thieves’),se mettre ——, or,casser du sucre,to confess a crime.Atelier(freemasons’),place of meeting.Atigé,adj.(thieves’ and popular),ill, or “laid up;”stricken,ruined, or “cracked up.”Atiger(thieves’ and popular),to wound, to strike, “to clump.”Atômes crochus,m. pl.(familiar),mysterious elements of mutual sympathy.Atouser(convicts’),to encourage,to urge, “to kid on.”Atout,m.(thieves’ and popular),courage, or “wool;”self-possession;a blow, or “wipe;”stomach;money, or “rhino;”ability. Proper meaningtrumps.Avoir de l’——,to have pluck, or “spunk;”to have a strong arm.Tu m’as donné la bonne mesure, tu es un cadet qui a de l’atout.—E.Sue.(You gave me a good thrashing, you are a strong chap.)Le plus d’——,a kind of swindling game played at low cafés.Atout!(popular),exclamation to denote that a blow has taken effect.Attache,f.,love tie.Attacher(thieves’),un bidon,to inform against one, “to blow the gaff.”Attaches,f. pl., (thieves’),buckles;—— brillantes,diamond buckles;—— de gratousse,lace shirt-frill;—— de cés,breeches buckles.J’ai fait suer un chêne,Son auberg j’ai enganté.Son auberg et sa toquante,Et ses attach’s de cés.V.Hugo,Le Dernier Jour d’un Condamné.Attaque,d’——,resolutely, smartly.Un homme d’——,a resolute man,one who is game.Etre d’——,to show energy, resolution.Y aller d’——,to set about anything with a will, smartly, as if one meant business. (Popular)D’attaque,violent,severe.V’lan! v’là l’vent qui m’fiche eun’claque.Fait vraiment un froid d’attaque.Richepin.Attelage,m.(cavalry),un bon ——,a couple of good friends.Attendrir(familiar),s’——,to have reached that stage of intoxication when one is“maudlin.”Attiger. SeeAtiger.Attignoles,f. pl.(popular),tripe à la mode de Caen(tripe stewed with herbs and seasoning).N’importe où nous nous empâtons,D’arlequins, d’briffe et d’rogatons,Que’qu’fois d’saucisse et d’attignoles.Richepin.Attrapage,m.(familiar and popular),severe scolding,sharp criticism,quarrel,fight, “mill;” (military)—— du premier numéro,serious duel.Attrape(popular),à te rappeler,mind you remember!Attraper(popular),to scold, “to jaw;”—— l’oignon,to receive a blow intended for another;to have to pay for others’ reckoning.S’——,to abuse,to“slang”one another.Se faire ——,to get scolded, abused, “blown up.”Attraper le haricot, orla fève,to have to pay for others. An allusion to one who finds a bean in his share of the cake at the “fête des rois,” or Twelfth-night, and who, being proclaimed king, has to treat the other guests. (Journalists’)Attraper,to sharply criticise or run down a person or literary production; (theatrical)to hiss, or “goose;” (actors’)—— le lustre,to open wide one’s mouth;to make a fruitless attempt to give emission to a note.Attrape-science,m.,printer’s apprentice, or “devil.”Attrapeur,m.(literary),a sharp or scurrilous critic.Attrimer(thieves’),to take, to “nibble;”to seize, to “grab.”Attriquer(thieves’),to buy;to buy stolen clothes.Attriqueur,m.,attriqueuse,f.(thieves’),receiver of stolen clothes, “fence.”Auber,m.,a sum of money, “pile.” A play on the word “haubert,”coat of mail,an assemblage of“mailles,”meaning“meshes” or “small change.” Compare the expression,Sans sou ni maille.Aumône,f.(thieves’),voler à l’——,stealing from a jeweller, who is requested to exhibit small trinkets, some of which, being purloined, are transmitted to the hand of a confederate outside who pretends to ask for alms.Aumônier,m.(thieves’),a thief who operates as described above.Au prix où est le beurre(familiar),at the present rate of prices of things in general.Aure, orhaure(thieves’),le grand ——,God.Aüs,m.(shopmen’s),perplexed purchaser who leaves without buying anything.Austo,m.(soldiers’),guard-room,cells, “Irish theatre,” “mill,” or “jigger.”Autan,m.(thieves’),loft,attics(old wordhautain, high).Autel, (freemasons’),table at which the master sits; (popular)—— de besoin,prostitute, or “bed-fagot;”—— de plume,bed, “doss.”Auteur,m.(familiar),father or mother, “governor,” or “mater;”—— beurrier,unsuccessful author whose works are sold as wrapping-paper for tradesmen.Autor(familiar and popular),jouer d’——,to play cards without proposing.Travailler d’—— et d’achar,to work with energy.Autor,d’——(thieves’),in a peremptory manner;deliberately.Dis donc, fourline, la première fois que nous trouverons la Pégriotte, faut l’emmener d’autor.—Eugène Sue.Autre,adj.(popular),cet —— chien,that chap.Etre l’——,to be duped, or “bamboozled;”to be the lover;the mistress.L’—— côté,appellation given by Paris students to that part of the city situated on the right bank of the river.Femme de l’—— côté,woman residing in that part of Paris.Auvergnat,m.(popular),avaler l’——,to take communion.Auverpin,m.(popular),native ofAuvergne. Appellation given to commissionnaires, charcoal-dealers, water-carriers,&c., who generally hail fromAuvergne.Et là seulement vous trouverez les bals-musette, les vrais, tenus par des Auverpins à la fois mastroquets et charbonniers, hantés par des Auverpins aussi, porteurs d’eau, commissionnaires, frotteurs, cochers.—Richepin,Le Pavé.Auverpinches,m. pl.(popular),clumsy shoes usually worn byAuvergnats.Aux(popular),petits oignons,in first-rate style, excellently.Etre —— petits oiseaux,to be comfortable, snug.Auxiliaire(prisoners’),prisoner acting as servant, or “fag.”Avalé(popular),avoir —— le pépin,to be pregnant, or “lumpy.” An allusion to the apple.Avoir —— une chaise percée,to have an offensive breath.Avoir —— un sabre,to be stiff, “to have swallowed 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 lampée par un hum engageant et satisfait comme s’il avait avalé le bon Dieu en culotte de velours.—Richepin,Le Pavé.Avaler(thieves’),le luron,to receive the Host at communion. (Popular)Avaler sa cuiller;sa fourchette;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 l’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.”Avantages,m. pl.,avant-cœur,m.,avant-main,f.,avant-postes,m. pl.,avant-scènes,f. pl.(popular and familiar),bosoms, “Charlies,” “dairies,” or “bubbies.”Avantageux,adj.(popular),convenient,roomy.Des souliers ——,easy shoes.Avant-courrier,m.(thieves’),auger.Avaro,m.(popular),damage. Fromavarie.Avergot,m.(thieves’),egg.Avertineux,adj.(popular),of a suspicious, gruff disposition;of a forbidding aspect.Avocat bêcheur,m.(printers’),backbiter; (thieves’)public prosecutor.Avoine,f.(military),brandy. (Popular)Avoir encore l’——,to have still one’s maidenhead. (Coachmens’)Donner l’——,to whip;to thrash, or “flush.”Avoir(popular),à la bonne,to like, to love, “to be sweet upon;”—— campo,to have leave to go out;—— celui, foravoir l’honneur de;—— dans le nez,to have a strong dislike for a person or thing; (familiar)—— dans le ventre,ce que quelqu’un a dans le ventre,what stuff one is made of; (popular)—— de ce qui sonne,to be well off; in other words,to have plenty ofbeans, ballast, rhino, the needful, blunt, bustle, dust, coal, oof, stumpy, brass, tin;—— de la chance au bâtonnet,to be unlucky.Le jeu de bâtonnetis the game of nap the cat;—— de la glu aux mains,to steal, “to nibble;”—— de la ligne,to have a nice figure;—— de l’anis dans une écope:tu auras ——,don’t you wish you may get it;—— de l’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 quelqu’un,to fall out with one, to have a tiff with one;—— des mots avec la justice,to be prosecuted;—— des mots avec les sergots,to have some disagreement with the police;—— des œufs sur le plat,to have black eyes, “to have one’s eyes in mourning;”—— des petits pois à écosser ensemble,to have a bone to pick with one;—— des planches,to be an experienced actor;—— du beurre sur la tête,to have some misdeed on one’s conscience;—— du chien,to possess dash, “go;”—— du chien dans le ventre,to have pluck, endurance, or “stay;”—— du pain sur la planche,to have a competency;—— du poil au cul,to possess courage, or “hackle,”energy;—— du plomb dans l’aile,to be wounded;—— du sable dans les yeux,to feel sleepy;—— du toupet,to have audacity, cool impudence;—— fumé dans une pipe neuve,to be tipsy, or “obfuscated;”—— la flemme,to be afraid;to feel lazy, or “Mondayish;”—— l’arche,to have credit, or “jawbone;”—— l’assiette au beurre,to be fortunate in life;—— la cuisse gaieis said of a female of lax morals;—— le pot de chambre dans la commode,to have an offensive breath;—— le caillou déplumé,le coco déplumé,to be bald,to have“a bladder of lard;”—— le casque,to fancy a man;—— le compas dans l’œil,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, to bea “dab”at something;—— le trac,to be afraid, “funky;”—— les calots pochés,to have black eyes;—— les côtes en long,to be lazy, a “bummer;”—— l’estomac dans les talons,dans les mollets,to be ravenous,very“peckish;”—— l’étrenne,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 bréchet,to have the stomach-ache, or “botts;”—— mal aux cheveux,to have a headache caused from overnight potations;—— mangé de l’oseille,to be sour-tempered, peevish, or “crusty;”—— sa côtelette, in theatrical language,to obtain great applause; (popular)—— 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;”—— son pain cuit. Properlyto have an income, to be provided for. The expression is old.
Viennent aussi des bat-la-flemme, des sans-douilles,Fainéants, suce-pots, grands dépendeurs d’andouilles,Qui dans tous les cabarets ont tué leur je dois,Et qui ne font jamais œuvre de leurs dix doigts.Richepin,La Mer.
Viennent aussi des bat-la-flemme, des sans-douilles,Fainéants, suce-pots, grands dépendeurs d’andouilles,Qui dans tous les cabarets ont tué leur je dois,Et qui ne font jamais œuvre de leurs dix doigts.Richepin,La Mer.
Viennent aussi des bat-la-flemme, des sans-douilles,Fainéants, suce-pots, grands dépendeurs d’andouilles,Qui dans tous les cabarets ont tué leur je dois,Et qui ne font jamais œuvre de leurs dix doigts.Richepin,La Mer.
Viennent aussi des bat-la-flemme, des sans-douilles,
Fainéants, suce-pots, grands dépendeurs d’andouilles,
Qui dans tous les cabarets ont tué leur je dois,
Et qui ne font jamais œuvre de leurs dix doigts.
Richepin,La Mer.
(Cod-fishers’)Andouille,wind blowing to sea-ward.
Angauche, orangluce,f.(thieves’),goose.Tortiller de l’——,to eat goose.
Ange-gardien,m.(popular),man whose calling is to see drunkards home; muslin inside a chemisette.
Anglais,m.(familiar),creditor, “dun;”man who keeps a mistress; a carefully made up dummy parcel in shops.Il a de l’——,is said of a horse which shows blood.Anglais à prunes,voyageurs à prunes,prudent travellers, who, being aware of the long price asked for fruit at restaurants, are satisfied with a few plums; (cabmens’)—— de carton,an expression of contempt applied to a stingy“fare.”
Anglaise,f.(mountebanks’),the share of each partner in the business; the expenses of each guest at a meal. (Popular)Danser à l’——,a practice followed by girls who pretend to go to the ball of the opera, and stop at a restaurant where they await clients.Faire une ——,to pay one’s share in the reckoning; also a favourite game of loafers. One of the players tosses all the pence of the party; those which turn up heads, or tails as the case may be, are his; another player adjudges to himself the tails, and so on with the rest.Filer, orpisser à l’——,to give the slip,to take“French leave.”
Angluce, orangauche,f.(thieves’),goose.
Angoulême,f.(thieves’),the mouth, “muns.” From “engouler,”to swallow.Se caresser l’——,to eat and drink,to take“grub and bub.” SeeMastiquer.
Anguille,f.(thieves’),belt. Properlyeel; (familiar)—— de buisson,snake.
Anis,m.(popular),de l’——!exclamation expressive of refusal, may be rendered by “you be hanged!” SeeNèfles.
Anisette,f.(popular),de barbillon,water, or “Adam’s ale.”
Anjez(Breton cant),father.
Ann doouzeg abostol(Breton cant),twelve o’clock. Literallythe twelve apostles.
Annoncier,m.(printers’),compositor of advertisements; alsoman who belongs to an advertising firm.
Annuaire,m.(military),passer l’—— sous le bras,to be promoted according to seniority.
Anonchali(popular),discouraged,cast down, “down in the mouth.”
Anquilieuse,f.(thieves’),female thief who conceals stolen property between her legs. From “quilles,” a slang term for legs.
Anse,f.(popular),arm, “bender.”Faire le panier à deux anses,towalk with a woman on each arm,to play the“sandwich.”
Antif,m.,antiffe,f.(thieves’),act of walking.Battre l’——,to walk, to “pad the hoof;”to deceive, “to kid;”to dissemble; to spy, to “nark.”
Antiffer(thieves’),to enter,to walk in;to walk, “to pad the hoof.”
Antiffle(thieves’),church.Battre l’——,to be a hypocrite, “mawworm.”
Antiffler(thieves’),to be married in church, “to be buckled.”
Antilles,f.pl.(thieves’),testicles.
Antipather(popular),to abominate.
Antique,student of theEcole Polytechniquewho has completed the regular course of studies.
Antonne,entonne,f.(thieves’),church.
Au matin quand nous nous levons,J’aime la croûte de parfond.Dans les entonnes trimardons,Ou aux creux de ces ratichons.Chanson de l’Argot.
Au matin quand nous nous levons,J’aime la croûte de parfond.Dans les entonnes trimardons,Ou aux creux de ces ratichons.Chanson de l’Argot.
Au matin quand nous nous levons,J’aime la croûte de parfond.Dans les entonnes trimardons,Ou aux creux de ces ratichons.Chanson de l’Argot.
Au matin quand nous nous levons,
J’aime la croûte de parfond.
Dans les entonnes trimardons,
Ou aux creux de ces ratichons.
Chanson de l’Argot.
Antroler,entroller(thieves’),to carry away, “to chuff.”
Un de ces luisans, un marcandier alla demander la thune à un pipet, et le rupin ne lui ficha que floutière: il mouchailla des ornies de balle qui morfiaient du grenu en la cour; alors il ficha de son sabre sur la tronche à une, il l’abasourdit la met dans son gueulard et l’entrolle.—Le Jargon de l’Argot.
Apascliner(thieves’),s’——,to get used to,acclimatized.
A perpète(thieves’),for life.Gerbé à ——,to be sentenced to penal servitude for life,to be a“lifer.”
Apic(thieves’),garlic;eye, “daylight, “glazier,” or “ogle.”
Aplatir(familiar),quelqu’un,to thrash soundly, “to lick;”to reduce one’s arguments to nought, “to nonplus.” Properlyto flatten.
Aplatisseur,m.(familiar),de pièces de six liards ——,one who is over particular; one who attaches undue importance to trifles.
Aplomb,m.(popular),être d’——,to be strong,sound, “game.”Reluquer d’——,to look straight in the face.
Aplomber(thieves’),to abash a person by one’s coolness.
Aponiché(popular),seated.
Apoplexie,f.(popular),de templier,a fit of apoplexy brought on by excessive drinking. From the saying,Boire comme un templier.
Apothicaire,m.(popular),sans sucre,workman with but few tools; tradesman with an insufficient stock in trade.
Apôtres(thieves’),fingers, or “forks.”
Appeler(theatrical),azor,to hiss, or “to goose.” Literallyto whistle a dog.Azor, a common name for a dog.
Appuyer(theatrical),to let scenes down.
Aquarium,an assembly of prostitutes’ bullies, or “ponces.” From their being denominatedmaquereaux,mackerels.
Aquicher(thieves’),to decoy,allure.
Aquiger,quiger(thieves’ and cads’),to steal, “to lift;”to wound; to beat, “to wallop;”to make, or “to fake;”—— les brèmes,to mark cards for cheating, or to “stock broads.” It means alsoto take,to procure,to find.
Dévalons donc dans cette pioleOù nous aquigerons riole,Et sans débrider nos pouchons.Richepin,La Chanson des Gueux.
Dévalons donc dans cette pioleOù nous aquigerons riole,Et sans débrider nos pouchons.Richepin,La Chanson des Gueux.
Dévalons donc dans cette pioleOù nous aquigerons riole,Et sans débrider nos pouchons.Richepin,La Chanson des Gueux.
Dévalons donc dans cette piole
Où nous aquigerons riole,
Et sans débrider nos pouchons.
Richepin,La Chanson des Gueux.
Aquilin(popular),faire son ——,to pout, or “to hang one’s latch-pan;”to turn up one’s nose.
Arabe,m.(popular),savage,unrelenting fellow, or “tartar.”
Araignée,f.(popular),bicycle with a large fly-wheel;—— de bastringue,female habituée of low dancing halls;—— de comptoir,counter jumper, or “knight of the yard;”—— de trottoir,dealer at a stall, or in the open air.Avoir une —— dans le plafond,to be cracked,to have“a bee in one’s bonnet.” SeeAvoir.
Arbalète,f.(thieves’),neck-cross;—— d’antonne,de chique,de priante,church-cross.
Arbi,arbico,m.(army),Arab.
Arbif,m.(thieves’),violent man.
Arcasien,arcasineur,m.(thieves’),thief who employs thearcat(which see);a beggar who calls on people;cunning man.
Arcat,m.(thieves’),monter un ——,to write a letter from prison to a person asking for an advance in cash on a supposed buried treasure which, later on, is to be pointed out to the donor. Fromarcane,mystery,hidden thing.
Arcavot,m.(Jew traders’),falsehood.
Arche,f.(popular),aller à l’——,to fetch money.Fendre l’——,to weary, “to bore.”
Archicube,m.,student who has completed his three years’ course of study at theEcole Normale, an institution where professors are trained for university professorships, and which holds the first rank among special schools in France.
Archipointu,m.(thieves’),an archbishop.
Archisuppôt de l’argot(old cant),learned thief,arch-thief, “gonnof.”
Les archisuppôts de l’argot sont les plus savants, les plus habiles marpeaux de toutime l’argot, qui sont des écoliers débauchés, et quelques ratichons, de ces coureurs qui enseignent le jargon à rouscailler bigorne.—Le Jargon de l’Argot.
Architecte de l’Univers(freemasons’),the Deity.
Arçon(thieves’),sign of recognition made by passing the thumb down the right cheek and spitting at the same time.
Si c’étaient des amis de Pantin, je pourrais me faire reconnaître mais des pantres nouvellement affranchis (des paysans qui font leurs premières armes), j’aurais beau faire l’arçon.—Vidocq.
Arçonner(thieves’),to make one speak out;to speak, or “to patter.”
Arcpincer,arquepincer(thieves’ and popular),to take, or “to collar;”to seize, or “to grab;”—— l’omnibus,to catch the ’bus.Veuillez —— mon anse,pray take my arm.
J’ai promis de reconobrer tous les grinchisseurs et de les faire arquepincer.—Vidocq.
Ardent,m.(thieves’),candle, or “glim.”Fauche-ardents,snuffers.
Ardents,m.pl.(thieves’),eyes, or “glaziers.” SeeQuinquets.
Ardoise,f.(popular),head, or “tibby;”hat, or “tile.”Avoir l’——,to have credit, or “jawbone.” An allusion to the slate used for drawing up the reckoning.
Arga,m.(thieves’),share of booty, or “snaps.”
Arganeau,m.(thieves’),a link connecting two convicts’ irons.
Argot,m.(thieves’),animal;fool, or “go along;”thieves’ brotherhood, or “family men.”
Argoté(thieves’),one who lays claim to being witty.
Argotier,m.(thieves’),one of the brotherhood of thieves, or “family man.”
Argousin,m.(popular),foreman, or “boss.”
Arguche,m.(thieves’),cant, or “flash;”a fool,dunce, or “go-along.”
Arguemine,f.(thieves’),hand, or “famm.”
Aricoteur,m.(thieves’),executioner.
Aristo,m.foraristocrat(popular),a man in comfortable circumstances.
Aristocrate,m.,an appellation given by prisoners to one of their number whose means allow him to obtain victuals from the canteen.
Arlequin(popular),broken victuals of every description mixed up and retailed to poor people. The word has passed into the language.
Autrefois chez Paul NiquetFumait un vaste baquetSur la devanture.Pour un ou deux sous, je crois,On y plongeait les deux doigtsDeux, à l’aventure.Les mets les plus différentsEtaient là, mêlés, errants,Sans couleur, sans forme,Et l’on pêchait sans fouiller,Aussi bien un vieux soulierQu’une truffe énorme.Richepin,La Chanson des Gueux.
Autrefois chez Paul NiquetFumait un vaste baquetSur la devanture.Pour un ou deux sous, je crois,On y plongeait les deux doigtsDeux, à l’aventure.Les mets les plus différentsEtaient là, mêlés, errants,Sans couleur, sans forme,Et l’on pêchait sans fouiller,Aussi bien un vieux soulierQu’une truffe énorme.Richepin,La Chanson des Gueux.
Autrefois chez Paul NiquetFumait un vaste baquetSur la devanture.Pour un ou deux sous, je crois,On y plongeait les deux doigtsDeux, à l’aventure.Les mets les plus différentsEtaient là, mêlés, errants,Sans couleur, sans forme,Et l’on pêchait sans fouiller,Aussi bien un vieux soulierQu’une truffe énorme.Richepin,La Chanson des Gueux.
Autrefois chez Paul Niquet
Fumait un vaste baquet
Sur la devanture.
Pour un ou deux sous, je crois,
On y plongeait les deux doigts
Deux, à l’aventure.
Les mets les plus différents
Etaient là, mêlés, errants,
Sans couleur, sans forme,
Et l’on pêchait sans fouiller,
Aussi bien un vieux soulier
Qu’une truffe énorme.
Richepin,La Chanson des Gueux.
Arme,f.(military),passer l’—— à gauche,to die, “to lose the number of one’s mess.” SeePipe.
Armée roulante,f.(thieves’), formerlygang of convicts chained together which used to make its way by road to the hulks.
Armoire,f.(popular),à glace,the four of any card;head; (military)—— à poils,soldiers’ knapsack, or “scran bag.” An allusion to the hairy skin that covers or covered soldiers’ knapsacks.
Arnac,m.(thieves’),à l’——,with premeditation.
Arnache,f.(popular),deceit;treachery.Etre à l’——,to be cunning,wide-awake, a “deep one;”to deceive, and not allow oneself to be deceived.
Arnacq,arnache,m.(thieves’),detective,informer, “nark.”
Arnaud,m.(popular),avoir son ——,être ——,to be in a bad humour, to be “nasty.”
Arnauder(popular),to grumble.
Arnelle(thieves’),the town ofRouen. FromLa Renelle, a small river.
Arnellerie,f.(thieves’),rouennerie,printed cotton.
Arnif,m.(thieves’),policeman or detective. Also denominated “bec de gaz, bourrique, cierge, flique, laune, peste, vache.” In English cant or slang “crusher, pig, copper, cossack, nark.”
Arpagar,m.(thieves’),the town ofArpagon, near Paris.
Arpette,m.(popular),apprentice.
Arpion,m.(thieves’ and popular),foot, “trotter;”toe.
Moi, d’marcher ça n’me fout pas l’trac.J’ai l’arpion plus dur que des clous.Richepin,Chanson des Gueux.
Moi, d’marcher ça n’me fout pas l’trac.J’ai l’arpion plus dur que des clous.Richepin,Chanson des Gueux.
Moi, d’marcher ça n’me fout pas l’trac.J’ai l’arpion plus dur que des clous.Richepin,Chanson des Gueux.
Moi, d’marcher ça n’me fout pas l’trac.
J’ai l’arpion plus dur que des clous.
Richepin,Chanson des Gueux.
Arpions,m.pl.(thieves’ and popular),toes.
Arquepincer. SeeArcpincer.
Arquer(popular),s’——,to be bent down through age.
Arracher(thieves’),du chiendent,to be on the look-out for a victim(chiendent,dogs’ grass); (popular)—— son copeau,to work, “to grind” (copeau,shaving).
Arrangemaner(thieves’),to cheat, or “to stick.”
Arranger(swindlers’),les pantres,to cheat the public by means of the three-card trick or other swindling dodges.
Arrangeur,m.(gamesters’),one who sets a game going, or “buttonner.”
Arrêter(familiar),les frais,to put a stop to any proceedings. (Les frais,the fee for a game of billiards.)
Arrière-train,m.(familiar),the behind, or “tochas.” SeeVasistas.
Arriver premier(sporting),to be the winner. Used figuratively to denote superiority of any kind over others.Arriver bon premier, “to beat hollow.”
Arrondir(popular),se faire —— le globe,to become pregnant, or “lumpy.”
On s’a fait arrondir el’globe,On a sa p’tit’ butte, à c’qué vois....Eh! ben, ça prouv’ qu’on n’est pas d’bois.Gill,La Muse à Bibi.
On s’a fait arrondir el’globe,On a sa p’tit’ butte, à c’qué vois....Eh! ben, ça prouv’ qu’on n’est pas d’bois.Gill,La Muse à Bibi.
On s’a fait arrondir el’globe,On a sa p’tit’ butte, à c’qué vois....Eh! ben, ça prouv’ qu’on n’est pas d’bois.Gill,La Muse à Bibi.
On s’a fait arrondir el’globe,
On a sa p’tit’ butte, à c’qué vois....
Eh! ben, ça prouv’ qu’on n’est pas d’bois.
Gill,La Muse à Bibi.
Arrondissement,m.(popular),chef-lieu d’——,woman in an advanced stage of pregnancy, “lumpy,”or with a“white swelling.”
Arrosage,m.(popular),action of drinking,of“having something damp.”
Arroser(gamesters’),to stake repeatedly on the same card;to make repeated sacrifices in money; (military)—— ses galons,treating one’s comrades on being made a non-commissioned officer, “paying for one’s footing;” (familiar)—— un créancier,to settle small portion of debt.
Arroseur,m.(thieves’),de verdouze,gardener, or “master of the mint.”Verdouze, forverdure.
Arrosoir,m.(thieves’),coup d’——,a glass of wine;a watering-pot.
Arsenal,m.(thieves’),arsenic.
Arsonner(thieves’),to overhaul pockets, to “frisk,” or “to rule over.”
Arsouille,m.(familiar),a man foul in language,a low cad, a “rank outsider.” The expression has passed into the language.Milor l’——,a rich man with eccentric, low tastes. The appellation was first given to Lord Seymour.
Arsouiller(popular), synonymous ofengueuler, to “jaw,” to “slang.”
Arthur,m.,a would-be lady-killer; also synonymous ofAmant de cœur, which see.
Arthurine,f.(popular),a girl of indifferent character,a“Poll.”
Artichaut,m.(popular),cœur d’——,fickle-hearted.
.... Cœur d’artichaut,C’est mon genre: un’ feuille pour tout l’monde,Au jour d’aujourd’hui, j’gobe la blonde;Après-d’main, c’est la brun’, qu’i m’faut.Gill.
.... Cœur d’artichaut,C’est mon genre: un’ feuille pour tout l’monde,Au jour d’aujourd’hui, j’gobe la blonde;Après-d’main, c’est la brun’, qu’i m’faut.Gill.
.... Cœur d’artichaut,C’est mon genre: un’ feuille pour tout l’monde,Au jour d’aujourd’hui, j’gobe la blonde;Après-d’main, c’est la brun’, qu’i m’faut.Gill.
.... Cœur d’artichaut,
C’est mon genre: un’ feuille pour tout l’monde,
Au jour d’aujourd’hui, j’gobe la blonde;
Après-d’main, c’est la brun’, qu’i m’faut.
Gill.
Artiche,m.(thieves’),retirer l’——,to pick the pockets of a drunkard.
Article,m.(familiar),faire l’——,to puff up, “to crack up.” (Printers’)Payer son —— quatre,to pay for one’s footing. An allusion to some item of a code of regulations. (Popular)Porté sur l’——,one of an amatory disposition.
Articlier,m.,one whosespécialitéis writing newspaper articles.
Artie,artif,artiffe,lartie,larton,m.(thieves’),bread;—— de Meulan,white bread;—— du gros Guillaume,brown bread;—— de guinaut,mouldy bread.
Ecoutez marques et mions,J’aime la croûte de parfond,J’aime l’artie, j’aime la crie,J’aime la croûte de parfond.Chanson de l’Argot.
Ecoutez marques et mions,J’aime la croûte de parfond,J’aime l’artie, j’aime la crie,J’aime la croûte de parfond.Chanson de l’Argot.
Ecoutez marques et mions,J’aime la croûte de parfond,J’aime l’artie, j’aime la crie,J’aime la croûte de parfond.Chanson de l’Argot.
Ecoutez marques et mions,
J’aime la croûte de parfond,
J’aime l’artie, j’aime la crie,
J’aime la croûte de parfond.
Chanson de l’Argot.
Artilleur(popular),drunkard;one skilful in working the“canon,”or glass of wine at wine-shops;—— à genoux, orde la pièce humide,a military hospital orderly;—— à l’aiguille,tailor;—— de la pièce humide,a fireman; also,one who is voiding urine, or “lagging.”
Artis,m.(thieves’),langage de l’——,cant, or “flash.”
Artiste,m.(popular),veterinary surgeon, “vet;”spendthrift leading a careless life;sweeper;comrade, or “pal.”
Arton. SeeArtie.
Artoupan,m.(thieves’),guard or warder at a penal servitude depôt, or “screw.”
Art royal(freemasons’),freemasonry.
As,m.(popular),être à l’——,to be short of cash, “hard up;”at a restaurant or café,to be at table, or in private room No. 1.Un —— de carreau,soldier’s knapsack, thus called from its shape;a town adjutant, an allusion to the red facings of his uniform. (Thieves’)As de carreau,the ribbon of the Legion of Honour, which is red. (Familiar)Fichu comme l’—— de pique,with a clumsily built form,badly dressed.As de piquemeant formerly a man of no consequence, of no intellectual worth.
Asinver(thieves’),to make stupid.
Asperge montée,f.(popular),very tall,lanky person; “sky-scraper,” or “lamp-post.”
Asphalte,m.(familiar),polir l’——,to lounge on theBoulevards.
Asphyxié,adj.(popular),dead-drunk, or “sewed-up.”
Asphyxier(popular),to drink;—— le perroquet,to drink a glass of absinthe, green, like a parrot;—— un pierrot,to drink a glass of white wine.Pierrot, a pantomimic character, with face painted white, and costume to match.
Aspic,m.(popular),a slanderer, an allusion to “aspic,” aviper; (thieves’)a miser, or “hunks.”
Aspiquerie,f.(popular),calumny.
Asseoir(popular),s’——,to fall.Envoyer quelqu’un s’——,to throw one down,to silence, get rid of one.Allez vous ——,shut up,go to“pot” (an allusion to the customary intimation of the judge to a witness whose examination is concluded).S’—— sur le bouchon,to sit on mother earth.S’—— sur quelqu’un,to silence one,sit upon him.S’—— sur quelquechose,to attach but slight importance to a thing.
Assesseur(gamesters’),player.
Asseyez-vous dessus et qu’ ça finisse!(familiar),silence him! sit upon him!
Assiette,f.(popular),avoir l’—— au beurre,to be lucky,fortunate in life.
Assis,m.(literary),clerks, or “quill drivers.”
Oh! c’est alors qu’il faut plaindre... les malheureux qu’un travail sédentaire courbe sur un bureau.... c’est alors qu’il convient de se lamenter sur le sort des assis.—Richepin,Le Pavé.
Assister(thieves’),to bring victuals to a prisoner from outside.
Associée,f.(printers’),mon ——,my wife,my“old woman.”
Assommoir,m.(familiar),name of a wine-shop at Belleville, and which is now common to all low drinking-shops. Fromassommer,to knock over the head.
Astec,m.(familiar),stunted and weakly person, or “barber’s cat;” (literary)a weak, despicable adversary. An allusion to the Mexican dwarfs.
Astic,m.(thieves’),steel,sword, or “poker” (from the Germanstich); (soldiers’)a mixture of pipe-clay for the furbishing of the brass fixtures of equipment.Aller à l’——,to clean one’s equipment.
Asticot,m.(popular),vermicelli;mistress of a bully or thief, “mollisher;”—— de cercueil,glass of beer(a play on the words “ver” and “bière,”asticotbeing aflesh-worm).
Astiquageorastique,m.(military),cleaning the equipments.
Astiquer(popular),to beat, or “to towel;”to tease. Literallyto clean,to furbish.S’——,to have angry words, as a prelude to a set to;to fight. Literallyto make oneself neat, or “smug.”
As-tu fini, oras-tu fini tes manières!words implying that a person’s endeavours to convince or to deceive another have failed. The expression corresponds in some degree to “Walker!” “No go!” “What next?”
A table(thieves’),se mettre ——, or,casser du sucre,to confess a crime.
Atelier(freemasons’),place of meeting.
Atigé,adj.(thieves’ and popular),ill, or “laid up;”stricken,ruined, or “cracked up.”
Atiger(thieves’ and popular),to wound, to strike, “to clump.”
Atômes crochus,m. pl.(familiar),mysterious elements of mutual sympathy.
Atouser(convicts’),to encourage,to urge, “to kid on.”
Atout,m.(thieves’ and popular),courage, or “wool;”self-possession;a blow, or “wipe;”stomach;money, or “rhino;”ability. Proper meaningtrumps.Avoir de l’——,to have pluck, or “spunk;”to have a strong arm.
Tu m’as donné la bonne mesure, tu es un cadet qui a de l’atout.—E.Sue.(You gave me a good thrashing, you are a strong chap.)
Le plus d’——,a kind of swindling game played at low cafés.
Atout!(popular),exclamation to denote that a blow has taken effect.
Attache,f.,love tie.
Attacher(thieves’),un bidon,to inform against one, “to blow the gaff.”
Attaches,f. pl., (thieves’),buckles;—— brillantes,diamond buckles;—— de gratousse,lace shirt-frill;—— de cés,breeches buckles.
J’ai fait suer un chêne,Son auberg j’ai enganté.Son auberg et sa toquante,Et ses attach’s de cés.V.Hugo,Le Dernier Jour d’un Condamné.
J’ai fait suer un chêne,Son auberg j’ai enganté.Son auberg et sa toquante,Et ses attach’s de cés.V.Hugo,Le Dernier Jour d’un Condamné.
J’ai fait suer un chêne,Son auberg j’ai enganté.Son auberg et sa toquante,Et ses attach’s de cés.V.Hugo,Le Dernier Jour d’un Condamné.
J’ai fait suer un chêne,
Son auberg j’ai enganté.
Son auberg et sa toquante,
Et ses attach’s de cés.
V.Hugo,Le Dernier Jour d’un Condamné.
Attaque,d’——,resolutely, smartly.Un homme d’——,a resolute man,one who is game.Etre d’——,to show energy, resolution.Y aller d’——,to set about anything with a will, smartly, as if one meant business. (Popular)D’attaque,violent,severe.
V’lan! v’là l’vent qui m’fiche eun’claque.Fait vraiment un froid d’attaque.Richepin.
V’lan! v’là l’vent qui m’fiche eun’claque.Fait vraiment un froid d’attaque.Richepin.
V’lan! v’là l’vent qui m’fiche eun’claque.Fait vraiment un froid d’attaque.Richepin.
V’lan! v’là l’vent qui m’fiche eun’claque.
Fait vraiment un froid d’attaque.
Richepin.
Attelage,m.(cavalry),un bon ——,a couple of good friends.
Attendrir(familiar),s’——,to have reached that stage of intoxication when one is“maudlin.”
Attiger. SeeAtiger.
Attignoles,f. pl.(popular),tripe à la mode de Caen(tripe stewed with herbs and seasoning).
N’importe où nous nous empâtons,D’arlequins, d’briffe et d’rogatons,Que’qu’fois d’saucisse et d’attignoles.Richepin.
N’importe où nous nous empâtons,D’arlequins, d’briffe et d’rogatons,Que’qu’fois d’saucisse et d’attignoles.Richepin.
N’importe où nous nous empâtons,D’arlequins, d’briffe et d’rogatons,Que’qu’fois d’saucisse et d’attignoles.Richepin.
N’importe où nous nous empâtons,
D’arlequins, d’briffe et d’rogatons,
Que’qu’fois d’saucisse et d’attignoles.
Richepin.
Attrapage,m.(familiar and popular),severe scolding,sharp criticism,quarrel,fight, “mill;” (military)—— du premier numéro,serious duel.
Attrape(popular),à te rappeler,mind you remember!
Attraper(popular),to scold, “to jaw;”—— l’oignon,to receive a blow intended for another;to have to pay for others’ reckoning.S’——,to abuse,to“slang”one another.Se faire ——,to get scolded, abused, “blown up.”Attraper le haricot, orla fève,to have to pay for others. An allusion to one who finds a bean in his share of the cake at the “fête des rois,” or Twelfth-night, and who, being proclaimed king, has to treat the other guests. (Journalists’)Attraper,to sharply criticise or run down a person or literary production; (theatrical)to hiss, or “goose;” (actors’)—— le lustre,to open wide one’s mouth;to make a fruitless attempt to give emission to a note.
Attrape-science,m.,printer’s apprentice, or “devil.”
Attrapeur,m.(literary),a sharp or scurrilous critic.
Attrimer(thieves’),to take, to “nibble;”to seize, to “grab.”
Attriquer(thieves’),to buy;to buy stolen clothes.
Attriqueur,m.,attriqueuse,f.(thieves’),receiver of stolen clothes, “fence.”
Auber,m.,a sum of money, “pile.” A play on the word “haubert,”coat of mail,an assemblage of“mailles,”meaning“meshes” or “small change.” Compare the expression,Sans sou ni maille.
Aumône,f.(thieves’),voler à l’——,stealing from a jeweller, who is requested to exhibit small trinkets, some of which, being purloined, are transmitted to the hand of a confederate outside who pretends to ask for alms.
Aumônier,m.(thieves’),a thief who operates as described above.
Au prix où est le beurre(familiar),at the present rate of prices of things in general.
Aure, orhaure(thieves’),le grand ——,God.
Aüs,m.(shopmen’s),perplexed purchaser who leaves without buying anything.
Austo,m.(soldiers’),guard-room,cells, “Irish theatre,” “mill,” or “jigger.”
Autan,m.(thieves’),loft,attics(old wordhautain, high).
Autel, (freemasons’),table at which the master sits; (popular)—— de besoin,prostitute, or “bed-fagot;”—— de plume,bed, “doss.”
Auteur,m.(familiar),father or mother, “governor,” or “mater;”—— beurrier,unsuccessful author whose works are sold as wrapping-paper for tradesmen.
Autor(familiar and popular),jouer d’——,to play cards without proposing.Travailler d’—— et d’achar,to work with energy.
Autor,d’——(thieves’),in a peremptory manner;deliberately.
Dis donc, fourline, la première fois que nous trouverons la Pégriotte, faut l’emmener d’autor.—Eugène Sue.
Autre,adj.(popular),cet —— chien,that chap.Etre l’——,to be duped, or “bamboozled;”to be the lover;the mistress.L’—— côté,appellation given by Paris students to that part of the city situated on the right bank of the river.Femme de l’—— côté,woman residing in that part of Paris.
Auvergnat,m.(popular),avaler l’——,to take communion.
Auverpin,m.(popular),native ofAuvergne. Appellation given to commissionnaires, charcoal-dealers, water-carriers,&c., who generally hail fromAuvergne.
Et là seulement vous trouverez les bals-musette, les vrais, tenus par des Auverpins à la fois mastroquets et charbonniers, hantés par des Auverpins aussi, porteurs d’eau, commissionnaires, frotteurs, cochers.—Richepin,Le Pavé.
Auverpinches,m. pl.(popular),clumsy shoes usually worn byAuvergnats.
Aux(popular),petits oignons,in first-rate style, excellently.Etre —— petits oiseaux,to be comfortable, snug.
Auxiliaire(prisoners’),prisoner acting as servant, or “fag.”
Avalé(popular),avoir —— le pépin,to be pregnant, or “lumpy.” An allusion to the apple.Avoir —— une chaise percée,to have an offensive breath.Avoir —— un sabre,to be stiff, “to have swallowed 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 lampée par un hum engageant et satisfait comme s’il avait avalé le bon Dieu en culotte de velours.—Richepin,Le Pavé.
Avaler(thieves’),le luron,to receive the Host at communion. (Popular)Avaler sa cuiller;sa fourchette;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 l’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.”
Avantages,m. pl.,avant-cœur,m.,avant-main,f.,avant-postes,m. pl.,avant-scènes,f. pl.(popular and familiar),bosoms, “Charlies,” “dairies,” or “bubbies.”
Avantageux,adj.(popular),convenient,roomy.Des souliers ——,easy shoes.
Avant-courrier,m.(thieves’),auger.
Avaro,m.(popular),damage. Fromavarie.
Avergot,m.(thieves’),egg.
Avertineux,adj.(popular),of a suspicious, gruff disposition;of a forbidding aspect.
Avocat bêcheur,m.(printers’),backbiter; (thieves’)public prosecutor.
Avoine,f.(military),brandy. (Popular)Avoir encore l’——,to have still one’s maidenhead. (Coachmens’)Donner l’——,to whip;to thrash, or “flush.”
Avoir(popular),à la bonne,to like, to love, “to be sweet upon;”—— campo,to have leave to go out;—— celui, foravoir l’honneur de;—— dans le nez,to have a strong dislike for a person or thing; (familiar)—— dans le ventre,ce que quelqu’un a dans le ventre,what stuff one is made of; (popular)—— de ce qui sonne,to be well off; in other words,to have plenty ofbeans, ballast, rhino, the needful, blunt, bustle, dust, coal, oof, stumpy, brass, tin;—— de la chance au bâtonnet,to be unlucky.Le jeu de bâtonnetis the game of nap the cat;—— de la glu aux mains,to steal, “to nibble;”—— de la ligne,to have a nice figure;—— de l’anis dans une écope:tu auras ——,don’t you wish you may get it;—— de l’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 quelqu’un,to fall out with one, to have a tiff with one;—— des mots avec la justice,to be prosecuted;—— des mots avec les sergots,to have some disagreement with the police;—— des œufs sur le plat,to have black eyes, “to have one’s eyes in mourning;”—— des petits pois à écosser ensemble,to have a bone to pick with one;—— des planches,to be an experienced actor;—— du beurre sur la tête,to have some misdeed on one’s conscience;—— du chien,to possess dash, “go;”—— du chien dans le ventre,to have pluck, endurance, or “stay;”—— du pain sur la planche,to have a competency;—— du poil au cul,to possess courage, or “hackle,”energy;—— du plomb dans l’aile,to be wounded;—— du sable dans les yeux,to feel sleepy;—— du toupet,to have audacity, cool impudence;—— fumé dans une pipe neuve,to be tipsy, or “obfuscated;”—— la flemme,to be afraid;to feel lazy, or “Mondayish;”—— l’arche,to have credit, or “jawbone;”—— l’assiette au beurre,to be fortunate in life;—— la cuisse gaieis said of a female of lax morals;—— le pot de chambre dans la commode,to have an offensive breath;—— le caillou déplumé,le coco déplumé,to be bald,to have“a bladder of lard;”—— le casque,to fancy a man;—— le compas dans l’œil,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, to bea “dab”at something;—— le trac,to be afraid, “funky;”—— les calots pochés,to have black eyes;—— les côtes en long,to be lazy, a “bummer;”—— l’estomac dans les talons,dans les mollets,to be ravenous,very“peckish;”—— l’étrenne,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 bréchet,to have the stomach-ache, or “botts;”—— mal aux cheveux,to have a headache caused from overnight potations;—— mangé de l’oseille,to be sour-tempered, peevish, or “crusty;”—— sa côtelette, in theatrical language,to obtain great applause; (popular)—— 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;”—— son pain cuit. Properlyto have an income, to be provided for. The expression is old.