Vive le vin! vive la bonne chère!Vive la grinche! vive les margotons!Vive les cigs! vive la bonne bière!Amis, buvons à tous les vrais garçons!Ce temps heureux a fini bien trop vite,Car aujourd’hui nous v’là tous dans l’trou.Song written byClément,a burglar.Troubade, ortroubadour,m.(popular),infantry soldier.Ta tournure guerrière,Ta de rata, tata, ta de rata, ta taire,Sait captiver la plus fière!Et, pour le parfait amour,En filant un doigt de cour,Tu te montreras toujoursPlus fort que dix troubadours.Dubois de Gennes.Trouée,f.(thieves’),lace, or “driz.”Troufignard,troufignon,m.(popular),the behind;the anus.Troufion,m.(popular),soldier.Trouillarde,f.(popular),prostitute. From the verbtrôler,to roam about.Trouille,f.(popular),dirty servant;slut;dissipated-looking woman;trull; (thieves’)fear.Avoir la ——,to be afraid. Synonymous of “avoir le taf,le trac,le flubart,la frousse.”Trouilloter(popular),to stink.Troupe,f.(theatrical),d’argent,second-rate company;—— de carton,company composed of very inferior actors;—— de fer-blanc,one numbering actors of ordinary ability. Termed also “troupe d’été,” the Paris season taking place in winter;—— d’or, ord’hiver,first-rate theatrical company. In the language of journalists the expressions, “troupe de fer-blanc,” “troupe d’or,” are used to denote respectivelya middling or excellent staff of writers.Trousse,f.(thieves’),anus.Troussequin,m.(popular),the behind, or “Nancy.” SeeVasistas.Trouvé,adj.(artists’ and journalists’),new,original.Trouver(familiar),la —— mauvaise,to be highly dissatisfied.Trouver des puces,to have a quarrel, or to get a thrashing.Se —— mal sur,to appropriate another’s property.Troyen,m.(domino players’),three of dominoes.Truc,m.(familiar and popular),affair;mode;knack;dodge.Avoir le ——,to have the knack,to have the secret.Est-ce que je ne connais pas toutes les couleurs? J’ai le truc de chaque commerce.—Balzac.Avoir le ——,to find a dodge.Ce farceur de Mes-Bottes avait eu le truc d’épouser une dame très décatie.—E.Zola.Truc,any kind of small trade inthe streets.Avoir du ——,to be ingenious;to possess a mind fertile in resource.Le —— vert,billiards, or “spoof.” (Popular and thieves’)Piger le ——,to discover the fraud,the dodge.Le —— de la morgane et de la lance,christening.A la chique à six plombes et mèche pour que le ratichon maquille son truc de la morgane et de la lance.—Vidocq.Le ——,thieving, “lay.”Le grand ——,murder.Des trucs,things,objects.Donner le ——,to give the watchword.Boulotter le ——,to reveal the watchword. (Theatrical) True,engine used to effect a transformation scene.Pièce à trucs,play with transformation scenes. (Prostitutes’)Faire le ——,to walk the streets. (Military)Truc,room.Nous arrivons dans une espèce de sale truc, grand à peu près comme v’là la chambre, seul’ment pas t’tafait aussi haut.—G.Courteline.Alsomilitary equipment.Truc, from theProvençaltric,deceit. Then we have the old-fashioned word “triche,” which corresponds to the English trick at cards. A thief in Italian lingo is termed “truccante.” Literallytrickster. In old French “truc” meantblow, and in the Italian jargon “trucco” is used to denominate astick, from a correlation between the effect and the cause.Trucage,m.,selling new articles for antiquities.Trucageur,m.,manufacturer of articles sold as genuine antiquities.Trucard,m.(popular),artful dodger.Truche,f.(thieves’ and tramps’),begging, “cadging.”Je suis ce fameux argotier,Le grand Coesre de ces mions.J’enterve truche et doublerDedans les boules et frémions.La Chanson des Argotiers.La faire à la ——,to beg, “to cadge.”Trucher(old cant),to beg, “to cadge;”—— sur l’entiffe,to beg on the road. Fromtruc.Trucheur, ortrucheux,m.(old cant), beggar, or “cadger;”tramp, or “pikey.”Qui veut rouscailler,D’un appelé du grand Coesre,Dabusche des argotiers,Et des trucheurs le grand maître,Et aussi de tous ses vassaux.Vive les enfans de la truche,Vive les enfans de l’argot.La Chanson des Argotiers.Trucsin,m.(thieves’),house of ill-fame, “flash-drum, nanny-shop, or Academy.” In America certain establishments of this description are termed “panel-cribs.” I find the following description in a book called theSlang Dictionary of New York, London, and Paris(the last-named town might have been left out): Panel-crib, a place especially fitted up for the robbery of gentlemen, who are enticed thereto by women who make it their business to pick up strangers. Panel-cribs are sometimes called badger-cribs, shake-downs, and touch-cribs, and are variously fitted for the admission of those who are in the secret, but which defy the scrutiny of the uninitiated. Sometimes the casing of the door is made to swing on well-oiled hinges which are not discoverable in the room, while the door itself appears to be hung in the usual manner, and well secured by bolts and lock. At other times the entrance is effected by means of what appears to be an ordinary wardrobe, the back of which revolves like a turnstileon pivots. When the victim has got into bed with the woman, the thief enters, and picking his pocket-book out of his pocket, abstracts the money, and supplying its place with a small roll of paper, returns the book to its place. He then withdraws, and coming to the door raps and demands admission, calling the woman by the name of wife. The frightened victim dresses himself in a hurry, feels his pocket-book in its proper place, and escapes through another door, congratulating himself on his happy deliverance. The panel-thief who fits up a panel-crib tries always to pick up gentlemen that are on a visit to the city on business or pleasure, who are not likely to remain and prosecute the thieves.Truelle,f.(freemasons’),spoon. Termed also “pelle.”Truffard, ortruffardin,m.(popular),soldier, “swaddy.”Truffardalso meanshappy,lucky.Truffe,f.(popular),nose of considerable proportions, or “conk;”potato, “spud;”—— de savetier,chestnut.Aux truffes,excellent, “first-class, fizzing, out-and-out, nap.”Il a un nez à chercher des truffesis used to compare a man to a pig, as a porcine assistant is necessary for the finding and rooting up of truffles.Truffé,adj.andm.(familiar),arrant,or“captious”fool;—— de chic,superlatively elegant or stylish, “tsing tsing.”Truffer(popular),to deceive, “to cram up.”Trufferie,f.(popular),fib, “cramming up.”Truffeur,m.(popular),one who tells fibs,who“throws the hatchet,” or “draws the long-bow.” The English slang expressions come from the wonderful stories which used to be told of the Norman archers, and more subsequently of Indians’ skill with the tomahawk.Truffier,m.,truffière,f.(popular),fat person. An allusion to a pig used for finding truffles, and which is called truffier in certain parts of France. It appears that peasants, in order to discover an animal with a fine nose, go to the fair with a bit of truffle in their shoe, and they know a good truffle-finder at once, as he never fails to sniff at their heels.Trumeau,m.(popular),woman of indifferent character. SeeGadoue.Vieux ——!old fool, “doddering old sheep’s head.”Truquage,m.(artists’),putting the name of an old master to a modern picture.Truquer,m.(popular),to live by one’s wits; (thieves’)to swindle, “to bite;”to give oneself up to prostitution;—— de la pogne,to beg, “to cadge.” (Tradespeoples’) Truquer,to manufacture articles sold as genuine antiquities.Truqueur(popular),one who lives by his wits;swindler,one of the“swell-mob;”card-sharper, “rook;”Sodomist, “gentleman of the back door;”seller of theatre checks;one who does sundry odd jobs, such as opening the doors of carriages,&c., “one who lives on the mooch,”or who sells small articles in the streets;pedlar.Je vous assure qu’il me répugne de verser le raisiné de ces deux truqueurs.—Vidocq.Truqueur de cambrouse,tramp, or “pikey.”Les deux truqueurs de cambrouse nous entendront si on rebâtit le sinve.—Vidocq.Truye,f.fils de ——(obsolete),used to be said of a man who vanishes, alluding toLa Truye qui file, the signboard of a celebrated wine-shop of the seventeenth century.Tual(Breton cant),fox.Tuant,adj.(familiar),dull in the superlative degree.Tubard,m.(popular),silk hat. Various kinds of covering for the head are termed: “capet,carbeluche,combre,combrieu,capsule,tuyau de poêle,tromblon,tube,tube à haute pression,casque,viscope,bolivar,couvre-amour,tuile,épicéphale,galurin,lampion,nid d’hirondelle,caloquet,cadratin,ardoise,marquin,bâche,décalitre,corniche,couvercle,couvrante,loupion,bosselard;” and in the English slang: “tile, chimney-pot, stove-pipe, goss.” To complete thischapitre des chapeaux, which has nothing in common with the one said bySganarelleto have been written by Aristotle, we may add that Fielding calls hats “principles,” and in explanation of the term he says:—As these persons wore different “principles,”i.e.hats, frequent dissensions grew among them. There were particularly two parties, viz. those who wore hats fiercely cocked, and those who preferred the “nab” or trencher hat, with the brim flapping over their eyes. The former were called “cavaliers” and “tory rory ranter boys,”&c.The latter went by the several names of “wags, roundheads, shakebags, oldnolls,” and several others. Between these continual jars arose, insomuch that they grew in time to think there was something essential in their differences, and that their interests were incompatible with each other, whereas, in truth, the difference lay only in the fashion of their hats.—Jonathan Wild.Tube,m.(familiar and popular),silk hat, “stove-pipe.” SeeTubard.Et ... le tube sur l’oreille ... suivi d’horizontales, de verticales, de déhanchées et d’agenouillées, on le verra s’en aller dans les rues.—Le Voltaire.(Popular)Le ——,the throat, “gutter-lane, or whistler;”the nose, or “smeller.” SeeMorviau.Se coller quelquechose dans le ——,to eat, “to grub.”Se piquer le ——,to get drunk, or “tight.”Se flanquer du terreau dans le ——,to take snuff.Un ——,a musket, or “dag.”Un —— à haute pression,silk hat.Tuber(popular),to smoke.Tubons en une,let’s“blow a cloud.”Tubercule,m.(familiar),big nose, “conk.”Tué,adj.(familiar),astounded, aghast, “flabbergasted.”Tuer(thieves’),le ver,to silence the calls of one’s conscience, a not unusual thing for thieves to do. (Popular)Tuer les mouches à quinze pas,to have an offensive breath;—— le colimaçon,to have a morning glass of white wine;—— le ver,to have an early glass of spirits, a “dew-drink.”Ensuite on tue le ver abondamment: vin blanc, mêlé-cassis, anisette de Bordeaux, d’aucunes grognardes, à la peau couleur de tan ne crachent pas sur une couple de perroquets, le demi-setier de casse-poitrine ou la chopine d’eau-de-vie de marc.—P.Mahalin.Tuffre,m.(thieves’),tobacco, “stuff.”Tuile,f.(freemasons’),plate; (familiar)disagreeable and unforeseen event; (roughs’)hat, or “tile.”Tuileau,m.(roughs’),cap, “tile.”I’m a gent, I’m a gent,In the Regent-Street style,—Examine my costumeAnd look at my tile.Popular Song.Tuiler(popular),to measure,to judge of one’s character or abilities;to survey one with suspicious eye.Se ——,to reach the stage of intoxicationwhen the drunkard looks apoplectic, when he is as“drunk as Davy’s sow.”Tulipe orageuse,f.,a step of the cancan, apas seuldanced in such places asBullierorL’Elysée Montmartreby a young lady with skirts and the rest tucked up so as to disclose enough of her person to shock the sense of decorum of virtuous lookers-on, whose feelings must be further hurt by the energetic and suggestive gyratory motions of the performer’s body. This pas is varied by the “présentez armes!” when the lady handles her leg as a soldier does his musket on parade. Other choregraphic embellishments are, “le passage du guet,le coup du lapin,la chaloupe en détresse,le pas du hareng saur,”&c.Tune, orthune,f.(thieves’),money, or “pieces;”five-franc piece.J’suis un grinche, un voleur, un escarpe; je buterais le Père Eternel pour affurer une tune, mais ... trahir des amis, jamais!—Vidocq.La ——, or tunebée(old cant),the old prison ofBicêtre. In the fifteenth century the king of mendicants was calledRoi de Thune, orTunis, as mentioned byV.Hugoin his description ofLa Cour des MiraclesunderLouisXI. (seeNotre Dame de Paris), in imitation of the title ofRoi d’Egypte, which the head of the gipsies bore at that time. It is natural that rogues should have given the appellation to the prison ofBicêtre, where so many of the members of the “canting crew” were given free lodgings, and which was thus considered as a natural place of meeting for the subjects of the King of Thune.Tuneçon,f.(old cant),prison, or “stir.”Tuner(old cant),to beg, “to maunder.” The latter term seems to be derived frommendier,to beg.Tuneur,m.(old cant),beggar, “maunderer.”Tunnel,m.(medical students’),the anus.Tunodi(Breton cant),to talk cant, “to patter flash.”Tunodo(Breton cant),cant expressions;—— minson,falsehoods.Turbin,m.(popular),annoyance.Bon sang d’bon Dieu! quel turbin!J’viens d’mett’mon pied dan’ eun’ flaque:C’est l’hasard qui m’offre un bain,Vlan! v’là l’vent qui m’fiche eun’ claque.Richepin.Turbin,work, “graft.”Après six jours entiers d’turbinJ’me sentais la gueule un peu sale.Vrai, j’avais besoin d’prend’un bain;Seul’ment j’l’ai pris par l’amygdale.Richepin.(Thieves’)Le ——,thieving. (Prostitutes’)Le ——,prostitution.Aller au ——,to walk the streets as a street-walker.Turbiner(popular),to work,to do“elbow grease.”Plus joyeux encore l’ouvrier qui turbine en plein air, suspendu sur un échafaudage, plus près du bleu, éventé par les souffles de l’horizon.—Richepin,Le Pavé.Turbiner une verte,to drink a glass of absinthe. (Thieves’)Turbiner,to thieve.Turbineur,m.(popular),labourer.Turc,m.(thieves’),a native ofTouraine. SeeTête,Face.Turcan,m.(thieves’),the town ofTours.Turin,m.(thieves’),earthenware pot. This word is no doubt a corruption ofterrine.Turlurette,f.(popular),fast girl.Turlutaine,f.(popular),caprice,whim.Turlutine,f.(military),campaigning ration consisting of pounded biscuit, rice, and bacon.Turne,f.(familiar and popular),ill-furnished, wretched room or lodgings. This word is derived from the Gipsy “turno,”castle.L’immeuble ... je me suis tout de suiteSouvenu de cette turne.Xavier Montépin.Turquie,f.(thieves’),Touraine.Tutoyer(popular),une chose,to take hold of a thing unceremoniously;to purloin;—— un porte-morningue,to steal a purse.Tutu,m.(familiar),kind of short muslin drawers worn by ballet girls. Termed also “cousu.”Son maillot tendu sans un pli, avant d’enfiler cette sorte de jupon-caleçon de mousseline, bouffant aux hanches, fermé au-dessus du genou et qui répond au joli petit nom harmonieux de tutu ou cousu.—A.Sirven.Tuyau,m.(popular),ear, or “wattle;”throat, or “red lane.”Se jeter quelque chose dans le ——,to eat or drink.Avoir le —— bouché,to have a cold in the head. (Familiar and popular)Tuyau de poêle,silk hat, “stove-pipe.”Ni blouses, ni vestes, ni casquettes: redingotes, paletots, tuyaux de poêle.—A.Sirven.(Military)Tuyau de poêle,regulation boots. (Popular)Les tuyaux, legs, “pins.”Ramoner ses tuyaux,to run away;to wash one’s feet. SeePatatrot.(Sporting)Tuyau, “tip,” that is, confidential information about a horse that is likely to win. Given inle tuyau de l’oreille.Après mon opération, le cheval que j’ai pris devient subitement le tuyau.—Le Gil Blas.Donner un ——,to give such information, “to give the office.”Tuyaux de poêle,m. pl.(popular),high boots;worn-out shoes.Des tuyaux de poêle qui reniflent la poussière des ruisseaux.—E. de la Bédollière.Type,m.(familiar and popular),individual, “bloke, cove,” or “cuss,” as the Americans say.Nous ne parlerons que pour mémoire du garçon de café qui, dédaignant aujourd’hui le pourboire, ne rend jamais exactement la monnaie, lorsqu’il a flairé un type à ne pas compter.—A.Sirven.Typehas also the signification ofodd fellow, “queer fish.” The term “type” was first used by cocottes as synonymous ofdupe, or “flat,” as appears from the following dialogue between two “soupeuses,” frequenters ofBrébant’s restaurant.—Avec qui as-tu passé ta soirée?—M’en parle pas: avec deux types qui m’ont embêtée à cent francs par tête.—P.Audebrand,Petits Mémoires d’une Stalle d’Orchestre.Typesse,f.(familiar and popular),woman.Typo,m.(popular),compositor.Typote,f.(popular),female compositor.
Vive le vin! vive la bonne chère!Vive la grinche! vive les margotons!Vive les cigs! vive la bonne bière!Amis, buvons à tous les vrais garçons!Ce temps heureux a fini bien trop vite,Car aujourd’hui nous v’là tous dans l’trou.Song written byClément,a burglar.
Vive le vin! vive la bonne chère!Vive la grinche! vive les margotons!Vive les cigs! vive la bonne bière!Amis, buvons à tous les vrais garçons!Ce temps heureux a fini bien trop vite,Car aujourd’hui nous v’là tous dans l’trou.Song written byClément,a burglar.
Vive le vin! vive la bonne chère!Vive la grinche! vive les margotons!Vive les cigs! vive la bonne bière!Amis, buvons à tous les vrais garçons!Ce temps heureux a fini bien trop vite,Car aujourd’hui nous v’là tous dans l’trou.Song written byClément,a burglar.
Vive le vin! vive la bonne chère!
Vive la grinche! vive les margotons!
Vive les cigs! vive la bonne bière!
Amis, buvons à tous les vrais garçons!
Ce temps heureux a fini bien trop vite,
Car aujourd’hui nous v’là tous dans l’trou.
Song written byClément,a burglar.
Troubade, ortroubadour,m.(popular),infantry soldier.
Ta tournure guerrière,Ta de rata, tata, ta de rata, ta taire,Sait captiver la plus fière!Et, pour le parfait amour,En filant un doigt de cour,Tu te montreras toujoursPlus fort que dix troubadours.Dubois de Gennes.
Ta tournure guerrière,Ta de rata, tata, ta de rata, ta taire,Sait captiver la plus fière!Et, pour le parfait amour,En filant un doigt de cour,Tu te montreras toujoursPlus fort que dix troubadours.Dubois de Gennes.
Ta tournure guerrière,Ta de rata, tata, ta de rata, ta taire,Sait captiver la plus fière!Et, pour le parfait amour,En filant un doigt de cour,Tu te montreras toujoursPlus fort que dix troubadours.Dubois de Gennes.
Ta tournure guerrière,
Ta de rata, tata, ta de rata, ta taire,
Sait captiver la plus fière!
Et, pour le parfait amour,
En filant un doigt de cour,
Tu te montreras toujours
Plus fort que dix troubadours.
Dubois de Gennes.
Trouée,f.(thieves’),lace, or “driz.”
Troufignard,troufignon,m.(popular),the behind;the anus.
Troufion,m.(popular),soldier.
Trouillarde,f.(popular),prostitute. From the verbtrôler,to roam about.
Trouille,f.(popular),dirty servant;slut;dissipated-looking woman;trull; (thieves’)fear.Avoir la ——,to be afraid. Synonymous of “avoir le taf,le trac,le flubart,la frousse.”
Trouilloter(popular),to stink.
Troupe,f.(theatrical),d’argent,second-rate company;—— de carton,company composed of very inferior actors;—— de fer-blanc,one numbering actors of ordinary ability. Termed also “troupe d’été,” the Paris season taking place in winter;—— d’or, ord’hiver,first-rate theatrical company. In the language of journalists the expressions, “troupe de fer-blanc,” “troupe d’or,” are used to denote respectivelya middling or excellent staff of writers.
Trousse,f.(thieves’),anus.
Troussequin,m.(popular),the behind, or “Nancy.” SeeVasistas.
Trouvé,adj.(artists’ and journalists’),new,original.
Trouver(familiar),la —— mauvaise,to be highly dissatisfied.Trouver des puces,to have a quarrel, or to get a thrashing.Se —— mal sur,to appropriate another’s property.
Troyen,m.(domino players’),three of dominoes.
Truc,m.(familiar and popular),affair;mode;knack;dodge.Avoir le ——,to have the knack,to have the secret.
Est-ce que je ne connais pas toutes les couleurs? J’ai le truc de chaque commerce.—Balzac.
Avoir le ——,to find a dodge.
Ce farceur de Mes-Bottes avait eu le truc d’épouser une dame très décatie.—E.Zola.
Truc,any kind of small trade inthe streets.Avoir du ——,to be ingenious;to possess a mind fertile in resource.Le —— vert,billiards, or “spoof.” (Popular and thieves’)Piger le ——,to discover the fraud,the dodge.Le —— de la morgane et de la lance,christening.
A la chique à six plombes et mèche pour que le ratichon maquille son truc de la morgane et de la lance.—Vidocq.
Le ——,thieving, “lay.”Le grand ——,murder.Des trucs,things,objects.Donner le ——,to give the watchword.Boulotter le ——,to reveal the watchword. (Theatrical) True,engine used to effect a transformation scene.Pièce à trucs,play with transformation scenes. (Prostitutes’)Faire le ——,to walk the streets. (Military)Truc,room.
Nous arrivons dans une espèce de sale truc, grand à peu près comme v’là la chambre, seul’ment pas t’tafait aussi haut.—G.Courteline.
Alsomilitary equipment.Truc, from theProvençaltric,deceit. Then we have the old-fashioned word “triche,” which corresponds to the English trick at cards. A thief in Italian lingo is termed “truccante.” Literallytrickster. In old French “truc” meantblow, and in the Italian jargon “trucco” is used to denominate astick, from a correlation between the effect and the cause.
Trucage,m.,selling new articles for antiquities.
Trucageur,m.,manufacturer of articles sold as genuine antiquities.
Trucard,m.(popular),artful dodger.
Truche,f.(thieves’ and tramps’),begging, “cadging.”
Je suis ce fameux argotier,Le grand Coesre de ces mions.J’enterve truche et doublerDedans les boules et frémions.La Chanson des Argotiers.
Je suis ce fameux argotier,Le grand Coesre de ces mions.J’enterve truche et doublerDedans les boules et frémions.La Chanson des Argotiers.
Je suis ce fameux argotier,Le grand Coesre de ces mions.J’enterve truche et doublerDedans les boules et frémions.La Chanson des Argotiers.
Je suis ce fameux argotier,
Le grand Coesre de ces mions.
J’enterve truche et doubler
Dedans les boules et frémions.
La Chanson des Argotiers.
La faire à la ——,to beg, “to cadge.”
Trucher(old cant),to beg, “to cadge;”—— sur l’entiffe,to beg on the road. Fromtruc.
Trucheur, ortrucheux,m.(old cant), beggar, or “cadger;”tramp, or “pikey.”
Qui veut rouscailler,D’un appelé du grand Coesre,Dabusche des argotiers,Et des trucheurs le grand maître,Et aussi de tous ses vassaux.Vive les enfans de la truche,Vive les enfans de l’argot.La Chanson des Argotiers.
Qui veut rouscailler,D’un appelé du grand Coesre,Dabusche des argotiers,Et des trucheurs le grand maître,Et aussi de tous ses vassaux.Vive les enfans de la truche,Vive les enfans de l’argot.La Chanson des Argotiers.
Qui veut rouscailler,D’un appelé du grand Coesre,Dabusche des argotiers,Et des trucheurs le grand maître,Et aussi de tous ses vassaux.Vive les enfans de la truche,Vive les enfans de l’argot.La Chanson des Argotiers.
Qui veut rouscailler,
D’un appelé du grand Coesre,
Dabusche des argotiers,
Et des trucheurs le grand maître,
Et aussi de tous ses vassaux.
Vive les enfans de la truche,
Vive les enfans de l’argot.
La Chanson des Argotiers.
Trucsin,m.(thieves’),house of ill-fame, “flash-drum, nanny-shop, or Academy.” In America certain establishments of this description are termed “panel-cribs.” I find the following description in a book called theSlang Dictionary of New York, London, and Paris(the last-named town might have been left out): Panel-crib, a place especially fitted up for the robbery of gentlemen, who are enticed thereto by women who make it their business to pick up strangers. Panel-cribs are sometimes called badger-cribs, shake-downs, and touch-cribs, and are variously fitted for the admission of those who are in the secret, but which defy the scrutiny of the uninitiated. Sometimes the casing of the door is made to swing on well-oiled hinges which are not discoverable in the room, while the door itself appears to be hung in the usual manner, and well secured by bolts and lock. At other times the entrance is effected by means of what appears to be an ordinary wardrobe, the back of which revolves like a turnstileon pivots. When the victim has got into bed with the woman, the thief enters, and picking his pocket-book out of his pocket, abstracts the money, and supplying its place with a small roll of paper, returns the book to its place. He then withdraws, and coming to the door raps and demands admission, calling the woman by the name of wife. The frightened victim dresses himself in a hurry, feels his pocket-book in its proper place, and escapes through another door, congratulating himself on his happy deliverance. The panel-thief who fits up a panel-crib tries always to pick up gentlemen that are on a visit to the city on business or pleasure, who are not likely to remain and prosecute the thieves.
Truelle,f.(freemasons’),spoon. Termed also “pelle.”
Truffard, ortruffardin,m.(popular),soldier, “swaddy.”Truffardalso meanshappy,lucky.
Truffe,f.(popular),nose of considerable proportions, or “conk;”potato, “spud;”—— de savetier,chestnut.Aux truffes,excellent, “first-class, fizzing, out-and-out, nap.”Il a un nez à chercher des truffesis used to compare a man to a pig, as a porcine assistant is necessary for the finding and rooting up of truffles.
Truffé,adj.andm.(familiar),arrant,or“captious”fool;—— de chic,superlatively elegant or stylish, “tsing tsing.”
Truffer(popular),to deceive, “to cram up.”
Trufferie,f.(popular),fib, “cramming up.”
Truffeur,m.(popular),one who tells fibs,who“throws the hatchet,” or “draws the long-bow.” The English slang expressions come from the wonderful stories which used to be told of the Norman archers, and more subsequently of Indians’ skill with the tomahawk.
Truffier,m.,truffière,f.(popular),fat person. An allusion to a pig used for finding truffles, and which is called truffier in certain parts of France. It appears that peasants, in order to discover an animal with a fine nose, go to the fair with a bit of truffle in their shoe, and they know a good truffle-finder at once, as he never fails to sniff at their heels.
Trumeau,m.(popular),woman of indifferent character. SeeGadoue.Vieux ——!old fool, “doddering old sheep’s head.”
Truquage,m.(artists’),putting the name of an old master to a modern picture.
Truquer,m.(popular),to live by one’s wits; (thieves’)to swindle, “to bite;”to give oneself up to prostitution;—— de la pogne,to beg, “to cadge.” (Tradespeoples’) Truquer,to manufacture articles sold as genuine antiquities.
Truqueur(popular),one who lives by his wits;swindler,one of the“swell-mob;”card-sharper, “rook;”Sodomist, “gentleman of the back door;”seller of theatre checks;one who does sundry odd jobs, such as opening the doors of carriages,&c., “one who lives on the mooch,”or who sells small articles in the streets;pedlar.
Je vous assure qu’il me répugne de verser le raisiné de ces deux truqueurs.—Vidocq.
Truqueur de cambrouse,tramp, or “pikey.”
Les deux truqueurs de cambrouse nous entendront si on rebâtit le sinve.—Vidocq.
Truye,f.fils de ——(obsolete),used to be said of a man who vanishes, alluding toLa Truye qui file, the signboard of a celebrated wine-shop of the seventeenth century.
Tual(Breton cant),fox.
Tuant,adj.(familiar),dull in the superlative degree.
Tubard,m.(popular),silk hat. Various kinds of covering for the head are termed: “capet,carbeluche,combre,combrieu,capsule,tuyau de poêle,tromblon,tube,tube à haute pression,casque,viscope,bolivar,couvre-amour,tuile,épicéphale,galurin,lampion,nid d’hirondelle,caloquet,cadratin,ardoise,marquin,bâche,décalitre,corniche,couvercle,couvrante,loupion,bosselard;” and in the English slang: “tile, chimney-pot, stove-pipe, goss.” To complete thischapitre des chapeaux, which has nothing in common with the one said bySganarelleto have been written by Aristotle, we may add that Fielding calls hats “principles,” and in explanation of the term he says:—
As these persons wore different “principles,”i.e.hats, frequent dissensions grew among them. There were particularly two parties, viz. those who wore hats fiercely cocked, and those who preferred the “nab” or trencher hat, with the brim flapping over their eyes. The former were called “cavaliers” and “tory rory ranter boys,”&c.The latter went by the several names of “wags, roundheads, shakebags, oldnolls,” and several others. Between these continual jars arose, insomuch that they grew in time to think there was something essential in their differences, and that their interests were incompatible with each other, whereas, in truth, the difference lay only in the fashion of their hats.—Jonathan Wild.
Tube,m.(familiar and popular),silk hat, “stove-pipe.” SeeTubard.
Et ... le tube sur l’oreille ... suivi d’horizontales, de verticales, de déhanchées et d’agenouillées, on le verra s’en aller dans les rues.—Le Voltaire.
(Popular)Le ——,the throat, “gutter-lane, or whistler;”the nose, or “smeller.” SeeMorviau.Se coller quelquechose dans le ——,to eat, “to grub.”Se piquer le ——,to get drunk, or “tight.”Se flanquer du terreau dans le ——,to take snuff.Un ——,a musket, or “dag.”Un —— à haute pression,silk hat.
Tuber(popular),to smoke.Tubons en une,let’s“blow a cloud.”
Tubercule,m.(familiar),big nose, “conk.”
Tué,adj.(familiar),astounded, aghast, “flabbergasted.”
Tuer(thieves’),le ver,to silence the calls of one’s conscience, a not unusual thing for thieves to do. (Popular)Tuer les mouches à quinze pas,to have an offensive breath;—— le colimaçon,to have a morning glass of white wine;—— le ver,to have an early glass of spirits, a “dew-drink.”
Ensuite on tue le ver abondamment: vin blanc, mêlé-cassis, anisette de Bordeaux, d’aucunes grognardes, à la peau couleur de tan ne crachent pas sur une couple de perroquets, le demi-setier de casse-poitrine ou la chopine d’eau-de-vie de marc.—P.Mahalin.
Tuffre,m.(thieves’),tobacco, “stuff.”
Tuile,f.(freemasons’),plate; (familiar)disagreeable and unforeseen event; (roughs’)hat, or “tile.”
Tuileau,m.(roughs’),cap, “tile.”
I’m a gent, I’m a gent,In the Regent-Street style,—Examine my costumeAnd look at my tile.Popular Song.
I’m a gent, I’m a gent,In the Regent-Street style,—Examine my costumeAnd look at my tile.Popular Song.
I’m a gent, I’m a gent,In the Regent-Street style,—Examine my costumeAnd look at my tile.Popular Song.
I’m a gent, I’m a gent,
In the Regent-Street style,—
Examine my costume
And look at my tile.
Popular Song.
Tuiler(popular),to measure,to judge of one’s character or abilities;to survey one with suspicious eye.Se ——,to reach the stage of intoxicationwhen the drunkard looks apoplectic, when he is as“drunk as Davy’s sow.”
Tulipe orageuse,f.,a step of the cancan, apas seuldanced in such places asBullierorL’Elysée Montmartreby a young lady with skirts and the rest tucked up so as to disclose enough of her person to shock the sense of decorum of virtuous lookers-on, whose feelings must be further hurt by the energetic and suggestive gyratory motions of the performer’s body. This pas is varied by the “présentez armes!” when the lady handles her leg as a soldier does his musket on parade. Other choregraphic embellishments are, “le passage du guet,le coup du lapin,la chaloupe en détresse,le pas du hareng saur,”&c.
Tune, orthune,f.(thieves’),money, or “pieces;”five-franc piece.
J’suis un grinche, un voleur, un escarpe; je buterais le Père Eternel pour affurer une tune, mais ... trahir des amis, jamais!—Vidocq.
La ——, or tunebée(old cant),the old prison ofBicêtre. In the fifteenth century the king of mendicants was calledRoi de Thune, orTunis, as mentioned byV.Hugoin his description ofLa Cour des MiraclesunderLouisXI. (seeNotre Dame de Paris), in imitation of the title ofRoi d’Egypte, which the head of the gipsies bore at that time. It is natural that rogues should have given the appellation to the prison ofBicêtre, where so many of the members of the “canting crew” were given free lodgings, and which was thus considered as a natural place of meeting for the subjects of the King of Thune.
Tuneçon,f.(old cant),prison, or “stir.”
Tuner(old cant),to beg, “to maunder.” The latter term seems to be derived frommendier,to beg.
Tuneur,m.(old cant),beggar, “maunderer.”
Tunnel,m.(medical students’),the anus.
Tunodi(Breton cant),to talk cant, “to patter flash.”
Tunodo(Breton cant),cant expressions;—— minson,falsehoods.
Turbin,m.(popular),annoyance.
Bon sang d’bon Dieu! quel turbin!J’viens d’mett’mon pied dan’ eun’ flaque:C’est l’hasard qui m’offre un bain,Vlan! v’là l’vent qui m’fiche eun’ claque.Richepin.
Bon sang d’bon Dieu! quel turbin!J’viens d’mett’mon pied dan’ eun’ flaque:C’est l’hasard qui m’offre un bain,Vlan! v’là l’vent qui m’fiche eun’ claque.Richepin.
Bon sang d’bon Dieu! quel turbin!J’viens d’mett’mon pied dan’ eun’ flaque:C’est l’hasard qui m’offre un bain,Vlan! v’là l’vent qui m’fiche eun’ claque.Richepin.
Bon sang d’bon Dieu! quel turbin!
J’viens d’mett’mon pied dan’ eun’ flaque:
C’est l’hasard qui m’offre un bain,
Vlan! v’là l’vent qui m’fiche eun’ claque.
Richepin.
Turbin,work, “graft.”
Après six jours entiers d’turbinJ’me sentais la gueule un peu sale.Vrai, j’avais besoin d’prend’un bain;Seul’ment j’l’ai pris par l’amygdale.Richepin.
Après six jours entiers d’turbinJ’me sentais la gueule un peu sale.Vrai, j’avais besoin d’prend’un bain;Seul’ment j’l’ai pris par l’amygdale.Richepin.
Après six jours entiers d’turbinJ’me sentais la gueule un peu sale.Vrai, j’avais besoin d’prend’un bain;Seul’ment j’l’ai pris par l’amygdale.Richepin.
Après six jours entiers d’turbin
J’me sentais la gueule un peu sale.
Vrai, j’avais besoin d’prend’un bain;
Seul’ment j’l’ai pris par l’amygdale.
Richepin.
(Thieves’)Le ——,thieving. (Prostitutes’)Le ——,prostitution.Aller au ——,to walk the streets as a street-walker.
Turbiner(popular),to work,to do“elbow grease.”
Plus joyeux encore l’ouvrier qui turbine en plein air, suspendu sur un échafaudage, plus près du bleu, éventé par les souffles de l’horizon.—Richepin,Le Pavé.
Turbiner une verte,to drink a glass of absinthe. (Thieves’)Turbiner,to thieve.
Turbineur,m.(popular),labourer.
Turc,m.(thieves’),a native ofTouraine. SeeTête,Face.
Turcan,m.(thieves’),the town ofTours.
Turin,m.(thieves’),earthenware pot. This word is no doubt a corruption ofterrine.
Turlurette,f.(popular),fast girl.
Turlutaine,f.(popular),caprice,whim.
Turlutine,f.(military),campaigning ration consisting of pounded biscuit, rice, and bacon.
Turne,f.(familiar and popular),ill-furnished, wretched room or lodgings. This word is derived from the Gipsy “turno,”castle.
L’immeuble ... je me suis tout de suiteSouvenu de cette turne.Xavier Montépin.
L’immeuble ... je me suis tout de suiteSouvenu de cette turne.Xavier Montépin.
L’immeuble ... je me suis tout de suiteSouvenu de cette turne.Xavier Montépin.
L’immeuble ... je me suis tout de suite
Souvenu de cette turne.
Xavier Montépin.
Turquie,f.(thieves’),Touraine.
Tutoyer(popular),une chose,to take hold of a thing unceremoniously;to purloin;—— un porte-morningue,to steal a purse.
Tutu,m.(familiar),kind of short muslin drawers worn by ballet girls. Termed also “cousu.”
Son maillot tendu sans un pli, avant d’enfiler cette sorte de jupon-caleçon de mousseline, bouffant aux hanches, fermé au-dessus du genou et qui répond au joli petit nom harmonieux de tutu ou cousu.—A.Sirven.
Tuyau,m.(popular),ear, or “wattle;”throat, or “red lane.”Se jeter quelque chose dans le ——,to eat or drink.Avoir le —— bouché,to have a cold in the head. (Familiar and popular)Tuyau de poêle,silk hat, “stove-pipe.”
Ni blouses, ni vestes, ni casquettes: redingotes, paletots, tuyaux de poêle.—A.Sirven.
(Military)Tuyau de poêle,regulation boots. (Popular)Les tuyaux, legs, “pins.”Ramoner ses tuyaux,to run away;to wash one’s feet. SeePatatrot.
(Sporting)Tuyau, “tip,” that is, confidential information about a horse that is likely to win. Given inle tuyau de l’oreille.
Après mon opération, le cheval que j’ai pris devient subitement le tuyau.—Le Gil Blas.
Donner un ——,to give such information, “to give the office.”
Tuyaux de poêle,m. pl.(popular),high boots;worn-out shoes.
Des tuyaux de poêle qui reniflent la poussière des ruisseaux.—E. de la Bédollière.
Type,m.(familiar and popular),individual, “bloke, cove,” or “cuss,” as the Americans say.
Nous ne parlerons que pour mémoire du garçon de café qui, dédaignant aujourd’hui le pourboire, ne rend jamais exactement la monnaie, lorsqu’il a flairé un type à ne pas compter.—A.Sirven.
Typehas also the signification ofodd fellow, “queer fish.” The term “type” was first used by cocottes as synonymous ofdupe, or “flat,” as appears from the following dialogue between two “soupeuses,” frequenters ofBrébant’s restaurant.
—Avec qui as-tu passé ta soirée?
—M’en parle pas: avec deux types qui m’ont embêtée à cent francs par tête.—P.Audebrand,Petits Mémoires d’une Stalle d’Orchestre.
Typesse,f.(familiar and popular),woman.
Typo,m.(popular),compositor.
Typote,f.(popular),female compositor.