Venez à moi, claquepatins,Loqueteux, joueurs de musette,Clampins, loupeurs, voyous, catins.Richepin.The early French poetVillonuses the word “cliquepatin” with the same signification.Claquer(familiar),to die, “to croak;”to eat;to sell;—— sesmeubles,to sell one’s furniture;—— du bec,to be very hungry without any means of satisfying one’s craving for food.Claques,f. pl.(familiar and popular),une figure à ——,face with an impudent expression that invites punishment.Clarinette,f.(military),de cinq pieds,musket, formerly“Brown Bess.”Classe,f.(popular),un —— dirigeant,said ironically of one of the upper classes.Clavin,m.(thieves’),nail;grapes.Clavine,f.(thieves’),vine.Claviner(thieves’),to nail;to gather grapes.Clavineur,m.(thieves’),vine-dresser.Clavinier,m.(thieves’),nail-maker.Clef,f.(familiar),à la ——. SeeA la.Perdre sa ——,to suffer from colic, or “botts.” (Military)La —— du champ de manœuvre,imaginary object which recruits are requested by practical jokers to go and ask of the sergeant.Cliabeau,m., expression used by the prisoners ofSaint-Lazare,doctor.Cliche,f.(popular),diarrhœa, or “jerry-go-nimble.”Cliché,m.(familiar),commonplace sentence ready made;commonplace metaphor;well-worn platitude. (Printers’)Tirer son ——,to be always repeating the same thing.Client,m.(thieves’),victim, or intended victim.Cligner(military),des œillets,to squint,to be“boss-eyed.”Clignots,m. pl.(popular),eyes, “peepers.”Baver des ——,to weep, “to nap a bib.” SeeMirettes.Clipet,m.(thieves’),voice.Clique,f.(popular),scamp, or “bad egg;”diarrhœa, or “jerry-go-nimble.” (Military)La ——,the squad of drummers and buglers.Exempts de service, ils exercent généralement une profession quelconque (barbier, tailleur, ajusteur de guêtres, etc.) qui leur rapporte quelques bénéfices. Ayant ainsi plus de temps et plus d’argent à dépenser que leurs camarades, ils ont une réputation, assez bien justifiée d’ailleurs, de bambocheurs; de là, ce nom de clique qu’on leur donne.—La Langue Verte du Troupier.Cliquettes,f. pl.(popular),ears, or “wattles.”Clodoche,m.(familiar),description of professional comic dancer with extraordinarily supple legs, such as the Girards brothers, of Alhambra celebrity.Cloporte,m.(familiar),door-keeper. Properlywoodlouse. A pun on the wordsclôt porte.Clou,m.(military),guard-room;cells, “jigger;”bayonet.Coller au ——,to imprison, “to roost.” (Popular)Clou,bad workman;pawnshop.Mettre au ——,to pawn,to put“in lug.”Clou de girofle,decayed black tooth. (Theatrical and literary)Le —— d’une pièce,d’un roman,the chief point of interest in a play or novel, literallya nail on which the whole fabric hangs.Clouer(popular),to imprison, “to run in;”to pawn, “to blue, to spout, to lumber.”Clous,m. pl.(popular),tools. (Printers’)Petits ——,type.Lever les petits ——,to compose. (Military)Clous,foot-soldiers, or “mud-crushers.”Coaguler(familiar),se ——,to get drunk. SeeSculpter.Côbier,m.,heap of salt in salt-marshes.Cocanges,f. pl.(thieves’),walnut-shells.Jeu de ——,game of swindlers at fairs.Cocangeur,m.(thieves’),swindler. SeeCocanges.Cocantin,m.(popular),business agent acting as a medium between a debtor and a creditor.Cocarde,f.(popular),head.Avoir sa ——,to be tipsy.Taper sur la ——,is said of wine which gets into the head.Ma joie et surtout l’petit bleuÇa m’a tapé sur la cocarde!Parisian Song.Cocarder(popular),se ——,to get tipsy. SeeSculpter.Tout se passait très gentiment, on était gai, il ne fallait pas maintenant se cocarder cochonnement, si l’on voulait respecter les dames.—Zola,L’Assommoir.Cocardier,m.(military),military man passionately fond of his profession.Cocasserie,f.(familiar),strange or grotesque saying, writing, or deed.Coche,f.(popular),fat, red-faced woman.Cochon,m.(popular),de bonheur!(ironical)no luck!Ça n’est pas trop ——,that’s not so bad. C’est pas—— du tout,that’s very nice.Mon pauvre ——, je ne te dis que ça!my poor fellow, you are in for it!Etre ——,to be lewd.Se conduire comme un ——,to behave in a mean, despicable way.Soigner son ——,is said of one who lives too well.Un costume ——,a suggestive dress.Cochonne,f.(popular),lewd girl. (Ironically)Elle n’est pas jolie, mais elle est si cochonne!Cochonnement,adv.(popular),in a disgusting manner.Cochonnerie,f.(popular),any article of food having pork for a basis.Cochonneries,f. pl.(popular),indecent talk or actions.Coco,m.(military),horse.La botte à ——,trumpet call for stables, (literally)La botte de foin à coco. (Popular)Coco,brandy;head. SeeTronche.Avoir le —— déplumé,to be bald, or to have a“bladder of lard.” For synonymous expressions, seeAvoir.Avoir le —— fêlé,to be cracked, “to be a little bit balmy in one’s crumpet.” For synonyms seeAvoir.Colle-toi ça dans le ——, orpasse-toi ça par le ——,eat that or drink that.Dévisser le ——,to strangle.Monter le ——,to excite.Se monter le ——,to get excited;to be too sanguine.Il a graissé la patte à ——,is said of a man who has bungled over some affair. (Familiar)Coco épileptique,champagne wine, “fiz,” or “boy.”Cocodète,f.(familiar),stylish woman always dressed according to the latest fashion, a “dasher.”Cocons,m. pl., stands forco-conscrits,first-term students at theEcole Polytechnique.Cocotte,f.(popular),term of endearment to horses.Allons, hue ——!pull up, my beauty!(Familiar and popular)Cocotte,a more than fast girl or woman, a “pretty horse-breaker,” seeGadoue; (theatrical)addition made by singers to an original theme.Cocotterie,f.(familiar),the world of the cocottes. SeeCocotte.Cocovieilles,f. pl.,name given by fashionable young ladies of the aristocracy to their old-fashioned elders, who return the compliment by dubbing them“cocosottes.”Cocufieur,m.(popular),one who cuckoos, that is, one who lays himself open to being called to account by an injured husband as the co-respondent in the divorce court.Coenne, orcouenne,f.(thieves’),de lard,brush. (Familiar and popular)Couenne,stupid man,dunce.Coëre,m.(thieves’),le grand ——,formerly the king of rogues.Cœur,m.(popular),jeter du —— sur le carreau,to vomit. A pun on the words “hearts” and “diamonds” of cards on the one hand,avoir mal au ——,to feel sick, and “carreau,”flooring, on the other.Valet de ——,lover.Cœur d’artichaut,m.(popular),man or woman with an inflammable heart.Paillasson, quoi! 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,La Muse à Bibi.Coffier(thieves’), abbreviation ofescoffier,to kill, “to cook one’s gruel.”Coffin,m.,peculiar kind of desk at theEcole Polytechnique. From the inventor’s name,General Coffinières.Cognac,m.(thieves’),gendarmeor police officer, “crusher,” “copper,” or “reeler.” SeePot-à-tabac.Cognade,f., orcogne(thieves’),gendarmerie.Cognard,m., orcogne,gendarmeandgendarmerie;police officer, “copper.”Cogne,m.andf.(thieves’),la ——,the police.Un ——,a police officer, or “reeler.” SeePot-à-tabac. Alsobrandy.Un noir de trois ronds sans ——,a three-halfpenny cup of coffee without brandy.Coiffer(popular),to slap;to deceive one’s husband.Se —— de quelqu’un,to take a fancy to one.Coin,m.(popular),c’est un —— sans i,he is a fool.Coire(thieves’),farm;chief.Je rencontrai des camarades qui avaient aussi fait leur temps ou cassé leur ficelle. Leur coire me proposa d’être des leurs, on faisait la grande soulasse sur le trimar.—V.Hugo.Col,m.(familiar),cassé,dandy, or “masher.”Se pousser du ——,to assume an air of self-importance or conceit, “to look gumptious;”to praise oneself up. An allusion to the motion of one’s hand under the chin when about to make an important statement.Colas,colabre, orcolin,m.(thieves’),neck, or “scrag.”Faire suer le ——,to strangle.Rafraîchir le ——,to guillotine.Rafraîchirmeansto trimin the expression, “Rafraîchir les cheveux.”Colback,m.(military),raw recruit, or “Johnny raw.” An allusion to his unkempt hair, similar to a busby or bearskin cap.Colin. SeeColas.Collabo,m.(literary), abbreviation ofcollaborateur.Collage,m.(familiar),living as husband and wife in an unmarried state.L’une après l’autre—en camarade—C’est rupin, mais l’ collage, bon Dieu!Toujours la mêm’ chauffeus’ de pieu!M’en parlez pas! Ça m’rend malade.Gill,La Muse à Bibi.Un —— d’argent,the action of a woman who lives with a man as his wife from mercenary motives.C’était selon la manie de ce corrupteur de mineures, le sceau avec lequel il cimentait ce que Madame Cornette appelait, en terme du métier, ses collages d’argent!—Mémoires de Monsieur Claude.Collant,m.(familiar),is said of one not easily got rid of; (military)drawers.Collarde,m.(thieves’),prisoner,one“doing time.”Colle,f.(students’),weekly or other periodical oral examinations to prepare for a final examination, or to make up the marks which pass one at the end of the year.Collège,m.(thieves’),prison, or “stir.” SeeMotte.Un ami de ——,a prison chum.Les collèges de Pantin,the Paris prisons.Collégien,m.(thieves’),prisoner.Coller(students’),to stop one’s leave;to orally examine at periodical examinations.Se faire ——,to get plucked or“ploughed”at an examination. (Popular)Coller,to place;to put;to give;to throw;—— au bloc,to imprison, “to run in;”—— des châtaignes,to thrash, “to wallop.” SeeVoie.Se —— dans le pieu,to go to bed.Se —— une biture,to get drunk, or “screwed.” SeeSculpter.Colle-toi là,place yourself there.Colle-toi ça dans le fusil,eat or drink that.Colle-toi ça dans la coloquinte,bear that in mind. (Military)Coller au bloc,to send to the guard-room.Collez-moi ce clampin-là au bloc,take that lazy bones to the guard-room. (Familiar and popular)Se ——,to live as man and wife, to live“a tally.”Se faire ——,to be nonplussed.S’en —— par le bec,to eat to excess, “to scorf.”S’en —— pour,to go to the expense of.Je m’en suis collé pour dix francs,I spent ten francs over it.Colletiner(thieves’),to collar,to apprehend, “to smug.” SeePiper.Colleur,m.(students’),professor whose functions are to orally examine at certain periods students at private or public establishments; man who gets quickly intimateor “thick”with one, who“cottons on to one.”Collier, orcoulant,m.(thieves’),cravat, or “neckinger.”Collignon,m.(popular),cabby. An allusion to a coachman of that name who murdered his fare. The cry, “Ohé, Collignon!” is about the worst insult one can offer a Paris coachman, and he is not slow to resent it.Colombe,f.(players’),queen of cards.Colombé,adj.(thieves’),known.Colon,m.(soldiers’),colonel.Petit ——,lieutenant-colonel.Colonne,f.(military),chapeau en ——, seeBataille. (Popular)N’avoir pas chié la ——,to be devoid of any talent,not to be able to set the Thames on fire.Démolir la ——,to void urine, “to lag.”Coloquinte,f.(popular and thieves’),head.Avoir une araignée dans la ——,to be cracked, or “to have a bee in one’s bonnet.”Charlot va jouer à la boule avec ta ——,Jack Ketch will play skittles with your canister.Coltiger(thieves’),to arrest;to seize, to “smug.”C’est dans la rue du MailOù j’ai été coltigéPar trois coquins de railles.V.Hugo,Le Dernier Jour d’un Condamné.Coltin,m.(popular),strength. Properlyshoulder-strap.Coltiner(popular),to ply the trade of a porter;to draw a hand-cart by means of a shoulder-strap.Coltineur,m.(popular),man who draws a hand-cart with a shoulder-strap.Coltineuse(popular),female who does rough work.Comberge,combergeante,f.(thieves’),confession.Comberger(thieves’),to reckon up;to confess.Combergo(thieves’),confessional.Comblance,f.(thieves’),par ——,into the bargain.J’ai fait par comblanceGironde larguecapé.Vidocq.Comble,combre,combriau,combrieu,m.(thieves’),hat, “tile.” SeeTubard.Combrie,f.(thieves’),one-franc piece.Combrier,m.(thieves’),hat-maker.Combrieu.SeeComble.Combrousier,m.(thieves’),peasant, or “clod.”Combustible,m.(popular),du ——!exclamation used to urge one on, On! go it!Come,m.(thieves’),formerly a guard on board the galleys.Comédie,f.(popular),envoyer à la ——,to dismiss a workman for want of work to give him.Etre à la ——,to be out of work, “out of collar.”Comestaux,m. pl.(popular), for comestibles,articles of food, “toke.”Comète,f.(popular),vagrant,tramp.Filer la ——, orla sorgue,to sleep in the open air, or “to skipper it.”Comiques,m. pl.(theatrical),jouer les —— habillés,to represent a comic character in modern costume.Commander(thieves’),à cuire,to send to the scaffold.Commandite,f.(printers’),association of workmen who join together for the performance of any work.Comme if(popular), ironical for comme il faut,genteel.T’as rien l’air ——!What a swell you look, oh crikey!Commissaire,m.(popular),pint or pitcher of wine. An allusion to the black robe which police magistrates wore formerly.Le cabot du ——,the police magistrate’s secretary. SeeChien.Commode,f.(thieves’),chimney. (Popular)Une —— à deux ressorts,a vehicle, or “trap.”Communardorcommuneux,m.,one of the insurgents of 1871.Communiqué,m.(familiar),official communication to newspapers.Comp.SeeCan.Compas,m.(popular),ouvrir le ——,to walk.Allonger le ——,to walk briskly.Fermer le ——,to stop walking.Complet,adj.(popular),être ——,to be quite drunk, or “slewed.” (Familiar)Etre ——,to be perfectly ridiculous.Comprendre(thieves’),la ——,to steal, “to claim.” SeeGrinchir.Compte(popular),avoir son ——,to be tipsy, or “screwed;”to die, “to snuff it.”Son —— est bon,he is in for it.Compter(musicians’),des payses,to sleep; (popular)—— ses chemises,to vomit, “to cast up accounts.”Comte,m.(thieves’),de caruche, orde canton,jailor, or “jigger dubber;”—— de castu,hospital superintendent;—— de gigot-fin,one who likes to live well.Comtois,adj.(thieves’),battre ——,to dissemble;to play the fool.Conasse, orconnasse,f.(prostitutes’),a stupid or modest woman.Elles vantent leur savoir-faire, elles reprochent à leurs camarades leur impéritie, et leur donnent le nom de conasse, expression par laquelle elles désignent ordinairement une femme honnête.—Parent-Duchatelet,De la Prostitution.Condé,m.(thieves’),mayor;demi ——,alderman;grand ——,prefect;—— franc,corrupt magistrate.Condice,f.(thieves’),cage in which convicts are confined on their passage to the convict settlements.Condition,f.(thieves’),house, “diggings,” or “hangs out.”Faire une ——,to break into a house, “to crack a crib.”Filer une ——,to watch a house in view of an intended burglary. (Popular)Acheter une ——,to lead a new mode of life,to turn over a new leaf.Conduite,f.(popular),faire la ——,to drive away and thrash.Faire la —— de Grenoble,to put one out of doors.Cone,f.(thieves’),death.Confirmer(popular),to box one’s ears, “to warm the wax of one’s ears.”Confiture,f.(popular),excrement.Confiturier,m.(popular),scavenger, “rake-kennel.”Confortable,m.(popular),glass of beer.Confrère,m.(popular),de la lune,injured husband.Coni,adj.(thieves’),dead.Coniller(popular),to seek to escape.Conil,rabbit.Conir(thieves’),to conceal;to kill; “to cook one’s gruel.” SeeRefroidir.Connais(popular),je la ——,no news for me;do you see any green in my eye?you don’t take an old bird with chaff.Connaissance,f.(popular),ma ——,my mistress,or sweetheart,my“young woman.”Connaître(popular),le journal,to be well informed;to know beforehand the menu of a dinner;—— le numéro,to possess experience;—— le numéro de quelqu’un,to be acquainted with one’s secrets, one’s habits.La —— dans les coins,to be knowing,to know what’s o’clock. An allusion to a horse clever at turning the corners in the riding school.Regardez-le partir, le gavroche qui la connaît dans les coins.—Richepin.Connerie,f.(popular),foolish action or thing. From an obscene word which has the slang signification offool.Conobler(thieves’),to recognize.Conobrer(thieves’),to know.Conscience,f.(printers’),homme de ——,typographer paid by the day or by the hour.Conscrar,conscrit,m.,first-term student at the “Ecole Normale,” a higher training-school for university professors.Conservatoire,m.(popular),pawnshop.Elève du —— de la Villette,wretched singer.La Villetteis the reverse of a fashionable quarter.Conserves,f.(theatrical),old plays. Alsofragments of human flesh which have been thrown into the sewers or river by murderers, and which, when found, are taken to the “Morgue,” or Paris dead-house.Je viens de préparer pour lui les conserves (les morceaux de chair humaine), l’os de l’égout Jacob et la cuisse des Saints-Pères (l’os retrouvé dans l’égout de la Rue Jacob et la cuisse repêchée au pont des Saints-Pères).—Macé,Mon Premier Crime.Consigne,f.(military),à gros grains,imprisonment in the cells.Consolation,f.(popular),brandy;swindling game played by card-sharpers, by means of a green cloth chalked into small numbered spaces, and dice.Console,f.(thieves’),game played by card-sharpers or“broadsmen”at races and fairs.Consoler(popular),son café,to add brandy to one’s coffee.Conter(military).Conte cela au perruquier des Zouaves,I do not believe you, “tell that to the Marines.”Le perruquier des Zouavesis an imaginary individual.Contre,m.(popular),playing for drink at a café.Contre-allumeur,m.(thieves’),spy employed by thieves to baffle the police spies.Contrebasse,f.(popular),breech.Sauter sur la ——,to kick one’s behind, “to toe one’s bum,” “to root,” or “to land a kick.”Contre-coup,m.(popular),de la boîte,foreman, or “boss.”Contreficher(popular),s’en ——,to care not a straw, not a“hang.”Contre-marque,f.(popular),du Père-Lachaise,St.Helena medal. Those who wear the medal are old, andle Père-Lachaiseis a cemetery in Paris.Contrôle,m.(thieves’),formerly the mark on the shoulder of convicts who had been branded.Contrôler(popular),to kick one in the face.Convalescence,f.(thieves’),surveillance of the police on the movements of ticket-of-leave men.Cop,f.(printers’), for “copie,”manuscript.Copaille,f.(cads’),Sodomist. Termed also “tante,coquine.”Cope,f.(popular),overcharge for an article;action of“shaving a customer.” TheSlang Dictionarysays that in England, when the master sees an opportunity of doing this, he strokes his chin as a signal to his assistant who is serving the customer.Copeau,m.(popular),artisan in woodwork(properlycopeaux,shavings);spittle, or “gob.”Arracher son ——. SeeArracher.Lever son ——,to talk, “to jaw.”Copeaux,m. pl.(thieves’),housebreaking, “screwing or cracking a crib.” An allusion to the splinters resulting from breaking a door.Copie,f.(printers’),de chapelle,copy of a work given as a present to the typographers. (Figuratively)Faire de la ——,to backbite.Pisser de la ——,to be a prolific writer.Pisseur de ——,a prolific writer;one who writes lengthy, diffuse newspaper articles.Coquage,m.(thieves’),informing against one, or “blowing the gaff.”Coquard,m.(thieves’),eye, or“glazier.”S’en tamponner le ——,not to care a fig. SeeMirette.Coquardeau,m.(popular),henpecked husband, or “stangey;”man easily duped, or “gulpy.”Coquer(thieves’),to watch one’s movements;to inform against one, “to blow the gaff.”Quand on en aura refroidi quatre ou cinq dans les préaux les autres tourneront leur langue deux fois avant de coquer la pègre.—E.Sue.Alsoto give;to put;—— la camoufle,to hand the candle, “to dub the glim;”—— la loffitude,to give absolution;—— le poivre,to poison, “hocus;”—— le taf,to frighten;—— le rifle,to set fire to.Coqueur,m.(thieves’),informer who warns the police of intended thefts. He may be at liberty or in prison; in the latter case he goes by the appellation of “coqueur mouton” or “musicien.” The “mouton”variety is an inmate of a prison and informs against his fellow-prisoners; the “musicien”betrays his accomplices.Coqueur de bille,man who furnishes funds.Coqueuse,female variety of the“coqueur.”Coquillard(popular),eye.S’en tamponner le ——,not to care a straw, “not to care a hang.”Coquillards,m. pl.(tramps’),tramps who in olden times pretended to be pilgrims.Coquillards sont les pélerins de Saint-Jacques, la plus grande partie sont véritables et en viennent; mais il y en a aussi qui truchent sur le coquillard.—Le Jargon de l’Argot.Coquillon,m.(popular),louse;pilgrim.Coquin,m.(thieves’),informer, “nark,” or “nose.”Coquine,f.(cads’),Sodomist.Corbeau,m.(popular),lay brother of“la doctrine chrétienne,”usually styled“frères ignorantins.” The brotherhood had formerly charge of the ragged schools, and were conspicuous by their gross ignorance;priest, or “devil dodger;”undertaker’s man.Corbeille,f.(familiar),enclosure or ring at theBoursewhere official stockbrokers transact business.Corbillard,m.(popular),à deux roues,dismal man, or “croaker;”—— à nœuds,dirty and dissolute woman, or “draggle-tail;”—— des loucherbem,cart which collects tainted meat at butcher’s stalls.Loucherbemis equivalent toboucher.Voici passer au galop le corbillard des loucherbem, l’immonde voiture qui vient ramasser dans les boucheries la viande gâtée.—Richepin,Le Pavé.Corbuche,f.(thieves’),ulcer;—— lophe,false ulcer.Corde,f.(literary),avoir la ——,to find true expression for accurately describing sentiments or passions. (Popular)Dormir à la ——,is said of poor people who sleep in certain lodgings with their heads on an outstretched rope as a pillow. This corresponds to the English “twopenny rope.”Corder(popular),to agree,to get on“swimmingly”together.Cordon,m.(popular),s’il vous plaît!ordonnez-vous la peine d’entrer!large knot worn in the rear of ladies’ dresses.Cordonnier,m.(popular),bec-figue de ——,goose.Cornage,m.(thieves’),bad smell.Cornant,m.,cornante,f.(thieves’ and tramps’),ox and cow, or “mooer.”Cornard,m.(students’),faire ——,to hold a council in a corner.Corne,f.(popular),stomach.Cornemuseux,m.(codfishers’),the south wind.Corner(thieves’),to breathe heavily;to stink.La crie corne,the meat smells.Cornet,m.(popular),throat, “gutter-lane.”Colle-toi ça dans l’——,swallow that!N’avoir rien dans le ——,to be fasting, “to be bandied,” “to cry cupboard.”Cornet d’épices,Capuchin.Il se voulut convertir; il bia trouver un chenâtre cornet d’épice, et rouscailla à sézière qu’il voulait quitter la religion prétendue pour attrimer la catholique.—Le Jargon de l’Argot.Corniche,f.(popular),hat, or “tile,” seeTubard; (students’)the military school ofSaint-Cyr.Cornicherie,f.(popular),nonsense;foolish action.Cornichon,m.(students’),candidate preparing for theEcole Militaire de Saint-Cyr. Literallygreenhorn.Cornière,f.(thieves’),cow-shed.Cornificetur,m.(popular),injured husband.Corps de pompe,m.,staff of theSaint-Cyrschool, and that of the school of cavalry ofSaumur.Saint-Cyris the French Sandhurst.Saumuris a training-school where the best riders and most vicious horses in the French army are sent.Correcteur,m.(thieves’),prisoner who plays the spy, or “nark.”Correspondance,f.(popular),a snack taken at a wine-shop while waiting for an omnibus “correspondance.”Corridor,m.(familiar),throat.Se rincer le ——,to drink, “to wet one’s whistle.” SeeRincer.Corsé,adj.(common), properlyis said of wine with full body.Un repas ——,a plentiful meal, or a “tightener.”Corserie,f.(familiar),a set of Corsican detectives in the service of NapoleonIII. According toMonsieur Claude, formerly head of the detective force under the Empire, the chief members of this secret bodyguard wereAlessandriandGriscelli.Claudementions in his memoirs the murder of a detective who had formed a plot for the assassination of Napoleon in a mysterious house atAuteuil, where the emperor met his mistresses, and to which he often used to repair disguised as a lacquey, and riding behind his own carriage.Griscellistabbed his fellow-detective in the back on mere suspicion, and found on the body of the dead man papers which gave evidence of the plot. In reference to the mysterious house,Monsieur Claudesays:—L’empereur s’enflamma si bien pour cette nouvelle Ninon que l’impératrice en prit ombrage. La duchesse alors .... loua ma petite maison d’Auteuil que le général Fleury avait choisie pour servir de rendez-vous clandestin aux amours de son maître.—Mémoires de Monsieur Claude.Corset,m.(popular),pas de ——!sweet sixteen!Corvée,f.(prostitutes’),aller à la ——,to walk the street,une ——being literallyan arduous, disagreeable work.Corvette,f.(thieves’),a kind of low, rascally Alexis.
Venez à moi, claquepatins,Loqueteux, joueurs de musette,Clampins, loupeurs, voyous, catins.Richepin.
Venez à moi, claquepatins,Loqueteux, joueurs de musette,Clampins, loupeurs, voyous, catins.Richepin.
Venez à moi, claquepatins,Loqueteux, joueurs de musette,Clampins, loupeurs, voyous, catins.Richepin.
Venez à moi, claquepatins,
Loqueteux, joueurs de musette,
Clampins, loupeurs, voyous, catins.
Richepin.
The early French poetVillonuses the word “cliquepatin” with the same signification.
Claquer(familiar),to die, “to croak;”to eat;to sell;—— sesmeubles,to sell one’s furniture;—— du bec,to be very hungry without any means of satisfying one’s craving for food.
Claques,f. pl.(familiar and popular),une figure à ——,face with an impudent expression that invites punishment.
Clarinette,f.(military),de cinq pieds,musket, formerly“Brown Bess.”
Classe,f.(popular),un —— dirigeant,said ironically of one of the upper classes.
Clavin,m.(thieves’),nail;grapes.
Clavine,f.(thieves’),vine.
Claviner(thieves’),to nail;to gather grapes.
Clavineur,m.(thieves’),vine-dresser.
Clavinier,m.(thieves’),nail-maker.
Clef,f.(familiar),à la ——. SeeA la.Perdre sa ——,to suffer from colic, or “botts.” (Military)La —— du champ de manœuvre,imaginary object which recruits are requested by practical jokers to go and ask of the sergeant.
Cliabeau,m., expression used by the prisoners ofSaint-Lazare,doctor.
Cliche,f.(popular),diarrhœa, or “jerry-go-nimble.”
Cliché,m.(familiar),commonplace sentence ready made;commonplace metaphor;well-worn platitude. (Printers’)Tirer son ——,to be always repeating the same thing.
Client,m.(thieves’),victim, or intended victim.
Cligner(military),des œillets,to squint,to be“boss-eyed.”
Clignots,m. pl.(popular),eyes, “peepers.”Baver des ——,to weep, “to nap a bib.” SeeMirettes.
Clipet,m.(thieves’),voice.
Clique,f.(popular),scamp, or “bad egg;”diarrhœa, or “jerry-go-nimble.” (Military)La ——,the squad of drummers and buglers.
Exempts de service, ils exercent généralement une profession quelconque (barbier, tailleur, ajusteur de guêtres, etc.) qui leur rapporte quelques bénéfices. Ayant ainsi plus de temps et plus d’argent à dépenser que leurs camarades, ils ont une réputation, assez bien justifiée d’ailleurs, de bambocheurs; de là, ce nom de clique qu’on leur donne.—La Langue Verte du Troupier.
Cliquettes,f. pl.(popular),ears, or “wattles.”
Clodoche,m.(familiar),description of professional comic dancer with extraordinarily supple legs, such as the Girards brothers, of Alhambra celebrity.
Cloporte,m.(familiar),door-keeper. Properlywoodlouse. A pun on the wordsclôt porte.
Clou,m.(military),guard-room;cells, “jigger;”bayonet.Coller au ——,to imprison, “to roost.” (Popular)Clou,bad workman;pawnshop.Mettre au ——,to pawn,to put“in lug.”Clou de girofle,decayed black tooth. (Theatrical and literary)Le —— d’une pièce,d’un roman,the chief point of interest in a play or novel, literallya nail on which the whole fabric hangs.
Clouer(popular),to imprison, “to run in;”to pawn, “to blue, to spout, to lumber.”
Clous,m. pl.(popular),tools. (Printers’)Petits ——,type.Lever les petits ——,to compose. (Military)Clous,foot-soldiers, or “mud-crushers.”
Coaguler(familiar),se ——,to get drunk. SeeSculpter.
Côbier,m.,heap of salt in salt-marshes.
Cocanges,f. pl.(thieves’),walnut-shells.Jeu de ——,game of swindlers at fairs.
Cocangeur,m.(thieves’),swindler. SeeCocanges.
Cocantin,m.(popular),business agent acting as a medium between a debtor and a creditor.
Cocarde,f.(popular),head.Avoir sa ——,to be tipsy.Taper sur la ——,is said of wine which gets into the head.
Ma joie et surtout l’petit bleuÇa m’a tapé sur la cocarde!Parisian Song.
Ma joie et surtout l’petit bleuÇa m’a tapé sur la cocarde!Parisian Song.
Ma joie et surtout l’petit bleuÇa m’a tapé sur la cocarde!Parisian Song.
Ma joie et surtout l’petit bleu
Ça m’a tapé sur la cocarde!
Parisian Song.
Cocarder(popular),se ——,to get tipsy. SeeSculpter.
Tout se passait très gentiment, on était gai, il ne fallait pas maintenant se cocarder cochonnement, si l’on voulait respecter les dames.—Zola,L’Assommoir.
Cocardier,m.(military),military man passionately fond of his profession.
Cocasserie,f.(familiar),strange or grotesque saying, writing, or deed.
Coche,f.(popular),fat, red-faced woman.
Cochon,m.(popular),de bonheur!(ironical)no luck!Ça n’est pas trop ——,that’s not so bad. C’est pas—— du tout,that’s very nice.Mon pauvre ——, je ne te dis que ça!my poor fellow, you are in for it!Etre ——,to be lewd.Se conduire comme un ——,to behave in a mean, despicable way.Soigner son ——,is said of one who lives too well.Un costume ——,a suggestive dress.
Cochonne,f.(popular),lewd girl. (Ironically)Elle n’est pas jolie, mais elle est si cochonne!
Cochonnement,adv.(popular),in a disgusting manner.
Cochonnerie,f.(popular),any article of food having pork for a basis.
Cochonneries,f. pl.(popular),indecent talk or actions.
Coco,m.(military),horse.La botte à ——,trumpet call for stables, (literally)La botte de foin à coco. (Popular)Coco,brandy;head. SeeTronche.Avoir le —— déplumé,to be bald, or to have a“bladder of lard.” For synonymous expressions, seeAvoir.Avoir le —— fêlé,to be cracked, “to be a little bit balmy in one’s crumpet.” For synonyms seeAvoir.Colle-toi ça dans le ——, orpasse-toi ça par le ——,eat that or drink that.Dévisser le ——,to strangle.Monter le ——,to excite.Se monter le ——,to get excited;to be too sanguine.Il a graissé la patte à ——,is said of a man who has bungled over some affair. (Familiar)Coco épileptique,champagne wine, “fiz,” or “boy.”
Cocodète,f.(familiar),stylish woman always dressed according to the latest fashion, a “dasher.”
Cocons,m. pl., stands forco-conscrits,first-term students at theEcole Polytechnique.
Cocotte,f.(popular),term of endearment to horses.Allons, hue ——!pull up, my beauty!(Familiar and popular)Cocotte,a more than fast girl or woman, a “pretty horse-breaker,” seeGadoue; (theatrical)addition made by singers to an original theme.
Cocotterie,f.(familiar),the world of the cocottes. SeeCocotte.
Cocovieilles,f. pl.,name given by fashionable young ladies of the aristocracy to their old-fashioned elders, who return the compliment by dubbing them“cocosottes.”
Cocufieur,m.(popular),one who cuckoos, that is, one who lays himself open to being called to account by an injured husband as the co-respondent in the divorce court.
Coenne, orcouenne,f.(thieves’),de lard,brush. (Familiar and popular)Couenne,stupid man,dunce.
Coëre,m.(thieves’),le grand ——,formerly the king of rogues.
Cœur,m.(popular),jeter du —— sur le carreau,to vomit. A pun on the words “hearts” and “diamonds” of cards on the one hand,avoir mal au ——,to feel sick, and “carreau,”flooring, on the other.Valet de ——,lover.
Cœur d’artichaut,m.(popular),man or woman with an inflammable heart.
Paillasson, quoi! 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,La Muse à Bibi.
Paillasson, quoi! 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,La Muse à Bibi.
Paillasson, quoi! 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,La Muse à Bibi.
Paillasson, quoi! 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,La Muse à Bibi.
Coffier(thieves’), abbreviation ofescoffier,to kill, “to cook one’s gruel.”
Coffin,m.,peculiar kind of desk at theEcole Polytechnique. From the inventor’s name,General Coffinières.
Cognac,m.(thieves’),gendarmeor police officer, “crusher,” “copper,” or “reeler.” SeePot-à-tabac.
Cognade,f., orcogne(thieves’),gendarmerie.
Cognard,m., orcogne,gendarmeandgendarmerie;police officer, “copper.”
Cogne,m.andf.(thieves’),la ——,the police.Un ——,a police officer, or “reeler.” SeePot-à-tabac. Alsobrandy.Un noir de trois ronds sans ——,a three-halfpenny cup of coffee without brandy.
Coiffer(popular),to slap;to deceive one’s husband.Se —— de quelqu’un,to take a fancy to one.
Coin,m.(popular),c’est un —— sans i,he is a fool.
Coire(thieves’),farm;chief.
Je rencontrai des camarades qui avaient aussi fait leur temps ou cassé leur ficelle. Leur coire me proposa d’être des leurs, on faisait la grande soulasse sur le trimar.—V.Hugo.
Col,m.(familiar),cassé,dandy, or “masher.”Se pousser du ——,to assume an air of self-importance or conceit, “to look gumptious;”to praise oneself up. An allusion to the motion of one’s hand under the chin when about to make an important statement.
Colas,colabre, orcolin,m.(thieves’),neck, or “scrag.”Faire suer le ——,to strangle.Rafraîchir le ——,to guillotine.Rafraîchirmeansto trimin the expression, “Rafraîchir les cheveux.”
Colback,m.(military),raw recruit, or “Johnny raw.” An allusion to his unkempt hair, similar to a busby or bearskin cap.
Colin. SeeColas.
Collabo,m.(literary), abbreviation ofcollaborateur.
Collage,m.(familiar),living as husband and wife in an unmarried state.
L’une après l’autre—en camarade—C’est rupin, mais l’ collage, bon Dieu!Toujours la mêm’ chauffeus’ de pieu!M’en parlez pas! Ça m’rend malade.Gill,La Muse à Bibi.
L’une après l’autre—en camarade—C’est rupin, mais l’ collage, bon Dieu!Toujours la mêm’ chauffeus’ de pieu!M’en parlez pas! Ça m’rend malade.Gill,La Muse à Bibi.
L’une après l’autre—en camarade—C’est rupin, mais l’ collage, bon Dieu!Toujours la mêm’ chauffeus’ de pieu!M’en parlez pas! Ça m’rend malade.Gill,La Muse à Bibi.
L’une après l’autre—en camarade—
C’est rupin, mais l’ collage, bon Dieu!
Toujours la mêm’ chauffeus’ de pieu!
M’en parlez pas! Ça m’rend malade.
Gill,La Muse à Bibi.
Un —— d’argent,the action of a woman who lives with a man as his wife from mercenary motives.
C’était selon la manie de ce corrupteur de mineures, le sceau avec lequel il cimentait ce que Madame Cornette appelait, en terme du métier, ses collages d’argent!—Mémoires de Monsieur Claude.
Collant,m.(familiar),is said of one not easily got rid of; (military)drawers.
Collarde,m.(thieves’),prisoner,one“doing time.”
Colle,f.(students’),weekly or other periodical oral examinations to prepare for a final examination, or to make up the marks which pass one at the end of the year.
Collège,m.(thieves’),prison, or “stir.” SeeMotte.Un ami de ——,a prison chum.Les collèges de Pantin,the Paris prisons.
Collégien,m.(thieves’),prisoner.
Coller(students’),to stop one’s leave;to orally examine at periodical examinations.Se faire ——,to get plucked or“ploughed”at an examination. (Popular)Coller,to place;to put;to give;to throw;—— au bloc,to imprison, “to run in;”—— des châtaignes,to thrash, “to wallop.” SeeVoie.Se —— dans le pieu,to go to bed.Se —— une biture,to get drunk, or “screwed.” SeeSculpter.Colle-toi là,place yourself there.Colle-toi ça dans le fusil,eat or drink that.Colle-toi ça dans la coloquinte,bear that in mind. (Military)Coller au bloc,to send to the guard-room.Collez-moi ce clampin-là au bloc,take that lazy bones to the guard-room. (Familiar and popular)Se ——,to live as man and wife, to live“a tally.”Se faire ——,to be nonplussed.S’en —— par le bec,to eat to excess, “to scorf.”S’en —— pour,to go to the expense of.Je m’en suis collé pour dix francs,I spent ten francs over it.
Colletiner(thieves’),to collar,to apprehend, “to smug.” SeePiper.
Colleur,m.(students’),professor whose functions are to orally examine at certain periods students at private or public establishments; man who gets quickly intimateor “thick”with one, who“cottons on to one.”
Collier, orcoulant,m.(thieves’),cravat, or “neckinger.”
Collignon,m.(popular),cabby. An allusion to a coachman of that name who murdered his fare. The cry, “Ohé, Collignon!” is about the worst insult one can offer a Paris coachman, and he is not slow to resent it.
Colombe,f.(players’),queen of cards.
Colombé,adj.(thieves’),known.
Colon,m.(soldiers’),colonel.Petit ——,lieutenant-colonel.
Colonne,f.(military),chapeau en ——, seeBataille. (Popular)N’avoir pas chié la ——,to be devoid of any talent,not to be able to set the Thames on fire.Démolir la ——,to void urine, “to lag.”
Coloquinte,f.(popular and thieves’),head.Avoir une araignée dans la ——,to be cracked, or “to have a bee in one’s bonnet.”Charlot va jouer à la boule avec ta ——,Jack Ketch will play skittles with your canister.
Coltiger(thieves’),to arrest;to seize, to “smug.”
C’est dans la rue du MailOù j’ai été coltigéPar trois coquins de railles.V.Hugo,Le Dernier Jour d’un Condamné.
C’est dans la rue du MailOù j’ai été coltigéPar trois coquins de railles.V.Hugo,Le Dernier Jour d’un Condamné.
C’est dans la rue du MailOù j’ai été coltigéPar trois coquins de railles.V.Hugo,Le Dernier Jour d’un Condamné.
C’est dans la rue du Mail
Où j’ai été coltigé
Par trois coquins de railles.
V.Hugo,Le Dernier Jour d’un Condamné.
Coltin,m.(popular),strength. Properlyshoulder-strap.
Coltiner(popular),to ply the trade of a porter;to draw a hand-cart by means of a shoulder-strap.
Coltineur,m.(popular),man who draws a hand-cart with a shoulder-strap.
Coltineuse(popular),female who does rough work.
Comberge,combergeante,f.(thieves’),confession.
Comberger(thieves’),to reckon up;to confess.
Combergo(thieves’),confessional.
Comblance,f.(thieves’),par ——,into the bargain.
J’ai fait par comblanceGironde larguecapé.Vidocq.
J’ai fait par comblanceGironde larguecapé.Vidocq.
J’ai fait par comblanceGironde larguecapé.Vidocq.
J’ai fait par comblance
Gironde larguecapé.
Vidocq.
Comble,combre,combriau,combrieu,m.(thieves’),hat, “tile.” SeeTubard.
Combrie,f.(thieves’),one-franc piece.
Combrier,m.(thieves’),hat-maker.
Combrieu.SeeComble.
Combrousier,m.(thieves’),peasant, or “clod.”
Combustible,m.(popular),du ——!exclamation used to urge one on, On! go it!
Come,m.(thieves’),formerly a guard on board the galleys.
Comédie,f.(popular),envoyer à la ——,to dismiss a workman for want of work to give him.Etre à la ——,to be out of work, “out of collar.”
Comestaux,m. pl.(popular), for comestibles,articles of food, “toke.”
Comète,f.(popular),vagrant,tramp.Filer la ——, orla sorgue,to sleep in the open air, or “to skipper it.”
Comiques,m. pl.(theatrical),jouer les —— habillés,to represent a comic character in modern costume.
Commander(thieves’),à cuire,to send to the scaffold.
Commandite,f.(printers’),association of workmen who join together for the performance of any work.
Comme if(popular), ironical for comme il faut,genteel.T’as rien l’air ——!What a swell you look, oh crikey!
Commissaire,m.(popular),pint or pitcher of wine. An allusion to the black robe which police magistrates wore formerly.Le cabot du ——,the police magistrate’s secretary. SeeChien.
Commode,f.(thieves’),chimney. (Popular)Une —— à deux ressorts,a vehicle, or “trap.”
Communardorcommuneux,m.,one of the insurgents of 1871.
Communiqué,m.(familiar),official communication to newspapers.
Comp.SeeCan.
Compas,m.(popular),ouvrir le ——,to walk.Allonger le ——,to walk briskly.Fermer le ——,to stop walking.
Complet,adj.(popular),être ——,to be quite drunk, or “slewed.” (Familiar)Etre ——,to be perfectly ridiculous.
Comprendre(thieves’),la ——,to steal, “to claim.” SeeGrinchir.
Compte(popular),avoir son ——,to be tipsy, or “screwed;”to die, “to snuff it.”Son —— est bon,he is in for it.
Compter(musicians’),des payses,to sleep; (popular)—— ses chemises,to vomit, “to cast up accounts.”
Comte,m.(thieves’),de caruche, orde canton,jailor, or “jigger dubber;”—— de castu,hospital superintendent;—— de gigot-fin,one who likes to live well.
Comtois,adj.(thieves’),battre ——,to dissemble;to play the fool.
Conasse, orconnasse,f.(prostitutes’),a stupid or modest woman.
Elles vantent leur savoir-faire, elles reprochent à leurs camarades leur impéritie, et leur donnent le nom de conasse, expression par laquelle elles désignent ordinairement une femme honnête.—Parent-Duchatelet,De la Prostitution.
Condé,m.(thieves’),mayor;demi ——,alderman;grand ——,prefect;—— franc,corrupt magistrate.
Condice,f.(thieves’),cage in which convicts are confined on their passage to the convict settlements.
Condition,f.(thieves’),house, “diggings,” or “hangs out.”Faire une ——,to break into a house, “to crack a crib.”Filer une ——,to watch a house in view of an intended burglary. (Popular)Acheter une ——,to lead a new mode of life,to turn over a new leaf.
Conduite,f.(popular),faire la ——,to drive away and thrash.Faire la —— de Grenoble,to put one out of doors.
Cone,f.(thieves’),death.
Confirmer(popular),to box one’s ears, “to warm the wax of one’s ears.”
Confiture,f.(popular),excrement.
Confiturier,m.(popular),scavenger, “rake-kennel.”
Confortable,m.(popular),glass of beer.
Confrère,m.(popular),de la lune,injured husband.
Coni,adj.(thieves’),dead.
Coniller(popular),to seek to escape.Conil,rabbit.
Conir(thieves’),to conceal;to kill; “to cook one’s gruel.” SeeRefroidir.
Connais(popular),je la ——,no news for me;do you see any green in my eye?you don’t take an old bird with chaff.
Connaissance,f.(popular),ma ——,my mistress,or sweetheart,my“young woman.”
Connaître(popular),le journal,to be well informed;to know beforehand the menu of a dinner;—— le numéro,to possess experience;—— le numéro de quelqu’un,to be acquainted with one’s secrets, one’s habits.La —— dans les coins,to be knowing,to know what’s o’clock. An allusion to a horse clever at turning the corners in the riding school.
Regardez-le partir, le gavroche qui la connaît dans les coins.—Richepin.
Connerie,f.(popular),foolish action or thing. From an obscene word which has the slang signification offool.
Conobler(thieves’),to recognize.
Conobrer(thieves’),to know.
Conscience,f.(printers’),homme de ——,typographer paid by the day or by the hour.
Conscrar,conscrit,m.,first-term student at the “Ecole Normale,” a higher training-school for university professors.
Conservatoire,m.(popular),pawnshop.Elève du —— de la Villette,wretched singer.La Villetteis the reverse of a fashionable quarter.
Conserves,f.(theatrical),old plays. Alsofragments of human flesh which have been thrown into the sewers or river by murderers, and which, when found, are taken to the “Morgue,” or Paris dead-house.
Je viens de préparer pour lui les conserves (les morceaux de chair humaine), l’os de l’égout Jacob et la cuisse des Saints-Pères (l’os retrouvé dans l’égout de la Rue Jacob et la cuisse repêchée au pont des Saints-Pères).—Macé,Mon Premier Crime.
Consigne,f.(military),à gros grains,imprisonment in the cells.
Consolation,f.(popular),brandy;swindling game played by card-sharpers, by means of a green cloth chalked into small numbered spaces, and dice.
Console,f.(thieves’),game played by card-sharpers or“broadsmen”at races and fairs.
Consoler(popular),son café,to add brandy to one’s coffee.
Conter(military).Conte cela au perruquier des Zouaves,I do not believe you, “tell that to the Marines.”Le perruquier des Zouavesis an imaginary individual.
Contre,m.(popular),playing for drink at a café.
Contre-allumeur,m.(thieves’),spy employed by thieves to baffle the police spies.
Contrebasse,f.(popular),breech.Sauter sur la ——,to kick one’s behind, “to toe one’s bum,” “to root,” or “to land a kick.”
Contre-coup,m.(popular),de la boîte,foreman, or “boss.”
Contreficher(popular),s’en ——,to care not a straw, not a“hang.”
Contre-marque,f.(popular),du Père-Lachaise,St.Helena medal. Those who wear the medal are old, andle Père-Lachaiseis a cemetery in Paris.
Contrôle,m.(thieves’),formerly the mark on the shoulder of convicts who had been branded.
Contrôler(popular),to kick one in the face.
Convalescence,f.(thieves’),surveillance of the police on the movements of ticket-of-leave men.
Cop,f.(printers’), for “copie,”manuscript.
Copaille,f.(cads’),Sodomist. Termed also “tante,coquine.”
Cope,f.(popular),overcharge for an article;action of“shaving a customer.” TheSlang Dictionarysays that in England, when the master sees an opportunity of doing this, he strokes his chin as a signal to his assistant who is serving the customer.
Copeau,m.(popular),artisan in woodwork(properlycopeaux,shavings);spittle, or “gob.”Arracher son ——. SeeArracher.Lever son ——,to talk, “to jaw.”
Copeaux,m. pl.(thieves’),housebreaking, “screwing or cracking a crib.” An allusion to the splinters resulting from breaking a door.
Copie,f.(printers’),de chapelle,copy of a work given as a present to the typographers. (Figuratively)Faire de la ——,to backbite.Pisser de la ——,to be a prolific writer.Pisseur de ——,a prolific writer;one who writes lengthy, diffuse newspaper articles.
Coquage,m.(thieves’),informing against one, or “blowing the gaff.”
Coquard,m.(thieves’),eye, or“glazier.”S’en tamponner le ——,not to care a fig. SeeMirette.
Coquardeau,m.(popular),henpecked husband, or “stangey;”man easily duped, or “gulpy.”
Coquer(thieves’),to watch one’s movements;to inform against one, “to blow the gaff.”
Quand on en aura refroidi quatre ou cinq dans les préaux les autres tourneront leur langue deux fois avant de coquer la pègre.—E.Sue.
Alsoto give;to put;—— la camoufle,to hand the candle, “to dub the glim;”—— la loffitude,to give absolution;—— le poivre,to poison, “hocus;”—— le taf,to frighten;—— le rifle,to set fire to.
Coqueur,m.(thieves’),informer who warns the police of intended thefts. He may be at liberty or in prison; in the latter case he goes by the appellation of “coqueur mouton” or “musicien.” The “mouton”variety is an inmate of a prison and informs against his fellow-prisoners; the “musicien”betrays his accomplices.Coqueur de bille,man who furnishes funds.
Coqueuse,female variety of the“coqueur.”
Coquillard(popular),eye.S’en tamponner le ——,not to care a straw, “not to care a hang.”
Coquillards,m. pl.(tramps’),tramps who in olden times pretended to be pilgrims.
Coquillards sont les pélerins de Saint-Jacques, la plus grande partie sont véritables et en viennent; mais il y en a aussi qui truchent sur le coquillard.—Le Jargon de l’Argot.
Coquillon,m.(popular),louse;pilgrim.
Coquin,m.(thieves’),informer, “nark,” or “nose.”
Coquine,f.(cads’),Sodomist.
Corbeau,m.(popular),lay brother of“la doctrine chrétienne,”usually styled“frères ignorantins.” The brotherhood had formerly charge of the ragged schools, and were conspicuous by their gross ignorance;priest, or “devil dodger;”undertaker’s man.
Corbeille,f.(familiar),enclosure or ring at theBoursewhere official stockbrokers transact business.
Corbillard,m.(popular),à deux roues,dismal man, or “croaker;”—— à nœuds,dirty and dissolute woman, or “draggle-tail;”—— des loucherbem,cart which collects tainted meat at butcher’s stalls.Loucherbemis equivalent toboucher.
Voici passer au galop le corbillard des loucherbem, l’immonde voiture qui vient ramasser dans les boucheries la viande gâtée.—Richepin,Le Pavé.
Corbuche,f.(thieves’),ulcer;—— lophe,false ulcer.
Corde,f.(literary),avoir la ——,to find true expression for accurately describing sentiments or passions. (Popular)Dormir à la ——,is said of poor people who sleep in certain lodgings with their heads on an outstretched rope as a pillow. This corresponds to the English “twopenny rope.”
Corder(popular),to agree,to get on“swimmingly”together.
Cordon,m.(popular),s’il vous plaît!ordonnez-vous la peine d’entrer!large knot worn in the rear of ladies’ dresses.
Cordonnier,m.(popular),bec-figue de ——,goose.
Cornage,m.(thieves’),bad smell.
Cornant,m.,cornante,f.(thieves’ and tramps’),ox and cow, or “mooer.”
Cornard,m.(students’),faire ——,to hold a council in a corner.
Corne,f.(popular),stomach.
Cornemuseux,m.(codfishers’),the south wind.
Corner(thieves’),to breathe heavily;to stink.La crie corne,the meat smells.
Cornet,m.(popular),throat, “gutter-lane.”Colle-toi ça dans l’——,swallow that!N’avoir rien dans le ——,to be fasting, “to be bandied,” “to cry cupboard.”Cornet d’épices,Capuchin.
Il se voulut convertir; il bia trouver un chenâtre cornet d’épice, et rouscailla à sézière qu’il voulait quitter la religion prétendue pour attrimer la catholique.—Le Jargon de l’Argot.
Corniche,f.(popular),hat, or “tile,” seeTubard; (students’)the military school ofSaint-Cyr.
Cornicherie,f.(popular),nonsense;foolish action.
Cornichon,m.(students’),candidate preparing for theEcole Militaire de Saint-Cyr. Literallygreenhorn.
Cornière,f.(thieves’),cow-shed.
Cornificetur,m.(popular),injured husband.
Corps de pompe,m.,staff of theSaint-Cyrschool, and that of the school of cavalry ofSaumur.Saint-Cyris the French Sandhurst.Saumuris a training-school where the best riders and most vicious horses in the French army are sent.
Correcteur,m.(thieves’),prisoner who plays the spy, or “nark.”
Correspondance,f.(popular),a snack taken at a wine-shop while waiting for an omnibus “correspondance.”
Corridor,m.(familiar),throat.Se rincer le ——,to drink, “to wet one’s whistle.” SeeRincer.
Corsé,adj.(common), properlyis said of wine with full body.Un repas ——,a plentiful meal, or a “tightener.”
Corserie,f.(familiar),a set of Corsican detectives in the service of NapoleonIII. According toMonsieur Claude, formerly head of the detective force under the Empire, the chief members of this secret bodyguard wereAlessandriandGriscelli.Claudementions in his memoirs the murder of a detective who had formed a plot for the assassination of Napoleon in a mysterious house atAuteuil, where the emperor met his mistresses, and to which he often used to repair disguised as a lacquey, and riding behind his own carriage.Griscellistabbed his fellow-detective in the back on mere suspicion, and found on the body of the dead man papers which gave evidence of the plot. In reference to the mysterious house,Monsieur Claudesays:—
L’empereur s’enflamma si bien pour cette nouvelle Ninon que l’impératrice en prit ombrage. La duchesse alors .... loua ma petite maison d’Auteuil que le général Fleury avait choisie pour servir de rendez-vous clandestin aux amours de son maître.—Mémoires de Monsieur Claude.
Corset,m.(popular),pas de ——!sweet sixteen!
Corvée,f.(prostitutes’),aller à la ——,to walk the street,une ——being literallyan arduous, disagreeable work.
Corvette,f.(thieves’),a kind of low, rascally Alexis.