Chapter V: Introduction (4)

AUVERPIN, _m._ (popular), _native of Auvergne_. Appellation given to commissionnaires, charcoal-dealers, water-carriers, &c., who generally hail from Auvergne.

Et là seulement vous trouverez les bals-musette, les
vrais, tenus par des Auverpins à la fois mastroquets et
charbonniers, hantés par des Auverpins aussi, porteurs
d’eau, commissionnaires, frotteurs, cochers.--=RICHEPIN=,
_Le Pavé_.

AUVERPINCHES, _m. pl._ (popular), _clumsy shoes usually worn by Auvergnats_.

AUX (popular), petits oignons, _in first-rate style, excellently_. Etre ---- petits oiseaux, _to be comfortable, snug_.

AUXILIAIRE (prisoners’), _prisoner acting as servant_, or “fag.”

AVALÉ (popular), avoir ---- le pépin, _to be pregnant_, or “lumpy.” An allusion to the apple. Avoir ---- une chaise percée, _to have an offensive breath_. Avoir ---- un sabre, _to be stiff_, “to have swallowed a poker.” Avoir ---- le bon Dieu en culotte de velours, _to have swallowed some excellent food or drink_.

Et toujours le patron doit terminer sa lampée par un hum
engageant et satisfait comme s’il avait avalé le bon Dieu
en culotte de velours.--=RICHEPIN=, _Le Pavé_.

AVALER (thieves’), le luron, _to receive the Host at communion_. (Popular) Avaler sa cuiller; sa fourchette; sa gaffe; sa langue; ses baguettes; _to die_. In other words, “to lay down one’s knife and fork;” “to kick the bucket;” “to croak;” “to stick one’s spoon in the wall,” &c.; ---- son poussin, _to be dismissed_, “to get the sack;” ---- son absinthe, _to put a good face on some disagreeable matter_. (Familiar) Avoir l’air de vouloir tout ----, _to look as though one were going to do mighty things_; _to look savage and threatening_.

AVALE-TOUT-CRU, _m._ (popular), _braggart_, or “swashbuckler;” (thieves’) _thief who conceals jewels in his mouth_.

AVALOIR, _m._ (popular and thieves’), _throat_, “peck alley,” or “gutter lane.”

AVANTAGES, _m. pl._, AVANT-CŒUR, _m._, AVANT-MAIN, _f._, AVANT-POSTES, _m. pl._, AVANT-SCÈNES, _f. pl._ (popular and familiar), _bosoms_, “Charlies,” “dairies,” or “bubbies.”

AVANTAGEUX, _adj._ (popular), _convenient_, _roomy_. Des souliers ----, _easy shoes_.

AVANT-COURRIER, _m._ (thieves’), _auger_.

AVARO, _m._ (popular), _damage_. From avarie.

AVERGOT, _m._ (thieves’), _egg_.

AVERTINEUX, _adj._ (popular), _of a suspicious, gruff disposition_; _of a forbidding aspect_.

AVOCAT BÊCHEUR, _m._ (printers’), _backbiter_; (thieves’) _public prosecutor_.

AVOINE, _f._ (military), _brandy_. (Popular) Avoir encore l’----, _to have still one’s maidenhead_. (Coachmens’) Donner l’----, _to whip_; _to thrash_, or “flush.”

AVOIR (popular), à la bonne, _to like, to love_, “to be sweet upon;” ---- campo, _to have leave to go out_; ---- celui, for avoir l’honneur de; ---- dans le nez, _to have a strong dislike for a person or thing_; (familiar) ---- dans le ventre, ce que quelqu’un a dans le ventre, _what stuff one is made of_; (popular) ---- de ce qui sonne, _to be well off_; in other words, _to have plenty of beans, ballast, rhino, the needful, blunt, bustle, dust, coal, oof, stumpy, brass, tin_; ---- de la chance au bâtonnet, _to be unlucky_. Le jeu de bâtonnet is the game of nap the cat; ---- de la glu aux mains, _to steal_, “to nibble;” ---- de la ligne, _to have a nice figure_; ---- de l’anis dans une écope: tu auras ----, _don’t you wish you may get it_; ---- de l’as de Carreau dans le dos, _to be humpbacked_; ---- des as dans son jeu, _to have an advantage, to be lucky, to have_ “cocum;” ---- des mots avec quelqu’un, _to fall out with one, to have a tiff with one_; ---- des mots avec la justice, _to be prosecuted_; ---- des mots avec les sergots, _to have some disagreement with the police_; ---- des œufs sur le plat, _to have black eyes_, “to have one’s eyes in mourning;” ---- des petits pois à écosser ensemble, _to have a bone to pick with one_; ---- des planches, _to be an experienced actor_; ---- du beurre sur la tête, _to have some misdeed on one’s conscience_; ---- du chien, _to possess dash_, “go;” ---- du chien dans le ventre, _to have pluck, endurance_, or “stay;” ---- du pain sur la planche, _to have a competency_; ---- du poil au cul, _to possess courage_, or “hackle,” _energy_; ---- du plomb dans l’aile, _to be wounded_; ---- du sable dans les yeux, _to feel sleepy_; ---- du toupet, _to have audacity, cool impudence_; ---- fumé dans une pipe neuve, _to be tipsy_, or “obfuscated;” ---- la flemme, _to be afraid_; _to feel lazy_, or “Mondayish;” ---- l’arche, _to have credit_, or “jawbone;” ---- l’assiette au beurre, _to be fortunate in life_; ---- la cuisse gaie _is said of a female of lax morals_; ---- le pot de chambre dans la commode, _to have an offensive breath_; ---- le caillou déplumé, le coco déplumé, _to be bald_, _to have_ “a bladder of lard;” ---- le casque, _to fancy a man_; ---- le compas dans l’œil, _to possess a sharp eye_, with respect to judging of distance or quantity; ---- le front dans le cou, _to be bald_, or “stag-faced;” ---- le nez creux, _to be clever at foreseeing, guessing_; ---- le pouce long, _to be skilful, to be_ a “dab” _at something_; ---- le trac, _to be afraid_, “funky;” ---- les calots pochés, _to have black eyes_; ---- les côtes en long, _to be lazy_, a “bummer;” ---- l’estomac dans les talons, dans les mollets, _to be ravenous_, _very_ “peckish;” ---- l’étrenne, _to be the first to do, or be done to, to have the_ “wipe of;” ---- le sac, _to be wealthy_, or “well ballasted;” ---- mal au bréchet, _to have the stomach-ache_, or “botts;” ---- mal aux cheveux, _to have a headache caused from overnight potations_; ---- mangé de l’oseille, _to be sour-tempered, peevish_, or “crusty;” ---- sa côtelette, in theatrical language, _to obtain great applause_; (popular) ---- sa pointe, _to be slightly tipsy_, “fresh;” ---- son caillou, _to be on the verge of intoxication_, or “muddled;” ---- son coke, _to die_; ---- son cran, _to be angry_, “to have one’s monkey up;” ---- son pain cuit. Properly _to have an income, to be provided for_. The expression is old.

Vente, gresle, gelle, j’ai mon pain cuit.

=VILLON.=

(Also) _to be sentenced to death_; ---- son sac de quelqu’un, _to be tired of one_; ---- un coup de marteau, _to be cracked_, “queer;” ---- un fédéré dans la casemate, or un polichinelle dans le tiroir, _to be pregnant_, or “lumpy;” ---- un poil dans la main, _to feel lazy_; ---- un pot de chambre sous le nez, _to have an offensive breath_; ---- un rat dans la trompe, _to feel irritated_, _provoked_, _exasperated_, “badgered;” ---- une chambre à louer, _to be eccentric, even to insanity_; “to have apartments to let;” _to be minus one tooth_; ---- une crampe au pylore, _to be blessed with a good appetite_, or “twist;” ---- une table d’hôte dans l’estomac, _to have an extraordinary appetite_; ---- vu le loup _is said of a girl who has been seduced_. En ---- la farce, _to be able to procure a thing_. Pour deux sous on en a la farce, _a penny will get it for you_. En ---- sa claque, _to have eaten or drunk to excess_, _to have had a_ “tightener.” Avoir une belle presse _is said of an actor or author who is lauded by the press_.

AVOIR (popular and familiar), la boule détraquée; le coco fêlé; le trognon détraqué; un asticot dans la noisette; un bœuf gras dans le char; un cancrelat dans la boule; un hanneton dans le réservoir; un hanneton dans le plafond; un moustique dans la boîte au sel; un voyageur dans l’omnibus; une araignée dans le plafond; une écrevisse dans la tourte; une écrevisse dans le vol-au-vent; une grenouille dans l’aquarium; une hirondelle dans le soliveau; une Marseillaise dans le kiosque; une punaise dans le soufflet; une sardine dans l’armoire à glace; une trichine dans le jambonneau; une sauterelle dans la guitare--Parisian expressions which may be rendered by _to be mad, or cracked_, _crazy_, _touched_, _to have rats in the upper story_, _a bee in one’s bonnet_, _a tile loose_, _to have apartments to let_, _to be wrong in the upper storey_, _to be off one’s chump, &c., &c._ L’---- encore, Rigaud says, “Avoir ce qu’une jeune fille doit perdre seulement le jour de son mariage.”

AVOIR, N’----, pas de toupet, _to show cool impudence_; (popular) ---- pas inventé le fil à couper le beurre _is said of a man of poor ability, not likely_ “to set the Thames on fire;” ---- pas le cul dans une jupe, _to be manly_, or “spry;” ---- pas sa langue dans sa poche, _to have a ready tongue_; ---- rien du côté gauche, or sous le têton gauche, _to be heartless_; ---- rien dans le ventre, _to be devoid of ability_, _to be made of poor stuff_; ---- plus sa grille d’égoût, ---- plus sa pièce de dix ronds _is said of Sodomites_; ---- plus de chapelure sur le jambonneau, ---- plus de crin sur la brosse, ---- plus de fil sur la bobine, ---- plus de gazon sur le pré, ---- plus de mousse sur le caillou, or sur la plate-bande, ---- plus de paillasson à la porte, _to be bald_, or “to have a bladder of lard,” “to be stag-faced,” &c.; (thieves’) ---- pas la trouille, le flubart, or le trac, _to have no fear_.

AZOR, _m._ (popular), _dog_; (military) _knapsack_, or “scran-bag” (an allusion to the hairy covering of soldiers’ knapsacks). Etre à cheval sur ----, _to shoulder the knapsack_. Tenir ---- en laisse _is said of a discharged soldier who on leaving the barracks, with a view to showing that “Azor” is no longer his master, drags him ignominiously along the ground attached to a strap_. (Theatrical) Appeler, or siffler ----, _to hiss_, or “to goose.”

Qu’est-ce que c’est? Est-ce qu’on appelle Azor?--_Musée
Philipon._

B

BABA, _adj._ (popular), _dumb-founded_, _abashed_, “blue,” or “flabbergasted.” From ébahi, _astounded_.

BABILLARD, _m._ (thieves’), _confessor_; _book_; _newspaper_. Griffonneur de ----, _journalist_. It also means _a petition_.

Ma largue part pour Versailles,
Aux pieds d’sa Majesté,
Elle lui fonce un babillard
Pour m’faire défourailler.

=V. HUGO=, _Dernier Jour d’un Condamné_.

BABILLARDE, _f._ (thieves’), _watch_, or “jerry;” _letter_, “screeve,” or “stiff.”

BABILLAUDIER, _m._ (thieves’), _bookseller_.

BABILLE, _f._ See BABILLARDE.

BABILLER (thieves’), _to read_. Properly _to prattle_, _to chatter_.

BABINES, _f. pl._ (popular), _mouth_, “muzzle.” S’en donner par les ----, _to eat voraciously_, “to scorf.” S’en lécher les ----, _to enjoy in imagination any kind of pleasure, past or in store_.

BABOUINE, _f._ (popular), _mouth_, “rattle-trap,” “kisser,” “dubber,” or “maw.” See PLOMB.

BABOUINER (popular), _to eat_.

BAC, for baccarat or baccalauréat.

Ce serait bien le diable s’il parvenait à organiser de
petits bacs à la raffinerie.--=VAST-RICOUARD=, _Le Tripot_.

BACCHANTES (thieves’), _the beard_; but more especially _the whiskers_. From a play on the word bâche, _an awning_, _covering_.

BACCON, _m._ (thieves’), _pig_, or “sow’s baby;” _pork_, or “sawney.”

BACHASSE, _f._ (thieves’), _hard labour_; _convict settlement_.

BÂCHE, _f._ (thieves’ and cads’), _cap_, or “tile;” _stakes_; _bed_, or “doss.” Se mettre dans la ----, _to go to bed_. Bâche, properly _a cart tilt_ or _an awning_.

BACHELIÈRE, _f._, _female associate of students at the Quartier Latin, the headquarters of the University of France_. Herein are situated the Sorbonne, Collège de France, Ecole de Médecine, Ecole de Droit, &c.

BÂCHER, PAGNOTTER, or PERCHER (thieves’ and popular). Se ----, _to go to bed_.

BACHOT, _m._ (students’), _baccalauréat_, _or examination for the degree of bachelor of arts or science conferred by the University of France_. Etre ----, _to be a bachelor_. Faire son ----, _to read for that examination_.

BACHOTIER, _m._ (students’), _tutor who prepares candidates for the baccalauréat_, a “coach,” or a “crammer.”

BACHOTTER (sharpers’), _to swindle at billiards_.

BACHOTTEUR, _m._ (sharpers’), _a confederate of blacklegs at a four game of billiards_. The “bachotteur” arranges the game, holds the stakes, &c., pretending meanwhile to be much interested in the victim, or “pigeon.” His associates are “l’emporteur,” or “buttoner,” whose functions consist in entering into conversation with the intended victim and enticing him into playing, and “la bête,” who feigns to be a loser at the outset, so as to encourage the pigeon.

BÂCLER, BOUCLER (thieves’), _to shut_, _to arrest_. Bâclez la lourde! _shut the door!_ “dub the jigger.” (Popular) Bâcler, _to put_, _to place_. Bâclez-vous là! _place yourself there!_

BACREUSE, _f._ (popular), _pocket_. From creuse, _deep_.

BADAUDIÈRE, _f._, _the tribe of badauds_, _people whose interest is awakened by the most trifling events or things, and who stop to gape wonderingly at such events or things_.

Parmi tous les badauds de la grande badaudière parisienne,
qui est le pays du monde où l’on en trouve le plus, parmi
tous les flâneurs, gâcheurs de temps ... bayeurs aux
grues.--=RICHEPIN=, _Le Pavé_.

BADIGEON, _m._ (popular), _painting of the face_; _paint for the face_, “slap.” Se coller du ----, _to paint one’s face_, “to stick on slap.”

BADIGEONNER, la femme au puits, _to lie_, “to cram.” An allusion to Truth supposed to dwell in a well. Se ----, _to paint one’s face_.

BADIGOINCES, _f._ _pl._ (popular), _lips_, _mouth_, “maw.” Jouer des ----, or se caler les ----, _to eat_, “to grub.” S’en coller par les ----, _to have a good fill_, “to stodge.” See MASTIQUER.

BADINGUISTE, BADINGÂTEUX, BADINGOUIN, BADINGUEUSARD, BADINGOUINARD, _terms of contempt applied to Bonapartists_. “Badinguet,” nickname of Napoleon III., was the name of a mason who lent him his clothes, and whose character he assumed to effect his escape from Fort Ham, in which he was confined for conspiracy and rebellion against the government of King Louis Philippe.

BADOUILLARD, _m._, BADOUILLARDE, _f._ (popular), _male and female habitués of low fancy balls_.

BADOUILLE, _f._ (popular), _henpecked husband_, or “stangey;” _fool_, or “duffer.”

BADOUILLER (popular), _to frequent low public balls_; _to wander about without a settled purpose_, “to scamander;” _to have drinking revels_, “to go on the booze.”

BADOUILLERIE, _f._ (popular), _dissipated mode of living_.

BAFFRE, _f._ (popular), _a blow in the face with the fist_, a “bang in the mug.”

BAFOUILLER, (popular), _to jabber_; _to splutter_; _to sputter_.

BAFOUILLEUR, BAFOUILLEUX, _m._, BAFOUILLEUSE, _f._, _one who sputters_.

BAGNIOLE, _f._ (popular), _carriage_, “trap,” or “cask.”

BAGNOLE, _f._ (popular), diminutive of bagne, _convict settlement, hulks: wretched room or house_, or “crib;” _costermonger’s hand-barrow_, “trolly,” or “shallow.”

La maigre, salade ... que les bonnes femmes poussent devant
elles dans leur bagnole à bras.--=RICHEPIN=, _Le Pavé_.

BAGOU, BAGOÛT, _m._ (familiar), (has passed into the language), _facility of speech_ (used disparagingly). Quel ---- mes amis! _well, he is the one to talk!_ Avoir un fier ----, _to have plenty of jaw_.

On se laissa bientôt aller à la joie ravivée sans
cesse au bagout du vieux, qui n’avait jamais été aussi
bavard.--=RICHEPIN=, _La Glu_.

(Thieves’) Bagou, _name_, “monniker,” “monarch.”

BAGOULARD, _m._ (popular), _a very talkative man_, a “clack-box,” or “mouth-all-mighty.” C’est un fameux ----, “He’s the bloke to slam.”

BAGOULER (popular and thieves’), _to prattle_, to do the “Poll Parrot;” _to give one’s name_, or “dub one’s monniker.”

BAGUE, _f._ (thieves’), _name_, “monniker,” “monarch.”

BAGUENAUDE (thieves’ and cads’), _pocket_, “cly,” “sky-rocket,” or “brigh;” ---- à sec, _empty pocket_; ---- ronflante, _pocket full of money_. Faire la retourne des baguenaudes, _to rob drunkards who go to sleep on benches_.

... Une bande de filous, vauriens ayant travaillé les
baguenaudes dans la foule.--=RICHEPIN=, _Le Pavé_.

BAGUENOTS, _m. pl._ (popular), faire les ----, _to pick pockets_, “to fake a cly.”

BAGUETTES, _f. pl._ Properly rods, _or drum-sticks_. (Military) Avaler ses ----, _to die_. (Familiar) Baguettes de tambour, _thin legs_, _spindle-shanks_; _lank hair_.

BAHUT, _m._ (popular), _furniture_, “marbles.” Properly _large dresser, or press_; (cadets’) ---- spécial, _the military school of Saint-Cyr_; (students’) ---- paternel, _paternal house_. Bahut, _a crammer’s establishment_; _college, or boarding-school_.

Eux, les pauvres petits galériens, ils continuent à vivre
entre les murs lépreux du bahut.--=RICHEPIN=, _Le Pavé_.

BAHUTÉ (Saint-Cyr cadets’), ceci est ----, _that is smart, soldier-like_. Une tenue bahutée, _smart dress or appearance_.

BAHUTER (Saint-Cyr cadets’), _to create a disturbance_, “to kick up a row;” (schoolboys’) _to go from one educational establishment to another_.

BAHUTEUR, _m._, _one fond of a_ “row;” _unruly scholar_; _pupil who patronizes, willingly or not, different educational establishments_.

BAIGNE-DANS-LE-BEURRE (popular), _womens’ bully_, or “pensioner.” An allusion to “maquereau,” or mackerel, a common appellation for such creatures. See POISSON.

BAIGNEUSE, _f._ (thieves’ and cads’), _head_, or “block,” “canister,” “nut.” See TRONCHE.

BAIGNOIRE À BON DIEU, _f._ (cads’), _chalice_.

BAILLER AU TABLEAU (theatrical), _to have an insignificant part in a new play_.

Terme de coulisses qui s’applique à un acteur, qui voit au
tableau la mise en répétition d’une pièce dans laquelle
il n’a qu’un bout de rôle.--=A. BOUCHARD=, _La Langue
théâtrale_.

BAIMBAIN (Breton cant), _potatoes_.

BAIN DE PIED (familiar), _the overflow into the saucer from a cup of coffee or glass of brandy_; _third help of brandy after coffee_, _those preceding being_ “la rincette” _and_ “la surrincette.”

BAIN-MARIE, _m._ (popular), _a person with a mild, namby-pamby disposition allied to a weakly constitution_, _a_ “sappy” _fellow_.

BAIN QUI CHAUFFE, _m._ (popular), _a rain cloud in hot weather_.

BAISER (popular), la camarde, _to die_, “to kick the bucket,” “to snuff it;” (gamesters’) ---- le cul de la vieille, _not to score_, _to remain at_ “love.”

BAISSIER, _m._, _man on ’Change who speculates for a fall in the funds_, “bear.” See HAUSSIER.

BAITE, _f._ (thieves’), _house_, “crib.”

BAJAF, _m._ (popular), _a stout, plethoric man_. Gros ----, “forty guts.”

BAJOTER (popular), _to chatter_, “to gabble.”

BAL, _m._ (military), _extra drill_ (called a “hoxter” at the Royal Military Academy).

BALADAGE, BALLADAGE, _m._ (popular), chanteur au ----, _street singer_, “street pitcher.”

BALADE, BALLADE, _f._ (popular and familiar), _walk_, _stroll_, _lounge_, “miking.” Canot de ----, _pleasure boat_. Faire une ----, se payer une ----, _to take a walk_. Chanteur à la ----, _itinerant singer_, “chaunter.” (Thieves’) Balade, or ballade, _pocket_; also called “fouillouse, profonde, valade,” and by English rogues, “sky-rocket, cly, or brigh.”

BALADER (thieves’), _to choose_; _to seek_. (Popular) Se ----, _to take a walk_; _to stroll_; “to mike;” _to make off_; _to run away_, “to cut one’s lucky.” See PATATROT.

BALADEUR, _m._ (popular), _one who takes a walk_.

BALADEUSE, _f._ (popular), _woman with no heart for work and who is fond of idly strolling about_.

BALAI, _m._ (hawkers’), _police officer, or gendarme_, “crusher;” (military) ---- à plumes, _plumes of shako_. (Popular) Balai, _the last ’bus or tramcar at night_. Donner du ---- à quelqu’un, _to drive one away_.

BALANCEMENT, _m._ (clerks’), _dismissal_, “the sack.”

BALANCER (popular), _to throw at a distance_; ---- quelqu’un, _to dismiss from one’s employment_, “to give the sack;” _to get rid of one_; _to make fun of one_; _to hoax_, “to bamboozle;” (thieves’) ---- la rouscaillante, _to speak_, or “to rap;” ---- sa canne _is said of a vagrant who takes to thieving, of a convict who makes his escape, or of a ticket-of-leave man who breaks bounds_; ---- sa largue, _to get rid of one’s mistress_, “to bury a Moll;” ---- ses alènes, _to turn honest_; _to forsake the burglar’s implements for the murderer’s knife_; ---- ses chasses, _to gaze about_, “to stag;” ---- son chiffon rouge, _to talk_, “to wag one’s red rag;” ---- une lazagne, _to send a letter_, “screeve,” or “stiff.”

BALANCEUR, _m._ (thieves’), de braise, _money changer_. An allusion to the practice of weighing money.

BALANCIER, _m._ (popular), faire le ----, _to wait for one_.

BALANÇOIR, BALANÇON, _m._ (thieves’), _window-bar_.

BALANÇOIRE, _f._ (familiar), _fib_, “flam;” _nonsense_; _stupid joke_. Envoyer à la ----, _to get rid of one, to invite one to make himself scarce, or to send one to the deuce_.

BALANÇON, _m._ (thieves’), _iron hammer_; _window-bar_.

BALANDRIN, _m._ (popular), _parcel made up in canvas_; _a small pedlar’s pack_.

BALAUDER (tramps’), _to beg_, “to cadge.”

BALAYAGE, _m._ Properly _sweeping_; used figuratively _wholesale getting rid of_. On devrait faire un balayage dans cette administration, _there ought to be a wholesale dismissal of officials_.

BALAYER (theatrical), les planches, _to be the first to sing at a concert_.

BALAYEZ-MOI-ÇA, _m._ (popular), _woman’s dress_. Literally _you just sweep that away_.

BALCON, _m._ (popular), il y a du monde, or il y a quelqu’un au ----, _an allusion to well-developed breasts_.

BALCONNIER, _m._, _orator who makes a practice of addressing the crowd from a balcony_.

BALEINE, _f._ (popular), _disreputable woman_, “bed-fagot.” Rire comme une ----, _to laugh in a silly manner with mouth wide open like a whale’s_.

BALIVERNEUR, _m._ (popular), _monger of_ “twaddle,” _of tomfooleries_, _of_ “blarney.”

BALLADE, _f._ (popular), aller faire une ---- à la lune, _to ease oneself_.

BALLE, _f._ (thieves’), _secret_; _affair_; _opportunity_. Ça fait ma ----, _that just suits me_. Manquer sa ----, _to miss one’s opportunity_. Faire ----, _to be fasting_. Faire la ----, _to act according to instructions_. (Popular) Balle, _one-franc piece_; _face_, “mug;” _head_, “block.” Il a une bonne ----, _he has a good-natured looking face, or a grotesque face_. Rond comme ----, _is said of one who has eaten or drunk to excess_; _of one who is drunk, or_ “tight.” Un blafard de cinq balles, _a five-franc piece_. (Familiar) Enfant de la ----, _actor’s child_; _actor_; _one who is of the same profession as his father_. (Prostitutes’) Balle d’amour, _handsome face_. Rude ----, _energetic countenance, with harsh features_. Balle de coton, _a blow with the fist_, a “bang,” “wipe,” “one on the mug,” or a “cant in the gills.”

BALLOMANIE, _f._, _mania for ballooning_.

BALLON, _m._ (popular), _glass of beer_; _the behind_, or “tochas.” Enlever le ---- à quelqu’un, _to kick one in the hinder part of the body_, “to toe one’s bum,” “to root,” or “to land a kick.” En ----, _in prison_, “in quod.” Se donner du ----, _to make a dress bulge out_. Se lâcher du ----, _to make off rapidly_, “to brush.”

BALLONNÉ, _adj._ (thieves’), _imprisoned_, “in limbo.”

BALLOT, _m._ (tailors’), _stoppage of work_.

BALLOTER (tailors’), _to be out of work_, “out of collar;” (thieves’) _to throw_.

BAL-MUSETTE, _m._, _dancing place for workpeople in the suburbs_.

Les bals-musette au plancher de bois qui sonne comme
un tympanon sous les talons tambourinant la bourrée
montagnarde ... que la musette remplit de son chant
agreste.--=RICHEPIN=, _Le Pavé_.

BALOCHARD, BALOCHEUR, _m._ (popular), _one who idles about town carelessly and merrily_.

Aussi j’laisse l’chic et les chars,
Aux feignants et aux galupiers,
Et j’suis l’roi des Balochards,
Des Balochards qui va-t-à pieds.

=RICHPIN=, _Gueux de Paris_.

BALOCHER, (popular), _to be an habitué of dancing halls_; _to bestir oneself_; _to fish in troubled waters_; _to have on hand any unlawful business_; _to move things_; _to hang them up_; _to idle about carelessly and merrily_, or “to mike.”

BALOTS, _m. pl._ (thieves’), _lips_. Se graisser les ----, _to eat_, “to grub.”

BALOUF (popular), _very strong_, “spry.”

BALTHAZAR, _m._ (familiar), _a plentiful meal_, “a tightener.”

BALUCHON, _m._ (popular), _parcel_, or “peter.”

BAMBINO, BAMBOCHINO, _m._ (popular), _term of endearment for a child_.

BAMBOCHE, _adj._ (popular), être ----, _to be tipsy_, or “to be screwed.”

BANBAN, _m._ and _f._ (popular), _lame person_, “dot and go one;” _small stunted person_, “Jack Sprat.”

BANC, _m._ (convicts’), _camp bed_; (Parisians’) ---- de Terre-Neuve, _that part of the Boulevard between the Madeleine and Porte Saint-Denis_. Probably an allusion to the ladies of fishy character, termed “morues,” or _codfish_, who cruise about that part of Paris, and a play on the word Terre-Neuve, _Newfoundland_, where the real article is fished in large quantities. (Military) Pied de ----, _sergeant_. See PIED.

BANCAL, _m._ (soldiers’), _cavalry sword_.

Et, je me sens fier, ingambe,
D’un plumet sur mon colbac,
D’un bancal, et du flic-flac
De ce machin sur ma jambe.

=A. DE CHATILLON.=

BANDE, _Properly cushion of billiard table_. Coller sous ----, _to get one in a fix_, _in a_ “hole.”

BANDE D’AIR, _f._ (theatrical), _frieze painted blue so as to represent the sky_.

BANDE NOIRE, _f._, _a gang of swindlers who procure goods on false pretences and sell them below their value_, “long firm.”

La Bande Noire comprises four categories of swindlers working jointly: “le courtier à la mode,” who, by means of false references, gets himself appointed as agent to important firms, generally wine merchants, jewellers, provision dealers. He calls on some small tradesmen on the verge of bankruptcy, denominated “petits faisans,” or “frères de la côte,” and offers them at a very low price merchandise which they are to dispose of, allowing him a share in the profits. The next step to be taken is to bribe a clerk of some private information office, who is thus induced to give a favourable answer to all inquiries regarding the solvency of the “petit faisan.” The courtier à la mode also bribes with a like object the doorkeeper of his clients. At length the goods are delivered by the victimized firms; now steps in the “fusilleur” or “gros faisan,” who obtains the merchandise at a price much below value--a cask of wine worth 170 francs, for instance, being transferred to him at less than half that sum--the sale often taking place at the railway goods station, especially when the “petit faisan” is an imaginary individual represented by a doorkeeper in confederacy with the gang.--_Translated from the “République Française” newspaper, February, 1886._

BANDER (popular), la caisse, _to abscond with the cash-box_. Properly _to tighten the drum_; ---- l’ergot, _to run away_, “to crush.”

BANNETTE (popular), _apron_.

BANNIÈRE, _f._ (familiar), être en ----, _to be in one’s shirt_, _in one’s_ “flesh bag.”

BANQUE, _f._ (popular), _falsehood_, _imposition_, “plant.” (Hawkers’) La ----, _the puffing up of goods to allure purchasers_; _the confraternity of mountebanks_. (Showmens’) Truc de ----, _password which obtains admission to booths or raree-shows_. (Printers’) Banque, _pay_. La ---- a fouaillé _expresses that pay has been deferred_. Etre bloqué à la ----, or faire ---- blèche, _to receive no pay_.

BANQUET, _m._ (freemasons’), _dinner_.

BANQUETTE, _f._ (popular), _chin_.

BANQUEZINGUE, _m._ (thieves’), _banker_, “rag-shop cove.”

BANQUISTE (thieves’), _one who prepares a swindling operation_.

BAPTÊME, _m._ (popular), _head_, “nut.”

BAQUET, _m._ (popular), _washerwoman_; ---- insolent, _same meaning_ (an allusion to the impudence of Parisian washerwomen); ---- de science, _cobbler’s tub_.

BARANT, _m._ (thieves’), _gutter_, _brook_. From the Celtic baranton, _fountain_.

BARAQUE, _f._, _disparaging epithet for a house or establishment_; (servants’) _a house where masters are strict and particular_; a “shop;” _newspaper of which the editor is strict with respect to the productions_; (schoolboys’) _cupboard_; (soldiers’) _a service stripe_; (sharpers’) _a kind of swindling game of pool_.

BARBAQUE, or BIDOCHE, _f._ (popular), _meat_, or “carnish.”

BARBE, _f._ (students’), _private coaching_. (Popular) Avoir de la ---- _is said of anything old, stale_. (Theatrical) Faire sa ----, _to make money_. (Familiar) Vieille ----, _old-fashioned politician_. (Printers’) Barbe, _intoxication_, _the different stages of the happy state being_ “le coup de feu,” “la barbe simple,” “la barbe indigne.” Prendre une ----, _to get intoxicated_, or “screwed.” (Popular) Barbe, _women’s bully_, or “pensioner.”

BARBE À POUX, _m._, _an insulting expression especially used by cabbies, means lousy beard_. Also a nickname given sometimes to the pioneers in the French army on account of their long beards.

BARBEAU, _m._ (popular), _prostitute’s bully_. Properly _a barbel_.

BARBEAUDIER (thieves’), _doorkeeper_; _turnkey_, “dubsman,” or “jigger dubber;” ---- de castu, _hospital overseer_. Concerning this expression Michel says: Cette expression, qui nous est donnée par le Dictionnaire Argotique du Jargon, a été formée par allusion à la tisane que l’on boit dans les hôpitaux, tisane assimilée ici à la bière. En effet, _barbaudier_ avait autrefois le sens de _brasseur_, si l’on peut du moins s’en rapporter à Roquefort, qui ne cite pas d’exemple. En voici un, malheureusement peu concluant. Tais-toi, putain de barbaudier: Le coup d’œil purin.

BARBEROT, _m._ (convicts’), _barber_, a “strap.”

BARBET, _m._ (thieves’), _the devil_, “old scratch,” or “ruffin.”

BARBICHON, _m._ (popular), _monk_. An allusion to the long beard generally sported by the fraternity.

BARBILLE, BARBILLON, _m._, _girl’s bully_, _young hand at the business_.

BARBILLONS, _m. pl._ (popular), de Beauce, _vegetables_ (Beauce, formerly a province); ---- de Varenne, _turnips_.

BARBOT, _m._ (popular), _duck_; _girl’s bully_, “ponce.” See POISSON. (Thieves’) Vol au ----, _pocket-picking_, or “buz-faking.” Faire le ----, _to pick pockets_, “to buz,” or “to fake a cly.”

BARBOTAGE, _m._, _theft_, “push.” From barboter, _to dabble_.

BARBOTE, _f._ (thieves’), _searching of prisoners on their arrival at the prison_, “turning over.”

BARBOTER (thieves’), _to search on the person_, “to turn over;” _to steal_, “to clift;” _to purloin goods and sell them_; ---- les poches, _to pick pockets_, “to buz;” (familiar) ---- la caisse, _to appropriate the contents of a cashbox_.

BARBOTEUR, _m._ (thieves’), de campagne, _night thief_.

BARBOTIER, _m._, _searcher at prisons_.

BARBOTIN, _m._ (thieves’), _theft_; _proceeds of sale of stolen goods_, “swag.”

Après mon dernier barbotin,
J’ai flasqué du poivre à la rousse.

=RICHEPIN.=

BARBUE, _f._ (thieves), _pen_.

BAR-DE-TIRE, _m._ (thieves’), _hose_.

BARIL DE MOUTARDE (cads’), _breech_. See VASISTAS.

BARKA (military), _enough_ (from the Arabic).

BARON, _m._ (popular), de la crasse, _man ill at ease in garments which are not suited to his station in life, and which in consequence give him an awkward appearance_.

BARRE, _f._ (thieves’), _needle_; (popular) compter à la ----, _primitive mode of reckoning by making dashes on a slate_.

BARRÉ, _adj._ (popular), _dull-witted_, “cabbage-head.”

BARRER (popular), _to leave off work_; _to relinquish an undertaking_; _to scold_. Se ----, _to make off_, “to mizzle;” _to conceal oneself_.

BARRES, _f. pl._ (popular), _jaws_. Se rafraîchir les ----, _to drink_, “to wet or whet one’s whistle.”

BARRIQUE, _f._ (freemasons’), _decanter or bottle_.

BAS (popular), de buffet, _a person or thing of no consequence_; ---- de plafond, ---- du cul, _short person_. Vieux ---- de buffet, _old coquette_.

BASANE, or BAZANE, _f._ (popular), _skin_, or “buff.” Tanner la ----, _to thrash_, “to tan.” (Military) Tailler une ----, _is to make a certain contemptuous gesture the nature of which may best be described as follows_:--

Un tel, quatre jours de salle de police, ordre du
sous-officier X... a répondu à ce sous-officier en lui
taillant une bazane; la main appliquée sur la braguette du
pantalon, et lui faisant décrire une conversion à gauche,
avec le pouce pour pivot.--_Quoted by_ =L. MERLIN=, _La
Langue Verte du Troupier_.

BAS-BLEUISME, _m._ (literary), _mania for writing_. Used in reference to those of the fair sex.

BASCULE, _f._ (popular), _guillotine_.

BASCULER (popular), _to guillotine_.

BAS-OFF, _m._ (Polytechnic School), _under-officer_.

BASOURDIR (thieves’), _to knock down_; _to stun_; _to kill_, “to give one his gruel.” See REFROIDIR.

BASSE, _f._ (thieves’), _the earth_.

BASSIN, _m._, BASSINOIRE, _f._ (familiar), _superlatively dull person_, _a bore_.

BASSINANT, _adj._ (familiar), _dull_, _annoying_, _boring_.

BASSINER (familiar), _to annoy_, _to bore_.

BASSINOIRE, _f._, _large watch_, “turnip.” See BASSIN.

BASTA (popular), _enough_; _no more_. From the Spanish.

BASTIMAGE (thieves’), _work_, “graft.”

BASTRINGUE, _m._ (popular), _low dancing-hall_; _noise_, _disturbance_, “rumpus;” (prisoners’) _a fine steel saw used by prisoners for cutting through iron bars_.

BASTRINGUEUSE, _f._ (popular), _female habituée of_ bastringues, _or low dancing-saloons_.

BATACLAN, _m._ (popular), _set of tools_; (thieves’) _house-breaking implements_, or “jilts.”

J’ai déjà préparé tout mon bataclan, les fausses clefs sont
essayées.--=VIDOCQ=, _Mémoires_.

BATAILLE, _f._, (military), chapeau en ----, _cocked hat worn crosswise_. Chapeau en colonne, _the opposite of_ “en bataille.”

BÂTARD, _m._ (popular), _heap of anything_.

BATE, _f._, (popular), être de la ----, _to be happy, fortunate_, _to have_ “cocum.”

BATEAU, _m._ (popular), mener en ----, _to swindle_, _to deceive_. Monter un ----, _to impose upon_; _to attempt to deceive_.

BATEAUX, _m. pl._ (popular), _shoes_, “carts;” _large shoes_; _shoes that let in water_.

BATEAUX-MOUCHES, _m. pl._ (popular), _large shoes_.

BATELÉE, _f._ (popular), _concourse of people_.

BATH, or BATE (popular), _fine_; _excellent_; _tip-top_; _very well_. The origin of the expression is as follows:--Towards 1848 some Bath note-paper of superior quality was hawked about in the streets of Paris and sold at a low price. Thus “papier bath” became synonymous of excellent paper. In a short time the qualifying term alone remained, and received a general application.

Un foulard tout neuf, ce qu’il y a de plus
bath!--=RICHEPIN.=

C’est rien ----, _that is excellent_, “fizzing.” C’est ---- aux pommes, _it is delightful_. (Thieves’) Du ----, _gold or silver_. Faire ----, _to arrest_.

BATIAU, _m._ (printers’), jour du ----, _day on which the compositor makes out his account for the week_. Parler ----, _to talk shop_.

BATIF, _m._ (thieves’), BATIVE, BATIFONNE _f._, _new_; _pretty_, or “dimber.” La fée est bative, _the girl is pretty_, _she is a_ “dimber mort.”

BATIMANCHO (Breton), _wooden shoes_.

BÂTIMENT (familiar), être du ----, _to be of a certain profession_.

BÂTIR (popular), sur le devant, _to have a large stomach_; _to have something like a_ “corporation” _growing upon one_.

BÂTON, _m._ (thieves’), creux, _musket_, or “dag;” ---- de cire, _leg_; ---- de réglisse, _police officer_, “crusher,” “copper,” or “reeler;” _priest_, or “devil dodger” (mountebanks’) ---- de tremplin, _leg_. Properly tremplin, _a spring board_; (familiar) ---- merdeux, _man whom it is not easy to deal with, who cannot be humoured_; (thieves’) ---- rompu, _ticket-of-leave convict who has broken bounds_. Termed also “canne, trique, tricard, fagot, cheval de retour.”

BÂTONS DE CHAISE, _m. pl._ (popular), noce de ----, _grand jollification_, “flare up,” or “break down.”

BATOUSE, BATOUZE, _f._ (thieves’), _canvas_; ---- toute battante, _new canvas_.

BATOUSIER, _m._ (thieves’), _weaver_.

BATTAGE (popular), _lie_, “gag;” _imposition_; _joke_; _humbug_; _damage to any article_.

BATTANT, _m._ (thieves’), _heart_, “panter;” _stomach_; _throat_, “red lane;” _tongue_, “jibb.” Un bon ----, _a nimble tongue_. Se pousser dans le ----, _to drink_, “to lush.” Faire trimer le ----, _to eat_.

BATTANTE, _f._ (popular), _bell_, or “ringer.”

BATTAQUA, _m._ (popular), _slatternly woman, dowdy_.

BATTERIE, _f._ (popular), _action of lying, of deceiving_, “cram;” _the teeth, throat, and tongue_; ---- douce, _joke_. (Freemasons’) Batterie, _applause_.

BATTEUR, _m._ (popular and thieves’), _liar, deceiver_; ---- d’antif, _thief who informs another of a likely_ “job;” ---- de beurre, _stockbroker_; ---- de dig dig, _thief who feigns to be seized with an apoplectic fit in a shop so as to facilitate a confederate’s operations by drawing the attention to himself_; (popular) ---- de flemme, _idler_.

BATTOIR, _m._ (popular), _hand_, “flipper;” _large hand_, “mutton fist.”

BATTRE (thieves’), _to dissemble_; _to deceive_; _to make believe_.

Ne t inquiète pas, je battrai si bien que je défie le plus
malin de ne pas me croire emballé pour de bon.--=VIDOCQ.=

Battre à la Parisienne, _to cheat_, “to do;” ---- à mort, _to deny_; ---- comtois, _to play the simpleton_; _to act in confederacy_; ---- de l’œil, _to be dying_; ---- entifle, _to be a confederate_, or “stallsman;” ---- Job, _to dissemble_; ---- l’antif, _to walk_, “to pad the hoof;” _to play the spy_, “to nark;” ---- morasse, _to call out_ “_Stop thief!_” “to give hot beef;” ---- en ruine, _to visit_.

Drilles ou narquois sont des soldats qui ... battent en
ruine les entiffes et tous les creux des vergnes.--_Le
Jargon de l’Argot._

(Popular) Battre la muraille, _to be so drunk as_ “not to be able to see a hole in a ladder,” _or not to be able_ “to lie down without holding on;” ---- la semelle, _to play the vagrant_; ---- le beurre, _to speculate on ’Change_; _to be_ “fast;” _to dissemble_; ---- le briquet, _to be knock-kneed_; ---- sa flème, or flemme, _to be idle_, _to be_ “niggling;” ---- son quart _is said of prostitutes who walk the streets_. Des yeux qui se battent en duel, _squinting eyes_, or “swivel-eyes.” S’en battre l’œil, la paupière, or les fesses, _not to care a straw_. (Familiar) Battre son plein, _to be in all the bloom of beauty or talent_, “in full blast;” (military) ---- la couverte, _to sleep_; (sailors’) ---- un quart, _to invent some plausible story_; (printers’) ---- le briquet, _to knock the type against the composing-stick when in the act of placing it in_.

BATTURE. See BATTERIE.

BAUCE, BAUSSE, _m._ (popular), _master, employer_, “boss;” (thieves’) _rich citizen_, “rag-splawger;” ---- fondu, _bankrupt employer_, “brosier.”

BAUCERESSE, _f._ (popular), _female employer_.

BAUCHER (thieves’), se ----, _to deride; to make fun of_.

BAUCOTER (thieves’), _to teaze_.

BAUDE, _f._ (thieves’), _venereal disease_.

BAUDROUILLARD, _m._ (thieves’), _fugitive_.

BAUDROUILLER (thieves’), _to decamp_, “to make beef.” See PATATROT.

BAUDROUILLER, or BAUDRU, _m._ (thieves’), _whip_.

BAUGE, _f._ (thieves’), _box_, _chest_, or “peter;” _belly_, “tripes.”

BAUME, _m._ (popular), d’acier, _surgeons’ and dentists’ instruments_; ---- de porte-en-terre, _poison_.

BAUSSER (popular), _to work_, “to graft.”

BAVARD, _m._ (popular), _barrister_, _lawyer_, “green bag;” (military) _punishment leaf in a soldier’s book_.

BAVARDE, _f._ (thieves’), _mouth_, “muns,” or “bone box.”

Une main autour de son colas et l’autre dans sa bavarde
pour lui arquepincer le chiffon ronge.--=E. SUE.=

BAVER (popular), _to talk_, “to jaw;” ---- des clignots, _to weep_, “to nap a bib;” ---- sur quelqu’un, _to speak ill of one_, _to backbite_. Baver, also _to chat_. The expression is old.

Venez-y, varletz, chamberières,
Qui sçavez si bien les manières,
En disant mainte bonne bave.

=VILLON=, 15th century.

BAVEUX, _m._ (popular), _one who does not know what he is talking about_.

BAYAFE, _m._ (thieves’), _pistol_, “barking iron,” or “barker.”

BAYAFER (thieves’), _to shoot_.

BAZAR, _m._ (military), _house of ill-fame_, “flash drum;” (servants’) _house where the master is particular_, “crib;” (popular) _any house_; (prostitutes) _furniture_, “marbles;” (students) _college or school_, “shop.”

BAZARDER (popular), _to sell off anything, especially one’s furniture_; _to barter_; (military) _to pillage a house; to wreck it_.

BAZENNE, _f._ (thieves’), _tinder_.

BÉ, _m._ (popular), _wicker-basket which rag-pickers sling to their shoulders_.

BÉAR, _adj._ (popular), laisser quelqu’un ----, _to leave one in the lurch_.

BEAU, _m._, _old term for swell_; ex-----, _superannuated swell_.

BEAU BLOND (thieves’), _a poetical appellation for the sun_.

BEAUCE, _f._ (thieves’), plume de ----, _straw_, or “strommel.”

BEAUCE, _m._, BEAUCERESSE, _f._, _second-hand clothes-dealers of the Quartier du Temple_.

BEAUGE, _m._ (thieves’), _belly_, “guts.”

BEAUSSE, _m._ (thieves’), _wealthy man_, “rag-splawger,” _or one who is_ “well-breeched.”

BÉBÉ, _m._ (popular), _stunted man_; _female dancer at fancy public balls in the dress of an infant_; _the dress itself_; _term of endearment_. Mon gros ----! _darling! ducky!_

BEC, _m._ (popular), _mouth_, “maw;” ---- salé, _a thirsty mortal_. Claquer du ----, _to be fasting_, “to be bandied.” Rincer le ---- à quelqu’un, _to treat one to some drink_. Se rincer le ----, _to wet one’s whistle_. Tortiller du ----, _to eat_, “to peck.” Casser du ----, _to have an offensive breath_. Avoir la rue du ---- mal pavée, _to have an irregular set of teeth_. Ourler son ----, _to finish one’s work_. (Sailors’) Se calfater le ----, _to eat or drink_, “to splice the mainbrace.” (Thieves’) Bec de gaz, bourrique, flique, cierge, arnif, peste, laune, vache, _police-officer or detective_, “pig,” “crusher,” “copper,” “cossack,” “nark,” &c.

BÉCANE, _f._ (popular), _steam engine_, “puffing billy;” _small printing machine_.

BÉCARRE _is the latest title for Parisian dandies_; and the term is also used to replace the now well-worn expression “chic.” The “bécarre” must be grave and sedate after the English model, with short hair, high collar, small moustache and whiskers, but no beard. He must always look thirty years of age; must neither dance nor affect the frivolity of a floral button-hole nor any jewellery; must shake hands simply with ladies and gravely bend his head to gentlemen. “Bécarre--being translated--is ‘natural’ in a musical sense.”--_Graphic, Jan. 2, 1886_. The French dandy goes also by the appellations of “cocodès, petit crevé, pschutteux,” &c. See GOMMEUX.

BÉCASSE, _f._ (popular), _female guy_.

Eh! va donc, grande bécasse!

BECFIGUE DE CORDONNIER, _m._ (popular), _goose_.

BÊCHAGE, _m._ (familiar), _sharp criticism_.

BÊCHER (familiar), _to criticize_, _to run down_; (popular) _to beat_, “to bash.” Se ----, _to fight_, “to have a mill.”

BÊCHEUR, _m._ (thieves’), _beggar_, “mumper;” _juge d’instruction_, _a magistrate whose functions are to make out a case, and examine a prisoner before he is sent up for trial_. Avocat ----, _public prosecutor_.

BÊCHEUSE, _f._ (thieves’), _female thief_.

BÉCOT, _m._ (popular), _mouth_, “kisser;” _kiss_, “bus.”

BÉCOTER (popular), _to kiss_; _to fondle_, “to firkytoodle.”

BECQUANT, _m._ (thieves’), _chicken_, “cackling cheat,” or “beaker.”

BECQUETANCE, _f._ (popular), _food_, “grub.”

BECQUETER (popular), _to eat_, “to peck.”

Dis-donc! viens-tu becqueter? Arrive clampin! Je paie un
canon de la bouteille.--=ZOLA.=

BEDON, _m._ (popular), _belly_, “tripes,” or “the corporation.”

BÉDOUIN, _m._ (popular), _harsh man_, or “Tartar;” _one of the card-sharper tribe_.

BEEK (Breton), _wolf_. Gwelet an euz ar beek _is equivalent to_ elle a vu le loup, _that is, she has lost her maidenhead_.

BEFFEUR, _m._, BEFFEUSE, _f._ (popular), _deceiver_, _one who_ “puts on.”

BÈGUE, _f._ (thieves’), _oats_; also abbreviation of bézigue, a certain game of cards.

BÉGUIN, _m._ (popular), _head_, “nut;” _a fancy_. Avoir un ---- pour quelqu’un, “_to fancy someone_, “to cotton on to one.”

BEIGNE, _f._ (popular), _cuff or blow_, “bang.”

BÊLANT, _m._ (thieves’), _sheep_, “wool-bird.”

BELÊT, _m._ (horse-dealers’), _sorry horse_, “screw.”

BELETTE, _f._ (popular), _fifty-centime piece_.

BELGE, _f._ (popular), _Belgian clay-pipe_.

BELGIQUE (familiar), filer sur ----, _to abscond with contents of cash-box_, _is said also of absconding fraudulent bankrupts, who generally put the Belgian frontier between the police and their own persons_.

BÉLIER, _m._ (cads’), _cuckold_.

BELLANDER (tramps’), _to beg_, “to cadge.”

BELLE, _f._ (popular and familiar), attendre sa ----, _to wait one’s opportunity_. Jouer la ----, _to play a third and decisive game_. La perdre ----, _to lose a game which was considered as good as won_; _to lose an opportunity_. (Thieves’) Etre servi de ----, _to be imprisoned through mistaken identity_; _to be the victim of a false accusation_. (Popular) Belle à la chandelle, _f._, _ugly_; ---- de nuit, _female habituée of balls and cafés_; (familiar) ---- petite, _a young lady of the demi-monde_, a “pretty horse-breaker.”

BÉNARD, _m._ (popular), _breeches_, “kicks,” or “sit-upons.”

BÉNEF, _m._, for bénéfice, _profit_.

BÉNÉVOLE, _m._ (popular), _young doctor in hospitals_.

BÉNI-COCO (military), être de la tribu des ----, _to be a fool_.

BÉNI-MOUFFETARD (popular), _dweller of the Quartier Mouffetard_, _the abode of rag-pickers_.

BÉNIR (popular), bas, _to kick one in the lower part of the back_, “to toe one’s bum,” “to root,” or “to land a kick;” (popular and thieves’) ---- des pieds, _to be hanged_, “to cut caper-sauce,” or “to be scragged.”

BÉNISSEUR, _m._ (familiar), _one who puts on a dignified and solemn air, as if about to give his blessing, and who delivers platitudes on virtue, &c._; _one who makes fine but empty promises_; _political man who professes to believe, and seeks to make others believe, that everything is for the best_. An historical illustration of this is General Changarnier thus addressing the House on the very eve of the Coup d’Etat which was to throw most of its members into prison, “Représentants du peuple, délibérez en paix!”

BENOÎT, _m._ (popular), _woman’s bully_, “ponce.” See POISSON.

La vrai’ vérité,
C’est qu’ les Benoîts toujours lichent
Et s’graissent les balots.
Vive eul’ bataillon d’ la guiche,
C’est nous qu’est les dos.

=RICHEPIN=, _Chanson des Gueux_.

BENOÎTON, _m._, BENOÎTONNE, _f._, _people eccentric in their ways and style of dress_. From a play of Sardou’s, _La Famille Benoîton_.

BENOÎTONNER, _to live and dress after the style of the Benoîtons_ (which see).

BENOÎTONNERIE, _f._, _style and ways of the Benoîtons_.

BEQ, _m._ (engravers’), _work_.

BÉQUET, _m._ (shoemakers’), _patch of leather sewn on a boot_; (wood engravers’) _small block_; (printers’) _a composition of a few lines_; _paper prop placed under a forme_.

BÉQUETER (popular), _to eat_, “to peck,” or “to grub.”

BÉQUILLARD, _m._ (popular), _old man_, _old_ “codger;” (thieves’) _executioner_.

BÉQUILLARDE, _f._ (thieves’), _guillotine_.

BÉQUILLE, _f._ (thieves’), _gallows_, “scrag.” Properly _crutch_.

BÉQUILLÉ, _m._ (thieves’), _hanged person_, _one who has_ “cut caper sauce.”

BÉQUILLER (popular), _to hang_; _to eat_, “to grub.”

BÉQUILLEUR, _m._ (thieves’), _executioner_; _man who eats_.

BERCE. Cheval qui se ----, _horse which rocks from side to side when trotting, which_ “wobbles.”

BERDOUILLARD (popular), _man with a fat paunch_, “forty guts.”

BERDOUILLE, _f._ (popular), _belly_, “tripes.”

T’as bouffé des haricots que t’as la berdouille
gonfle.--=RICHEPIN=, _Le Pavé_.

BERGE, _f._, or LONGE (thieves’), _year_; _one year’s imprisonment_, “stretch.”

BERGÈRE, _f._ (popular), _sweetheart_, “poll;” _last card in a pack_.

BÉRIBONO, BÉRICAIN (thieves’), _silly fellow easily deceived_, a “flat,” a “go along.”

BERLAUDER (popular), _to lounge about_, “to mike;” _to go the round of all the wine-shops in the neighbourhood_.

BERLINE DE COMMERCE, _f._ (thieves’), _tradesman’s clerk_.

BERLU, _m._ (thieves’), _blind_, or “hoodman.” From avoir la berlue, _to see double_.

BERLUE, _f._ (thieves’), _blanket_, “woolly.”

BERNARD, _m._ (popular), aller voir ----, or aller voir comment se porte madame ----, _to ease oneself_, “to go to Mrs. Jones.”

BERNARDS, _m. pl._ (popular), _posteriors_, “cheeks.”

BERNIQUER (popular), _to go away with the intention of not returning_.

BERRI, _m._ (popular), _rag-picker’s basket_.

BERRY, _m._ (Ecole Polytechnique), _fatigue tunic_.

BERTELO, _m._ (thieves’), _one-franc piece_.

BERTRAND, _m._ (familiar), _a swindler who is swindled by his confederates, who acts as a cat’s-paw of other rogues_.

BERZÉLIUS, _m._ (college), _watch_.

BESOIN, _m._ (popular), autel de ----, _house of ill-fame_, or “nanny-shop.”

BESOUILLE, _f._ (thieves’), _belt_. From bezzi, Italian, _small coin kept in a belt_.

BESSONS, _m. pl._ (popular), _the breasts_, “dairies.” Properly _twins_.

BESTIASSE, _f._ (popular), _arrant fool_; _dullard_, “buffle-head.”

BÊTE, _f. and adj._ (thieves’), _confederate in a swindle at billiards_. See BACHOTTER. (Popular) ---- à bon Dieu, _harmless person_ (properly _lady-bird_); ---- à cornes, _fork_; _lithographic press_; ---- à deux fins, _walking-stick_; ---- à pain, _a man_; _also a man who keeps a woman_; ---- comme ses pieds, _arrant fool_; ---- comme chou, _extremely stupid_; _very easy_; ---- épaulée, _girl who has lost her maidenhead_ (this expression has passed into the language). Une ---- rouge, _an advanced Republican, a Radical_. Thus termed by the Conservatives. Called also “démoc-soc.”

BÊTISES, _f. pl._ (popular), _questionable_, or “blue,” _talk_.

BETTANDER (thieves’), _to beg_, “to mump,” or “cadge.”

BETTERAVE, _f._ (popular), _drunkard’s nose_, _a nose with_ “grog blossoms,” _or a_ “copper nose,” _such as is possessed by an_ “admiral of the red.”

BEUGLANT, _m._ (familiar), _low music hall_; _music hall_.

BEUGLER (popular), _to weep_, “to nap one’s bib.”

BEUGNE, _f._ (popular), _blow_, “clout,” “bang,” or “wipe.”

BEURLOQUIN, _m._ (popular), _proprietor of boot warehouse of a very inferior sort_.

BEURLOT, _m._ (popular), _shoemaker in a small way_.

BEURRE, _m._ (familiar), _coin_, “oof;” _more or less lawful gains_. Faire son ----, _to make considerable profits_. Mettre du ---- dans ses épinards, _to add to one’s means_. Y aller de son ----, _to make a large outlay of money in some business_. C’est un ----, _it is excellent_, “nobby.” Avoir l’assiette au Beurre. See AVOIR. Au prix où est le ----. See AU. Avoir du ---- sur la tête. See AVOIR.

BEURRE DEMI-SEL, _m._ (popular), _girl or woman already tainted_, _in a fair way of becoming a prostitute_.

BEURRIER, _m._ (thieves’), _banker_, “rag-shop cove.”

BÉZEF (popular), _much_. From the Arabic.

BIARD (thieves’), _side_. Probably from biais.

BIBARD, _m._ (popular), _drunkard_, or “mop;” _debauchee_, or “sad dog.”

BIBARDER (popular), _to grow old_.

BIBARDERIE, _f._ (popular), _old age_.

BIBASSE, BIRBASSE, _adj. and subst._, _f._ (popular), _old_; _old woman_.

Moi j’suis birbass’, j’ai b’soin d’larton.

=RICHEPIN=, _Chanson des Gueux_.

BIBASSERIE. See BIBARDERIE.

BIBASSIER, _m._ (popular), _sulky grumbler_; _over-particular man_; _drunkard_, “bubber,” or “lushington.”

BIBELOT (familiar), _any object_; (soldiers’) _belongings_; _knapsack or portmanteau_; (printers’) _sundry small jobs_. Properly _any small articles of artistic workmanship_; _knick-knacks_.

BIBELOTER (popular), _to sell one’s belongings_, _one’s_ “traps;” ---- une affaire, _to do some piece of business_. Se ----, _to make oneself comfortable_; _to do something to one’s best advantage_.

BIBELOTEUR, _m._ (familiar), _a lover of knick-knacks_; _one who collects knick-knacks_.

BIBELOTIER, _m._, _printers’ man who works at sundry small jobs_.

BIBI, _m._ (popular), _term of endearment generally addressed to young boys_; _woman’s bonnet out of fashion_. C’est pour ----, _that’s for me_, _for_ “number one.” La Muse à ----, _the title of a collection of poems by Gill_, literally _my own muse_. A ----! (printers’) _to Bedlam!_ abbreviation of Bicêtre, _Paris depôt for lunatics_. (Thieves’) Bibi, _skeleton key_, or “betty;” (military) _infantry soldier_, “mud-crusher,” “wobbler,” or “beetle-crusher.”

BIBINE, _f._, _the name given by rag-pickers to a wine-shop_, or “boozing-ken.”

BIBOIRE, _f._, (schoolboys’), _small leather or india-rubber cup_.

BIBON, _m._ (popular), _disreputable old man_.

BICARRÉ, _m._ (college), _fourth year pupil in the class for higher mathematics_.

BICEPS, _m._ (familiar), avoir du ----, _to be strong_. Tâter le ----, _to try and insinuate oneself into a person’s good graces_, “to suck up.”

BICH, KORNIK, or KUBIK (Breton), _devil_.

BICHE, _f._ (familiar), _term of endearment_, “ducky!”; _girl leading a gay life_, or “pretty horse-breaker.”

BICHEGANEGO (Breton), _potatoes_.

BICHER (popular), _to kiss_. (Rodfishers’) Ça biche, _there’s a bite_; and in popular language, _all right_.

BICHERIE, _f._ (familiar), _the world of_ “biches” or “cocottes.” Haute ----, _the world of fashionable prostitutes_.

C’est là où ... on voit défiler avec un frou-frou de soie,
la haute et la basse bicherie en quête d’une proie, quærens
quem devoret.--=FRÉBAULT=, _La Vie à Paris_.

BICHON, _m._, _term of endearment_. Mon ----! _darling_. (Popular) Un ----, _a Sodomist_.

BICHONNER COCO (soldiers’), _to groom one’s horse_.

BICHONS, _m. pl._ (popular), _shoes with bows_.

BICHOT, _m._ (thieves’), _bishop_. Probably from the English.

BIDACHE, _f._ See BIDOCHE.

BIDARD, _m._ (popular), _lucky_.

BIDET, _m._ (convicts’), _string which is contrived so as to enable prisoners to send a letter, and receive the answer by the same means_.

BIDOCHE, or BARBAQUE, _f._ (popular), _meat_, “bull;” (military) _piece of meat_.

BIDON DE ZINC, _m._ (military), _blockhead_. Properly _a can_, _flask_.

BIDONNER (popular), _to drink freely_, “to swig;” (sailors’) ---- à la cambuse, _to drink at the canteen_, “to splice the mainbrace.”

BIE (Breton cant), _beer_; _water_.

BIEN (popular), pansé, _intoxicated_, “screwed.” Mon ----, _my husband_, or “old man;” _my wife_, or “old woman.” Etre du dernier ---- avec, _to be on the most intimate terms with_. Etre ----, _to be tipsy_, “screwed.” Etre en train de ---- faire, _to be eating_. Un homme ----, une femme ----, _means a person of the middle class_; _well-dressed people_.

BIENSÉANT, _m._ (popular), _the behind_, or “tochas.” See VASISTAS.

BIER (thieves’), _to go_.

Ils entrent dans le creux, doublent de la batouze, des
limes, de l’artie et puis doucement happent le taillis
et bient attendre ceux qui se portaient sur le grand
trimar.--_Le Jargon de l’Argot._

BIÈRE, _f._ (popular), _domino box_.

BIFFE, _f._ (popular), _rag-pickers’ trade_.

BIFFER (popular), _to ply the rag-pickers’ trade_; _to eat greedily_, “to wolf.”

BIFFETON, _m._ (thieves’), _letter_, “screeve,” or “stiff;” (popular) _counter-mark at theatres_. Donner sur le ----, _to read an indictment_; _to give information as to the prisoner’s character_.

BIFFIN, or BIFIN, _m._ (popular), _rag-picker_, or “bone-grubber;” _a foot soldier_, or “wobbler,” his knapsack being assimilated to a rag-picker’s basket.

BIFFRE, _m._ (popular), _food_, “grub.” Passer à ----, _to eat_. Passer à ---- à train express, _to bolt down one’s food_, “to guzzle.”

BIFTECK, _m._ (popular), à maquart, _filthy_, “chatty” _individual_ (Maquart is the name of a knacker); ---- de chamareuse, _flat sausage_ (chamareuse, _a working girl_); ---- de grisette, _flat sausage_. Faire du ----, _to strike_, “to clump;” _to ride a hard trotting horse, which sometimes makes one’s breech raw_.

BIFTECKIFÈRE, _adj._, _that which procures one’s living_, _one’s_ “bread and cheese.”

BIFURQUÉ. At the colleges of the University students may, after the course of “troisième,” take up science and mathematics instead of continuing the classics. This is called bifurcation.

BIGARD, _m._ (thieves’), _hole_.

BIGARDÉ (thieves’), _pierced_.

BIGE, BIGEOIS, BIGEOT, _m._ (thieves’), _blockhead_, “go along;” _dupe_, or “gull.”

BIGORNE, _m._ (thieves’), jaspiner or rouscailler ----, _to talk cant_, “to patter flash.”

BIGORNEAU, _m._ (popular), _police officer_, or “crusher;” _marine_, or “jolly.”

BIGORNIAU, _m._ (popular), _native of Auvergne_.

BIGORNION, _m._ (popular), _falsehood_, “swack up.”

BIGOTER (thieves’), _to play the religious hypocrite_.

BIGOTEUR, _m._ (thieves’), _devout person_.

BIGOTTER, (popular), _to pray_.

BIGREMENT (familiar), a forcible expression, _extremely_, “awfully.”

BIJOU, _m._ (popular), _broken victuals_, or “manablins;” (freemasons’) _badge_; ---- de loge, _badge worn on the left side_; ---- de l’ordre, _emblem_.

BIJOUTER (thieves’), _to steal jewels_.

BIJOUTERIE, _f._ (popular), _money advanced on wages_, “dead-horse.”

BIJOUTIER, _m._, BIJOUTIÈRE, _f._ (popular), _retailer of_ “arlequins” (which see); bijoutier sur le genou, en cuir, _shoemaker_, or “snob.”

BILBOQUET, _m._ (popular), _person with a large head_; _man who is made fun of_; _a laughing-stock_; _a litre bottle of wine_. Bilboquet, properly _cup and ball_. (Printers’) _sundry small jobs_.

BILLANCER (thieves’), _to serve one’s full term of imprisonment_.

BILLANCHER (popular), _to pay_, “to fork out,” “to shell out.”

BILLARD, _m._ (popular), dévisser son, _to die_, or “to kick the bucket.”

BILLE, _f._ (thieves), _money_, or “pieces” (from billon); (popular) _head_, “tibby,” “block,” “nut,” “canister,” “chump,” “costard,” “attic,” &c.; ---- à châtaigne, _grotesque head_ (it is the practice in France to carve chestnuts into grotesque heads); ---- de billard, _bald pate_, “bladder of lard;” ---- de bœuf, _chitterling_.

BILLEMON, BILLEMONT, _m._ (thieves’), _bank-note_, “soft,” “rag,” or “flimsy.”

BILLEOZ (Breton), _money_.

BILLEOZI (Breton), _to pay_.

BILLER (thieves’), _to pay_, “to dub.”

BILLET, _m._ (popular), direct pour Charenton, _absinthe taken neat_. Prendre un ---- de parterre, _to fall_, “to come a cropper.” Je vous en fous or fiche mon ----, _I assure you it is a fact_, “on my Davy,” “’pon my sivvy,” or “no flies.”

BILLEZ (Breton), _girl_; _peasant woman_.

BINCE, _m._ (thieves’), _knife_, “chive.”

Malheur aux pantres de province,
Souvent lardé d’un coup de bince,
Le micheton nu se sauvait.

=RICHEPIN=, _Gueux de Paris_.

BINELLE, _f._ (popular), _bankruptcy_.

BINELLIER, _m._ (popular), _bankrupt_, “brosier.”

BINELLOPHE, _f._ (popular), _fraudulent bankruptcy_.

BINETTE, _f._ (familiar), _face_, “phiz;” ---- à la désastre, _gloomy face_. Prendre la ---- à quelqu’un, _to take one’s portrait_. Quelle sale ----, _what an ugly face!_ _a regular_ “knocker face.” Une drôle de ----, _queer face_.

BINÔMES, _chums working together at the Ecole Polytechnique_. It is customary for students to pair off for work.

BINWIO (Breton), _male organs of generation_. Literally _tools_.

BIQUE, _f._ (popular), _old horse_; ---- et bouque, _hermaphrodite_ (equivalent to “chèvre et bouc”).

BIRBADE, BIRBASSE, BIRBE, BIRBETTE, BIRBON, _m. and adj._ (thieves’ and popular), _old_; _old man_; _old woman_.

BIRBASSIER. See BIBASSIER.

BIRBE (popular), _old man_, _old_ “codger;” (thieves’) ---- dab, _grandfather_.

BIRBETTE, _m._ (popular), _a very old man_.

BIRIBI, _m._ (thieves’), _short crowbar used by housebreakers_, “James,” “the stick,” or “jemmy.” Termed also “pince monseigneur, rigolo, l’enfant, Jacques, sucre de pomme, dauphin.”

BIRLIBI, _m._ (thieves’), _game played by swindling gamblers with walnut shells and dice_.

BIRMINGHAM (familiar), rasoir de ---- (superlative of rasoir), _bore_.

BISARD, _m._ (thieves’), _bellows_ (from bise, _wind_).

BISCAYE (thieves’), _Bicêtre, a prison_.

BISCAYEN (thieves’), _madman_, _one who is_ “balmy.” (Bicêtre has a dépôt for lunatics.)

BISCHOFF, _m._ _drink prepared with white wine, lemon, and sugar_.

BISCOPE, or VISCOPE, _f._ (cads’), _cap_.

La viscope en arrière et la trombine au vent,
L’œil marlou, il entra chez le zingue.

=RICHEPIN=, _Gueux de Paris_.

BISER (familiar), _to kiss_.