Chapter D (5)

Ils piaussent dans les pioles, morfient et pictent si
gourdement, que toutime en bourdonne.--_Le Jargon de
l’Argot._ (_They sleep in the taverns, eat and drink so
much that everything resounds with it._)

GOURER, or GOURRER (popular and thieves’), _to deceive_, “to kid;” _to swindle_, “to stick.” The word is old.

Pour gourrer les pauvres gens,
Qui leur babil veulent croire.

_Parnasse des Muses._

Se ----, _to be mistaken_; _to assume a jaunty, self-satisfied air_.

C’est la raison pourquoi qu’ je m’ goure,
Mon gniasse est bath: j’ai un chouett’
moure.

=RICHEPIN.=

GOUREUR, _m._ (thieves’), _deceiver_; _cheat_, or “cross-biter;” ---- de la haute, _swell mobsmen_. Goureurs, _rogues who assume a disguise to deceive the public, and who sell inferior articles at exorbitant prices_. The sham sailor, with rings in his ears, who has just returned from a long cruise, and offers parrots or smuggled havannahs for sale, the false countryman, &c., are goureurs.

GOUREUSE, _f._ (thieves’), _female deceiver or cheat_.

GOURGANDIN, _m._ (familiar), _a man too fond of cocottes_. Vieux ----, _old debauchee_, _old_ “rip.”

GOURGANDINAGE, _m._ (popular), _disreputable way of living_.

GOURGANDINER (popular), _to lead a dissolute life_. From gourgandine, _a girl or woman of lax morals_.

GOURGANER (popular), _to be in prison, eating_ “gourganes,” _or beans_.

GOURGAUD, _m._ (military), _recruit_ or “Johnny raw.”

GOURGOUSSAGE, _m._ (popular), _grumbling_.

GOURGOUSSER (popular), _to grumble_.

GOURGOUSSEUR, _m._ (popular), _grumbler_, or “crib biter.”

GOURT (popular), à son ----, _pleased_. The word is old, Villon uses it:--

L’hostesse fut bien à son gourt,
Car, quand vint à compter l’escot,
Le seigneur ne dist oncques mot.

GOUSPIN, or GOUSSEPAIN, _m._ (popular), _malicious urchin_.

Il en tira le corps d’un chat: “Tiens dit le gosse
Au troquet, tiens, voici de quoi faire un lapin.”
Puis il prit son petit couteau de goussepain,
Dépouilla le greffier, et lui fit sa toilette.

=RICHEPIN=, _La Chanson des Gueux_.

GOUSPINER (popular), _to wander lazily about_, “to mike.” From gouspin, _a malicious urchin_.

GOUSSE, _f._ (theatrical), la ----, _monthly banquet of the actors of the Vaudeville Theatre_. See GOSSELIN.

GOUSSER (popular), _to eat_, “to grub.” See MASTIQUER.

GOUSSET, _m._ (popular), _armpit_. Properly _fob_. Avoir le ---- percé, _to be penniless_, “to be a quisby.” Repousser du ----, _to emit a disagreeable odour of humanity_.

GOÛT, _m._ (popular), faire passer, or faire perdre à quelqu’un le ---- du pain, _to kill one_, “to cook one’s goose.”

GOUTTE, _f._ (popular), marchand de ----, _retailer of spirits_. (Familiar and popular) Goutte militaire, _a certain disease termed in the English slang_ “French gout,” or “ladies’ fever.”

GOUTTIÈRE, _f._ (familiar), lapin de ----, _a cat_, “long-tailed beggar.”

GOUVERNEMENT, _m._ (popular), mon ----, _my wife_, “my old woman,” or “my comfortable impudence.”

GOYE, _m._ (popular), _fool_; _dupe_.

GRAFFAGNADE, _f._ (familiar), _bad painting_.

GRAFFIGNER (popular), _to take_; _to seize_, “to nab;” _to scratch_.

GRAFFIN, _m._ (popular), _rag-picker_, “bone-grubber,” or “tot-picker.”

GRAIGAILLE, _f._ (popular), _bread_, “soft tommy, or bran.”

GRAILLON, _m._ (familiar), _dirty slatternly woman_. That is, one who emits an odour of kitchen grease.

GRAILLONNEUSE, _f._ (popular), _woman who not being a washerwoman washes her linen at the public laundry_.

GRAIN, _m._ (familiar and popular), avoir un ----, _to be slightly crazy_, “to be a little bit balmy in one’s crumpet.” Avoir un petit ----, _to be slightly tipsy_, or “elevated.” See POMPETTE. (Popular) Un ----, _fifty-centime coin_. Formerly _a silver crown_. Léger de deux grains (obsolete), an expression applied formerly to eunuchs. Un catholique à gros ---- (obsolete), the signification is given by the quotation:--

On appelle catholique à gros grain, un libertin, un
homme peu dévot, qui ne va à l’église que par manière
d’acquit.--=LE ROUX=, _Dict. Comique_.

GRAINE, _f._ (familiar and popular), de bagne, _thief’s offspring_; (familiar) ---- de chou colossal, _grand promises made with the object of swindling credulous persons_; ---- giberne, _soldier’s child_; ---- d’épinards, _epaulets of field-officers_. Avoir la ---- d’épinards, _to be a field-officer_. De la ---- d’andouilles _is said of a number of small children in a group_.

GRAISSAGE, _m._, or GRAISSE, _f._ (popular), _money_, “dust.” That which serves “to grease the palm.” See QUIBUS.

GRAISSE, _f._ (popular and thieves’), _money_, or “pieces.” See QUIBUS. (Thieves’) Voler à la graisse (for grèce), _to cheat at a game_. Also _to obtain a loan of money on_ “brummagem” _trinkets_, _or paste diamonds represented as genuine_.

Voler à la graisse: se faire prêter sur des lingots d’or
et sur des diamants qui ne sont que du cuivre et du
strass.--=VIDOCQ.=

GRAISSER (military), la marmite, _as a new-comer_, _to treat one’s comrades_, “to pay for one’s footing;” (general) ---- la peau, _to thrash_, “to wallop.” See VOIE. Graisser le train de derrière, _to give a kick in the behind_, “to toe one’s bum;” ---- les bottes à quelqu’un, _to help one_; ---- les épaules à quelqu’un (obsolete), _to thrash one_.

Graisser les épaules à quelqu’un, pour dire, le
bâtonner. Ce qui a fait dire aussi de l’huile de cotret,
c’est-à-dire, des coups de bâton.--=LE ROUX=, _Dict.
Comique_.

Graisser les roues, _to drink_, “to have something damp.” See RINCER. (Thieves’) Graisser, or gressier, _to steal_, “to nick.” See GRINCHIR.

GRAISSEUR, _m._ (thieves’), _card-sharper_, or “magsman.”

GRAND (police), chef, _the Préfet de Police_; (popular) ---- bonnet, _a bishop_; ---- carcan, _tall, lanky girl_. Also an opprobrious epithet; ---- courbouillon, _sea_, or “briny;” ---- lumignon, _sun_; ---- singe, _President of the Republic_; (thieves’) ---- coëre, _formerly the king of mendicants_; ---- meudon, _spy_; _detective_, “nark;” ---- trimar, _highway_, “high toby;” (military) ---- montant tropical, _riding breeches_; (theatrical) ---- trottoir, _stock of classical plays_.

GRANDE, _adj. and f._ (popular), boutique, _préfecture de police_; ---- bleue, _the sea_, “briny,” or “herring pond;” ---- fille, _bottle_. (Thieves’) Grande, _pocket_, or “cly,” “sky-rocket,” “brigh.” Termed also “profonde, fouillouse, louche, gueularde.”

GRAND’ LARGUE, _adv._ (sailors’), _excellent_; _incomparable_.

GRANDS, _adj._ (theatrical), jouer les ---- coquets, _to perform in the character of an accomplished, elegant man_. (Cavalry school of Saumur) Les ---- hommes, _the corridors in the school buildings_.

GRANIK (Breton cant), _hunger_.

GRAOUDGEM, _m._ (thieves’), _pork butcher_, or “kiddier.” Faire un ---- à la dure, _to steal sausages_.

GRAPHIQUÉ, _adj._ (thieves’), _filthy_, or “chatty.”

GRAPPIN, _m._ (popular), _hand_, or “flipper.” Mettre or poser le ---- sur quelqu’un, _to apprehend one_, _or_ “to smug” _one_. See PIPER.

GRAPPINER (popular), _to seize_; _to apprehend_, or “to smug.” See PIPER.

GRAS, _adj. and m._ (popular), il y a ----, _there is plenty of money to be got_. Attraper un ----, _to get a scolding_, or “wigging.” (Thieves’ and cads’) Gras, _privy_.

GRAS-DOUBLE, or SAUCISSON, _m._ (thieves’), _sheet lead_, or “moss.” Ratisser du ----, _to steal lead off the roofs_, termed by English thieves “flying the blue pigeon.” Porter du ---- au moulin, _to take stolen lead to a receiver’s_, or “fence.”

GRAS-DOUBLIER, _m._ (thieves’), _plumber_.

GRASSE, _f._ (thieves’), _strong box_, or “peter.” Thus called by rogues because it contains “la graisse,” or _the cash_.

GRATIN, _m._ (popular), _thrashing_. Refiler un ----, _to box one’s ears_. (Familiar) Gratin, _tip-top of fashion_; _swelldom_.

Le Paris extra-mondain ... le gratin, quoi!--=P. MAHALIN.=

GRATINÉ, _m._ (familiar), _swell_, “masher.” For synonymous expressions see GOMMEUX.

GRATIS (popular), faire ----, _to borrow_, “to bite one’s ear,” or “to break shins;” _to lend_. (Thieves’) Etre ---- malade, _to be in prison_, _to be_ “put away.”

GRATON, _m._ (popular), _razor_. From gratter, _to scratch_.

GRATOUILLE, _f._ (popular), _itch_. From gratter, _to scratch_, _to itch_.

GRATOUSE, _f._ (thieves’), _lace_.

GRATOUSÉ, adj. (thieves’), _adorned with lace_.

GRATTE, _f._ (popular), _itch_; _unlawful profits of shopmen on the sale of goods_, something like the “fluff” or profits on short change by railway ticket-clerks; _bonus allowed to shopmen_; ---- couenne, _barber_, “strap;” ---- pavé, _loiterer seeking for a living_, _one_ “on the mouch.”

GRATTÉE, _f._ (popular), _blows_, “props.”

GRATTE-PAPIER, _m._ (familiar and popular), _clerk_, or “quill-driver;” (military) _non-commissioned officer filling the functions of clerk_.

GRATTER (popular), _to shave_; _to thrash_, “to wallop.” See VOIE. Gratter, _to purloin portions of cloth, given for the making of apparel_; _to apprehend_. See PIPER. Gratter le papier, _to write_; _to be a clerk_, or “quill-driver;” ---- la couenne, _to shave_. En ----, _to perform on the dancing-rope_. Les frères qui en grattent, _rope-dancers_. Gratter les pavés, _to lead a life of poverty_.

GRATTOIR, GRATON, _m._ (popular), _razor_. Passer au ----, _to get shaved_, or “scraped.”

GRAVEUR SUR CUIR, _m._ (popular), _shoemaker_, “snob.”

GRÈCE, _f._ (familiar), _the tribe of card-sharpers_. Tomber dans la ----, _to become a card-sharper_. Vol à la ----, _card swindle_. (Thieves’) Grèce, or soulasse, _swindler who offers one a high profit on the change of gold coins, for which he substitutes base coin when the bargain has been struck_. A variety of the confidence trick. Vidocq thus describes the mode of operating of these gentry. A confederate forms an acquaintance with a farmer or country tradesman on a visit to town. While the new pair of friends are promenading, they are accosted by another confederate, who pretends to be a foreigner, and who exhibits gold coin which he wishes to exchange for silver. Subsequently the three adjourn to a wine-shop, where the pigeon, being entrusted with one of the coins, is requested to have it tested at a changer’s, when he finds it to be genuine. A bargain is soon struck, and, when the thieves have decamped, the victim finds that in exchange for sound silver coin he has received a case full of coppers or gunshot.

GRÉCER (thieves’), _to swindle at cards_. From “grec,” card-sharper.

GRECQUERIE, _f._ (familiar), _tribe of card-sharpers_.

GRÉER (naval), se ----, _to dress oneself_, “to rig oneself out.”

GREFFER (popular), _to be hungry_, “to be bandied.” Je greffe, or je déclare, _I am hungry_. (Thieves’) Greffer, _to steal an object by skilfully whisking it up_, “to nip.”

GREFFIER, _m._ (popular and thieves’), _cat_, or “long-tailed beggar.” From griffe, _claw_.

C’est la dabuche Michelon
Qu’a pomaqué son greffier,
Qui jacte par la venterne
Qui le lui refilera,
Le dab Lustucru
Lui dit: “Dabuch’ Mich’lon,
Allez! votre greffier n’est pas pomaqué;
Il est dans le roulon,
Qui fait la chasse aux tretons,
Avec un bagaffre de fertange
Et un fauchon de satou.”

Popular song of _C’est la mère Michel qui a perdu son chat_, in thieves’ cant, quoted by F. Michel.

GREFFIQUE, _f._ (roughs’), _the magistracy and lawyers_.

GREFIER (Breton cant), _cat_.

GRÊLE, _m. and f._ (popular), _master_, or “boss;” _master tailor_.

Ils ne nous exploiteront plus en maîtres, ces
grêles.--=MACÉ.=

(Thieves’) Grêle, _row or fight_, “shindy.”

Il va y avoir de la grêle, c’est un raille.--=E. SUE.=

(Popular) Grêle, _pockmarks_. Ne pas s’être assuré contre la ----, _to be pockmarked_, or “to be cribbage-faced.”

GRÊLESSE, _f._ (popular), _mistress of an establishment_.

GRELOT, _m._ (popular), _voice_.

C’est bien le son du grelot, si ce n’est pas la
frimousse.--=BALZAC.=

GRELOT, _tongue_, or “red rag.” Il en a un ----! _how he does jaw away_. Faire péter son ----, _to talk_, “to wag the red rag.” Mettre une sourdine à son ----, _to keep silent_, “to be mum.” Mets une sourdine à ton ----, _don’t talk so much_, “don’t shoot off your mouth” (Americanism).

GRELU, or GRENU, _m._ (thieves’), _corn_.

GRELUCHONNER (popular), _to be a_ “greluchon,” _that is, the lover of a married woman, or of a girl kept by another; or one who lives at the expense of a woman_. Voltaire has used the word greluchon with the first meaning.

GRENADIER, _m._ (popular), _louse_, “grey” or “grey-backed un.”

GRENAFE, GRENASSE, _f._ (thieves’), _barn_.

GRENIER, _m._ (popular), à coups de poing, _drunkard’s wife_; ---- à coups de sabre, _soldier’s woman_; ---- à lentilles, _pockmarked face_, or “cribbage face;” ---- à sel, _head_, “tibby,” or “canister.” See TRONCHE.

GRENOBLE. See CONDUITE.

GRENOUILLARD, _m._ (popular), _one fond of the water for the inside or outside_. (Artists’) Faire ----, _to paint in a bold, dashing style_, after the manner of Delacroix.

GRENOUILLE, _f._ (popular), _woman_. An insulting epithet; (military) _cash-box_. (General) Emporter la ----, _to abscond with the cash-box_. Manger la ----, _to spend for ones own purposes the contents of the cash-box, or funds entrusted to one’s keeping_. (Popular) Sirop de ----, _water_, “Adam’s ale.”

GRENOUILLER (popular), _to drink water_. Had formerly the signification of _to frequent wine-shops_.

GRENOUILLÈRE, _f._ (general), _swimming bath_. La Grenouillère is the name of a well-known swimming establishment on the bank of the Seine at Chatou, a place much patronized by “mashers” and more than fast ladies.

GRENU, or GRELU, _m._ (thieves’), _corn_.

GRENUCHE, _f._ (thieves’), _oats_.

GRENUE, GRENUSE, _f._ (thieves’), _flour_.

GRÈS, _m._ (thieves’), _horse_, or “prad.” Termed also “gail.”

GRÉSILLONNER (popular), _to ask for credit_, “tick,” “jawbone,” or “day.”

GRESSIER (thieves’), _to steal_, “to nick.” See GRINCHIR.

GRÈVE, _f._ (thieves’), hirondelle de ----, _gendarme_. Executions formerly took place at the Place de Grève in front of the Hôtel de Ville, hence the expression. Des anges de ---- (obsolete), _porters_.

GRÉVISTE, _m._ (popular), _workman on strike_. From grève, _strike_.

Du reste, la bande de grévistes ... ne viendrait plus à
cette heure; quelque obstacle avait dû l’arrêter, des
gendarmes peut être.--=ZOLA=, _Germinal_.

GRÉZILLON, _m._ (popular), _pinch_.

GRIBIS, GRIPIE, GRIPPIS, GRIPPE-FLEUR (thieves’), _miller_.

Il y avait en un certain tourniquet un gribis qui ne
fichait rien que floutière aux bons pauvres.--_Le Jargon de
l’Argot._ (_There used to be in a certain mill a miller who
never gave anything to the worthy poor._)

GRIBLAGE, CRIBLAGE, _m._ (thieves’), _shout_, _shouting_; (popular) _complaint_, _grumbling_.

GRIE, _m._, GRIELLE, _f. adj._ (thieves’), _cold_.

GRIFFARD, GRIFFON, _m._ (popular), _cat_. Griffe, _claw_.

GRIFFARDE, _f._ (thieves’), _pen_.

GRIFFER (popular), _to seize_, “to collar;” _to take_; _to purloin_, “to prig.”

GRIFFETON, _m._ (popular), _soldier_, or “wobbler.” From grive, grivier, _a soldier_.

GRIFFLEUR, _m._ (thieves’), _chief warder in a prison_, “head screw.”

GRIFFON, _m._ (thieves’), _writer_.

GRIFFONNANTE, _f._ (thieves’), _pen_. Griffonner, _to write a scrawl_.

GRIFFONNER (thieves’), _to swear_.

GRIFFONNEUR, _m._ (thieves’), _one who swears_; (popular) ---- de babillards, _journalist_.

GRIFLER (thieves’), _to take_, “to grab.”

GRIFON (Breton cant), _dog_.

GRIGNOLET, _m._ (popular), _bread_, “soft tommy.”

GRIGNON, _m._ (thieves’), _judge_, “beak.” Probably from “grigner les dents,” _to show one’s teeth threateningly_, or from “grognon.”

GRILLÉE, _adj._ (familiar), _absinthe_; _absinthe with sugar_. The sugar is held over the glass on a small grating (grille), until gradually melted by the liquid poured over it.

GRILLER (popular), quelqu’un, _to lock up one_, “to run in;” _to deceive one_ (_conjugally_). En ---- une, _to smoke a pipe or cigarette_. En ---- une sèche, _to smoke a cigarette_. Griller une bouffarde, _to smoke a pipe_.

Au gardien de la paix ... sa consigne lui défend de boire
et de fumer. Ni boire un verre, ni griller une bouffarde!
Voilà la consigne.--_Mémoires de Monsieur Claude._

GRILLEUSE DE BLANC, _f._ (popular), _ironer_. From griller, _to toast_, _to singe_.

GRIMER (popular), _to arrest_. See PIPER. Se ----, _to get drunk_, or “screwed.” Properly _to paint one’s face_. For synonyms see SCULPTER.

GRIMOIRE, _m._ (thieves’), _penal code_; ---- mouchique, _judicial documents_; _act of indictment_.

GRIMOIRIER, _m._ (thieves’), _clerk of arraigns_.

GRIMPANT, _adj. and m._ (thieves’), chevalier ----, voleur au bonjour, donneur de bonjour, or bonjourier, _thief who enters a house, pretending to be mistaken when discovered, and steals any property worth taking_. (Popular) Un grimpant, _trousers_, “sit-upons, or kicks.” (Popular and thieves’) Les grimpants, _staircase_; _steps_, or “dancers.” (Military) Grand ---- tropical, _riding breeches_.

GRIMPE-CHATS, _m._ (popular), _roof_.

GRINCHAGE (thieves’), for GRINCHISSAGE, which see.

Un journal racontait hier que T’Kindt était, du reste,
un vrai artiste en matière de grinchage, appliqué au
_high-life_.--=PIERRE VÉRON=, _Evénement_ au 9 Novembre,
1878.

GRINCHE, _m. and f._ (thieves’), la ----, _dancing_. Un ----, _a thief_, or “prig.”

Le Grinche, terme d’argot signifiant voleur, a servi de
titre à un journal Montagnard qui a fait paraître deux
numéros au mois de juin, 1848.--=G. BRUNET=, _Dictionnaire
de la Conversation et de la Lecture_.

Nous étions dix à douze,
Tous grinches de renom;
Nous attendions la sorgue,
Voulant poisser des bogues,
Pour faire du billon.

=VIDOCQ.=

Un ---- de cambrouse, a _highwayman_. In the old English cant, “bridle-cull.” Other varieties of the tribe of malefactors go by the appellations of “grinchisseur, pègre, chevalier de la grippe, fourline, escarpe, poisse, limousineur, charron, truqueur, locandier, vanternier, cambrioleur, caroubleur, solitaire, compagnon, deffardeur, pogne, tireur, voleur à la tire, doubleur, fil de soie, mion de boule, grinchisseur de bogues, friauche, tirebogue, Américain, jardinier, ramastiqueur, enfant de minuit, philosophe, philibert, voleur au bonjour, bonjourier, philantrope, frère de la manicle, garçon de campagne, garçon de cambrouse, tiretaine, enfant de la matte, careur, chêne affranchi, droguiste, &c.; the English brethren being denominated “prig, cracksman, crossman, sneaksman, moucher, hooker, flash cove, bug-hunter, cross-cove, buz-faker, stook-hauler, toy-getter, tooler, prop-nailer, area-sneak, palmer, dragsman, lob-sneak, bouncer, lully-prigger, thimble-twister, gun, conveyancer, dancer, pudding-snammer, beak-hunter, ziff, drummer, buttock-and-file, poll-thief, little snakesman, mill-ben, a cove on the cross, flashman, finder, gleaner, picker, tax-collector,” and formerly “a good fellow, a bridle-cull” (highwayman).

GRINCHER (thieves’), _to rob_. See GRINCHIR.

Quand ils vont décarrer nous les empaumerons. Je grincherai
le sinve. Il est avec une largue, il ne criblera pas.
--=E. SUE=. (_We’ll follow them when they come out. I’ll rob
the cove. He is with a woman, he will not cry out._)

GRINCHEUR, _m._ (thieves’), _young thief_, or “ziff.”

GRINCHIE, _adj._ (thieves’), camelotte ----, _stolen goods_, “swag.”

GRINCHIR (thieves’), _to steal_. Rabelais in his _Pantagruel_ says of Panurge:--“Toutesfois il avoit soixante et trois manières d’en trouver toujours à son besoing (_de l’argent_), dont la plus honorable et la plus commune estoit par façon de larrecin furtivement faict.” One may judge from what follows, and by the numerous varieties of “larrecin furtivement faict” described under the head of “grinchissage,” that the imitators of Panurge have not remained far behind in the art of filling their pockets at the expense of the public. Some of the many expressions to describe robbery pure and simple, or the different varieties, are:--“Mettre la pogne dessus, travailler, faire, décrasser, rincer, entiffler, retirer l’artiche, savonner, doubler, barbotter, graisser, dégauchir, dégraisser, effaroucher, évaporer, agripper, soulever, fourmiller, filer, acheter à la foire d’empoigne, pégrer, goupiner à la desserte, sauter, marner, cabasser, mettre de la paille dans ses souliers, faire le saut, secouer, gressier, faire le bobe, faire la bride, faire le morlingue, faire un poivrot, faire un coup d’étal, faire un coup de radin, rincer une cambriolle, faire la soulasse sur le grand trimar, ramastiquer, fourlourer, faire le mouchoir, faire un coup de roulotte, faire grippe-cheville,” &c., &c. The English synonyms are as follows:--“To cop, to touch, to claim, to prig, to wolf, to snake, to pinch, to nibble, to clift, to collar, to nail, to grab, to jump, to nab, to hook, to nim, to fake, to crib, to ease, to convey, to buz, to be on the cross, to do the sneaking-budge, to nick, to fang,” &c., &c.

GRINCHISSAGE, _m._ (thieves’), _thieving_; _theft_, or “sneaking-budge.” The latter expression is used by Fielding.

Wild looked upon borrowing to be as good a way of taking
as any, and, as he called it, the genteelest kind of
sneaking-budge--=FIELDING=, _Jonathan Wild_.

Le ---- à domicile is practised by rogues known under the following denominations:--“Le bonjourier,” see this word; “le cambrioleur,” _who operates in apartments_; “le caroubleur,” _who effects an entrance by means of skeleton keys_; “le chevalier du pince-linge,” _one who steals linen_, “snow-gatherer;” “le déménageur,” _who takes possession of articles of furniture, descending the staircase backwards, so that on an emergency he may at once make a show of ascending, as if he were bringing in furniture_; “le grinchisseur à la desserte,” _thief who enters a dining-room just after dinner-time, and lays hands on the plate_; “le gras-doublier,” _who steals lead off the roofs_, _who_ “flies the blue pigeon;” “le matelassier,” _a thief who pretends to repair and clean mattresses_; “le vanternier,” _who effects an entrance through a window_, “dancer;” “le voleur à la location,” _who pretends to be in quest of apartments to let_; “le voleur au recensement,” _who pretends to be an official employed in the census_. Le grinchissage à la ballade, or à la trimballade, _the thief makes some purchases, and finding he has not sufficient money, requests a clerk to accompany him home, entrusting the parcel to a pretended commissionnaire, a confederate. On the way the rogues suddenly vanish_. Le ---- à la broquille _consists in substituting sham jewellery for the genuine article when offered for inspection by the tradesman_. Le ---- à la carre. See CARREUR. Le ---- à la cire, _purloining a silver fork or spoon at a restaurant by making it adhere under the table by means of a piece of soft wax. After this preliminary operation the rogue leaves the place, generally after having been searched by the restaurant keeper; then an accomplice enters, takes his confederate’s place at the table, and obtains possession of the property_. Le ---- à la détourne, _the thief secretes goods in a shop while a confederate distracts the attention of the shopkeeper_. The rogue who thus operates is termed in English cant a “palmer.” The thief is sometimes a female who has in her arms an infant, whose swaddling-clothes serve as a receptacle for the stolen property. Le ----, or vol à la glu, _takes place in churches by means of a rod with birdlime at one end, plunged through the slit in the alms-box, termed_ tronc; _the coins adhering to the extremity of the rod are thus fished out._ Le ----, or vol à l’Américaine, _confidence-trick robbery_. It is the old story of a traveller meeting with a countryman and managing to exchange the latter’s well-filled purse for a bag of leaden coins. Those who practise it are termed “Américains,” or “magsmen.”

Il est aussi vieux que le monde. Il a été raconté mille
fois!... Ce vol suranné réussit toujours! il réussira tant
qu’il y aura des simples, jusqu’à la consommation des
siècles.--_Mémoires de Monsieur Claude._

Le ---- à la mélasse, _the rogue has a tall hat, with the inside of the crown besmeared with treacle, which he suddenly places on the head of the tradesman, pushing it far down over his eyes, and thus making him temporarily helpless_ (Pierre Delcourt, _Paris Voleur_). Le ---- à la quête, _stealing part of the proceeds of a collection in a church when the plate is being passed round_. Le ----, or vol à la reconnaissance, _consists in picking the pockets of a passer-by while pretending to recognize him and greeting him as an old friend_. Le ----, or vol à la tire, _according to Monsieur Claude, formerly head of the detective department, this species of theft is the classical one in which the celebrated Cartouche, a kind of French Jack Sheppard, was an adept. It consists in picking waistcoat pockets by means of a pair of scissors or a double-bladed penknife._ Le ----, or vol à l’épate, _is high-class swindling_. _It comprises_ “le brodage,” “le chantage,” “le négoce,” _and_ “le vol au cautionnement.” _The first of these consists in the setting-up of a financial establishment and opening an account for unwary merchants, who are made to sign bills in exchange for the swindlers’ paper endorsed by them. When these bills become due they are returned dishonoured, so that the victimized merchants are responsible for the payment not only of their own notes of hand but those of the swindlers as well_. “Le chantage” _is extorting money by threat of exposure_. The proceeds are termed in the English slang “socket-money.” For full explanation see CHANTEUR. “Le négoce” _is practised by English swindlers who represent themselves as being the agents of some well-known firm, and thus obtain goods from continental merchants in exchange for fictitious bills_. “Le vol au cautionnement,” _the rogues set up a sham financial establishment and advertise for a number of clerks to be employed by the firm on the condition of leaving a deposit as a guarantee. When a large staff of officials, or rather pigeons, have been found, the managers decamp with the deposit fund_. Le ----, or vol à la roulotte or roulante, _the thief jumps on the box of a vehicle temporarily left in the street by its owner and drives off at a gallop. Sometimes the horse alone is disposed of, the vehicle being left in some out-of-the-way place_. _The_ “roulottiers” _also steal hawkers’ hand-barrows_, or “shallows.” One of these rogues, when apprehended, confessed to having stolen thirty-three hand-barrows, fifty-three vans or carts, and as many horses. Sometimes the “roulottier” will rob property from cabs or carriages by climbing up behind and cutting the straps that secure the luggage on the roof. His English representative is termed a “dragsman,” according to Mr. James Greenwood. See _The Seven Curses of London_, p. 87. Le ----, or vol à l’esbrouffe, _picking the pockets of a passer-by while hustling him as if by accident_, termed “ramping.” Le ----, or vol à l’étourneau, _when a thief who has just stolen the contents of a till is making his escape, an accomplice who is keeping watch outside scampers off in the opposite direction, so as to baffle the puzzled tradesman, whose hesitation allows of the rogues gaining ground_. Le ----, or vol à l’opium, _robbery from a person who has been drugged. The scoundrels who practise it are generally Jewish money-lenders of the lowest class, who attract their victims to their abode under pretence of advancing money_. A robber who first makes his victim insensible by drugs is termed in the English cant a “drummer.” Le ---- au boulon, _stealing from a shop by means of a rod or wire passed through a hole in the shutter_, “hooking.” Le ----, or vol au cerf-volant, _is practised by women, who strip little girls of their trinkets or ease them of their money or parcels. The little victims sometimes get their hair shorn off as well_. Le ----, or vol au chatouillage, _a couple of rogues pretend to recognize a friend in a man easing himself. They begin to tickle him in the ribs as if in play, meanwhile rifling the pockets of the helpless victim_. Le ----, or vol au colis, _the thief leaves a parcel in some coffee-house with the recommendation to the landlord not to give it up except on payment of say twenty francs. He then seeks a commissionnaire simple-minded enough to be willing to fetch the parcel and to pay the necessary sum, after which the swindler returns to the place and pockets the money left by the pigeon_. Le ----, or vol au fric-frac, _housebreaking_, or “crib-cracking.” Le ----, or vol au gail or gayet, _horse-stealing_, or “prad-napping.” Le ----, or vol au grimpant, _a young thief_, or “little snakesman,” _climbs on to the roof of a house and throws a rope-ladder to his accomplices below, who thus effect an entrance. When detected they pass themselves off for workmen engaged in some repairs_. Le ----, or vol au parapluie, _a shoplifter_, or “sneaksman,” _drops the stolen property in a half-open umbrella_. Le ----, or vol au poivrier, _consists in robbing drunkards who have come to grief. Rogues who practise it are in most cases apprehended, detectives being in the habit of impersonating drunkards asleep on benches late at night_. Le ---- au prix courant, or en pleine trèpe, _picking pockets or scarf-pins in a crowd_, “cross-fanning.” Le ----, or vol au radin, _the landlord of a wine-shop is requested to fetch a bottle of his best wine; while he is busy in the cellar the trap which gives access to it is closed by the rogues, and the counter, or_ “radin,” _pushed on to it, thus imprisoning the victim, who clamours in vain while his till is being emptied. It also takes place in this way: the rogues pretend to quarrel, and one of them throws the other’s cap into a shop, thus providing him with an excuse for entering the place and robbing the till_, or “pinching the bob or lob.” Le ----, or vol au raton, _a little boy, a_ “raton,” _or_ “anguille” (termed “tool or little snakesman” in the English cant), _is employed in this kind of robbery, by burglars, to enter small apertures and to open doors for the others outside_ (Pierre Delcourt, _Paris Voleur_). Le ----, or vol au rigolo, _appropriating the contents of a cash-box opened by means of a skeleton key_.

Le Pince-Monseigneur perfectionné, se porte aujourd’hui
dans un étui à cigares et dans un porte-monnaie ...
les voleurs au rigolo ouvrent aujourd’hui toutes les
caisses.--_Mémoires de Monsieur Claude._

Le ----, or vol au suif, _variety of card-sharping swindle_.

Il s’opère par un grec qui rôde chez les marchands de vin,
dans les cafés borgnes, pour dégotter, en bon suiffeur,
une frimousse de pante ou de daim.--_Mémoires de Monsieur
Claude._

Le ----, or vol au timbre, _a tobacconist is asked for a large number of stamps, which the thief carefully encloses in an envelope. Suddenly, when about to pay for them, he finds he has forgotten his purse, returns the envelope containing the stamps to the tradesman and leaves to fetch the necessary sum. Needless to say, the envelope is empty._ Le ----, or vol au tiroir, _the thief enters a tobacconist’s or spirit shop, and asks for a cigar or glass of spirits. When the tradesman opens his till to give change, snuff is thrown into his eyes, thus making him helpless_. This class of thieves is termed in the English cant “sneeze-lurkers.”

GRINCHISSEUR, _m._ (thieves’), _thief_, or “prig,” see GRINCHE; ---- de bogues, _pickpocket who devotes his attention to watches_, a “toy-getter,” or “tooler.”

GRINGUE, _f._ (popular), _bread_, or “soft tommy;” _food_, or “prog.”

GRIPIE, _m._ (thieves’), _miller_. See GRIBIS.

GRIPPE, _f._ (thieves’), chevalier de la ----, _thief_, or “prig.” See GRINCHE.

GRIPPE-CHEVILLE (thieves’), faire ----, _to steal_, “to claim.” See GRINCHIR.

GRIPPE-FLEUR, GRIPIE, GRIPPIS, _m._ (thieves’), _miller_. Termed “Grindoff” in English slang.

GRIPPE-JÉSUS, _m._ (thieves’), _gendarme_.

Parcequ’ils arrêtent les innocents et qu’ils n’ont pas même
épargné Jésus.--=NISARD.=

GRIPPEMINI, _m._ (obsolete), _barrister_, or “mouthpiece;” _lawyer_, “sublime rascal, or green bag;” _extortioner_. From grippeminaud, _thief_.

GRIPPER (thieves’), _to apprehend_, “to smug.” See PIPER. Rabelais uses the term with the signification of _to seize_:--

Parmy eulx règne la sexte essence, moyennant laquelle ils
grippent tout, dévorent tout et conchient tout.

GRIPPERIE, _f._ (popular), _theft_ (obsolete).

GRIPPIS, GRIPIE, GRIPPE-FLEUR, _m._ (thieves’), _miller_.

GRIS, _adj. and m._ (thieves’), _dear_; _wind_; (popular) ---- d’officier, _slight intoxication_; ---- jusqu’à la troisième capucine, _completely drunk_, or “slewed.” Capucine, _a musket band_.

GRISAILLE, _f._ (popular), _sister of mercy_. An allusion to the grey costume worn by sisters of mercy.

GRISES, _f. pl._ (general), en faire voir de ----, _to lead one a hard life_.

GRISETTE. See BIFTECK.

GRISOTTER (popular), se ----, _to get slightly drunk_, or “elevated.” See SCULPTER.

GRISPIN, _m._ (thieves’), _miller_.

GRIVE, _f._ (thieves’), _army_; _military patrol_; _warder_. Cribler à la ----, _to cry out thieves_, “to whiddle beef.” Synonymous of “crier à la garde.” Harnais de ----, _uniform_. Tapis de ----, _canteen_.

GRIVIER, _m._ (thieves’), _soldier_, “swaddy, lobster, or red herring.” From “grivois,” formerly _a soldier of foreign troops in the service of France_. The word “grivois” itself seems to be a corruption of “gruyers,” used by Rabelais, and signifying Swiss soldiers, natives of Gruyères, serving in the French army. Grivier de gaffe, _sentry_; ---- de narquois, _deserter_. Literally _a bantering soldier_.

GRIVOISE, _f._ (obsolete), _soldier’s wench_, _garrison town prostitute_. Termed by the English military “barrack-hack.”

Grivoise, c’est à dire coureuse, putain, débauchée,
aventurière, dame suivante de l’armée ou gibier de
corps-de-garde, une garce à soldats.--_Dictionnaire
Comique._

GROBIS, _m._ (familiar), faire du ----, _to look big_ (obsolete).

Et en faisant du grobis leur donnait sa
bénédiction.--=RABELAIS.=

GROG AU BŒUF, _m._ (popular), _broth_.

GROGNE, _f._ (obsolete), faire la ----, _to grumble_, _to have_ “the tantrums.”

Faire la grogne, pour faire la moue, prendre la chèvre,
faire mauvais visage, bouder, gronder, être de mauvaise
humeur, dédaigner.--_Dictionnaire Comique._

GROGNON, _m._ (thieves’), _one about to be executed_. Properly _one who grumbles_, and very naturally so, at the unpleasant prospect. The English equivalent is “gallows-ripe.”

GROLLER (popular), _to growl_, _to grumble_. Properly _to croak_. From the word grolle, used by Rabelais with the signification of _crow_.

GROMIAU, _m._ (popular), _child_, “kid.” Termed also “gosse, loupiau.”

GRONDIN, _m._ (thieves’), _pig_, “sow’s baby,” or “grunting cheat.”

GROS, _adv. and adj._ (popular), coucher ---- (obsolete), _to utter some enormity_. Gâcher du ----, _to ease oneself_. See MOUSCAILLER. Gros cul, _prosperous rag-picker_; ---- lot, _venereal disease_; (familiar and popular) ---- bonnet, _influential man_; _high official_, “big-wig;” ---- numéro, _brothel_, or “nanny-shop.” An establishment of that description has a number of large dimensions placed over the front door, and window panes whitewashed. (Thieves’) Artie de ---- Guillaume, _brown bread_. The expression, “du gros Guillaume,” was formerly used by the Parisians.

On appelle du gros Guillaume, du pain destiné, dans les
maisons de campagne, pour la nourriture des valets de
cour.--Du gros Guillaume, mot Parisien, pour dire du
pain bis, du gros pain de ménage, tel que le mangent les
paysans.--=LE ROUX=, _Dict. Comique_.

(Military) Gros bonnet, _officer of high rank_, “bloke;” ---- frères, ---- lolos, or ---- talons, _the cuirassiers_; ---- légumes, _field-officers_. A play on the words “épaulettes à graines d’épinards,” _the insignia of such officers_. The word gros, considered as the masculine of “grosse,” synonymous of “enceinte,” was formerly used with the signification of _impatient_, _longing_, alluding to the uncontrollable desires which are sometimes manifested by women in a state of pregnancy. Thus people would express their eagerness by such ridiculous phrases as, “Je suis gros de vous voir, de boire avec vous, de le connaître.”

GROSSE, _adj. f._ (popular), caisse, _the body_, or “apple cart;” ---- cavalerie, _staff of scavengers_, or “rake kennels,” an allusion to their big boots; ---- culotte, _drunkard_. (Convicts’) Grosse cavalerie, _scum of the hulks_, _desperate scoundrels_; and, in theatrical language, _supernumeraries of the ballet_. (Tramcar conductors’) Aller voir les grosses têtes, _to drive the first morning car to Bineau_, this part of Paris being inhabited by substantial people.

GROSSIOT, _m._ (popular), _person of good standing_, a “swell.”

GROTTE, _f._ (thieves’), _the hulks_. Gerbé à la ----, _sentenced to transportation_, or “lagged.” Aller à la ----, _to be transported_, “to lump the lighter.”

GROUCHY, _m._ (printers’), petit ----, _one who is late_; _small job, the composition of which has been delayed_. An allusion to the alleged tardiness of General Grouchy at Waterloo.

GROUILLER (sailors’), attrape à ne pas ----, _mind you do not move_.

Attrape à ne pas grouiller, fit le vieux.... Tu perdrais
ton souffle à lui courir après.--=RICHEPIN=, _La Glu_.

GROUILLIS-GROUILLOT, _m._ (popular), _swarm_, _crowd_, or “scuff.”

GROUIN, _m._ (popular), _face_, or “mug.” Properly _snout_. Se lécher le ----, _to kiss one another_. Donner un coup de ---- (obsolete), _to kiss_.

GROULE, GROULASSE, _f._ (popular), _female apprentice_; _small servant_; _young_ “slavey,” or “marchioness.”

GROUMER (popular), _to grumble_.

GRUBLER (thieves’), _to grumble_; _to growl_.

Vous grublez comme un guichemard.--=RICHEPIN.= (_You growl
like a jailer._)

GRUE, _f._ (familiar), _more than fast girl_; _kept woman_, or “demi-rep;” _foolish, empty-headed girl or woman_.

GRUERIE, _f._ (familiar), _stupidity_.

GRUN (Breton cant), _chin_.

GRUYÈRE, _m._ (popular), morceau de ----, _pockmarked face_, or “cribbage face.”

GUADELOUPE, _f._ (popular), _mouth_, or “rattle-trap.” Charger pour la ----, _to eat_. See MASTIQUER.

GUANO, _m._ (popular), _excrement_, or “quaker.” An allusion to the guano of South America.

GUÉDOUZE, or GUÉTOUSE, _f._ (thieves’), _death_.

GUELDRE, _f._ (fishermens’), _bait prepared with shrimps for the fishing of sardines_.

La sardine est jolie en arrivant à l’air ...
Mais pour aller la prendre il faut avoir le nez
Bougrement plein de poils, et de poils goudronnés;
Car la gueldre et la rogue avec quoi l’on arrose
Les seines qu’on lui tend, ne fleurent point la rose.
Gueldre, lisez mortier de crevettes, pas frais.

=RICHEPIN=, _La Mer_.

GUELTE, _f._ (shopmens’), _percentage allowed on sales_.

GUELTER (shopmens’), _to make a percentage on sales_; _to pay such percentage_.

GUÉNAUD, _m._ (thieves’), _wizard_.

GUÉNAUDE, _f._ (thieves’), _witch_.

GUENETTE, _f._ (thieves’), _fear_, “funk.”

GUENILLES, _f. pl._ (familiar), trousser ses ----, _to run away_ (obsolete), “to tip one’s rags a gallop.”

Gentil ambassadeur de quilles,
Croyez-moi, troussez vos guenilles.

=SCARRON=, _Gigantomachie_.

GUENON, _f._ (popular), _mistress of an establishment_, _the master_ being “le singe.”

GUÉRI, _adj._ (thieves’), _set at liberty_; _free_; the prison being termed “hôpital,” and imprisonment “maladie.”

Hélas! il est malade à Canelle (il est arrêté à Caen) ...
il a une fièvre chaude (il est fortement compromis), et
vous, il paraît que vous êtes guéri (libre)?--=VIDOCQ.=

GUÉRITE, _f._ (popular), à calotins, _confessional_. Guérite is properly _a sentry-box_. Enfiler la ---- (obsolete), _to run away_.

GUÊTRÉ, _m._ (military), _trooper who, for some reason or other, has to make the day’s journey on foot_.

GUEULARD, _m._ (thieves’), _bag_; _wallet_.

Ils trollent ordinairement à leur côté un gueulard avec une
rouillarde pour mettre le pivois.--_Le Jargon de l’Argot._
(_They generally carry by their side a wallet with a bottle
to keep the wine in._)

(Popular) Un ----, _a stove_. Gueulard, properly a _gormandizer_.

GUEULARDE, _f._ (thieves’), _pocket_, “cly,” “sky-rocket,” or “brigh.” Termed also “fouillouse, louche, profonde, or grande.”

GUEULARDISE, _f._ (popular), _dainty food_.

GUEULE, _f._ (popular), d’empeigne, _palate which, by dint of constant application to the bottle, has become proof against the strongest liquors_; _loud voice_; ---- de raie, _ugly phiz_, or “knocker face;” ---- de tourte, _stupid-looking face_. Bonne ----, _grotesque face_. Crever la ---- à quelqu’un, _to break one’s head_.

Je te vas crever la gueule.--=ALPHONSE KARR.=

Faire la ----, _to make a wry face_. Faire sa ----, _to give oneself disdainful airs_; _to look disgusted_.

Dis donc, Marie bon-bec, ne fais pas ta gueule.--=ZOLA.=

Avoir de la ----, _to be loud-mouthed_. Il n’a que la ----, _he is a humbug_. Se chiquer la ----, _to maul one another’s face_. (Military) Roulement de la ----, _beating to dinner_. Se sculpter une ---- de bois, _to get drunk_, or “screwed.” For synonyms see SCULPTER.

GUEULÉE, _f._ (popular), _howling_; _meal_. Chercher la ----, _to be a parasite_, or “quiller.”

GUEULÉES, _f. pl._ (popular), _objectionable talk_, or “blue talk.”

GUEULER (popular), comme un âne, _to be loud-tongued_; (thieves’) ---- à la chienlit, _to cry out thieves! or police!_ “to whiddle beef.”

GUEULETON, _m._ (familiar and popular), _a feast_, or “spread.”

Et les artistes se levèrent pour serrer la main d’un frère
qui offrait un gueuleton général.--=E. MONTEIL.=

GUEULETONNER (familiar and popular), _to feast_.

GUEUSE, _f._ (popular), _mistress_; _prostitute_, or “mot.” See GADOUE. Courir la ----, _to be a whore-monger_, or “molrower.”

GUEUX, _m._ (popular), _small pan full of charcoal used as a foot-warmer by market women, &c._

Une vieille femme ... est accroupie près d’un gueux sur les
cendres duquel une cafetière ronronne.--=P. MAHALIN.=

GUEUX-GUEUX (obsolete), _rascal_; the expression being used in a friendly manner.

GUIBE (popular), _leg_; ---- à la manque, _lame leg_; ---- de satou, _wooden leg_. Jouer des guibes, _to dance_; _to run away_, “to slope.” See PATATROT.

GUIBOLE, or GUIBOLLE, _f._ (popular and thieves’), _leg_, “pin.”

Mais comment? Lui, si démoli, si mal gréé à c’t’heure,
avec sa guibole boiteuse, et ses bras rouillés, et toutes
les avaries de sa coque en retraite, comment pourrait-il
saborder ce gaillard-là, d’aplomb et trapu?--=RICHEPIN=,
_La Glu_.

Jouer des guiboles, _to run_; _to dance_.

Puis, le soir, on avait fichu un balthazar à tout casser,
et jusqu’au jour on avait joué des guiboles.--=ZOLA=,
_L’Assommoir_.

GUIBON. See GUIBONNE.

GUIBONNE, _f._ (popular and thieves’), _leg_; ---- carrée, _ham_.

Mes jamb’s sont fait’s comm’ des trombones.
Oui, mais j’sais tirer--gar’ là-dessous!--
La savate, avec mes guibonnes
Comm’ cell’s d’un canard eud’ quinze sous.

=RICHEPIN=, _La Chanson des Gueux_.

GUICHE, _m. and f._ (popular and thieves’), duc de ----, _jailer_, or “jigger dubber.” From guichetier, _jailer_. Mec de la ----, _prostitute’s bully_, or “Sunday man.” Thus termed on account of his kiss-curls. For list of synonyms see POISSON. Des guiches, _kiss-curls_. Termed in the English slang, “aggerawators,” or “Newgate knockers.” Regarding the latter expression the _Slang Dictionary_ says: “‘Newgate knocker,’ the term given to the lock of hair which costermongers and thieves usually twist back towards the ear. The shape is supposed to resemble the knocker on the prisoners’ door at Newgate--a resemblance that carries a rather unpleasant suggestion to the wearer. Sometimes termed a ‘cobbler’s knot,’ or ‘cow-lick.’” Trifouiller les guiches, _to comb the hair_. (Familiar) Chevalier de la ----, _prostitute’s bully_, or “pensioner.” For list of synonymous expressions see POISSON. Le bataillon de la ----, _the world of bullies_.

Et si la p’tit’ ponif’triche
Su’ l’compt’ des rouleaux,
Gare au bataillon d’la guiche!
C’est nous qu’est les dos.

=RICHEPIN.=

Un ----, _a prostitute’s bully_.

C’est ... un guiche, c’est-à-dire un jeune homme aux mains
blanches, à l’accroche-cœur, l’Adonis des nymphes des
musettes, quand ce n’est pas une tante!... La moitié des
crimes qui se commettent à Paris est conçue par le cerveau
des guiches, exécutée par les bras des chefs d’attaque
et finie par des assommeurs.--_Les Mémoires de Monsieur
Claude._

GUICHEMAR, GUICHEMARD, GUICHEMINCE, GUICHEMUCHE, _m._ (thieves’ and popular), _jailer_, “jigger dubber.” For guichetier.

GUIDE, _m._ (thieves’), _the prime-mover in a murder_.

C’est toujours le pégriot, le guide ou le toucheur qui
devient à priori le chef d’attaque responsable d’une
affaire criminelle.--_Mémoires de Monsieur Claude._

GUIGNARD, _m._ (popular), _ill luck_.

GUIGNE-À-GAUCHE, _m._ (popular), _squinting man, or one with_ “swivel eyes.” From guigner, _to scan_.

GUIGNOL, _m._ (popular), _small theatre_.

GUIGNOLANT, _adj._ (popular), _unlucky_; _annoying_.

GUIGNONNÉ, _adj._ (popular), être ----, _to be unlucky at a game_.

GUILLOTINE SÈCHE, _f._ (familiar), _transportation_. To be transported is expressed in the language of English rogues by the term “lighting the lumper.”

GUIMBARD, _m._ (thieves’), _the van that conveys prisoners to gaol_. Called by English rogues “Black Maria.”

GUIMBARDE, _f._ (popular), _door_; _voice_; _head_; _carriage_; _good-for-nothing woman_. Properly _Jew’s-harp_.

Oui, une femme devait savoir se retourner, mais la
sienne avait toujours été une guimbarde, un tas. Ce
serait sa faute, s’ils crevaient sur la paille.--=ZOLA=,
_L’Assommoir_.

Also _clock_.

Au moment juste où douze plombes se sont décrochées à la
guimbarde de la tôle.--_Le Père Duchêne, 1879._

Couper la ---- à quelqu’un, _to cut one short_.

Mon gesse et surtout mon n’harangue
Coupent la guimbarde aux plus forts.

=L. TESTEAU=, _Le Tapageur_.

GUINAL, _m._ (thieves’), _usurer_; _Jew_; “sheney, Ikey, or mouchey.” Termed also “youtre, frisé, pied-plat.” Le grand ----, _Mont de Piété, or government pawnbroking establishment_. (Rag-pickers’) Guinal, _wholesale rag-dealer_.

GUINALISER (thieves’), _to be a usurer_; _to pawn_. It had formerly the signification of _to circumcise_.

GUINCHE, _f._ (popular), _low dancing saloon in the suburbs, or low wine-shop_.

A la porte de cette guinche, un municipal se dressait sur
ses ergots de cuir.--=HUYSMANS=, _Les Sœurs Vatard_.

GUINCHER (popular), _to dance_. Se ----, _to dress oneself hurriedly and badly_.

GUINCHEUR, _m._ (popular), _frequenter of dancing saloons called_ “guinches.”

GUINDAL, _m._ (popular), _glass_. Siffler le ----, _to drink_, “to wet one’s whistle,” or “to moisten one’s chaffer.” See RINCER.

GUINGUETTE, _f._ (obsolete), _fast girl_.

Il faudra que je m’en retourne à pied comme une guinguette
qui vient de souper en ville.--_Le Ballet des XXIV. heures._

Also _low restaurant_.

Ça doit s’manger, la levrette.
Si j’en pince une à huis clos ...
J’la f’rai cuire à ma guinguette.
J’t’en fich’rai, moi, des pal’tots!

=DE CHATILLON=, _Poésies_.

GUIRLANDE, _f._ (thieves’), _chain which secures two convicts together_.

On appelle cette chaîne guirlande, parceque, remontant
du pied à la ceinture, où elle est fixée, elle retombe
en décrivant un demi-cercle, dont l’autre extrémité est
rattachée à la ceinture du camarade de chaîne.
--=M. CHRISTOPHE.=

GUITARE, _f._ (familiar and popular), _head_, or “nut;” _monotonous saying_; _well-worn platitude_. Jouer de la ----, _to be monotonous_. Avoir une sauterelle dans la ----, _to be cracked_, “to have a tile loose,” or “a bee in one’s bonnet.” For the list of synonymous expressions see AVOIR.

GWAMMEL (Breton cant), _woman_; _mother_.

GWILLOIK (Breton cant), _wolf_.

GY, or JASPIN (thieves’), _yes_, or “usher.” Michel says: “J’estime que _gy_ n’est autre chose que le _j_, première lettre d’_ita_, qui remplaçait ce mot latin dans certains actes de procédure.”

Quoi, tu veux rentiffer? Gy?--=RICHEPIN.= (_What, you wish
to go home? Yes?_)

H

HABILLÉ DE SOIE, _m._ (popular), _an elegant term for a pig_, “sow’s baby,” or, in the words of Irish peasants, “the gintleman that pays the rint.”

HABILLER (popular), quelqu’un de taffetas, _to say ill-natured things of one_, _to_ “backbite” _him_, _to reprimand_, _to slander_, _to scold_, or “bully-rag.”

C’est moi qui vous l’a habillé de taffetas noir.
--=A. DALÈS=, _La Mère l’Anecdote, Chansonnette_.

S’---- de sapin, _to die_. See PIPE. S’---- en sauvage, _to strip oneself naked_, _to strip to the_ “buff,” so as to be “in one’s birthday suit.”

HABIN, HAPPIN, HUBIN, _m._ (old cant), _dog_, or “tyke;” ---- ergamé, or engamé, _rabid dog_.

Ils trollent cette graisse dans leur gueulard, en une
corne, et quand les hubins la sentent, ils ne leur
disent rien, au contraire, ils font fête à ceux qui la
trollent.--_Le Jargon de l’Argot._

A dog is now called by thieves “tambour, alarmiste.”

HABINER (thieves’), _to bite_.

HABIT, _m._ (popular), noir, _gentleman_, or “swell;” ---- rouge, _an Englishman_.

Les habits rouges voulaient danser,
Mais nous les avons fait sauter
Vivent les Sans-culottes.

=MAURICAULT.=

Etre ---- noir, _to be simple-minded_, _easily duped_, _to be a_ “flat.” (Thieves’) Un ---- vert, _an official of the “octroi,” or office at the gates of a town for the levying of dues on goods which are brought in from the outside_.

C’était de l’un de ces fossés,... que les contrebandiers,
au nez et à la barbe des habits verts, faisaient descendre
la nuit, dans les souterrains, leurs marchandises pour les
porter en ville et les affranchir de l’octroi.--_Mémoires
de Monsieur Claude._

HABITANTS, _m. pl._ (popular), _lice_, “grey-backed un’s.”

HABITONGUE, _f._ (thieves’), for habitude, _habit_.

HACHER DE LA PAILLE (popular), _to murder the French language_. The English have the corresponding expression, “to murder the Queen’s English.” Also _to talk in German_.

HALEINE, _f._ (familiar), à la Domitien, cruelle, or homicide, _offensive breath_. According to the _Dict. Comique_ it used to be said of a man troubled with that incommodity: Il serait bon trompette, parcequ’il a l’haleine forte. (Popular) Respirer l’---- de quelqu’un, _to get at one’s secrets_, “to pump” _one_.

HALÈNES, or ALÈNES, _f. pl._ (thieves’), _thieves’ implements_, or “jilts.” Alène signifies properly _shoe-maker’s awl_.

HALER SUR SA POCHE (sailors’), _to pay_, “to shell out.” Haler, properly _to haul_, _to tow_.

HALLE, _f._ (popular), aux croûtes, _stomach_, or “bread-basket.” Also _baker’s shop_. La ---- aux draps, _the bed_, “doss, or bug-walk,” and formerly “cloth-market,” an expression used by Swift in his _Polite Conversation_:--

Miss, your slave; I hope your early rising will do you no
harm; I find you are but just out of the cloth-market.

(Journalists’) La ---- au son, _the Paris Conservatoire de Musique, or national music and dramatic academy_. (Bullies’) Un barbise de la ---- aux copeaux, _a bully whose paramour brings him in but scanty profits, whose “business” is slack_.

HALLEBARDE, _f._ (popular), _tall, badly dressed woman_, a “gawky guy.”

HALOT, _m._ (popular), _box on the ear_, “smack on the chops.”

HALOTER QUELQU’UN (thieves’), _to box one’s ears_, “to smack one’s chops;” _to ply the bellows_.

HALOTEUR, _m._ (thieves’), _one who uses bellows_; _one who blows_.

HALOTIN, _m._ (thieves’), _bellows_. From haleter, _to pant_.

HANCHER (popular), se ----, _to put on a jaunty look_; _to take up an arrogant position_, _to be_ “on the high jinks,” or to “look big.”

HANE, _f._ (thieves’), _purse_, “skin,” or “poge.” Termed also “henne, bouchon, morlingue, mornif.”

Il va comme la tramontane,
Après avoir cassé la hanne
De ce grand né qui prend le soin
De lui donner chasse de loin.

_L’Embarras de la foire de Beaucaire._

Casser la ---- à quelqu’un, _to steal someone’s purse_, “to buz a skin.”

HANNETON, _m._ (familiar), _monomania_. Avoir un ---- dans le plafond, _to be cracked_, or “to have a bee in one’s bonnet.” See AVOIR. Saoul comme un ----, _completely drunk_, “as drunk as Davy’s sow.”

“Davy’s sow.” The origin of this expression, according to Davies’ _Supplementary English Glossary_, is the following:--“David Lloyd, a Welshman, had a sow with six legs; on one occasion he brought some friends and asked them whether they had ever seen a sow like that, not knowing that in his absence his drunken wife had turned out the animal, and gone to lie down in the sty. One of the party observed that it was the drunkest sow he had ever beheld.” Other synonymous expressions are, “drunk as a drum, to be a wheelbarrow, sow-drunk, drunk as a fish, as a lord, as a piper, as a fiddler, as a rat.”

HANNETONNER (familiar), _to have a hobby verging on monomania_.

HAPPER LE TAILLIS (thieves’), _to flee_, “to guy.” See PATATROT. Compare with the expression, now obsolete, gagner le taillis, which has the same signification.

Happons le taillis, on crie au vinaigre sur
nouzailles.--_Le Jargon de l’Argot._ (_They are_ “whiddling
beef,” _and we must_ “guy.”)

HAPPIN. See HABIN.

HAPPINER. See HABINER.

HARAUDER (popular), quelqu’un (obsolete), _to cry out after one_; _to pursue one with insults_.

HARDI, _adj._ (popular), à la soupe _is said of one who is more ready to eat than to fight_. Hardi! _courage!_ _with a will!_ _go it!_

HARENG, _m._ (thieves’), faire des yeux de ---- à quelqu’un, _to put out one’s eyes_. (Printers’) Harengs, _name given by printers to fellow-workers who do but little work_.

HARENG-SAUR, _m._ (popular), _gendarme_; _a member of the Société de Saint-Vincent de Paul, a religious association_. (Roughs’) Piquer son pas de ----, _to dance_.

HARIADAN BARBEROUSSE (thieves’), _Jesus Christ_.

Il rigolait malgré le sanglier qui voulait lui faire
becqueter Hariadan Barberousse.--=VIDOCQ.=

HARICANDER (popular), _to find fault with one about trifles_.

HARICOT, _m._ (popular), _body_. Cavaler, or courir sur le ----, _to annoy_, _to bore one_, “to spur” _one_. (Thieves’) Un ---- vert, _a clumsy thief_, _or one_ “not up to slum.” Se laver les haricots, _to be transported_, or “lagged.” (Familiar) Hôtel des haricots, _formerly the prison for undisciplined national guards_, the staple food for prisoners there being haricot beans.

HARICOTEUR, _m._ (thieves’), _executioner_. Termed “Rouart” in the sixteenth century, that is, _one who breaks criminals on the wheel_.

HARMONARÈS, _m._ (thieves’), _noise_, or “row.” Si le gonsalès fait de l’harmonarès il faut le balancarguer dans la vassarès, _if the fellow makes any noise we’ll pitch him into the water_.

HARMONIE, _f._ (popular), faire de l’----, _to make a noise_, “to kick up a row.”

HARNAIS, _m._ (thieves’), _cards that have been tampered with_, or “stocked broads;” _clothes_, or “clobber;” ---- de grive, _military uniform_. Laver les ----, _to sell stolen clothes_, “to do clobber at a fence’s.”

HARPE, _f._ (general), jouer de la ----, _to slily take liberties with a woman by stroking her dress_, as Tartuffe did when pretending to ascertain the softness of Elmire’s dress. The expression is old; it is to be met with in the _Dict. Comique_.

Jouer de la harpe signifie jouer des mains auprès d’une
femme, la patiner, lui toucher la nature, la farfouiller,
la clitoriser, la chatouiller avec les doigts.
--=J. LE ROUX=, _Dictionnaire Comique_.

(Thieves’) Harpe, _prison-grated window_. Jouer de la ----, _to be in prison_, or “in quod.” Pincer de la ----, _to put oneself at a window_.

HARPER (popular), _to catch_, “to nab;” _to seize_, “to grab.”

HARPIONS, _m. pl._ (popular and thieves’), _feet_, or “dew-beaters;” _hands_, or “dukes.” From the old word harpier, concerning which the _Dictionnaire Comique_ says:--

Harpier. Pour voler ou friponner impunément, prendre ou
enlever par force, comme les harpies.

HARPONNER (popular), _to seize_, “to grab;” ---- tocquardement, _to lay rough hands on_; _to give one a shaking_.

HASARD! or H! (printers’), ironical exclamation meaning _that happens by chance, of course!_

HAÜS, or AÜS, _m._ (shopmens’), _appellation applied by shopmen to a person who, after much bargaining, leaves without purchasing anything_.

HAUSSE-COL, _m._ (military), _cartridge-box_. The expression has become obsolete.

HAUSSIER, _m._ (familiar), a “bull,” that is, _one who agrees to purchase stock at a future day, at a stated price, but who simply speculates for a rise in public securities to render the transaction a profitable one_. Should stocks fall, the “bull” is then called upon to pay the difference. The “bear” is the opposite of the “bull,” the former selling, the latter purchasing--the one operating for a _fall_, the other for a _rise_. They are respectively called “liebhaler” in Berlin, and “contremine” in Vienna.

HAUSSMANNISATION, _f._ See below.

HAUSSMANNISER (familiar), _to pull down houses wholesale_, after the fashion of M. Haussmann, a Prefect of the Seine under the Third Empire, who laid low many of the old houses of Paris, and opened some broad passages in the city. Corresponds in some degree to “boycott.”

HAUT-DE-TIRE, _m._ (thieves’), _breeches_, “hams, kicks, sit-upons.”

HAUTE, _f. and adj._ (general), for haute société, _the higher class of any social stratum_, “pink.”

Il y a lorette et lorette. Mademoiselle de Saint-Pharamond
était de la haute.--=P. FÉVAL.=

La ---- bicherie, _higher class of cocottes_, _the world of_ “demi-reps.” Un escarpe de la ----, _a swindler moving in good society_. La ---- pègre, _swell mob_, and, used ironically, _good society_. Un restaurant de la ----, _a fashionable restaurant_, _a_ “swell” _restaurant_.

Si nous ne soupons pas dans la haute, je ne sais guère où
nous irons à cette heure-ci.--=G. DE NERVAL.=

HAUTOCHER (thieves’), _to ascend_; _to rise_.

HAUT-TEMPS, _m._ (thieves’), for autan, _loft_.

HAVRE, or GRAND HAVRE, _m._ (thieves’), _God_. Literally _the harbour_, _great harbour_. Le ---- garde mézière, _God protect me_.

HEOL AR BLEI (Breton cant), _the moon_.

HERBE, _f._ (popular), à grimper, _fine bosoms or shoulders_. This phrase is obsolete; ---- à la vache, _clubs of cards_.

Quinte mangeuse portant son point dans l’herbe à la
vache.--=ZOLA=, _L’Assommoir_.

Herbe sainte, _absinthe_. To all appearance this is a corruption of absinthe.

HERPLIS, _m._ (thieves’), _farthing_. Sans un herplis dans ma fouillouse, _without a farthing in my pocket_.

HERR, _m._ (general), a man of importance, one of position or talent, a “swell.”

HERSE, _f._ (theatrical), _lighting apparatus on the sides of the stage which illuminates those parts which receive no light from the chandelier_.

HERZ, or HERS, _m._ (thieves’), _master_, or “boss;” _gentleman_, or “nib-cove.” From the German herr.

HIGH-BICHERY, _f._ (familiar), _the world of fashionable cocottes_.