Casqueur,m.(theatrical),spectator who is not on the free list.Cassant,m.(thieves’),walnut tree; (sailors’)biscuit.Cassantes,f. pl.(thieves’),teeth, or “head-rails;”nuts;walnuts.Casse,f.(popular),chippings of pastry sold cheap.Je t’en ——,that’s not for you.Casse-gueule,m.(popular),suburban dancing-hall; strong spirits, or “kill devil.”Cassement,m.(thieves’), de porte,housebreaking, “cracking a Crib.”Casser, (thieves’),to eat, “to grub;”—— du sucre, orse mettre à table,to confess;—— du sucre, or—— du sucre à la rousse,to peach, “to blow the gaff;”—— la hane,to steal a purse, “to buz a skin;”—— sa canne,to sleep, or “to doss;”to be very ill;as a ticket-of-leave man, to break bounds;to die;—— sa ficelle,to escape from the convict settlement; (popular)—— un mot,to talk;—— du bec,to have an offensive breath;—— du grain,to do nothing of what is required;—— du sucre sur la tête de quelqu’un,to talk ill of one in his absence, to backbite;—— la croustille,to eat, “to grub;”—— la gueule à une négresse,to drink a bottle of wine;—— la gueule à un enfant de chœur,to drink a bottle of wine(red-capped like a chorister);—— la marmite,to quarrel with one’s bread and cheese;—— le cou à un chat,to eat a rabbit stew;—— le cou à une négresse,to discuss a bottle of wine;—— sa pipe,son câble,son crachoir, orson fouet,to die, “to kick the bucket,” “to croak.” SeePipe. Casser son œuf,to have a miscarriage;—— son pif,to sleep, “to have a dose of balmy;”—— son lacet,to break off one’s connection with a mistress, “to bury a moll;”—— une roue de derrière,to spend part of a five-franc piece.Se la ——,to get away,to move off, “to hook it.” SeePatatrot.N’avoir pas cassé la patte à coco,to be dull-witted, or “soft.” (Familiar)A tout ——,tremendous; awful.Une noce à tout ——,a rare jollification, “a flare-up,” or “break-down.”Un potin à tout ——,a tremendous row, or “shindy.”Casserolage,m.(thieves’),informing against an accomplice.Casserole,f.(thieves’),informer, or “buz-man;”spy, or “nark;”police officer, or “copper.” SeePot-à-tabac. Casserole,prostitute, or “bunter.” SeeGadoue.Coup de ——,denunciation, or “busting.”Passer à ——,to be informed against. (Popular)Casserole,name given to theHôpital du Midi.Passer à ——, seePasser.Casseur,m.(thieves’),de portes,housebreaker, “buster,” or “screwsman;”—— de sucre à quatre sous,military convict of the Algerian“compagnies de discipline,”chiefly employed at stone-breaking. The “compagnies de discipline,” or punishment companies, consist of all the riff-raff of the army.Cassine,f.(popular), properlysmall country-house;house where the master is strict;workshop in which the work is severe.Cassolette,f.(popular),chamber utensil, or “jerry;”scavenger’s cart;mouth, or “gob.”Plomber de la ——,to have an offensive breath.Cassure,f.(theatrical),jouer une ——,to perform in the character of a very old man.Castagnettes,f. pl.(military),blows with the fist.Caste,f.(old cant),de charrue,one-fourth of a crown.Castor, orcastorin,naval officer who shirks going out to sea, or one in the army who is averse to leaving the garrison.Castorin,m.(popular),hat-maker.Castoriseris said of an officer who shirks sea duty, or who likes to make a long stay in some pleasant garrison town.Castroz,m.(popular),capon.Castu,m.(thieves’),hospital.Barbeaudier de ——,hospital director.Castue,m.(thieves’),prison, or “stir.” SeeMotte.Comte de ——,jailer, or “jigger-dubber.”Cataplasme,m.(popular),au gras,spinach;—— de Venise,blow, “clout.”Cataplasmier,m.(popular),hospital attendant.Catapulteux,catapulteuse,adj.(popular),beautiful;marvellous.Une femme ——,a magnificent woman, a “blooming tart.”Catiniser(popular),se ——,to be in a fair way of becoming a street-walker.Cauchemardant(popular),tiresome,annoying, “boring.”Cauchemarder(popular),to annoy,to bore.Se ——,to fret.Cause,f.(familiar),grasse,case in a court of justice offering piquant details.Causotter(familiar),to chat familiarly in a small circle.Cavalcade,f.(popular),love intrigue.Avoir vu des cavalcadesis said of a woman who has had many lovers.Cavale,f.(popular),flight.Se payer une ——,to run away, or “to crush.” SeePatatrot. (Thieves’)Tortiller une ——,to form a plan for escaping from prison.Cavaler(thieves’ and cads’),quelqu’un,to annoy one, to “rile”him.Se ——,to make off, “to guy.” For list of synonyms seePatatrot.Se —— au rebectage,to pray for a new trial in the“Cour de Cassation.” This court may quash a judgment for the slightest flaw in the procedure, such as, for instance, the fact of a witness not lifting his right hand when taking the oath.Se —— cher au rebectage,to pray for a commutation of a sentence.Cavalerie,f.(popular),grosse ——,man who works in the sewers, a “rake-kennel.” An allusion to his high boots.Cavé,m.(popular),dupe, or “gull;”cat’s-paw.Cavée,f.(thieves’),church.Cayenne,m.(popular),suburban cemetery;suburban factory;workshop at a distance from Paris.Gibier de ——,scamp,jail-bird.Cayenne-les-eaux,m.(thieves’),the Cayenne dépôt for transported convicts.Cé,m.(thieves’),silver.Attaches de ——,silver buckles.Bogue de ——,silver watch, “white ’un.”Tout de ——,very well.Cela me gêne(theatrical),words used by actors to denote anything which interferes with the impression they seek to produce by certain tirades or by-play.Celui(popular),avoir —— de ..., stands foravoir l’honneur de ...,to have the honour to ....Censure,f.(thieves’),passer la ——,to repeat a crime.Centiballe,m.(popular),centime.Balle,a franc.Central,m.(familiar),pupil of the“Ecole Centrale,” a public engineering school;telegraph office of the“Place de la Bourse.”Centre,m.(thieves’),name, “monarch or monniker.” Alsoa meeting-place for malefactors.Un —— à l’estorgue,a false name, or “alias.”Un —— d’altèque,a real name.Coquer son ——,to give one’s name. (Familiar)Le —— de gravité,the behind, or “seat of honour.” SeeVasistas.Perdre son ——,to be tipsy, “fuddled.”Centré,adj.(popular),is said of one who has failed in business, “gone to smash.”Centrier, orcentripète,m.(military),foot soldier, “beetle-crusher or wobbler;” (familiar)member of the“Centre”party(Conservative)of the House, under Louis Philippe. The House is now divided into “extrême gauche” (rabid radicals); “gauche”(advanced republicans); “centre-gauchers” (conservative republicans); “centre” (wavering members); “centre droit” (moderate conservatives); “droite” (monarchists and clericals); “extrême droite” (rabid monarchists and ultramontane clericals).Centriot,m.(thieves’),nickname.Cercle,m.(thieves’),silver coin. (Familiar)Pincerorrattraper au demi ——,to come upon one unawares, to catch, “to nab”him. From an expression used in fencing.Cercueil,m.(students’),glass of beer. A dismal play on the word “bière,” which has both significations ofbeer and coffin.Cerf,m.(popular),injured husband, or cuckold.Se déguiser en ——,to decamp;to run away;to be off in a“jiffy.” SeePatatrot.Cerf-volant,m.(thieves’),female thief who strips children at play in the public gardens or parks. A play on the words “cerf-volant,”kite, and “voler,”to steal.Cerise,f.(popular),mason of the suburbs.Cerises,f. pl.(military),monter en marchand de ——,to ride badly, with toes and elbows out, and all of a heap, like a man with a basket on his arm.Cerisier,m.(popular),sorry horse. An allusion to the name given to small horses which used to carry cherries to market.Cerneau,m.(literary),young girl. Properlyfresh walnut.Certificats,m. pl.(military),de bêtise,long-service stripes.C’est(printers’),à cause des mouches,sneering reply.Eh! dis donc, compagnon, pourquoi n’es-tu pas venu à la boîte ce matin? L’autre répond par ce coq-à-l’âne: C’est à cause des mouches.—Boutmy.Cet(popular),aut’ chien,that feller!Chabannais,m.(popular),noise;row;thrashing.Ficher un ——,to thrash, “to wallop.” SeeVoie.Chabrol,m.(popular),mixture of broth and wine.Chacal,m.(military),Zouave.Chaffourer(popular),se ——,to claw one another.Chafrioler(popular),se —— à quelque chose,to find pleasure in something.Chahut,m.(familiar and popular),eccentric dance, not in favour in respectable society, and in which the dancers’ toes are as often on a level with the faces of their partners as on the ground;uproar, “shindy,”general quarrel.Faire du ——,to make a noise, a disturbance.Chahuter(familiar and popular),to dance thechahut(which see);to upset;to shake;to rock about.Nous avons été rudement chahutés,we were dreadfully jolted.Ne chahute donc pas comme ça,keep still, don’t fidget so.Chahuteur,m.(popular),noisy, restless fellow;one who dances thechahut(which see).Chahuteuse,f.(popular),habituée of low dancing-saloons. Alsoa girl leading a noisy, fast life.Chaillot(popular),à ——!go to the deuce!à —— les gêneurs!to the deuce with bores!Ahuri de ——, blockhead.Envoyer à ——,to get rid of one;to send one to the deuce.Chaîne,f.(popular),d’oignons,ten of cards.Chaîniste,m.(popular),maker of gold chains.Chair,f.(cads’),dure!hit him hard! smash him!That is,Fais lui la chair dure!(Popular)Marchand de —— humaine,keeper of a brothel.Chaises,f. pl.(popular),manquer de —— dans la salle à manger,to be minus several teeth.Noce debâtons de ——,grand jollification, or “flare-up.”Chaleur!(popular),exclamation expressive of contempt, disbelief, disappointment, mock admiration,&c.Chaloupe,f.(popular),woman with dress bulging out. (Students’)La —— orageuse,a furious sort of cancan. The cancan is an eccentric dance, and one of rather questionable character. SeeChahut.Chalouper(students’),to dance the above.Chamailler(popular),des dents,to eat.Chambard,m.(Ecole Polytechnique),act of smashing the furniture and destroying the effects of the newly-joined students.Chambardement,m.(sailors’),overthrown;destruction.Chambarder(sailors’),to hustle;to smash. At theEcole Polytechnique,to smash, or create a disturbance.Chamberlan,m.(popular),workman who works at home.Chambert,m.(thieves’),one who talks too much;one who lets the cat out of the bag.Chamberter(thieves’),to talk in an indiscreet manner.Chambre,f.(thieves’),de sûreté,the prison ofLa Conciergerie.La —— des pairs,that part of the dépôt reserved for convicts sentenced to penal servitude for life.Chambrer(swindlers’),to lose;to steal;to“claim.” SeeGrinchir.Chambrillon,m.,small servant;young“slavey.”Chameau,m.(popular),cunning man who imposes on his friends;girl of lax morals; prostitute;—— a deux bosses,prostitute.Ce —— de ...,insulting expression applied to either sex.Coupeau apprit de la patronne que Nana était débauchée par une autre ouvrière, ce petit chameau de Léonie, qui venait de lâcher les fleurs pour faire la noce.—Zola,L’Assommoir.Chameliers,m. pl.(military),name formerly given to the old“guides.”Champ,m.(familiar),champagne, “fiz,” or “boy;” (popular)—— d’oignons,cemetery;—— de navets,cemetery where executed criminals are interred.Champoreau,m.(military),beverage concocted with coffee, milk, and some alcoholic liquor, but more generally a mixture of coffee and spirits. From the name of the inventor.Le douro, je le gardais précieusement, ayant grand soin de ne pas l’entamer. J’eusse préféré jeûner un long mois de champoreau et d’absinthe.—Hector France,Sous le Burnous.Chançard,m.(familiar),lucky man.Chancellerie,f.(popular),mettre en ——,to put one in“chancery.”Chancre,m.(popular),man with a large appetite, a “grand paunch.”Chand,chande(popular), abbreviation ofmarchand.Chandelier,m.(popular),nose, “boko,” “snorter,” or “smeller.” For synonyms seeMorviau.Chandelle,f.(military),infantry musket;sentry.Etre conduit entre quatre chandelles,to be marched off to the guard-room by four men and a corporal.La —— brûle,it is time to go home.Faire fondre une ——,to drink a bottle of wine.Glisser en ——,to slide with both feet close together.Mon galopin file comme une flèche. Quelle aisance! quelle grâce même! Tantôtles pieds joints, en chandelle: tantôt accroupi, faisant la petite bonne femme.—Richepin,Le Pavé.Changer(popular),son poisson d’eau, orses olives d’eau,to void urine, “to pump ship.” SeeLascailler.Changeur,m.(thieves’),clothier who provides thieves with a disguise;rogue who appropriates a new overcoat from the lobby of a house or club, and leaves his old one in exchange. Alsothief who steals plate.Chanoine,m.,chanoinesse,f.(thieves’),person in good circumstances, one worth robbing;—— de Monte-à-regret,one sentenced to death;old offender.Chantage,m.(familiar),extorting money by threats of disclosures concerning a guilty action real or supposed, “jobbery.”Chanter(familiar),to pay money under threat of being exposed.Faire —— quelqu’un,to extort money from one under threat of exposure;to extort“socket money.” (Popular)Faire —— une gamme,to thrash one, “to lead a dance.” SeeVoie.Chanteur,m.(thieves’),juge d’instruction, a magistrate who investigates a case before trial; (familiar)man who seeks to extort money by threatening people with exposure. There are different kinds ofchanteurs.Vidocqterms “chanteurs” the journalists who prey on actors fearful of their criticism; those who demand enormous prices for letters containing family secrets; the writers of biographical notices who offer them at so much a line; those who entice people into immoral places and who exact hush-money. The celebrated murdererLacenairewas one of this class.Chanteur de la Chapelle Sixtine,eunuch.Maître ——,skilfulchanteur(which see).Chantier,m.(popular),embarrassment, “fix.”Chaparder(military),to loot;to steal, “to prig.”Chapelle,f.(familiar),clique. Termed also “petite chapelle;” (popular)wine-shop, or “lush-crib.”Faire ——,is said of a woman who lifts her dress to warm her limbs by the fire.Fêter des chapelles,to go the round of several wine-shops, with what result it is needless to say.Chapelure,f.(popular),n’avoir plus de —— sur le jambonneau,to be bald, “to have a bladder of lard.” SeeAvoir.Chapi,m.(popular),hat, or “tile.” SeeTubard.Chapiteau,m.(popular),head, or “block.” SeeTronche.Chapon,m.(popular),monk.Cage à chapons,monastery.Des chapons de Limousin,chestnuts.Chapska,m.(popular),hat, or “tile.” SeeTubard.Char,m.(familiar),numéroté,cab.Charcuter(popular),to amputate.Charcutier(popular),clumsy workman;surgeon, “sawbones.”Chardonneret,m.(thieves’),gendarme. An allusion to his red, white, and yellow uniform. Properlya goldfinch.Charenton,m.(popular),absinthe. The dépôt for lunatics being at Charenton, the allusion is obvious.Chargé,adj.(popular),tipsy, “tight.” SeePompette. (Coachmen’s)Etre ——,to have a “fare.”Charger(coachmen’s),to take up a “fare;”(prostitutes’)to find a client; (cavalry)—— en ville,to go to town.Charier(thieves’),to try to get information, “to cross-kid.”Charieur(thieves’),he who seeks to worm out some information.Charlemagne,m.(military),sabre-bayonet.Charlot,m.(popular and thieves’),the executioner. His official title is “Monsieur de Paris.”Soubrettes de ——,the executioner’s assistants, literallyhis lady’s maids. An allusion to “la toilette,” or cropping the convict’s hair and cutting off his shirt collar a few minutes before the execution. (Thieves’)Charlot,thief;—— bon drille,a good-natured thief. SeeGrinche.Charmant,adj.(thieves’),scabby.Charmante,f.(thieves’),itch.Charmer(popular),les puces,to get drunk. SeeSculpter.Charogneux,adj.(familiar),roman ——,filthy novel.Charon,charron,m.(thieves’). SeeCharrieur.Charpenter(playwrights’),to write the scheme of a play.Charpentier,m.(playwrights’),he who writes the scheme of a play.Charretée,f.(popular),en avoir une ——,to be quite drunk, to be“slewed.” SeePompette.Charriage,m.(thieves’),swindle;—— à l’Américaineis a kind of confidence trick swindle. It requires two confederates, one called “leveur”or “jardinier,” whose functions are to exercise his allurements upon the intended victim without awakening his suspicions. When the latter is fairly hooked, the pair meet—by chance of course—with “l’Américain,” a confederate who passes himself off for a native of America, and who offers to exchange a large sum of gold for a smaller amount of money. The pigeon gleefully accepts the proffered gift, and discovers later on that the alleged gold coins are nothing but base metal. This kind of swindle goes also by the names of “vol à l’Américaine,” “vol au change.”Charriage à la mécanique, orvol au père François, takes place thus: a robber throws a handkerchief round a person’s neck, and holds him fast half-strangled on his own back while a confederate rifles the victim’s pockets.Charriage au coffret: the thief, termed “Américain,” leaves in charge of a barmaid a small box filled to all appearance with gold coin; he returns in the course of the day, but suddenly finding that he has lost the key of the box, he asks for a loan of money and disappears, leaving the box as security. It goes without saying that the alleged gold coins are nothing more than brand-new farthings.Charriage au pot, another kind of the confidence trick dodge. One confederate forms an acquaintance with a passer-by, and both meet with the other confederate styled “l’Américain,” who offers to take them to a house of ill-fame and defray all expenses, but who, being fearful of getting robbed, deposits his money in a jug or other receptacle. On the way he suddenly alters his mind, and sends the victim for the sum, not without having exacted bail-money from him as a guarantee of his return, after which both scamps make off with the fool’s money. Swindlers of this description are termed “magsmen” in the English slang.Charrier(thieves’),to swindle one out of his money by misleading statements. SeeCharriage.Charrieur,m.(thieves’),thief who employs the mode termedcharriage(which see);confederate who provides cardsharpers with pigeons;—— de ville,a robber who first makes his victims insensible by drugs, and then plunders them, a “drummer;”—— cambrousier,itinerant quack;clumsy thief.Chartreuse,f.(popular),de vidangeur,small measure of wine.Chartron,m.(theatrical),faire le ——,is said of actors who place themselves in a row in front of the footlights.Chason,m.(thieves’),ring, “fawney.”Chasse,f.(popular),aller à la —— au barbillon,to go a-fishing.Foutre une ——,to scold vehemently, “to haul over the coals.”Châsse,f.(thieves’),eye, “glazier.”Balancer,boiter des châsses,to be one-eyed, “boss-eyed;”to squint.Se foutre l’apôtre dans la ——,to be mistaken.Chasse-brouillard(popular),a drop of spirits;a dram to keep the damp out, a “dewdrop.”Chasse-coquin,m.(popular),gendarme; beadle, “bumble;”bad wine.Chasselas,m.(popular),wine.Chassemar,m.(popular), forchasseur.Chasse-marée,m.(military),chasseurs d’Afrique, a body of light cavalry.Chasse-noble,m.(thieves’),gendarme.Chasser(popular),au plat,to be a parasite, a “quiller;”—— des reluits,to weep, “to nap a bib;”—— le brouillard,to have a morning dram of spirits, or a “dewdrop;”—— les mouches,to be dying. SeePipe. (Thieves’ and cads’) Chasser,to flee, “to guy.” SeePatatrot.Gn’a du pet, interrompt un second voyou qui survient, v’là un sergot qui s’amène ... chassons!—Richepin.D’occase, abbreviation ofd’occasion,secondhand.Châssis,m.(popular),eyes, or “peepers.”Fermer les ——,to sleep.Chassue,f.(thieves’),needle. Chas,eye of a needle.Chassure,f.(thieves’),wine.Chasublard,m.(popular),priest, or “devil dodger.”Vit-on un seul royaliste, un seul cagot, un seul chasublard, prendre les armes pour la défense du trône et de l’autel?—G. Guillemot,Le Mot d’Ordre, Sept. 6, 1877.Chat,m.(thieves’),turnkey, “dubsman;” (popular)slater, from his spending half his life on roofs like cats.Avoir un —— dans la gouttière,to be hoarse.Châtaigne,f.(popular),box on the ear, or “buck-horse.”Chataud,chataude,adj.(popular),greedy.Château,m.(popular),branlant,person or thing always in motion. (Thieves’)Château,prison;—— de l’ombre,convict settlement.Un élève du ——,a prisoner.Château-Campêche(familiar and popular),derisive appellation for bad wine, of which the ruby colour is often due to an adjunction of logwood.Chaton,m.(popular),nice fellow;Sodomist.Chatouillage au roupillon,m.(thieves’). SeeVol au poivrier.Chatouiller(theatrical),le public,to indulge in drolleries calculated to excite mirth among an audience; (familiar)—— les côtes,to thrash, “to lick.”Chatouilleur(familiar),man on ’Change who by divers contrivances entices the public into buying shares, a “buttoner;” (thieves’)a thief who tickles a person’s sides as if in play, and meanwhile picks his pockets.Chatte,f.(popular),five-franc piece.Chaud,adj.andm.(popular),cunning;greedy;wide awake, or “fly;”high-priced.Il l’a ——,he is wide awake about his own interests.Etre ——,to look with watchful eye. (Familiar)Un ——,an enthusiast;energetic man.Il fera ——,never, “when the devil is blind.”Quand vous me reverrez il fera ——,you will never see me again.Etre —— de la pince,to be fond of women, to be a“beard-splitter.” (Artists’)Faire ——,to employ very warm tints after the style of Rembrandt and all other colourists. (Popular and thieves’)Chaud!quick! on!Chaud, chaud! pour le mangeur, il faut le désosser.—E.Sue.Chaudron,m.(familiar),bad piano.Taper sur le ——,to play on the piano.Chaudronner(popular),to buy secondhand articles and sell them as new.Chaudronnier,m.(popular),secondhand-clothes man; (military)cuirassier, an allusion to his breastplate.Chaufaillon(popular),stoker.Chauffe-la-couche(familiar),man who loves well his comfort;henpecked husband, or “stangey.”Chauffer(popular),le four,to drink heavily, “to guzzle.” SeeRincer. (Familiar)Chauffer un artiste,une pièce,to applaud so as to excite the enthusiasm of an audience;—— une affaire,to push briskly an undertaking;—— une place,to be canvassing for a post.Ça va chauffer,there will be a hot fight.Chauffer des enchères,to encourage bidding at an auction.Chauffeur,m.(popular),man who instills life into conversation or in a company;formerly, under the Directoire, one of a gang of brigands who extorted money from people by burning the feet of the victims.Chaumir(thieves’),to lose.Chaussette(thieves’),ring fastened as a distinctive badge to the leg of a convict who has been chained up for any length of time to another convict, a punishment termed“double chaîne.”Chaussettes,f. pl.(military),gloves;—— russes,wrapper for the feet made of pieces of cloth; (popular)—— de deux paroisses,odd socks.Chausson,m.(popular),old prostitute.Putain comme ——,regular whore. (Ballet girls’)Faire son ——,to put on and arrange one’s pumps.“Laissez-moi donc, je suis en retard. J’ai encore mon mastic et mon chausson à faire.” Autrement, pour ceux qui ne sont pas de la boutique, “il me reste encore à m’habiller, à me chausser et à me faire ma tête.”—Mahalin.Chaussonner(popular),to kick.Chauviniste,m., synonymous of “chauvin,”one with narrow-minded, exaggerated sentiments of patriotism, a “Jingo.”Chef,m.(military), abbreviation ofmaréchal-des-logis chef,quartermaster-sergeant in the cavalry. (Popular)Chef de cuisine,foreman in a brewery; (thieves’)—— d’attaque,head of a gang.Chelinguer(popular),to stink. Termed also “plomber,trouilloter,casser,danser,repousser,fouetter,vézouiller,véziner.”Cheminée,f.(popular),hat, “chimney pot.”Chemise,f.(popular),être dans la —— de quelqu’un,to be constantly with one,to be“thick as hops”with one. (Thieves’)Chemise de conseiller,stolen linen.Chemises,f. pl.(popular),compter ses ——,to vomit, or “to cascade.” An allusion to the bending posture of a man who is troubled with the ailment.Chenâtre,adj.(thieves’),good,excellent, “nobby.”Ils ont de quoi faire un chenâtre banquet avec des rouillardes pleines de pivois et du plus chenâtre qu’on puisse trouver.—Le Jargon de l’Argot.Chêne,m.(thieves’),man, or “cove;”—— affranchi,thief, or “flash cove.” For synonyms seeGrinche.Faire suer un ——,to kill a man, “to give a cove his gruel.”Chenillon,m.(popular),ugly girl.Chenique, orchnic,m.(popular),brandy, “French cream.”Cheniqueur,m.(popular),drinker of brandy.Chenoc,adj.(thieves’),bad;good-for-nothing old fellow.Chenu,adj.(thieves’),excellent, “nobby.” Properlyold,whitened by age;—— pivois,excellent wine;—— reluit,good morning;—— sorgue,good night.
Casqueur,m.(theatrical),spectator who is not on the free list.
Cassant,m.(thieves’),walnut tree; (sailors’)biscuit.
Cassantes,f. pl.(thieves’),teeth, or “head-rails;”nuts;walnuts.
Casse,f.(popular),chippings of pastry sold cheap.Je t’en ——,that’s not for you.
Casse-gueule,m.(popular),suburban dancing-hall; strong spirits, or “kill devil.”
Cassement,m.(thieves’), de porte,housebreaking, “cracking a Crib.”
Casser, (thieves’),to eat, “to grub;”—— du sucre, orse mettre à table,to confess;—— du sucre, or—— du sucre à la rousse,to peach, “to blow the gaff;”—— la hane,to steal a purse, “to buz a skin;”—— sa canne,to sleep, or “to doss;”to be very ill;as a ticket-of-leave man, to break bounds;to die;—— sa ficelle,to escape from the convict settlement; (popular)—— un mot,to talk;—— du bec,to have an offensive breath;—— du grain,to do nothing of what is required;—— du sucre sur la tête de quelqu’un,to talk ill of one in his absence, to backbite;—— la croustille,to eat, “to grub;”—— la gueule à une négresse,to drink a bottle of wine;—— la gueule à un enfant de chœur,to drink a bottle of wine(red-capped like a chorister);—— la marmite,to quarrel with one’s bread and cheese;—— le cou à un chat,to eat a rabbit stew;—— le cou à une négresse,to discuss a bottle of wine;—— sa pipe,son câble,son crachoir, orson fouet,to die, “to kick the bucket,” “to croak.” SeePipe. Casser son œuf,to have a miscarriage;—— son pif,to sleep, “to have a dose of balmy;”—— son lacet,to break off one’s connection with a mistress, “to bury a moll;”—— une roue de derrière,to spend part of a five-franc piece.Se la ——,to get away,to move off, “to hook it.” SeePatatrot.N’avoir pas cassé la patte à coco,to be dull-witted, or “soft.” (Familiar)A tout ——,tremendous; awful.Une noce à tout ——,a rare jollification, “a flare-up,” or “break-down.”Un potin à tout ——,a tremendous row, or “shindy.”
Casserolage,m.(thieves’),informing against an accomplice.
Casserole,f.(thieves’),informer, or “buz-man;”spy, or “nark;”police officer, or “copper.” SeePot-à-tabac. Casserole,prostitute, or “bunter.” SeeGadoue.Coup de ——,denunciation, or “busting.”Passer à ——,to be informed against. (Popular)Casserole,name given to theHôpital du Midi.Passer à ——, seePasser.
Casseur,m.(thieves’),de portes,housebreaker, “buster,” or “screwsman;”—— de sucre à quatre sous,military convict of the Algerian“compagnies de discipline,”chiefly employed at stone-breaking. The “compagnies de discipline,” or punishment companies, consist of all the riff-raff of the army.
Cassine,f.(popular), properlysmall country-house;house where the master is strict;workshop in which the work is severe.
Cassolette,f.(popular),chamber utensil, or “jerry;”scavenger’s cart;mouth, or “gob.”Plomber de la ——,to have an offensive breath.
Cassure,f.(theatrical),jouer une ——,to perform in the character of a very old man.
Castagnettes,f. pl.(military),blows with the fist.
Caste,f.(old cant),de charrue,one-fourth of a crown.
Castor, orcastorin,naval officer who shirks going out to sea, or one in the army who is averse to leaving the garrison.
Castorin,m.(popular),hat-maker.
Castoriseris said of an officer who shirks sea duty, or who likes to make a long stay in some pleasant garrison town.
Castroz,m.(popular),capon.
Castu,m.(thieves’),hospital.Barbeaudier de ——,hospital director.
Castue,m.(thieves’),prison, or “stir.” SeeMotte.Comte de ——,jailer, or “jigger-dubber.”
Cataplasme,m.(popular),au gras,spinach;—— de Venise,blow, “clout.”
Cataplasmier,m.(popular),hospital attendant.
Catapulteux,catapulteuse,adj.(popular),beautiful;marvellous.Une femme ——,a magnificent woman, a “blooming tart.”
Catiniser(popular),se ——,to be in a fair way of becoming a street-walker.
Cauchemardant(popular),tiresome,annoying, “boring.”
Cauchemarder(popular),to annoy,to bore.Se ——,to fret.
Cause,f.(familiar),grasse,case in a court of justice offering piquant details.
Causotter(familiar),to chat familiarly in a small circle.
Cavalcade,f.(popular),love intrigue.Avoir vu des cavalcadesis said of a woman who has had many lovers.
Cavale,f.(popular),flight.Se payer une ——,to run away, or “to crush.” SeePatatrot. (Thieves’)Tortiller une ——,to form a plan for escaping from prison.
Cavaler(thieves’ and cads’),quelqu’un,to annoy one, to “rile”him.Se ——,to make off, “to guy.” For list of synonyms seePatatrot.Se —— au rebectage,to pray for a new trial in the“Cour de Cassation.” This court may quash a judgment for the slightest flaw in the procedure, such as, for instance, the fact of a witness not lifting his right hand when taking the oath.Se —— cher au rebectage,to pray for a commutation of a sentence.
Cavalerie,f.(popular),grosse ——,man who works in the sewers, a “rake-kennel.” An allusion to his high boots.
Cavé,m.(popular),dupe, or “gull;”cat’s-paw.
Cavée,f.(thieves’),church.
Cayenne,m.(popular),suburban cemetery;suburban factory;workshop at a distance from Paris.Gibier de ——,scamp,jail-bird.
Cayenne-les-eaux,m.(thieves’),the Cayenne dépôt for transported convicts.
Cé,m.(thieves’),silver.Attaches de ——,silver buckles.Bogue de ——,silver watch, “white ’un.”Tout de ——,very well.
Cela me gêne(theatrical),words used by actors to denote anything which interferes with the impression they seek to produce by certain tirades or by-play.
Celui(popular),avoir —— de ..., stands foravoir l’honneur de ...,to have the honour to ....
Censure,f.(thieves’),passer la ——,to repeat a crime.
Centiballe,m.(popular),centime.Balle,a franc.
Central,m.(familiar),pupil of the“Ecole Centrale,” a public engineering school;telegraph office of the“Place de la Bourse.”
Centre,m.(thieves’),name, “monarch or monniker.” Alsoa meeting-place for malefactors.Un —— à l’estorgue,a false name, or “alias.”Un —— d’altèque,a real name.Coquer son ——,to give one’s name. (Familiar)Le —— de gravité,the behind, or “seat of honour.” SeeVasistas.Perdre son ——,to be tipsy, “fuddled.”
Centré,adj.(popular),is said of one who has failed in business, “gone to smash.”
Centrier, orcentripète,m.(military),foot soldier, “beetle-crusher or wobbler;” (familiar)member of the“Centre”party(Conservative)of the House, under Louis Philippe. The House is now divided into “extrême gauche” (rabid radicals); “gauche”(advanced republicans); “centre-gauchers” (conservative republicans); “centre” (wavering members); “centre droit” (moderate conservatives); “droite” (monarchists and clericals); “extrême droite” (rabid monarchists and ultramontane clericals).
Centriot,m.(thieves’),nickname.
Cercle,m.(thieves’),silver coin. (Familiar)Pincerorrattraper au demi ——,to come upon one unawares, to catch, “to nab”him. From an expression used in fencing.
Cercueil,m.(students’),glass of beer. A dismal play on the word “bière,” which has both significations ofbeer and coffin.
Cerf,m.(popular),injured husband, or cuckold.Se déguiser en ——,to decamp;to run away;to be off in a“jiffy.” SeePatatrot.
Cerf-volant,m.(thieves’),female thief who strips children at play in the public gardens or parks. A play on the words “cerf-volant,”kite, and “voler,”to steal.
Cerise,f.(popular),mason of the suburbs.
Cerises,f. pl.(military),monter en marchand de ——,to ride badly, with toes and elbows out, and all of a heap, like a man with a basket on his arm.
Cerisier,m.(popular),sorry horse. An allusion to the name given to small horses which used to carry cherries to market.
Cerneau,m.(literary),young girl. Properlyfresh walnut.
Certificats,m. pl.(military),de bêtise,long-service stripes.
C’est(printers’),à cause des mouches,sneering reply.
Eh! dis donc, compagnon, pourquoi n’es-tu pas venu à la boîte ce matin? L’autre répond par ce coq-à-l’âne: C’est à cause des mouches.—Boutmy.
Cet(popular),aut’ chien,that feller!
Chabannais,m.(popular),noise;row;thrashing.Ficher un ——,to thrash, “to wallop.” SeeVoie.
Chabrol,m.(popular),mixture of broth and wine.
Chacal,m.(military),Zouave.
Chaffourer(popular),se ——,to claw one another.
Chafrioler(popular),se —— à quelque chose,to find pleasure in something.
Chahut,m.(familiar and popular),eccentric dance, not in favour in respectable society, and in which the dancers’ toes are as often on a level with the faces of their partners as on the ground;uproar, “shindy,”general quarrel.Faire du ——,to make a noise, a disturbance.
Chahuter(familiar and popular),to dance thechahut(which see);to upset;to shake;to rock about.Nous avons été rudement chahutés,we were dreadfully jolted.Ne chahute donc pas comme ça,keep still, don’t fidget so.
Chahuteur,m.(popular),noisy, restless fellow;one who dances thechahut(which see).
Chahuteuse,f.(popular),habituée of low dancing-saloons. Alsoa girl leading a noisy, fast life.
Chaillot(popular),à ——!go to the deuce!à —— les gêneurs!to the deuce with bores!Ahuri de ——, blockhead.Envoyer à ——,to get rid of one;to send one to the deuce.
Chaîne,f.(popular),d’oignons,ten of cards.
Chaîniste,m.(popular),maker of gold chains.
Chair,f.(cads’),dure!hit him hard! smash him!That is,Fais lui la chair dure!(Popular)Marchand de —— humaine,keeper of a brothel.
Chaises,f. pl.(popular),manquer de —— dans la salle à manger,to be minus several teeth.Noce debâtons de ——,grand jollification, or “flare-up.”
Chaleur!(popular),exclamation expressive of contempt, disbelief, disappointment, mock admiration,&c.
Chaloupe,f.(popular),woman with dress bulging out. (Students’)La —— orageuse,a furious sort of cancan. The cancan is an eccentric dance, and one of rather questionable character. SeeChahut.
Chalouper(students’),to dance the above.
Chamailler(popular),des dents,to eat.
Chambard,m.(Ecole Polytechnique),act of smashing the furniture and destroying the effects of the newly-joined students.
Chambardement,m.(sailors’),overthrown;destruction.
Chambarder(sailors’),to hustle;to smash. At theEcole Polytechnique,to smash, or create a disturbance.
Chamberlan,m.(popular),workman who works at home.
Chambert,m.(thieves’),one who talks too much;one who lets the cat out of the bag.
Chamberter(thieves’),to talk in an indiscreet manner.
Chambre,f.(thieves’),de sûreté,the prison ofLa Conciergerie.La —— des pairs,that part of the dépôt reserved for convicts sentenced to penal servitude for life.
Chambrer(swindlers’),to lose;to steal;to“claim.” SeeGrinchir.
Chambrillon,m.,small servant;young“slavey.”
Chameau,m.(popular),cunning man who imposes on his friends;girl of lax morals; prostitute;—— a deux bosses,prostitute.Ce —— de ...,insulting expression applied to either sex.
Coupeau apprit de la patronne que Nana était débauchée par une autre ouvrière, ce petit chameau de Léonie, qui venait de lâcher les fleurs pour faire la noce.—Zola,L’Assommoir.
Chameliers,m. pl.(military),name formerly given to the old“guides.”
Champ,m.(familiar),champagne, “fiz,” or “boy;” (popular)—— d’oignons,cemetery;—— de navets,cemetery where executed criminals are interred.
Champoreau,m.(military),beverage concocted with coffee, milk, and some alcoholic liquor, but more generally a mixture of coffee and spirits. From the name of the inventor.
Le douro, je le gardais précieusement, ayant grand soin de ne pas l’entamer. J’eusse préféré jeûner un long mois de champoreau et d’absinthe.—Hector France,Sous le Burnous.
Chançard,m.(familiar),lucky man.
Chancellerie,f.(popular),mettre en ——,to put one in“chancery.”
Chancre,m.(popular),man with a large appetite, a “grand paunch.”
Chand,chande(popular), abbreviation ofmarchand.
Chandelier,m.(popular),nose, “boko,” “snorter,” or “smeller.” For synonyms seeMorviau.
Chandelle,f.(military),infantry musket;sentry.Etre conduit entre quatre chandelles,to be marched off to the guard-room by four men and a corporal.La —— brûle,it is time to go home.Faire fondre une ——,to drink a bottle of wine.Glisser en ——,to slide with both feet close together.
Mon galopin file comme une flèche. Quelle aisance! quelle grâce même! Tantôtles pieds joints, en chandelle: tantôt accroupi, faisant la petite bonne femme.—Richepin,Le Pavé.
Changer(popular),son poisson d’eau, orses olives d’eau,to void urine, “to pump ship.” SeeLascailler.
Changeur,m.(thieves’),clothier who provides thieves with a disguise;rogue who appropriates a new overcoat from the lobby of a house or club, and leaves his old one in exchange. Alsothief who steals plate.
Chanoine,m.,chanoinesse,f.(thieves’),person in good circumstances, one worth robbing;—— de Monte-à-regret,one sentenced to death;old offender.
Chantage,m.(familiar),extorting money by threats of disclosures concerning a guilty action real or supposed, “jobbery.”
Chanter(familiar),to pay money under threat of being exposed.Faire —— quelqu’un,to extort money from one under threat of exposure;to extort“socket money.” (Popular)Faire —— une gamme,to thrash one, “to lead a dance.” SeeVoie.
Chanteur,m.(thieves’),juge d’instruction, a magistrate who investigates a case before trial; (familiar)man who seeks to extort money by threatening people with exposure. There are different kinds ofchanteurs.Vidocqterms “chanteurs” the journalists who prey on actors fearful of their criticism; those who demand enormous prices for letters containing family secrets; the writers of biographical notices who offer them at so much a line; those who entice people into immoral places and who exact hush-money. The celebrated murdererLacenairewas one of this class.Chanteur de la Chapelle Sixtine,eunuch.Maître ——,skilfulchanteur(which see).
Chantier,m.(popular),embarrassment, “fix.”
Chaparder(military),to loot;to steal, “to prig.”
Chapelle,f.(familiar),clique. Termed also “petite chapelle;” (popular)wine-shop, or “lush-crib.”Faire ——,is said of a woman who lifts her dress to warm her limbs by the fire.Fêter des chapelles,to go the round of several wine-shops, with what result it is needless to say.
Chapelure,f.(popular),n’avoir plus de —— sur le jambonneau,to be bald, “to have a bladder of lard.” SeeAvoir.
Chapi,m.(popular),hat, or “tile.” SeeTubard.
Chapiteau,m.(popular),head, or “block.” SeeTronche.
Chapon,m.(popular),monk.Cage à chapons,monastery.Des chapons de Limousin,chestnuts.
Chapska,m.(popular),hat, or “tile.” SeeTubard.
Char,m.(familiar),numéroté,cab.
Charcuter(popular),to amputate.
Charcutier(popular),clumsy workman;surgeon, “sawbones.”
Chardonneret,m.(thieves’),gendarme. An allusion to his red, white, and yellow uniform. Properlya goldfinch.
Charenton,m.(popular),absinthe. The dépôt for lunatics being at Charenton, the allusion is obvious.
Chargé,adj.(popular),tipsy, “tight.” SeePompette. (Coachmen’s)Etre ——,to have a “fare.”
Charger(coachmen’s),to take up a “fare;”(prostitutes’)to find a client; (cavalry)—— en ville,to go to town.
Charier(thieves’),to try to get information, “to cross-kid.”
Charieur(thieves’),he who seeks to worm out some information.
Charlemagne,m.(military),sabre-bayonet.
Charlot,m.(popular and thieves’),the executioner. His official title is “Monsieur de Paris.”Soubrettes de ——,the executioner’s assistants, literallyhis lady’s maids. An allusion to “la toilette,” or cropping the convict’s hair and cutting off his shirt collar a few minutes before the execution. (Thieves’)Charlot,thief;—— bon drille,a good-natured thief. SeeGrinche.
Charmant,adj.(thieves’),scabby.
Charmante,f.(thieves’),itch.
Charmer(popular),les puces,to get drunk. SeeSculpter.
Charogneux,adj.(familiar),roman ——,filthy novel.
Charon,charron,m.(thieves’). SeeCharrieur.
Charpenter(playwrights’),to write the scheme of a play.
Charpentier,m.(playwrights’),he who writes the scheme of a play.
Charretée,f.(popular),en avoir une ——,to be quite drunk, to be“slewed.” SeePompette.
Charriage,m.(thieves’),swindle;—— à l’Américaineis a kind of confidence trick swindle. It requires two confederates, one called “leveur”or “jardinier,” whose functions are to exercise his allurements upon the intended victim without awakening his suspicions. When the latter is fairly hooked, the pair meet—by chance of course—with “l’Américain,” a confederate who passes himself off for a native of America, and who offers to exchange a large sum of gold for a smaller amount of money. The pigeon gleefully accepts the proffered gift, and discovers later on that the alleged gold coins are nothing but base metal. This kind of swindle goes also by the names of “vol à l’Américaine,” “vol au change.”Charriage à la mécanique, orvol au père François, takes place thus: a robber throws a handkerchief round a person’s neck, and holds him fast half-strangled on his own back while a confederate rifles the victim’s pockets.Charriage au coffret: the thief, termed “Américain,” leaves in charge of a barmaid a small box filled to all appearance with gold coin; he returns in the course of the day, but suddenly finding that he has lost the key of the box, he asks for a loan of money and disappears, leaving the box as security. It goes without saying that the alleged gold coins are nothing more than brand-new farthings.Charriage au pot, another kind of the confidence trick dodge. One confederate forms an acquaintance with a passer-by, and both meet with the other confederate styled “l’Américain,” who offers to take them to a house of ill-fame and defray all expenses, but who, being fearful of getting robbed, deposits his money in a jug or other receptacle. On the way he suddenly alters his mind, and sends the victim for the sum, not without having exacted bail-money from him as a guarantee of his return, after which both scamps make off with the fool’s money. Swindlers of this description are termed “magsmen” in the English slang.
Charrier(thieves’),to swindle one out of his money by misleading statements. SeeCharriage.
Charrieur,m.(thieves’),thief who employs the mode termedcharriage(which see);confederate who provides cardsharpers with pigeons;—— de ville,a robber who first makes his victims insensible by drugs, and then plunders them, a “drummer;”—— cambrousier,itinerant quack;clumsy thief.
Chartreuse,f.(popular),de vidangeur,small measure of wine.
Chartron,m.(theatrical),faire le ——,is said of actors who place themselves in a row in front of the footlights.
Chason,m.(thieves’),ring, “fawney.”
Chasse,f.(popular),aller à la —— au barbillon,to go a-fishing.Foutre une ——,to scold vehemently, “to haul over the coals.”
Châsse,f.(thieves’),eye, “glazier.”Balancer,boiter des châsses,to be one-eyed, “boss-eyed;”to squint.Se foutre l’apôtre dans la ——,to be mistaken.
Chasse-brouillard(popular),a drop of spirits;a dram to keep the damp out, a “dewdrop.”
Chasse-coquin,m.(popular),gendarme; beadle, “bumble;”bad wine.
Chasselas,m.(popular),wine.
Chassemar,m.(popular), forchasseur.
Chasse-marée,m.(military),chasseurs d’Afrique, a body of light cavalry.
Chasse-noble,m.(thieves’),gendarme.
Chasser(popular),au plat,to be a parasite, a “quiller;”—— des reluits,to weep, “to nap a bib;”—— le brouillard,to have a morning dram of spirits, or a “dewdrop;”—— les mouches,to be dying. SeePipe. (Thieves’ and cads’) Chasser,to flee, “to guy.” SeePatatrot.
Gn’a du pet, interrompt un second voyou qui survient, v’là un sergot qui s’amène ... chassons!—Richepin.
D’occase, abbreviation ofd’occasion,secondhand.
Châssis,m.(popular),eyes, or “peepers.”Fermer les ——,to sleep.
Chassue,f.(thieves’),needle. Chas,eye of a needle.
Chassure,f.(thieves’),wine.
Chasublard,m.(popular),priest, or “devil dodger.”
Vit-on un seul royaliste, un seul cagot, un seul chasublard, prendre les armes pour la défense du trône et de l’autel?—G. Guillemot,Le Mot d’Ordre, Sept. 6, 1877.
Chat,m.(thieves’),turnkey, “dubsman;” (popular)slater, from his spending half his life on roofs like cats.Avoir un —— dans la gouttière,to be hoarse.
Châtaigne,f.(popular),box on the ear, or “buck-horse.”
Chataud,chataude,adj.(popular),greedy.
Château,m.(popular),branlant,person or thing always in motion. (Thieves’)Château,prison;—— de l’ombre,convict settlement.Un élève du ——,a prisoner.
Château-Campêche(familiar and popular),derisive appellation for bad wine, of which the ruby colour is often due to an adjunction of logwood.
Chaton,m.(popular),nice fellow;Sodomist.
Chatouillage au roupillon,m.(thieves’). SeeVol au poivrier.
Chatouiller(theatrical),le public,to indulge in drolleries calculated to excite mirth among an audience; (familiar)—— les côtes,to thrash, “to lick.”
Chatouilleur(familiar),man on ’Change who by divers contrivances entices the public into buying shares, a “buttoner;” (thieves’)a thief who tickles a person’s sides as if in play, and meanwhile picks his pockets.
Chatte,f.(popular),five-franc piece.
Chaud,adj.andm.(popular),cunning;greedy;wide awake, or “fly;”high-priced.Il l’a ——,he is wide awake about his own interests.Etre ——,to look with watchful eye. (Familiar)Un ——,an enthusiast;energetic man.Il fera ——,never, “when the devil is blind.”Quand vous me reverrez il fera ——,you will never see me again.Etre —— de la pince,to be fond of women, to be a“beard-splitter.” (Artists’)Faire ——,to employ very warm tints after the style of Rembrandt and all other colourists. (Popular and thieves’)Chaud!quick! on!
Chaud, chaud! pour le mangeur, il faut le désosser.—E.Sue.
Chaudron,m.(familiar),bad piano.Taper sur le ——,to play on the piano.
Chaudronner(popular),to buy secondhand articles and sell them as new.
Chaudronnier,m.(popular),secondhand-clothes man; (military)cuirassier, an allusion to his breastplate.
Chaufaillon(popular),stoker.
Chauffe-la-couche(familiar),man who loves well his comfort;henpecked husband, or “stangey.”
Chauffer(popular),le four,to drink heavily, “to guzzle.” SeeRincer. (Familiar)Chauffer un artiste,une pièce,to applaud so as to excite the enthusiasm of an audience;—— une affaire,to push briskly an undertaking;—— une place,to be canvassing for a post.Ça va chauffer,there will be a hot fight.Chauffer des enchères,to encourage bidding at an auction.
Chauffeur,m.(popular),man who instills life into conversation or in a company;formerly, under the Directoire, one of a gang of brigands who extorted money from people by burning the feet of the victims.
Chaumir(thieves’),to lose.
Chaussette(thieves’),ring fastened as a distinctive badge to the leg of a convict who has been chained up for any length of time to another convict, a punishment termed“double chaîne.”
Chaussettes,f. pl.(military),gloves;—— russes,wrapper for the feet made of pieces of cloth; (popular)—— de deux paroisses,odd socks.
Chausson,m.(popular),old prostitute.Putain comme ——,regular whore. (Ballet girls’)Faire son ——,to put on and arrange one’s pumps.
“Laissez-moi donc, je suis en retard. J’ai encore mon mastic et mon chausson à faire.” Autrement, pour ceux qui ne sont pas de la boutique, “il me reste encore à m’habiller, à me chausser et à me faire ma tête.”—Mahalin.
Chaussonner(popular),to kick.
Chauviniste,m., synonymous of “chauvin,”one with narrow-minded, exaggerated sentiments of patriotism, a “Jingo.”
Chef,m.(military), abbreviation ofmaréchal-des-logis chef,quartermaster-sergeant in the cavalry. (Popular)Chef de cuisine,foreman in a brewery; (thieves’)—— d’attaque,head of a gang.
Chelinguer(popular),to stink. Termed also “plomber,trouilloter,casser,danser,repousser,fouetter,vézouiller,véziner.”
Cheminée,f.(popular),hat, “chimney pot.”
Chemise,f.(popular),être dans la —— de quelqu’un,to be constantly with one,to be“thick as hops”with one. (Thieves’)Chemise de conseiller,stolen linen.
Chemises,f. pl.(popular),compter ses ——,to vomit, or “to cascade.” An allusion to the bending posture of a man who is troubled with the ailment.
Chenâtre,adj.(thieves’),good,excellent, “nobby.”
Ils ont de quoi faire un chenâtre banquet avec des rouillardes pleines de pivois et du plus chenâtre qu’on puisse trouver.—Le Jargon de l’Argot.
Chêne,m.(thieves’),man, or “cove;”—— affranchi,thief, or “flash cove.” For synonyms seeGrinche.Faire suer un ——,to kill a man, “to give a cove his gruel.”
Chenillon,m.(popular),ugly girl.
Chenique, orchnic,m.(popular),brandy, “French cream.”
Cheniqueur,m.(popular),drinker of brandy.
Chenoc,adj.(thieves’),bad;good-for-nothing old fellow.
Chenu,adj.(thieves’),excellent, “nobby.” Properlyold,whitened by age;—— pivois,excellent wine;—— reluit,good morning;—— sorgue,good night.