Chapter IV: Introduction (3)

Je vous raconterai maintenant ce qui est arrivé juste
la veille du _reluis_ où j’ai été _enfouraillé_ pour
dix-huit _marques_. _Mézigue_ et le _caroubleur_ nous
allons à Charlton. De _lago_ nous _trimardons_ jusqu’à
Blackheath. J’_enquille_ en une _piole_ et j’_effarouche_
de la _blanquette_ que nous _fourguons_ pour trois
livres dix. Je _rapplique à la niche_ et je change de
_fringues_, je rencontre quelques _fanandes_ de la
_gance_ et je me _poivrotte_ presque. Le lendemain
matin je me lève vers sept _plombes_ pour changer de
_fringues_ et je me _peausse_ du vieux _harnais_ pour
aller _turbiner_ avec le panier. Quand je _rapplique
à la niche_ ma _dabuche_ me _jacte_ de rester pour la
_refaite_ du _matois_. Je _bonnis_, “Non, j’_ai à me
patiner_.” J’avais promis de rencontrer le _grinchisseur
au fric-frac_ et je ne voulais pas _flancher_. Nous
sommes allés à Willesden et j’ai trouvé une _piole_
sans personne, de sorte que j’en suis _décarré_ et j’ai
demandé à mon _fanandel_ de me prêter le _Jacques_ et
des _caroubles_, j’ai _renquillé_ et j’ai cherché la
_camelote_. Je n’ai pas trouvé de _blanquette_. J’ai
trouvé une _filoche_ avec dix-neuf shillings. J’ai tout
retourné mais je n’ai trouvé rien de _schpille_ de sorte
que j’ai _décarré_. J’ai _refilé_ les _alènes_ à mon
_fanandel_ et je lui ai dit le _flanche_. Alors, qu’il
_jacte_, “N’y avait-il pas de _fringues_?” Et je lui
réponds, “_Gy_, il y en a une charretée.” Alors, qu’il
dit, “_Acquiges_-en plein un panier et _débinons_-nous.”
Je retourne, et comme je _dévalais_ le long du _jaffier_,
l’_arroseur de verdouze_ qui paraît-il, avait _été plaqué
lago_ pour faire le _gaffe_, me _bonnit_, “Qu’est-ce que
tu _maquilles icigo_?” Je réponds, “Où peut-on parler
aux _larbins_?” Et il dit, “Il n’y a personne à la
maison, ils sont tous sortis. Que leur voulez-vous?” et
je lui réponds, “Savez-vous s’ils ont des bouteilles à
vendre, parceque la servante m’a dit de revenir?” “Je
ne sais pas, revenez un autre jour.” “C’est bien,” que
je lui dis; “je vous souhaite le bonjour.” J’avais à
peine _décarré_ qu’il _aboule_ comme un _louffoque_ et
me _jacte_, “Vous allez revenir avec moi.” Je lui dis,
“C’est bien, mon brave; qu’est-ce qu’il y a?” Et quand
nous _aboulons juxte_ la _lourde_ il _jacte_, “Comment
avez-vous fait pour ouvrir cette porte?” “Mon brave
homme,” lui dis-je, “vous êtes fou, comment aurais-je
fait?” Alors il _jacte_, “Elle n’était pas ouverte il
y a une demi-heure, car je l’ai essayée pour voir.”
Alors je _bonnis_, “Est-ce une raison pour que je l’aie
ouverte?” Et il _jacte_, “Dans tous les cas, vous allez
m’accompagner au poste de police.”

The station was not a stone’s throw from the place, so he caught hold of me, so I gave a twist round and brought the kipsy in his face, and gave him a push and guyed. He followed, giving me hot beef (calling “Stop thief”). My pal came along, and I said to him, “Make this man leave me alone, he is knocking me about,” and I put a half-James (half-sovereign) in his hand, and said, “Guy.” As I was running round a corner there was a reeler talking to a postman, and I rushed by him, and a little while after the gardener came up and told him all about it. So he set after me and the postman too, all the three giving me hot beef. This set other people after me, and I got run out. So I got run in, and was tried at Marylebone and remanded for a week, and then fullied (fully committed for trial), and got this stretch and a half. Marylebone is the court I got my schooling from.--_From Macmillan’s Magazine, October, 1879._

Le _bloc_ était à deux pas, alors il me met la _louche_
au _colas_ et je pirouette en lui _refilant_ un coup de
panier sur le _citron_; puis je lui _refile une pousse_
et je _fais patatrot_. Il me suit en _gueulant à la
chienlit_. Mon _fanande_ me suivait et je lui _bonnis_,
“Défends-moi contre ce _pante_, il me _passe à travers_;”
je _refile_ à _son gniasse_ un demi-souverain dans sa
_louche_ et je lui _dis_, “_Crompe! crompe!_” Comme je
tournais le coin, il y avait un _flique_ qui _jactait_
avec un facteur, je le dépasse en _faisant la paire_, et
peu après l’_arroseur de verdouze aboule_ et lui _débine
le truc_. Alors, il me _cavale_ avec le facteur, tous les
trois _gueulant à la chienlit_. De cette façon, d’autres
_pantes_ se mettent à me _refiler_ et je suis _pigé_.
On _m’emballe_, on me _met sur la planche au pain_ à
Marylebone et on me remet à huitaine, alors _gerbé_ à une
_longe_ et six _marques_. Marylebone est le _carré_ où
j’ai été _gerbé_ au _collège_.

A

ABADIE, ABADIS, _f._ (thieves’), _crowd_, “push.” According to Michel this word is derived from the Italian abbadia, _abbey_.

Pastiquant sur la placarde, j’ai rembroqué un abadis du
raboin.--=VIDOCQ.= (_When crossing the public square I saw
a devil of a crowd._)

ABAJOUES, _f. pl._ (popular), _face_, “chops.” Properly _chaps_.

ABALOBÉ (popular), _astounded_, _abashed_, or “flabbergasted.”

ABASOURDIR (thieves’), _to kill_. Properly _to astound_.

ABATI (obsolete), _killed_ (Michel).

On a trouvé un homme horriblement mutilé... on avoit
attaché sur lui une carte portant ci-gît l’Abaty.--_Journal
historique et anecdotique du règne de Louis XV._

ABATIS, ABATTIS, _m. pl._ (popular), _hands and feet_. Proper sense, _giblets_.

A bas les pattes! Les as-tu propres, seulement, tes
abattis, pour lacer ce corsage rose?--=E. VILLARS.=

Avoir les ---- canailles, _to have coarse, plebeian hands and feet_, or “beetle crushers and mutton fists.” Numérote tes ----, _I’ll break every bone in your body_.

ABAT-JOUR, _m._ (popular), _peak of a cap_; ---- des quinquets, _eyelid_.

ABAT-RELUIT (thieves’), _shade for the eyes_.

ABATTAGE, _m._ (popular), _much work done_; _work quickly done_; _severe scolding_, or “bully-ragging;” _action of throwing down one’s cards at baccarat when eight or nine are scored_. Vente à l’----, _sale of wares spread out on the pavement_.

ABATTOIR, _m._ (thieves’), _cell at the prison of La Roquette occupied by prisoners under sentence of death_; corresponds to the Newgate “salt-box.” It has also the meaning of _gaming-house_, or “punting-shop.” Properly a _slaughter-house_.

ABATTRE (familiar), en ----, _to do much work_, or to “sweat.”

ABBAYE, _f._ (thieves’), _kiln in which thieves and vagrants seek a refuge at night_; ---- ruffante, _warm kiln_; ---- de Monte-à-regret, _the scaffold_.

Mon père a épousé la veuve, moi je me retire à l’Abbaye
de Monte-à-regret.--=VICTOR HUGO=, _Le dernier Jour d’un
Condamné_.

Termed formerly “l’abbaye de Monte-à-rebours;” (popular) ---- de Saint-Pierre, _the scaffold_, a play on the words “cinq-pierres,” the guillotine being erected on five flagstones in front of La Roquette; ---- de sots bougres (obsolete), _a prison_; ---- des s’offre à tous, _house of ill-fame_, or “nanny-shop.”

ABBESSE, _f._ (popular), _mistress of a house of ill-fame_, “abbess.”

ABCÈS, _m._ (popular), _the possessor of a bloated face_.

ABÉLARDISER, _to mutilate a man as Chanoine Fulbert mutilated Abélard, the lover of his daughter or niece Héloïse_. The operation is termed by horse-trainers “adding one to the list.”

ABÉQUER (popular), _to feed_. Literally _to give a billful_.

ABÉQUEUSE, _f._ (popular), _wet nurse_; _landlady of an hotel_.

ABLOQUER, ABLOQUIR (thieves’), _to buy_; _to acquire_.

ABONNÉ (familiar), être ---- au guignon, _to experience a run of ill-luck_. Literally _to be a subscriber to ill-luck_.

ABORGNER (popular), s’----, _to scrutinize_. Literally _to make oneself blind of one eye by closing or_ “cocking” _it_.

ABOTÉ (popular), _clumsily adjusted or fitted_, “wobbly.”

ABOULAGE, ACRÉ, _m._ (popular), _plenty_.

ABOULÉE (popular), _in childbed_, “in the straw.”

ABOULEMENT, _m._ (popular), _accouchement_.

ABOULER (popular), _to be in childbed_, “to be in the straw;” _to give_, _to hand over_, to “dub.”

Pègres et barbots aboulez des pépettes...
Aboulez tous des ronds ou des liquettes
Des vieux grimpants, bricheton ou arlequins.

_Le Cri du Peuple_, Feb., 1886.

_To come_, “to crop up.”

Et si tézig tient à sa boule,
Fonce ta largue, et qu’elle aboule
Sans limace nous cambrouser.

=RICHEPIN=, _La Chanson des Gueux_.

ABOUR, _m._ (thieves’), _sieve_.

ABOYEUR (popular), _crier or salesman at public or private sales_; _man employed at the doors of puffing shops or theatrical booths to entice people in_, “barker;” _man who is constantly clamouring in words or writing against public men_; _man in a prison whose function it is to call prisoners_.

ABRACADABRANT, _adj._ (familiar), _marvellous_, or “stunning.” From Abracadabra, a magic word used as a spell in the Middle Ages.

ABRAQUÉ, _adj._ (sailors’), _tied_; _spliced_.

ABREUVOIR, _m._ (popular), _drinking-shop_, or “lush-crib;” ---- à mouches, _bleeding wound_.

ABRUTI, _m._, _a plodding student at the Ecole Polytechnique_, termed a “swat” at the R. M. Academy; _stolid and stupid man_; ---- de Chaillot, _blockhead_, or “cabbage-head.” Chaillot, in the suburbs of Paris, has repeatedly been made the butt for various uncomplimentary hits.

ABRUTIR (familiar), s’----, _to plod at any kind of work_. Literally _to make oneself silly_.

ABS, abbreviation of _absinthe_.

ABSINTHAGE, _m._ (familiar), _the drinking or mixing of absinthe_.

ABSINTHE, _f._ (familiar), faire son ----, _to mix absinthe with water_. Absinthe à la hussarde _is prepared by slowly pouring in the water_; “l’amazone” _is mixed in like manner, but with an adjunction of gum_; “la panachée” _is absinthe with a dash of gum or anisette_; “la purée” _is prepared by quickly pouring in the water_. Faire son ---- en parlant, _to spit when talking_. Heure de l’----, _the hour when that beverage is discussed in the cafés, generally from four to six p.m._ Avaler son ----, _see_ AVALER.

ABSINTHÉ, _adj._ (familiar), _intoxicated on absinthe_.

ABSINTHER (familiar), s’----, _to drink absinthe_; _to be a confirmed tippler of absinthe_.

ABSINTHEUR, _m._ (familiar), _a drinker of absinthe_; _one who makes it a practice of getting drunk on absinthe_.

ABSINTHIER, or ABSINTHEUR, _m._, _retailer of absinthe_.

ABSINTHISME, _m._ (familiar), _state of body and mind resulting from excessive drinking of absinthe_.

ABSORBER (familiar), _to eat and drink a great deal_, to “guzzle.”

ABSORPTION, _f._, _annual ceremony at the Ecole Polytechnique, at the close of which the seniors, or “anciens,” are entertained by the newly-joined, termed_ “melons” (“snookers” _at the Royal Military Academy_).

ACABIT, _m._ (popular), _the person_; _the body_; _health_; _temper_. Etre de bon ----, _to enjoy sound health_. Un étrange ----, _an odd humour_, or “strange kidney.”

ACACIAS, _m._, faire ses ----, _to walk or drive, according to the custom of fashionable Parisians, in the “Allée des Acacias” from the Porte-Maillot to La Concorde_.

ACALIFOURCHONNER (popular), s’----, _to get astride anything_.

ACCAPARER (familiar), quelqu’un ----, _to monopolize a person_.

ACCENT (thieves’), _signal given by spitting_.

ACCENTUER (popular), ses gestes ----, _to give a box on the ear_; in other terms, “to warm the wax of one’s ear;” _to give a blow_, or “bang.”

ACCESSOIRES, _m. pl._ (theatrical), _stage properties_, or “props.” As a qualificative it is used disparagingly, thus, Viande d’----, vin d’----, _are meat and wine of bad quality_.

ACCOERER (thieves’), _to arrange_.

ACCOLADE (popular), _smart box on the ear_, “buckhorse.”

ACCOMMODER (familiar), quelqu’un à la sauce piquante, _to beat severely_, “to double up;” _to make one smart under irony or reproaches_. Might be rendered by, _to sit upon one with a vengeance_; ---- au beurre noir, _to beat black and blue_.

ACCORDÉON, _m._ (popular), _opera-hat_.

ACCOUFLER (popular), s’----, _to squat_. From the word couffles, _cotton bales_, which may be conveniently used as seats.

ACCROCHE-CŒURS (familiar). Properly _small curl twisted on the temple_, or “kiss-curl.” Cads apply that name to short, crooked whiskers.

ACCROCHER (popular), un paletot, _to tell a falsehood_, or “swack up;” ---- un soldat, _to confine a soldier to barracks_, “to roost.” S’----, _to come to blows_, “to come to loggerheads.” (Familiar) Accrocher, _to pawn_, “to pop, to lumber, to blue.”

Etes-vous entré quelquefois dans un de ces nombreux bureaux
de prêt qu’on désigne aussi sous le nom de ma tante? Non.
Tant mieux pour vous. Cela prouve que vous n’avez jamais eu
besoin d’y accrocher vos bibelots et que votre montre n’a
jamais retardé de cinquante francs.--=FRÉBAULT=, _La Vie de
Paris_.

ACCROUER. See ACCOUFLER.

A CHAILLOT! (popular), _an energetic invitation to make oneself scarce_; _an expression of strong disapproval coupled with a desire to see one turned out of doors_.

ACHAR (popular), d’----, abbreviation of acharnement, _with steadiness of purpose, in an unrelenting manner_.

ACHETER (popular), quelqu’un ----, _to turn one into ridicule_, _to make a fool of one_.

ACHETOIR, _m._, ACHETOIRES, _f. pl._ (popular), _money_, “loaver.”

ACŒURER (popular), _to do anything with a will_, to “wire in.”

ACOQUINER (popular), s’----, used disparagingly, _to keep company_, _to live with one_.

ACRÉ (thieves’), _strong_, “spry,” _violent_; _silence!_ “mum’s the word!” _be careful!_ “shoe leather!”

ACRÉE, ACRIE, _m._ (thieves’), _mistrust_; ---- donc! _hold your tongue!_ “mum your dubber!” _be cautious_. From acrimonie.

ACTEUR-GUITARE (theatrical and journalistic), _actor who has only one string to his bow_; _actor who elicits applause in lachrymose scenes only_.

ACTIONNAIRE, _m._, (literary), _credulous man easily deceived_. Proper sense, _shareholder_.

ADJECTIVER (popular), _to abuse_, to “slang.”

ADJOINT (thieves’), _executioner’s assistant_.

ADJUDANT, _m._ (military), tremper un ----, _to dip a piece of bread in the first, and consequently the more savoury broth yielded by the “pot au feu,” a practice indulged in by cooks_.

ADJUGER (gamesters’), une banque à un opérateur, _to cheat_, to “bite,” _at cards_.

ADROIT, _adj._ (popular), du coude, _fond of the bottle_, _or skilful in_ “crooking the elbow.”

AFF, AFFE, _f._ (popular), eau d’----, _brandy_, or “French cream.” See TORD-BOYAUX.

La v’là l’enflée, c’est de l’eau d’affe (eau-de-vie), elle
est toute mouchique celle-là.--=VIDOCQ.=

AFFAIRE, _f._ (thieves’), _projected crime_; _projected theft or swindle_, “plant;” ---- juteuse, _profitable transaction_; ---- mûre, _preconcerted crime or theft about to be committed_. (Familiar) Avoir son ----, _to have received a_ “settler;” _to be completely drunk_, or “hoodman;” _to have received a mortal wound_, in other words, “_to have one’s goose cooked_.” (Popular) Avoir une ---- cachée sous la peau, _to be pregnant_, or “lumpy.” Faire l’---- à quelqu’un, _to kill_, “to do for one.”

AFFALER (popular), s’----, _to fall_, “to come a cropper.”

T’es rien poivre, tu ne tiens plus sur tes fumerons.... tu
vas t’affaler.--=RICHEPIN=, _Le Pavé_.

AFFE. See AFF.

AFFISTOLER (familiar), _to arrange_, _to dress_. Mal affistolé, _badly done_, _badly dressed_.

AFFLUER (thieves’), _to deceive_, to “cram;” _to cheat_, to “stick;” _to swindle_, to “fox.” From à flouer.

AFFOURCHER (sailors’), sur ses ancres, _to retire from the service_. Properly _to moor a ship each way_.

AFFRANCHI (thieves’), _convict who has_ “done his time;” _one who has ceased to be honest_; _one who has been induced to be an accomplice in a crime_.

AFFRANCHIR (gamesters’), _to save a certain card at the cost of another_; _to initiate one into the tactics of card-sharpers_; (thieves’) _to corrupt_; _to teach one dishonest practices_; ---- un sinve avec de l’auber, _to corrupt a man by dint of money_; ---- un sinve pour grinchir, _to put an honest man up to thieving_.

AFFRES, _f. pl._ (popular), _upbraiding_, “blowing up.” Proper sense, _agonies_.

AFFUR, AFFURE, _m._ (thieves), _proceeds_, _profits_. Avoir de l’----, _to have money_.

Quand je vois mon affure
Je suis toujours paré,
Du plus grand cœur du monde
Je vais à la profonde
Pour vous donner du frais.

=VIDOCQ.=

AFFURAGE, _m._ (thieves’), _proceeds of theft_, “regulars,” or “swag.”

AFFURER, AFFÛTER (thieves’), _to deceive_; _to make profits_; _to procure_; ---- de l’auber, _to make money_.

En goupinant comme ça on n’affure pas d’auber.--=VIDOCQ.=

AFFÛT (thieves’ and popular), être d’----, _to be able, cunning_, or “a downy cove;” _to be wide awake_, or “to be one who knows what’s o’clock.” A l’----, _on the watch_.

AFFÛTER (thieves’), _to deceive_, _to snatch_, “to click;” _to whip up_, “to nip;” _to make unlawful profits_; ---- ses pincettes, _to walk_, to “pad the hoof;” _to run_, to “leg it.” Proper sense, _to sharpen_. S’---- le sifflet, _to drink_, to “whet one’s whistle.”

AGACEUR (sporting), _one who sets a thing going_, “buttoner.”

AGANTER (popular), _to take_, _to catch_, “to grab;” ---- une claque, _to receive a box on the ear_, “to get one’s ear’s wax warmed.”

AGATE, _f._ (thieves’), _crockery_.

AGATER (popular), _to be thrashed_, “tanned;” _to be caught_, “nabbed.”

AGENOUILLÉE, _f._ (journalists’), _prostitute whose spécialité is best described by the appellation itself_.

AGOBILLE (thieves’), _implements_, “jilts.”

AGONIR (popular), _to abuse vehemently_, to “bully-rag,” or “to haul over the coals. “

AGOUT, _m._ (thieves’), _drinking-water_.

AGRAFE, _f._ (popular), _hand_, “picker,” “dooks,” or “dukes.”

AGRAFER (thieves’ and cads’), _to seize_, to “grab;” _to arrest_, “to pull up,” or “to smug.”

AGRÉMENT, _m._ (theatrical), avoir de l’----, _to obtain applause_. (Popular) Se pousser de l’----, _to amuse oneself_.

AGRIPPER (popular), _to seize secretly_, _to steal quickly_, to “nip.” S’----, _to come to blows_, “to slip into one another.”

AGUICHER (popular), _to allure_, _decoy_, “to button;” _to quicken_, _to excite_.

Il fallait lui faire comprendre qu’elle aguiche la soif du
petit, en l’empêchant de boire.--=RICHEPIN=, _La Glu_.

AGUIGNER (popular), _to teaze_, “to badger.”

AHURI, _m._ (popular), de Chaillot, _block-head_, “cabbage-head.” See ABRUTI.

AIDE-CARGOT, _canteen servant_.

AIDES. See ALLER.

AÏE-AÏE, _m._ (popular), _omnibus_.

AIGUILLE, _f._ (military), à tricoter les côtes, _sword_, “toasting-fork;” (thieves’) _key_, or “screw;” _card made to protrude from a pack for cheating_, “old gentleman.”

AIGUILLER (card-sharpers’), la brème, _to make a mark or notch on a card_.

AILE, _f._, AILERON, _m._ (popular), _arm_, or “bender.”

AILLE, IERGUE, ORGUE, UCHE, _suffixes used to disguise any word_.

AILLE (familiar), fallait pas qu’y ----, _it is all his own fault_, _he has nobody to thank for it but himself_.

AIMANT, _m._ (popular), faire de l’----, _to make a fussy show of affected friendliness through interested motives_.

AIMER (popular), à crédit, _to enjoy the gratuitous good graces of a kept woman_. Aimer comme ses petits boyaux, _to doat on one_, “to love like the apple of one’s eye.”

AIR, _m._ (popular), se donner de l’----, se pousser de l’----, jouer la fille de l’----, _to run away_, to “cut and run.” See PATATROT.

AIRS, _m. pl._ (popular), être à plusieurs ----, _to be a hypocrite, double-faced person_, “mawworm.”

A LA BALADE (popular), chanteurs ----, _itinerant singers_, “chaunters.”

A LA BARQUE, _street cry of mussel costermongers_.

A LA BONNE (popular), prendre quelquechose chose ----, _to take anything good-humouredly_. Avoir ----, _to love, to like_.

Je peste contre le quart d’œil de mon quartier qui ne m’a
pas à la bonne.--=VIDOCQ.=

A LA CARRE (thieves’), dégringoler ----, _to steal from shops_; _kind of theft committed principally by women who pretend to be shopping_; “shoplifting.”

A LA CLEF (familiar), _an expletive_. Trop de zèle ----, _too much zeal by half_. From a musical term. The expression is used sometimes with no particular meaning, thus, Il y aura du champagne ----, is equivalent to, Il y aura du champagne.

A LA CORDE (popular), logement ----, _low lodging-house, where the lodgers sleep with their heads on a rope_, _which is let down early in the morning_. In some of these the lodgers leave all their clothes with the keeper, to ensure against their being stolen.

A LA COULE (popular), être ----, _to be conversant with_.

S’il avait été au courant, à la coule, il aurait su que le
premier truc du camelot, c’est de s’établir au cœur même de
la foule.--=RICHEPIN.=

Etre ----, _to be happy; at one’s ease; comfortable_. Je n’étais pas ----, _I felt very uncomfortable_.

A LA FLAN, À LA RENCONTRE, or À LA DURE (thieves’), fabriquer un gas ----, _to attack and rob a person at night_, “to jump a cove.”

A LA GRIVE! (thieves’ and cads’), _take care!_ “shoe leather!” Cribler ----, _to call out “police!”_ to “give hot beef.”

Par contretemps ma largue,
. . . . . .
Pour gonfler ses valades,
Encasque dans un rade,
Sert des sigues à foison;
On la crible à la grive,
Je m’la donne et m’esquive,
Elle est pommée maron.

_Mémoires de Vidocq._

A LA MANQUE (thieves’), fafiots, or fafelards ----, _forged bank notes_, “queer soft.” Avoir du pognon, or de la galette ----, _to be penniless_. Etre ----, _not to be trustworthy_; _to betray_.

Pas un de nous ne sera pour le dab à la manque.--=BALZAC.=

A LA PAPA (popular), _quietly, slowly_.

A LA PETITE BONNE FEMME (popular), glisser ----, _to slide squatting on one’s heels_.

ALARMISTE (thieves’), _watch-dog_, “tyke.”

A-LA-SIX-QUATRE-DEUX (popular), _in disorder_, “all at sixes and sevens;” _anyhow_, “helter-skelter.”

A LA SONDE (cads’), être ----, _to be cunning, wide awake_, “fly.”

Va, la môm’, truque et n’fais pas four.
Sois rien mariolle et à la sonde!

=RICHEPIN=, _Chanson des Gueux_.

A LA TIENNE ETIENNE! (popular), _your health!_

A LA VA-TE-FAIRE-FICHE, _anyhow_.

Un béret nature, campé par une main paysanne,
à la va te-faire-fiche, sans arrière-pensée de
pittoresque.--=RICHEPIN=, _Le Pavé_.

ALÈNES, _f. pl._ (thieves’), _tools_, _implements_, “jilts.” Properly _shoemakers’ awls_.

ALENTOIR, _m._, for alentour (thieves’), _neighbourhood_, _vicinity_.

A L’ESBROUFFE (thieves’), faire un coup ---- sur un pantre, _to steal a pocket-book from a person who has been seen to enter a bank, or other financial establishment_. The thief watches his opportunity in the neighbourhood of such establishments, and when operating keeps his hand concealed under an overcoat which he bears on his arm.

ALIGNER (freemasons’), _to lay the cloth_. S’----, in soldiers’ language, _to fight a duel with swords_. The expression is used also by civilians.

ALINÉALISTE, _m._ (literary), _writer who is fond of short paragraphs_.

ALLEMAND, _m._ (popular), peigne d’----, _the four fingers_.

ALLER (familiar), à Bougival, in literary men’s parlance, _is to write a newspaper article of no interest for the general public_; ---- à la cour des aides _is said of a married woman who has one or more lovers_; ---- au pot, _to pick up dominoes from those which remain after the proper number has been distributed to the players_; ---- au safran, _to spend freely one’s capital_, an allusion to the colour of gold; ---- en Belgique _is said of a cashier who bolts with the cash-box, or of a financier who makes off with the money of his clients_; ---- se faire fiche, _to go to the deuce_; ---- se faire foutre _has the same meaning, but refers to a rather more forcible invitation yet_; ---- se faire lanlaire, _to go to the deuce_. Allez vous faire fiche, or foutre! _go to the deuce_, or “you be hanged!” Je lui ai dit d’---- se faire lanlaire, _I sent him about his business_. Aller son petit bonhomme de chemin, _to do anything without any hurry, without heeding interruptions or hindrances_. On avait beau lui crier d’arrêter, il allait toujours son petit bonhomme de chemin. (Familiar and popular) Y aller, _to begin anything_. Allons-y! _let us begin! let us open the ball! now for business_. Y aller de quelque chose, _to contribute_; _to pay_; _to furnish_. Y ---- de son argent, _to pay_, “to stump up.” Y ---- d’une, de deux, _to pay for one or two bottles of liquor_. Y ---- de sa larme, _to shed a tear_, _to show emotion_. Y ---- gaiment, _to do anything willingly, briskly_. Allons y gaiment! _let us look alive!_ (Popular) Aller à la chasse avec un fusil de toile, _to go a begging_, “to cadge.” An allusion to a beggar’s canvas wallet. Compare this with the origin of the word “to beg,” which is derived from “bag;” ---- à l’arche, _to fetch money_; ---- à niort, _to deny_, a play on the words “Niort,” name of a town, and “nier,” to deny; ---- à ses affaires, _to ease oneself_, “to go to Mrs. Jones’;” ---- au persil _is said of street-walkers who ply their trade_. This expression may have its origin in the practice sometimes followed by this class of women of carrying a small basket as if going to the fruiterer’s; ---- au trot _is said of a prostitute walking the street in grand attire_, or “full fig;” ---- au vice, _to make one’s resort of places where immorality is rife_; ---- voir défiler les dragons, _to go without dinner_. The English have the expressions, “to dine out,” used by the lower classes, and “to dine with Duke Humphrey,” by the middle and upper. According to the _Slang Dictionary_ the reason of the latter saying is as follows: “Some visitors were inspecting the abbey where the remains of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, lie, and one of them was unfortunately shut in, and remained there _solus_ while his companions were feasting at a neighbouring hostelry. He was afterwards said to have dined with Duke Humphrey, and the saying eventually passed into a proverb.” Aller aux pruneaux _is said of the victim of a practical joke played in hospitals at the expense of a new patient, who, being sent at the conclusion of a meal to request another patient to furnish him with the customary dessert, gets bolstered for his pains_; ---- où le roi va à pied, _to go to the latrines_, or “chapel of ease;” (printers’) ---- en galilée, or ---- en germanie (a play on the words “Je remanie,” I overrun), _to do some overrunning in a piece of composition_; (soldiers’) ---- à l’astic, _to clean one’s equipment_; (sporting) ---- pour l’argent, _to back one’s own horse_; (musicians’) ---- au carreau, _to seek an engagement_. An allusion to “la Rue du Petit-Carreau,” a meeting-place for musicians of the lowest class, and musical conductors. (Thieves’) Aller à comberge, _to go to confession with a priest_; ---- à la retape, _to waylay in order to murder_; ---- chez Fualdès, _to share the booty_, “to nap the regulars.” Fualdès was a rich banker, who was murdered in circumstances of peculiar atrocity.

ALLEZ DONC (familiar), et ----, _a kind of flourish at the end of a sentence to emphasize an assertion_. Allez donc vous laver (popular), _be off_, go to “pot;” ---- vous asseoir, “shut up!”

ALLIANCES, _f. pl._ (thieves’), _handcuffs_, “bracelets.” Properly _wedding-rings_.

ALLONGER (familiar), _to pay_, to “fork out;” ---- les radis, _to pay_, “to shell out;” (military) ---- la ficelle or la courroie, _to make an addition to a penalty_. S’----, _to fall_, to “come down a cropper.”

ALLUME, _m._, _confederate who makes sham bids at auctions_, a “button.”

ALLUMÉ (thieves’), _stared at_.

Sur la placarde de Vergne
Il nous faudrait gambiller,
Allumés de toutes ces largues
Et du trèpe rassemblé.

_Mémoires de Vidocq._

ALLUMER (thieves’), _to look_, “to stag,” _to see_, or “to pipe;” _to keep a sharp look-out_, _to watch_, “to nark.”

Si le Squelette avait eu tantôt une largue comme moi pour
allumer, il n’aurait pas été mouché le surin dans l’avaloir
du grinche.--=E. SUE=, _Mystères de Paris_.

Allumer le miston, _to scan one’s features_; ---- ses clairs, _to look attentively_, “to stag;” (prostitutes’) ---- son pétrole, son gaz, _to get highly excited_. (Theatrical) Allumer, _to awake interest or enthusiasm among an audience_; (popular) _to allure purchasers at fair stalls, or the public at theatrical booths or_ “gaffs” _by glowing accounts_. In coachmens’ parlance, _to whip_, “to flush.” (Familiar) S’----, _to be slightly intoxicated_, “fresh;” _excited by women’s allurements_; _brought to the proper pitch of interest by card-sharpers or salesmen_.

Un autre compère gagne encore un coup de dix francs cette
fois. La galerie s’allume de plus en plus.--=RICHEPIN=,
_Le Pavé_.

ALLUMETTE, f. (popular), avoir son ----, _to be tipsy_, “screwed.” The successive stages of this degree of intoxication are expressed by the qualifying terms, “ronde,” “de marchand de vin,” “de campagne.”

ALLUMETTES, _f. pl._ (popular), _arms_, “benders.”

ALLUMEUR, _m._, _confederate at auction rooms_ (see ALLUME); _thief who gets workmen into a state of intoxication on pay day, after which they are seen home, and robbed of their earnings by his confederates, the “meneuses” and “travailleurs,”_ or “bug hunters;” _gambling cheat who plays as if he were one of the general public, and who otherwise sets a game going_, a “buttoner,” or “decoy-duck.”

ALLUMEURS, _m. pl._ (military), de gaz, _lancers_. An allusion to their weapon, which has some resemblance with a lamp-lighter’s rod.

ALLUMEUSE, _f._, _woman who seeks to entice passers-by into patronizing a house of ill fame_.

ALMANACH, _m._ (popular), des vingt-cinq mille adresses, _girl or woman of dissolute character_, “public ledger.” See GADOUE.

ALPAGA, ALPAG, _m._ (popular), _coat_, “tog,” or “Benjamin.”

ALPAGUE (popular), _clothing_, “toggery,” _coat_, “Benjamin.”

ALPHONSE (familiar), _man who protects prostitutes, ill-treats them often, and lives off their earnings_, “pensioner.” These worthies go also by the names of “dos, barbeau, chevalier de la guiche, marlou,” &c. See POISSON.

ALPHONSISME (familiar), _the calling of an Alphonse_.

ALPION (gamesters’), _man who cheats at cards_, _one who_ “bites.”

ALTÈQUE (thieves’), _manly_, “spry,” _handsome_, _excellent_, “nobby.” From altus.

AMADOU, _m._, AMADOUE, _f._ (thieves’ and tramps’), _substance with which vagabonds rub their faces to give themselves a sickly, wretched appearance_.

Les cagous emmènent avec sezières leurs apprentis pour
leur apprendre à exercer l’argot. Premièrement, leur
enseignent à acquiger de l’amadoue de plusieurs sortes,
l’une avec de l’herbe qu’on nomme éclaire, pour servir aux
francs-mijoux.--_Le Jargon de l’Argot._

(Popular) _man with an inflammable heart_.

AMADOUAGE, _m._ (thieves’), _marriage_, “buckling.”

AMADOUER, s’---- (thieves’ and tramps’), _to paint or otherwise make up one’s face with a view to deceiving people_.

AMANDES, _f. pl._ (popular), de pain d’épice, _black teeth_, _few and far between_.

AMANT (prostitutes’), de carton, _lover of no importance_, _a poor lover in both senses_; ---- de cœur, _one who enjoys a kept woman’s affections gratis_, _one who is loved for “love,” not money_.

AMAR, AMARRE, _m._ (thieves’), _friend_, “pal,” or “Ben cull;” ---- d’attaque, _staunch friend_.

AMAR-LOER (Breton cant), _rope which has served to hang one_.

AMARRER (thieves’), _to act in such a manner as to deceive_, _to lay a_ “plant.” Properly _to moor_.

AMATEUR (in literary men’s parlance), _writer who does not exact payment for his productions_; (in officers’ slang) _a civilian_; _an officer who gives himself little trouble in his profession, who takes it easy_; (familiar) _man who makes a living by playing at cards with people unable to leave their homes_.

AMAZONE, _f._, (thieves’), _female card-sharper_.

AMBASSADEUR, _m._ (popular), _shoemaker_, “snob;” (in gay girls’ slang) _a bully_. See POISSON.

AMBES, _f. pl._ (thieves’), _legs_, “gambs.”

AMBIER (thieves’), _to flee_, “to pike.” See PATATROT.

Et mezière de happer le taillis et ambier le plus
gourdement possible.--_Jargon de l’Argot._ (_I got off, and
ran away as fast as possible._)

AMBRELLIN (Breton cant), _son_.

AMBULANTE, _f._ (thieves’), _female who is at once a hawker_, _a thief_, _and a prostitute_.

AMENDIER, _m._ (theatrical), fleuri, _stage manager_, “daddy.” A play on the word amende, _a fine_, the connection being obvious.

AMENER (popular), s’----, _to come_, _to go to_. Le voilà qui s’amène, _here he comes_.

AMÉRICAIN (thieves’), _confederate of a thief, who goes by the name of Jardinier_. The pair induce a simpleton to dig at the foot of a tree for a buried treasure, when they rob him of his money; _a swindler who pretends he has just returned from America_; (familiar) _a drink_, _something between grog and punch_. Faire l’œil ----, _to scrutinize with searching glance_. Oeil ----, _eye with purposely amorous_, “killing,” _expression_; also _a very sharp eye_.

AMÉRICAINE, vol à l’ (see CHARRIAGE).

AMI (thieves’), _expert thief_, “gonnof;” ---- de collège, _prison chum_.

AMICABLEMENT (popular), _in a friendly manner_, _affectionately_.

AMINCHE, AMINCHEMAR, AMINCHEMINCE, _m._ (thieves’), _friend_, “ben cull;” ---- d’aff, _accomplice_, “stallsman.”

AMIS, _m. pl._ (popular), comme cochons, “thick” _friends_.

AMITEUX, _adj._ (popular), _friendly_, _amiable_, _gentle_.

AMOCHER (popular), _to bruise_, _to ill-treat_, to “manhandle.” S’---- la gueule, _to maul one another’s face_, to “mug” _one another_.

AMORCÉ, _adj._ (popular), _furnished_, _garnished_.

V’la qu’est richement amorcé, j’en suis moi-même
ébaubi.--=RICHEPIN.=

AMOUREUX (popular), _hunchback_, or “lord;” ---- de carême, _a timid lover_. Literally a “Lent lover.” (Printers’) Papier ----, _paper that blots_.

AMPAFLE, _m._ (thieves’), _cloth_.

AMPHI, _m._ (students’), abbreviation of amphithéâtre, _lecture room_.

AMPHIBIE (typographers’), _typographer who is at the same time a printer and reader_, “donkey.”

AMPREFAN (Breton cant), _a low_, _insulting expression_.

AMUSATIF, _adj._ (popular), _amusing_, _funny_.

AMUSER (popular), s’---- à la moutarde, _to neglect one’s duty or work for trifles_, _tomfooleries_.

AN, _m._ (thieves’), _litre_, _measure for wine_.

ANARCHO, _m._, _anarchist_.

ANASTASIE, _f._, _literary and theatrical official censorship_.

ANCHOIS, _m._ (popular), yeux bordés d’----, _eyes with inflamed eyelids_.

ANCHTIBLER (thieves’), _to apprehend_, to “nab,” or “to smug.”

ANCIEN, ANCIENNE (peasants’), _father_, _mother_. “Ancien” at the military schools _is a student who has been through the two years’ course_. In the army, _a soldier who has served one term of service at least_.

ANDERLIQUE, _m._ (popular), _a dirty or foul-mouthed man_. Properly _a small tub used by scavengers_.

ANDOSSE, _m._ (thieves’), _the back_.

Alors le rupin en colère, jura que s’il attrapait jamais
des trucheurs dans son pipet qu’il leur ficherait cent
coups de sabre sur l’andosse.--_Jargon de l’Argot._

ANDOUILLE, _f._ (popular), _a man devoid of energy_, a “muff.” Properly _chitterlings_. Faire l’----, _to play the fool_. Grand dépendeur d’andouilles, _one who prefers good cheer to work_.

Viennent aussi des bat-la-flemme, des sans-douilles,
Fainéants, suce-pots, grands dépendeurs d’andouilles,
Qui dans tous les cabarets ont tué leur je dois,
Et qui ne font jamais œuvre de leurs dix doigts.

=RICHEPIN=, _La Mer_.

(Cod-fishers’) Andouille, _wind blowing to sea-ward_.

ANGAUCHE, or ANGLUCE, _f._ (thieves’), _goose_. Tortiller de l’----, _to eat goose_.

ANGE-GARDIEN, _m._ (popular), _man whose calling is to see drunkards home; muslin inside a chemisette_.

ANGLAIS, _m._ (familiar), _creditor_, “dun;” _man who keeps a mistress; a carefully made up dummy parcel in shops_. Il a de l’----, _is said of a horse which shows blood_. Anglais à prunes, voyageurs à prunes, _prudent travellers, who, being aware of the long price asked for fruit at restaurants, are satisfied with a few plums_; (cabmens’) ---- de carton, _an expression of contempt applied to a stingy_ “fare.”

ANGLAISE, _f._ (mountebanks’), _the share of each partner in the business; the expenses of each guest at a meal_. (Popular) Danser à l’----, _a practice followed by girls who pretend to go to the ball of the opera, and stop at a restaurant where they await clients_. Faire une ----, _to pay one’s share in the reckoning; also a favourite game of loafers_. One of the players tosses all the pence of the party; those which turn up heads, or tails as the case may be, are his; another player adjudges to himself the tails, and so on with the rest. Filer, or pisser à l’----, _to give the slip_, _to take_ “French leave.”

ANGLUCE, or ANGAUCHE, _f._ (thieves’), _goose_.

ANGOULÊME, _f._ (thieves’), _the mouth_, “muns.” From “engouler,” _to swallow_. Se caresser l’----, _to eat and drink_, _to take_ “grub and bub.” See MASTIQUER.

ANGUILLE, _f._ (thieves’), _belt_. Properly _eel_; (familiar) ---- de buisson, _snake_.

ANIS, _m._ (popular), de l’----! _exclamation expressive of refusal_, may be rendered by “you be hanged!” See NÈFLES.

ANISETTE, _f._ (popular), de barbillon, _water_, or “Adam’s ale.”

ANJEZ (Breton cant), _father_.

ANN DOOUZEG ABOSTOL (Breton cant), _twelve o’clock_. Literally _the twelve apostles_.

ANNONCIER, _m._ (printers’), _compositor of advertisements_; also _man who belongs to an advertising firm_.

ANNUAIRE, _m._ (military), passer l’---- sous le bras, _to be promoted according to seniority_.

ANONCHALI (popular), _discouraged_, _cast down_, “down in the mouth.”

ANQUILIEUSE, _f._ (thieves’), _female thief who conceals stolen property between her legs_. From “quilles,” a slang term for legs.

ANSE, _f._ (popular), _arm_, “bender.” Faire le panier à deux anses, _to walk with a woman on each arm_, _to play the_ “sandwich.”

ANTIF, _m._, ANTIFFE, _f._ (thieves’), _act of walking_. Battre l’----, _to walk_, to “pad the hoof;” _to deceive_, “to kid;” _to dissemble; to spy_, to “nark.”

ANTIFFER (thieves’), _to enter_, _to walk in_; _to walk_, “to pad the hoof.”

ANTIFFLE (thieves’), _church_. Battre l’----, _to be a hypocrite_, “mawworm.”

ANTIFFLER (thieves’), _to be married in church_, “to be buckled.”

ANTILLES, _f._ _pl._ (thieves’), _testicles_.

ANTIPATHER (popular), _to abominate_.

ANTIQUE, _student of the Ecole Polytechnique who has completed the regular course of studies_.

ANTONNE, ENTONNE, _f._ (thieves’), _church_.

Au matin quand nous nous levons,
J’aime la croûte de parfond.
Dans les entonnes trimardons,
Ou aux creux de ces ratichons.

_Chanson de l’Argot._

ANTROLER, ENTROLLER (thieves’), _to carry away_, “to chuff.”

Un de ces luisans, un marcandier alla demander la thune
à un pipet, et le rupin ne lui ficha que floutière: il
mouchailla des ornies de balle qui morfiaient du grenu
en la cour; alors il ficha de son sabre sur la tronche
à une, il l’abasourdit la met dans son gueulard et
l’entrolle.--_Le Jargon de l’Argot._

APASCLINER (thieves’), s’----, _to get used to_, _acclimatized_.

A PERPÈTE (thieves’), _for life_. Gerbé à ----, _to be sentenced to penal servitude for life_, _to be a_ “lifer.”

APIC (thieves’), _garlic_; _eye_, “daylight, “glazier,” or “ogle.”

APLATIR (familiar), quelqu’un, _to thrash soundly_, “to lick;” _to reduce one’s arguments to nought_, “to nonplus.” Properly _to flatten_.

APLATISSEUR, _m._ (familiar), de pièces de six liards ----, _one who is over particular; one who attaches undue importance to trifles_.

APLOMB, _m._ (popular), être d’----, _to be strong_, _sound_, “game.” Reluquer d’----, _to look straight in the face_.

APLOMBER (thieves’), _to abash a person by one’s coolness_.

APONICHÉ (popular), _seated_.

APOPLEXIE, _f._ (popular), de templier, _a fit of apoplexy brought on by excessive drinking_. From the saying, Boire comme un templier.

APOTHICAIRE, _m._ (popular), sans sucre, _workman with but few tools; tradesman with an insufficient stock in trade_.

APÔTRES (thieves’), _fingers_, or “forks.”

APPELER (theatrical), azor, _to hiss_, or “to goose.” Literally _to whistle a dog_. Azor, a common name for a dog.

APPUYER (theatrical), _to let scenes down_.

AQUARIUM, _an assembly of prostitutes’ bullies_, or “ponces.” From their being denominated maquereaux, _mackerels_.

AQUICHER (thieves’), _to decoy_, _allure_.

AQUIGER, QUIGER (thieves’ and cads’), _to steal_, “to lift;” _to wound; to beat_, “to wallop;” _to make_, or “to fake;” ---- les brèmes, _to mark cards for cheating_, or to “stock broads.” It means also _to take_, _to procure_, _to find_.

Dévalons donc dans cette piole
Où nous aquigerons riole,
Et sans débrider nos pouchons.

=RICHEPIN=, _La Chanson des Gueux_.

AQUILIN (popular), faire son ----, _to pout_, or “to hang one’s latch-pan;” _to turn up one’s nose_.

ARABE, _m._ (popular), _savage_, _unrelenting fellow_, or “tartar.”

ARAIGNÉE, _f._ (popular), _bicycle with a large fly-wheel_; ---- de bastringue, _female habituée of low dancing halls_; ---- de comptoir, _counter jumper_, or “knight of the yard;” ---- de trottoir, _dealer at a stall, or in the open air_. Avoir une ---- dans le plafond, _to be cracked_, _to have_ “a bee in one’s bonnet.” See AVOIR.

ARBALÈTE, _f._ (thieves’), _neck-cross_; ---- d’antonne, de chique, de priante, _church-cross_.

ARBI, ARBICO, _m._ (army), _Arab_.

ARBIF, _m._ (thieves’), _violent man_.

ARCASIEN, ARCASINEUR, _m._ (thieves’), _thief who employs the arcat_ (which see); _a beggar who calls on people_; _cunning man_.

ARCAT, _m._ (thieves’), monter un ----, _to write a letter from prison to a person asking for an advance in cash on a supposed buried treasure which, later on, is to be pointed out to the donor_. From arcane, _mystery_, _hidden thing_.

ARCAVOT, _m._ (Jew traders’), _falsehood_.

ARCHE, _f._ (popular), aller à l’----, _to fetch money_. Fendre l’----, _to weary_, “to bore.”

ARCHICUBE, _m._, _student who has completed his three years’ course of study at the Ecole Normale_, an institution where professors are trained for university professorships, and which holds the first rank among special schools in France.

ARCHIPOINTU, _m._ (thieves’), _an archbishop_.

ARCHISUPPÔT DE L’ARGOT (old cant), _learned thief_, _arch-thief_, “gonnof.”

Les archisuppôts de l’argot sont les plus savants, les plus
habiles marpeaux de toutime l’argot, qui sont des écoliers
débauchés, et quelques ratichons, de ces coureurs qui
enseignent le jargon à rouscailler bigorne.--_Le Jargon de
l’Argot._

ARCHITECTE DE L’UNIVERS (freemasons’), _the Deity_.

ARÇON (thieves’), _sign of recognition made by passing the thumb down the right cheek and spitting at the same time_.

Si c’étaient des amis de Pantin, je pourrais me faire
reconnaître mais des pantres nouvellement affranchis (des
paysans qui font leurs premières armes), j’aurais beau
faire l’arçon.--=VIDOCQ.=

ARÇONNER (thieves’), _to make one speak out_; _to speak_, or “to patter.”

ARCPINCER, ARQUEPINCER (thieves’ and popular), _to take_, or “to collar;” _to seize_, or “to grab;” ---- l’omnibus, _to catch the ’bus_. Veuillez ---- mon anse, _pray take my arm_.

J’ai promis de reconobrer tous les grinchisseurs et de les
faire arquepincer.--=VIDOCQ.=

ARDENT, _m._ (thieves’), _candle_, or “glim.” Fauche-ardents, _snuffers_.

ARDENTS, _m._ _pl._ (thieves’), _eyes_, or “glaziers.” See QUINQUETS.

ARDOISE, _f._ (popular), _head_, or “tibby;” _hat_, or “tile.” Avoir l’----, _to have credit_, or “jawbone.” An allusion to the slate used for drawing up the reckoning.

ARGA, _m._ (thieves’), _share of booty_, or “snaps.”

ARGANEAU, _m._ (thieves’), _a link connecting two convicts’ irons_.

ARGOT, _m._ (thieves’), _animal_; _fool_, or “go along;” _thieves’ brotherhood_, or “family men.”

ARGOTÉ (thieves’), _one who lays claim to being witty_.

ARGOTIER, _m._ (thieves’), _one of the brotherhood of thieves_, or “family man.”

ARGOUSIN, _m._ (popular), _foreman_, or “boss.”

ARGUCHE, _m._ (thieves’), _cant_, or “flash;” _a fool_, _dunce_, or “go-along.”

ARGUEMINE, _f._ (thieves’), _hand_, or “famm.”

ARICOTEUR, _m._ (thieves’), _executioner_.

ARISTO, _m._ for _aristocrat_ (popular), _a man in comfortable circumstances_.

ARISTOCRATE, _m._, _an appellation given by prisoners to one of their number whose means allow him to obtain victuals from the canteen_.

ARLEQUIN (popular), _broken victuals of every description mixed up and retailed to poor people_. The word has passed into the language.

Autrefois chez Paul Niquet
Fumait un vaste baquet
Sur la devanture.
Pour un ou deux sous, je crois,
On y plongeait les deux doigts
Deux, à l’aventure.
Les mets les plus différents
Etaient là, mêlés, errants,
Sans couleur, sans forme,
Et l’on pêchait sans fouiller,
Aussi bien un vieux soulier
Qu’une truffe énorme.

=RICHEPIN=, _La Chanson des Gueux_.

ARME, _f._ (military), passer l’---- à gauche, _to die_, “to lose the number of one’s mess.” See PIPE.

ARMÉE ROULANTE, _f._ (thieves’), formerly _gang of convicts chained together which used to make its way by road to the hulks_.

ARMOIRE, _f._ (popular), à glace, _the four of any card_; _head_; (military) ---- à poils, _soldiers’ knapsack_, or “scran bag.” An allusion to the hairy skin that covers or covered soldiers’ knapsacks.

ARNAC, _m._ (thieves’), à l’----, _with premeditation_.

ARNACHE, _f._ (popular), _deceit_; _treachery_. Etre à l’----, _to be cunning_, _wide-awake_, a “deep one;” _to deceive, and not allow oneself to be deceived_.

ARNACQ, ARNACHE, _m._ (thieves’), _detective_, _informer_, “nark.”

ARNAUD, _m._ (popular), avoir son ----, être ----, _to be in a bad humour_, to be “nasty.”

ARNAUDER (popular), _to grumble_.

ARNELLE (thieves’), _the town of Rouen_. From La Renelle, a small river.

ARNELLERIE, _f._ (thieves’), _rouennerie_, _printed cotton_.

ARNIF, _m._ (thieves’), _policeman or detective_. Also denominated “bec de gaz, bourrique, cierge, flique, laune, peste, vache.” In English cant or slang “crusher, pig, copper, cossack, nark.”

ARPAGAR, _m._ (thieves’), _the town of Arpagon, near Paris_.

ARPETTE, _m._ (popular), _apprentice_.

ARPION, _m._ (thieves’ and popular), _foot_, “trotter;” _toe_.

Moi, d’marcher ça n’me fout pas l’trac.
J’ai l’arpion plus dur que des clous.

=RICHEPIN=, _Chanson des Gueux_.

ARPIONS, _m._ _pl._ (thieves’ and popular), _toes_.

ARQUEPINCER. See ARCPINCER.

ARQUER (popular), s’----, _to be bent down through age_.

ARRACHER (thieves’), du chiendent, _to be on the look-out for a victim_ (chiendent, _dogs’ grass_); (popular) ---- son copeau, _to work_, “to grind” (copeau, _shaving_).

ARRANGEMANER (thieves’), _to cheat_, or “to stick.”

ARRANGER (swindlers’), les pantres, _to cheat the public by means of the three-card trick or other swindling dodges_.

ARRANGEUR, _m._ (gamesters’), _one who sets a game going_, or “buttonner.”

ARRÊTER (familiar), les frais, _to put a stop to any proceedings_. (Les frais, _the fee for a game of billiards_.)

ARRIÈRE-TRAIN, _m._ (familiar), _the behind_, or “tochas.” See VASISTAS.

ARRIVER PREMIER (sporting), _to be the winner_. Used figuratively to denote superiority of any kind over others. Arriver bon premier, “to beat hollow.”

ARRONDIR (popular), se faire ---- le globe, _to become pregnant_, or “lumpy.”

On s’a fait arrondir el’globe,
On a sa p’tit’ butte, à c’qué vois....
Eh! ben, ça prouv’ qu’on n’est pas d’bois.

=GILL=, _La Muse à Bibi_.

ARRONDISSEMENT, _m._ (popular), chef-lieu d’----, _woman in an advanced stage of pregnancy_, “lumpy,” _or with a_ “white swelling.”

ARROSAGE, _m._ (popular), _action of drinking_, _of_ “having something damp.”

ARROSER (gamesters’), _to stake repeatedly on the same card_; _to make repeated sacrifices in money_; (military) ---- ses galons, _treating one’s comrades on being made a non-commissioned officer_, “paying for one’s footing;” (familiar) ---- un créancier, _to settle small portion of debt_.

ARROSEUR, _m._ (thieves’), de verdouze, _gardener_, or “master of the mint.” Verdouze, for verdure.

ARROSOIR, _m._ (thieves’), coup d’----, _a glass of wine_; _a watering-pot_.

ARSENAL, _m._ (thieves’), _arsenic_.

ARSONNER (thieves’), _to overhaul pockets_, to “frisk,” or “to rule over.”

ARSOUILLE, _m._ (familiar), _a man foul in language_, _a low cad_, a “rank outsider.” The expression has passed into the language. Milor l’----, _a rich man with eccentric, low tastes_. The appellation was first given to Lord Seymour.

ARSOUILLER (popular), synonymous of engueuler, to “jaw,” to “slang.”

ARTHUR, _m._, _a would-be lady-killer_; also synonymous of AMANT DE CŒUR, which see.

ARTHURINE, _f._ (popular), _a girl of indifferent character_, _a_ “Poll.”

ARTICHAUT, _m._ (popular), cœur d’----, _fickle-hearted_.

.... Cœur d’artichaut,
C’est mon genre: un’ feuille pour tout l’monde,
Au jour d’aujourd’hui, j’gobe la blonde;
Après-d’main, c’est la brun’, qu’i m’faut.

=GILL.=

ARTICHE, _m._ (thieves’), retirer l’----, _to pick the pockets of a drunkard_.

ARTICLE, _m._ (familiar), faire l’----, _to puff up_, “to crack up.” (Printers’) Payer son ---- quatre, _to pay for one’s footing_. An allusion to some item of a code of regulations. (Popular) Porté sur l’----, _one of an amatory disposition_.

ARTICLIER, _m._, _one whose spécialité is writing newspaper articles_.

ARTIE, ARTIF, ARTIFFE, LARTIE, LARTON, _m._ (thieves’), _bread_; ---- de Meulan, _white bread_; ---- du gros Guillaume, _brown bread_; ---- de guinaut, _mouldy bread_.

Ecoutez marques et mions,
J’aime la croûte de parfond,
J’aime l’artie, j’aime la crie,
J’aime la croûte de parfond.

_Chanson de l’Argot_.

ARTILLEUR (popular), _drunkard_; _one skilful in working the_ “canon,” _or glass of wine at wine-shops_; ---- à genoux, or de la pièce humide, _a military hospital orderly_; ---- à l’aiguille, _tailor_; ---- de la pièce humide, _a fireman_; also, _one who is voiding urine_, or “lagging.”

ARTIS, _m._ (thieves’), langage de l’----, _cant_, or “flash.”

ARTISTE, _m._ (popular), _veterinary surgeon_, “vet;” _spendthrift leading a careless life_; _sweeper_; _comrade_, or “pal.”

ARTON. See ARTIE.

ARTOUPAN, _m._ (thieves’), _guard or warder at a penal servitude depôt_, or “screw.”

ART ROYAL (freemasons’), _freemasonry_.

AS, _m._ (popular), être à l’----, _to be short of cash_, “hard up;” _at a restaurant or café_, _to be at table, or in private room No. 1_. Un ---- de carreau, _soldier’s knapsack_, thus called from its shape; _a town adjutant_, an allusion to the red facings of his uniform. (Thieves’) As de carreau, _the ribbon of the Legion of Honour, which is red_. (Familiar) Fichu comme l’---- de pique, _with a clumsily built form_, _badly dressed_. As de pique meant formerly a man of no consequence, of no intellectual worth.

ASINVER (thieves’), _to make stupid_.

ASPERGE MONTÉE, _f._ (popular), _very tall_, _lanky person_; “sky-scraper,” or “lamp-post.”

ASPHALTE, _m._ (familiar), polir l’----, _to lounge on the Boulevards_.

ASPHYXIÉ, _adj._ (popular), _dead-drunk_, or “sewed-up.”

ASPHYXIER (popular), _to drink_; ---- le perroquet, _to drink a glass of absinthe_, green, like a parrot; ---- un pierrot, _to drink a glass of white wine_. Pierrot, a pantomimic character, with face painted white, and costume to match.

ASPIC, _m._ (popular), _a slanderer_, an allusion to “aspic,” a _viper_; (thieves’) _a miser_, or “hunks.”

ASPIQUERIE, _f._ (popular), _calumny_.

ASSEOIR (popular), s’----, _to fall_. Envoyer quelqu’un s’----, _to throw one down_, _to silence, get rid of one_. Allez vous ----, _shut up_, _go to_ “pot” (an allusion to the customary intimation of the judge to a witness whose examination is concluded). S’---- sur le bouchon, _to sit on mother earth_. S’---- sur quelqu’un, _to silence one_, _sit upon him_. S’---- sur quelquechose, _to attach but slight importance to a thing_.

ASSESSEUR (gamesters’), _player_.

ASSEYEZ-VOUS DESSUS ET QU’ ÇA FINISSE! (familiar), _silence him! sit upon him!_

ASSIETTE, _f._ (popular), avoir l’---- au beurre, _to be lucky_, _fortunate in life_.

ASSIS, _m._ (literary), _clerks_, or “quill drivers.”

Oh! c’est alors qu’il faut plaindre... les malheureux
qu’un travail sédentaire courbe sur un bureau.... c’est
alors qu’il convient de se lamenter sur le sort des
assis.--=RICHEPIN=, _Le Pavé_.

ASSISTER (thieves’), _to bring victuals to a prisoner from outside_.

ASSOCIÉE, _f._ (printers’), mon ----, _my wife_, _my_ “old woman.”

ASSOMMOIR, _m._ (familiar), _name of a wine-shop at Belleville, and which is now common to all low drinking-shops_. From assommer, _to knock over the head_.

ASTEC, _m._ (familiar), _stunted and weakly person_, or “barber’s cat;” (literary) _a weak, despicable adversary_. An allusion to the Mexican dwarfs.

ASTIC, _m._ (thieves’), _steel_, _sword_, or “poker” (from the German stich); (soldiers’) _a mixture of pipe-clay for the furbishing of the brass fixtures of equipment_. Aller à l’----, _to clean one’s equipment_.

ASTICOT, _m._ (popular), _vermicelli_; _mistress of a bully or thief_, “mollisher;” ---- de cercueil, _glass of beer_ (a play on the words “ver” and “bière,” asticot being a _flesh-worm_).

ASTIQUAGE or ASTIQUE, _m._ (military), _cleaning the equipments_.

ASTIQUER (popular), _to beat_, or “to towel;” _to tease_. Literally _to clean_, _to furbish_. S’----, _to have angry words, as a prelude to a set to_; _to fight_. Literally _to make oneself neat_, or “smug.”

AS-TU FINI, or AS-TU FINI TES MANIÈRES! _words implying that a person’s endeavours to convince or to deceive another have failed_. The expression corresponds in some degree to “Walker!” “No go!” “What next?”

A TABLE (thieves’), se mettre ----, or, casser du sucre, _to confess a crime_.

ATELIER (freemasons’), _place of meeting_.

ATIGÉ, _adj._ (thieves’ and popular), _ill_, or “laid up;” _stricken_, _ruined_, or “cracked up.”

ATIGER (thieves’ and popular), _to wound, to strike_, “to clump.”

ATÔMES CROCHUS, _m. pl._ (familiar), _mysterious elements of mutual sympathy_.

ATOUSER (convicts’), _to encourage_, _to urge_, “to kid on.”

ATOUT, _m._ (thieves’ and popular), _courage_, or “wool;” _self-possession_; _a blow_, or “wipe;” _stomach_; _money_, or “rhino;” _ability_. Proper meaning _trumps_. Avoir de l’----, _to have pluck_, or “spunk;” _to have a strong arm_.

Tu m’as donné la bonne mesure, tu es un cadet qui a de
l’atout.--=E. SUE.= (_You gave me a good thrashing, you are
a strong chap._)

Le plus d’----, _a kind of swindling game played at low cafés_.

ATOUT! (popular), _exclamation to denote that a blow has taken effect_.

ATTACHE, _f._, _love tie_.

ATTACHER (thieves’), un bidon, _to inform against one_, “to blow the gaff.”

ATTACHES, _f. pl._, (thieves’), _buckles_; ---- brillantes, _diamond buckles_; ---- de gratousse, _lace shirt-frill_; ---- de cés, _breeches buckles_.

J’ai fait suer un chêne,
Son auberg j’ai enganté.
Son auberg et sa toquante,
Et ses attach’s de cés.

=V. HUGO=, _Le Dernier Jour
d’un Condamné_.

ATTAQUE, d’----, _resolutely, smartly_. Un homme d’----, _a resolute man_, _one who is game_. Etre d’----, _to show energy, resolution_. Y aller d’----, _to set about anything with a will, smartly, as if one meant business_. (Popular) D’attaque, _violent_, _severe_.

V’lan! v’là l’vent qui m’fiche eun’claque.
Fait vraiment un froid d’attaque.

=RICHEPIN.=

ATTELAGE, _m._ (cavalry), un bon ----, _a couple of good friends_.

ATTENDRIR (familiar), s’----, _to have reached that stage of intoxication when one is_ “_maudlin_.”

ATTIGER. See ATIGER.

ATTIGNOLES, _f. pl._ (popular), _tripe à la mode de Caen_ (tripe stewed with herbs and seasoning).

N’importe où nous nous empâtons,
D’arlequins, d’briffe et d’rogatons,
Que’qu’fois d’saucisse et d’attignoles.

=RICHEPIN.=

ATTRAPAGE, _m._ (familiar and popular), _severe scolding_, _sharp criticism_, _quarrel_, _fight_, “mill;” (military) ---- du premier numéro, _serious duel_.

ATTRAPE (popular), à te rappeler, _mind you remember!_

ATTRAPER (popular), _to scold_, “to jaw;” ---- l’oignon, _to receive a blow intended for another_; _to have to pay for others’ reckoning_. S’----, _to abuse_, _to_ “slang” _one another_. Se faire ----, _to get scolded, abused_, “blown up.” Attraper le haricot, or la fève, _to have to pay for others_. An allusion to one who finds a bean in his share of the cake at the “fête des rois,” or Twelfth-night, and who, being proclaimed king, has to treat the other guests. (Journalists’) Attraper, _to sharply criticise or run down a person or literary production_; (theatrical) _to hiss_, or “goose;” (actors’) ---- le lustre, _to open wide one’s mouth_; _to make a fruitless attempt to give emission to a note_.

ATTRAPE-SCIENCE, _m._, _printer’s apprentice_, or “devil.”

ATTRAPEUR, _m._ (literary), _a sharp or scurrilous critic_.

ATTRIMER (thieves’), _to take_, to “nibble;” _to seize_, to “grab.”

ATTRIQUER (thieves’), _to buy_; _to buy stolen clothes_.

ATTRIQUEUR, _m._, ATTRIQUEUSE, _f._ (thieves’), _receiver of stolen clothes_, “fence.”

AUBER, _m._, _a sum of money_, “pile.” A play on the word “haubert,” _coat of mail_, _an assemblage of_ “mailles,” _meaning_ “meshes” or “small change.” Compare the expression, Sans sou ni maille.

AUMÔNE, _f._ (thieves’), voler à l’----, _stealing from a jeweller, who is requested to exhibit small trinkets, some of which, being purloined, are transmitted to the hand of a confederate outside who pretends to ask for alms_.

AUMÔNIER, _m._ (thieves’), _a thief who operates as described above_.

AU PRIX OÙ EST LE BEURRE (familiar), _at the present rate of prices of things in general_.

AURE, or HAURE (thieves’), le grand ----, _God_.

AÜS, _m._ (shopmen’s), _perplexed purchaser who leaves without buying anything_.

AUSTO, _m._ (soldiers’), _guard-room_, _cells_, “Irish theatre,” “mill,” or “jigger.”

AUTAN, _m._ (thieves’), _loft_, _attics_ (old word hautain, high).

AUTEL, (freemasons’), _table at which the master sits_; (popular) ---- de besoin, _prostitute_, or “bed-fagot;” ---- de plume, _bed_, “doss.”

AUTEUR, _m._ (familiar), _father or mother_, “governor,” or “mater;” ---- beurrier, _unsuccessful author whose works are sold as wrapping-paper for tradesmen_.

AUTOR (familiar and popular), jouer d’----, _to play cards without proposing_. Travailler d’---- et d’achar, _to work with energy_.

AUTOR, d’---- (thieves’), _in a peremptory manner_; _deliberately_.

Dis donc, fourline, la première fois que nous trouverons la
Pégriotte, faut l’emmener d’autor.--=EUGÈNE SUE.=

AUTRE, _adj._ (popular), cet ---- chien, _that chap_. Etre l’----, _to be duped_, or “bamboozled;” _to be the lover_; _the mistress_. L’---- côté, _appellation given by Paris students to that part of the city situated on the right bank of the river_. Femme de l’---- côté, _woman residing in that part of Paris_.

AUVERGNAT, _m._ (popular), avaler l’----, _to take communion_.