Chapter M: T. Empty. "The bloke's leather was M T," the man's pocket-book had (1)

nothing in it--was empty.

MAB. A harlot.

MACE COVE. A false pretense man; a swindler; "On the mace," to live by swindling.

MAD TOM. A fellow who feigns to be foolish.

MADAM RHAN. A bad woman; a strumpet.

MADAME. A kept mistress.

MADE. Stolen. "The copper asked me where I made the benjamin. I told him I didn't make it, but got it on the square," the officer asked me where I stole the coat, and I told him that I did not steal it, but got it honestly.

MADGE. Private places.

MAGG. A half-cent.

MAGGING. Getting money by cheating countrymen with balls, patent safes, etc., etc.

MAGSMEN. Fellows who are too cowardly to steal, but prefer to cheat confiding people by acting upon their cupidity.

MAKE HIM SWIM FOR IT. Cheat him out of his share.

MAN-TRAP. A widow.

MANDERER. A beggar.

MARKING. Observing; taking notice.

MARRIED. Two fellows handcuffed together.

MATER. Mother.

MAUDLING. Crying.

MAULD. Very drunk.

MAUNDING. Asking alms; soliciting.

MAWKS. A slattern.

MAWLEY. Hand. "Tip us your mawley," tip us your hand.

MAX. Gin; intoxicating liquor.

MAZZARD. The face.

MEASURE. To examine closely. "The copper snapped and measured me, but could not drop to my chant or mug, and so he turned me up, and I moved my beaters like a bull," the officer examined me, but could not recollect my name or face, and then let me go, and I moved my boots like a locomotive.

MEDLAR. A fellow that smells bad.

MELLOW. Good-natured; a little intoxicated.

MELT. To spend money. "The cove melted a finniff in lush before we parted," the fellow spent five dollars for drink before we parted.

MERKIN. Hair-dye.

MESTING. Dissolving; melting.

MIDDLE-PIECE. The stomach.

MILCH COW. A man that is easily cheated out of his money.

MILKEN. A house-breaker.

MILKY. White.

MILKY DUDS. White clothes.

MILL. The treadmill; a fight; a chisel.

MILL DOSE. Working in prison.

MILL LAY. Breaking into houses; on the crack.

MILL THE GLAZE. Break the window. A young thief who had turned State's evidence gave his testimony to the officer as follows: "Jack and Sneaky bustled in front of the jigger. Jack dingged Sneaky's castor into the crib; Sneaky brushed to get it; Jack pulled the jigger to, and Smasher milled the glaze, touched the swag, and mizzled like a bull, and, ye see, I played shady to pipe the bloke what was done," Jack and Sneaky pretended to scuffle in front of the shop-door. Jack pulled off Sneaky's hat and threw it into the store; Sneaky rushed in to get it; Jack, in the meantime, pulled the door to. Smasher broke the window, stole the jewelry, and was off like a locomotive. I remained near by to watch and see what steps the man would take to recover his property.

MILL TOG. A shirt.

MILLER. A fighter.

MILLING COVE. A pugilist. "How the milling cove served out the cull," how the boxer beat the man.

MINNIKON. Very small.

MINT. Plenty of money.

MISCHIEF. A man with his wife on his back.

MISH. A shirt.

MISH-TOPPER. A coat or petticoat.

MISS. A mistress.

MIX-METAL. A silver-smith.

MIZZLE. Go; run; be off.

MOABITES. Constables.

MOBILITY. The mob; opposition to nobility.

MOBS. A number of thieves working together.

MOEY. A petition. A convict would say to another: "My pals have got up a bene moey to send to the head bloke, and if it comes off rye buck, I shall soon vamose from the stir; but if it should turn out a shise, then I must do my bit," my partners have got up a good petition to send to the Governor, and if it turns out well, I shall soon leave the prison; but if it should be good for nothing, I must stay my time out.

MOHAIR. An upholsterer.

MOIETY. Fifty.

MOKE. A negro.

MOLL. A woman.

MOLL BUZZER. A thief that devotes himself to picking the pockets of women.

MOLL-SACK. Reticule.

MOLLEY. A miss; a young woman; an effeminate fellow; a sodomite.

MONDONGO. Filthy; full of stench, it stinks beyond the power of endurance.

MONEKER. A name.

MONEY. A private place.

MOON. One month; thirty days' imprisonment. "The poor cove was done for two stretches and six moons," the poor fellow was sentenced for two years and six months.

MOON-EYED HEN. A squinting prostitute.

MOOSE-FACE. A rich, ugly-faced man; a poor but handsome young girl who marries an old, wrinkle-faced, ill-looking rich man, is said to have married a moose-face.

MOPSEY. A short dowdy woman.

MOPUSSES. Money.

MORNING DROP. The gallows. "He napped the Governor's stiff, and escaped the morning drop," he received the Governor's pardon, and escaped the gallows.

MORRIS. Move off; dance off.

MORT. A woman.

MOSES. A man that fathers another man's child for a consideration.

MOSH. Dining at an eating-house and leaving without making payment.

MOSS. Money. "A rolling stone gathers no moss."

MOUNT. To give false testimony.

MOUNTER. Men who give false bail; or who, for a consideration, will swear to any thing required.

MOUNTERS. Fellows who hire clothes to wear for a particular occasion; those who wear second-hand clothes.

MOUSE. Be quiet; be still; talk low; whisper; step light; make no noise; softly.

MOUTH. A noisy fellow; a silly fellow.

MOUTH IT. Speak loud.

MOUTHING. Crying. "The mort is mouthing," the girl is crying.

MOVED. Bowed to. "The swell moved to the Moll as they crossed," the gentleman bowed to the girl as they passed each other.

MOW. To kiss. "The bloke was mowing the molly," the man was kissing the girl.

MUCK. Money.

MUCK-WORM. A miser.

MUD. A fool.

MUFFLERS. Boxing-gloves.

MUG. The face; a simple fellow.

MULL. To spend money.

MUM. Say nothing; nothing to say.

MUMMER. The mouth.

MUMPERS. Beggars.

MUND. Mouth.

MUNG. To solicit; to beg.

MUNS. The face. "Tout the mab's muns," look at the woman's face.

MUSH. An umbrella.

MUSHROOM-FAKERS. Umbrella hawkers.

MUSIC. The verdict of a jury when they find "not guilty."

MUSS. A quarrel; a row.

MY UNCLE. A pawnbroker.

N

NABBED. Arrested.

NABCHEAT. A hat.

NABGIRDER. A bridle.

NABS. Coxcombs.

NACKY. Ingenious.

NAIDER. Nothing; can't have it.

NAILED. Fixed; secured; taken; arrested.

NAMASED. Ran away; got out of sight; ran.

NAP. To cheat.

NAPPER. A cheat; a thief; the head.

NARP. A shirt.

NARY. Not. "I frisked the joskin's sacks, but nary red was there," I searched the countryman's pockets, but not a cent was there.

NASK. A prison.

NATTY KIDS. Young thieves; smart, well-dressed youngsters.

NATURAL. Not fastidious; a liberal, clever fellow. "The bloke is very natural," the fellow is very liberal.

NAZY. Drunken.

NAZY COVES. Drunken fellows.

NAZY NOBS. Drunken coxcombs or fops.

NEB. The face.

NECKWEED. Hemp.

NED. A ten-dollar gold piece.

NEDDY. A slung-shot.

NEGLIGEE. A woman with nothing on but her shift.

NEMAN. Stealing.

NERVE. Courage; endurance; staunch.

NESCIO. No; I know not; can't say.

NETTLED. Diseased.

NEW LIGHT. New coin; new money.

NIB. The mouth.

NICK. To cut. "The knuck nicked the bloke's kicks into the bottom of his poke, and the dummy fell into his mauley," the pickpocket cut through the man's pants into the bottom of his pocket, when the pocket-book dropped into his hand. This mode of stealing is only practised by the artists of the fraternity.

NICKEY. The devil; "Old Nick."

NIDERING. Bad; without mitigation of any kind.

NIG. To clip.

NIL. Nothing.

NIM. To steal.

NIMENOG. A very silly fellow.

NIPPER-KIN. A tumbler; a drinking vessel.

NIPPERED. Turning a key in the inside of a door, from the outside, with a peculiar pair of forceps or nippers. Hotel-thieves use nippers to enter rooms after the inmates have gone to sleep.

NIPPERS. An instrument for turning a key on the outside of the door, used by hotel-thieves.

NIQUE. Contempt; don't care.

NISH. Keep quiet; be still.

NIX. Nothing.

NOB. One who stands at the head; a king; a man of rank.

NOBLERS. Confederates of thimble-riggers, who appear to play, to induce the flats to try their luck with the "little joker."

NOCKY BOY. A simpleton.

NOD. Asleep. "Gone to the land of Nod," gone to sleep.

NODDLE. An empty-pated fellow; a fool; the head of an animal.

NONSENSE. Melting butter in a wig.

NOOSED. Married.

NOPE. A blow.

NOSE. A spy; one who informs. "His pal nosed, and the bene cove was pulled for a crack," his partner informed against him, and the good fellow was arrested for burglary.

NOSEMY. Tobacco.

NOTCH. A pocket.

NOTE. A singer.

NOUSE-BOX. The head.

NOZZLE. A chimney.

NUB. The neck.

NUBBING. Hanging.

NUBIBUS. In the clouds. "Blow a nubibus," make a smoke.

NUG. Dear. "My nug," my dear.

NULL. To flog.

NUMS. Sham; not real.

NYPPER. A cut-purse, so called by a person named Wotton, who in the year 1585, kept in London an academy for the education and perfection of rogues in the art of abstracting purses and pocket-books. At that period persons wore their purses at their girdles. Cutting them was a branch of the light-fingered art, which is now out of use, though the name remains. Instruction in the practice of this art was given as follows: A purse and a pocket were separately suspended, attached to which, both around and above them, were small bells; each contained counters, and he who could withdraw a counter without causing any of the bells to ring, was adjudged to be a "Nypper." A nypper was a pick-purse; a pick-pocket was called a "Foyster."

O

O YES. To cry out. "The O yes of beef was rushing out of his oven like steam from a bull," the cry of stop thief was rushing out of his big mouth like steam from a locomotive.

O. K. All right; "Oll kerect."

OAF. A silly fellow.

OAFISH. Simple.

OAK. Strong; rich; good reputation.

OAK TOWEL. An oaken cudgel.

OAR. Meddle with.

OCCUPY. To wear. "The cove occupies the oaf's benjamin," the fellow wears the silly man's coat.

OCHIVES. Bone-handled knives.

OCHRE. Money.

OFFICE. Information conveyed by a look, word, or in any way by which the person receiving it is intelligibly impressed. "The cove tipped the office, and I was fly to the cop," the fellow gave me the hint, and then I knew it was a policeman.

OFFICING. Signalizing; a preconcerted signal by a confederate.

OGLE THE COVE. Look at the fellow.

OGLES. The eyes.

OIL OF BARLEY. Strong beer.

OLD. Death.

OLD DOSS. The Tombs.

OLD ONE. The Devil.

OLD POGER. The Devil.

OLD SHOE. Good Luck.

OLD TOAST. A smart old man.

OLIVER. The moon.

OLIVER'S SKULL. A chamber-pot.

OLLI COMPOLLI. The chief rogue; a very smart thief.

ON A STRING. To send a person to look for something that you are sure is in some other place, is putting him on a string, or humbugging, fooling him.

ON HIS MUSCLE. "The fellow travels on his muscle," he presumes on his abilities to fight.

ON IT. "On the cross," getting a living by other than honest means.

ON THE MACE. Ready to cheat; cheating for a living; a professional cheat.

ON THE MUSCLE. On the fight; a fighter; a pugilist.

ON THE SHALLOW. Half-naked.

ON THE SHARP. Persons who are well acquainted with the mysteries of gaming, and therefore not easily cheated.

OPTIME. Class. "He's optime No. one as a screwsman," he is a first-class burglar.

ORACLE. To plan a robbery or any kind of deceit.

ORGAN. Pipe. "Will you lush and cock an organ with me, my bene cove?" will you drink and smoke a pipe with me, my good fellow?

OSTLER. House thief.

OTTOMISED. To be dissected. "The bene cove was scragged, ottomised, and put in a glass case for oafs to ogle," the good fellow was hung, dissected, and put in a glass case for fools to gaze at.

OTTOMY. A skeleton.

OUT-AND-OUT. A spree; a frolic.

OUT-AND-OUTER. Distinguished; first-class.

OUTS. Ex-officers.

OUTSIDE PAL. The thief that watches outside when his confederates are working within.

OUTSIDE PLANT. A sly place in which the receiver generally keep his goods after purchasing.

OUTSIDER. Not in the secret; not of our party.

OVEN. A large mouth. "The bloke should be a baker--twig his oven," the man should be a baker--look at his big mouth.

OWLERS. Smugglers.

OWLS. Women who walk the streets only at night.

P

PACKET. A false report.

PAD. A street; highway, "To go on the pad," to go on the street.

PAD THE HOOF. Walk the street; to be off.

PADDING KEN. A lodging-house.

PAIR OF WINGS. A pair of oars.

PAL. A companion; the partner of a thief.

PALAVER. Talk; flattery; conference.

PALLIARDS. Female mendicants who beg with a number of children, borrowing from others of the same fraternity if they have not enough of their own, giving an opiate to one to make it sleep, pinching and sticking pins into another to make it cry, and making artificial sores on the arms, hands, and face of a third, all to move the hand of the benevolent from their purses to the outstretched hand of the beggar.

PALLING IN. A connection formed by a male and female thief to steal and sleep together.

PALM. To fee or bribe.

PALMER. A thief that adroitly slips jewelry from the top of a show-case into his pocket.

PAM. A knave.

PANEL-CRIB. A place especially and ingeniously fitted up for the robbery of gentlemen who are enticed thereto by women who make it their business to pick up strangers. Panel-cribs are sometimes called badger-cribs, shakedowns, touch-cribs, and are variously fitted for the admission of those who are in the secret, but which defy the scrutiny of the uninitiated. Sometimes the casing of the door is made to swing on well-oiled hinges which are not discoverable in the room, while the door itself appears to be hung in the usual manner, and well secured by bolts and lock. At other times the entrance is effected by means of what appears to be an ordinary wardrobe, the back of which revolves like a turn-style on pivots in the middle above and below. When the victim has undressed himself and got into bed with the woman, the thief enters, and picking the pocket-book out of the pocket, abstracts the money, and supplying its place with a small roll of paper, returns the book to its place. He then withdraws, and coming to the door raps and demands admission, calling the woman by the name of wife. The frightened victim, springing out of bed, dresses himself in a hurry, feels his pocket-book in its proper place, and escapes through another other door, congratulating himself on his happy deliverance. He soon, however, finds out that he has been victimized, and not unfrequently tells the story of his loss and shame to the police; while others, minus their cash, pocket the dear-bought experience.

PANEL-THIEF. One who fits up a place for the purpose of robbing men that are brought to the panel-crib by women who are trained to pick up gentlemen that are on a visit to the city on business or pleasure. They endeavor to select those who are not likely to remain and prosecute the thieves that have robbed and duped them of their money.

PANNAM. Bread.

PANNY. A house. "The cove done the panny," the fellow robbed the house; "the cops frisked my panny and nailed my screws," the officers searched my house and seized my picklocks, or false keys.

PANTER. The heart. "The lead reached the poor cove's panter, and so there was nothing to be done but to give him a ground sweat," the bullet entered the poor fellow's heart, and all that we had then to do was to put him in the grave.

PANZY. A burglar.

PAP LAP. An infant. "He is but a pap lap," he is but a baby.

PAPER-SKULL. A thin-skulled fellow.

PARCHMENT. A ticket of leave. "The cove has his parchment," the man has his ticket of leave.

PARCHMENT COVES. Ticket-of-leave men.

PARELL. To make clear.

PARK RAILING. The teeth.

PARNEY. A ring.

PARSON. A guide-post.

PARTIAL. Putting one's hand into another man's pocket; stealing.

PASH. Price; cost.

PATE. The head.

PATRICO. One who in olden time used to marry persons by placing the man on the right hand side and the woman on the left side of a dead animal. Causing them to join hands, he commanded them to live together till death did them part, and so, shaking hands, the wedding was ended.

PATTER. To talk. "How the Moll lushes her jockey and patters," how the girl drinks her gin and talks.

PATTERED. Tried in a court of justice. "The wire was pattered for drawing a skin from a bloke's poke, who buffed him home, and of course his godfathers named him, and the beak slung him for five stretchers and a moon," the pickpocket was tried for stealing a purse from the man's pocket, who caught him in the act, and of course the jury convicted him, and the judge sentenced him for five years and a month.

PAUM. To conceal in the hand. "To paum pennyweights" to steal rings or any kind of jewelry by working it with the fingers under the palm of the hand, and then up the sleeve or into a pocket. These fellows are called paum-coves.

PAW. The hand or foot. "The fore-paw hand;" "the hind paw foot."

PEACH. To inform; "to turn stag;" to blow the gab; to squeal or squeak.

PEAK. Lace goods.

PEAL. A ball.

PEAR. To draw supplies from both sides; to give the officers information, and then tell the thieves to get out of the way.

PEAR-MAKING. The act of drawing supplies from both sides. _See Pear._

PECCAVI. I have sinned; I am wrong; a confession of wrong.

PECK. Food.

PECK AND BOOZE. Food and drink.

PECKISH. Hungry.

PECULIAR. A mistress.

PED. A basket.

PEDDLER'S PONY. A walking-stick.

PEEL. Strip; undress.

PEEPER. A spy-glass; an opera-glass; a looking-glass. "Track up the dancers and pike with the peeper," jump up stairs and run off with the looking-glass.

PEEPERS. Eyes.

PEEPING TOM. A curious, prying fellow, who minds other people's business more than his own.

PEEPY. Drowsy.

PEER. To look cautiously about; to be circumspect; careful.

PEERY. Suspicious. "The bloke's peery," the man suspects something. "There's a peery, 'tis snitch," we are observed, nothing can be done.

PEGTANTRUM. Dead.

PELT. A passion; rage. "What a pelt the cull is in," what a passion the fellow is in.

PENNYWEIGHT. Jewelry; gold and silver trinkets.

PEPPERY. Warm; passionate.

PERSUADERS. Spurs. "The kiddy clapped his persuaders to his prad, but it was no go, the trap boned him," the highwayman spurred his horse hard, but the officer seized him.

PETER. A portmanteau; a travelling-bag; a trunk; an iron chest; a cash-box.

PETER-BITER. A man who steals baggage at hotels, railroad depots, and from the back of coaches.

PHARO. Strong malt liquor.

PHARSE. The eighth part.

PHILISTINES. Police officers; officers of justice.

PHIZ. The face. "A rum phiz," an odd face.

PHYSOG. The face.

PICAROON. A sharper; a rogue.

PICKLE. A smart fellow.

PICKLING. Stealing; petit larceny.

PICKLING-TUBS. Shoes and boots.

PICTURE-FRAME. The gallows.

PIECE. A prostitute.

PIG. A police officer. "Floor the pig and bolt," knock down the officer and run away.

PIG TOGETHER. Sleep together, two or more in a bed.

PIG WIDGEON. A simple fellow.

PIG'S EYES. Small eyes.

PIG'S FOOT. A jimmy cloven at one end like a pig's foot.

PIGEON. A thief that joins in with other thieves to commit a crime, and then informs the officer, who he pigeons for; and for this service the officer is supposed to be _occasionally_ both deaf and blind.

PIKE. To run away; to pike off.

PILCHER. A stealer; generally applied to fellows who steal pocket-handkerchiefs.

PILGARLIC. I; myself. "There was no one with him but Pilgarlic," he was alone.

PIMP. A boarding-house runner; an attaché of a bawdy-house.

PIMPLE. The head.

PIN. To drink one's allotted share.

PIN-BASKET. The youngest child; the baby.

PIN-MONEY. Money received by a married woman for prostituting her person.

PINCH. To steal.

PINCHED. Arrested.

PINCHERS. Sometimes called "Exchangers;" fellows who go into stores or exchange offices with a twenty-dollar gold coin and ask to have it changed for bank bills, and after receiving the bills, suddenly pretend to have changed their minds, and, handing the bills back again, make very profuse apologies for the trouble they have given, etc., etc. The man during the short time that he had the money in his possession, contrived to change bad bills for some of the good ones.

PINK. To stab.

PINKED. Stabbed.

PINKED BETWEEN THE LACINGS. Convicted by reason of perjury. A man encased in steel or iron is only vulnerable at those parts where his corselet is laced; and hence when an honest man is convicted of a false charge by a treacherous advantage of some weak point, he is said to be "pinked between the lacings."

PINNED. Arrested.

PINNIPE. A crab.

PINNIPED. Sideways; crab-fashion.

PINS. Legs.

PIPER. A short-winded person; a broken-winded horse.

PIPING. Following; trailing; dogging; looking after; watching.

PIT. A pocket.

PLAIUL. Go home.

PLANT. To bury; to conceal. Stolen goods are said to be planted when they are concealed. "Plant your wids and stow them," be careful what you say.

PLANTER. One who hides stolen property.

PLANTING. Hiding; concealing.

PLASTIC. A model artist.

PLATE. Money.

PLATE OF MEAT. A street or highway.

PLAYED OUT. Exhausted; expended.

PLAYTHINGS. Burglar's tools.

PLUCK. To pull.

PLUCK THE RIBBON. Pull the bell.

PLUMB. Honest; upright; good.

PLUMBY. It is all right, or as it should be; we have plenty; they have enough.

PLUMP. Rich; plenty of money. "A plump skin," a full purse.

PLYER. A crutch.

POGY. Drunk.

POINT. To pay.

POKE. A pocket; a purse.

POLISHER. One who is in prison. "The cove polishes the people's iron with his eyebrows," the fellow looks out of the grated windows of his prison.

POLL. The head.

POLL HIM. Get hold of the property, and then refuse to pay for it.

POLT. A blow. "Lend the pam a polt in the muns," give the fool a blow in the face.

POMP. The game. "Save the pomp," save the game.

PONCE. A man who is kept by a woman.

PONCESS. A woman that keeps a man by prostitution.

POND. The ocean.

PONEY. Money. "Post the poney," put down the money.

PONGELO. Drink; liquor.

POP. To pawn; to shoot.

POPS. Pistols. "I popped the bloke," I shot the fellow.

POPSHOP. Pawnbroker's shop.

PORK. To inform the coroner of the whereabouts of a corpse.

PORKER. A saddle. Saddles are mostly made of hog's skins.

PORT ST. MARTIN. A valise; a portmanteau.

POSH. Money; smallest piece of money.

POST. Pay; put up.

POST THE COLE. Pay the money.

POT-HUNTER. A poor person who steals food only to prevent himself from starving.

POUCH. A pocket.

POULTERER. A fellow who opens letters, abstracts the money and then drops them back into the post-office box. "The kiddy was pulled for the poultry rig," the boy was arrested for opening letters and robbing them.

PRAD. A horse.

PRAD-BORROWERS. Horse-thieves.

PRAD-LAY. Stealing horses.

PRANCER. A horse.

PRATE ROAST. A talkative fellow.

PRATER. A hen.

PRATING CHEAT. The tongue.

PRATT. Back parts.

PREMONITORY. The penitentiary.

PRIG. A thief.

PRIGGER-NAPPER. A police officer.

PRIGGERS. Thieves in general.

PRIGSTAR. A rival in a love affair.

PRIM. A handsome woman.

PRIME TWIG. First-rate condition.

PROD. A cart or wagon; a coach.

PROG. Food.

PROP. A breast-pin.

PROPS. Dice.

PROSPECTING. Looking for something to steal.

PUFFERS. Peter Funks.

PULL. To arrest. To "pull a purse," is to steal a purse.

PUNCH. A blow struck with the fist. "A punch in the day-light, the victualling-office, or the haltering place," a blow in the eye, the stomach, or under the ear.

PUNK. A bad woman.

PUPPY. Blind.

PUSH. A crowd.

PUT. An ignorant clown.

PUT A FELLOW UP TO HIS ARMPITS. Cheated by his companions of his share of the plunder.

PUT AWAY. Locked up; imprisoned.

PUT TO BED WITH A SHOVEL. Buried in the earth.

PUT UP. Information given to thieves by persons in the employ of parties to be robbed, such as servants, clerks, porters, etc., whereby the thief is facilitated in his operations.

PUT UP JOB. A job is said to be put up if the porter of a store should allow a "fitter" to take an impression of the keys of the door or the safe; or when a clerk sent to the bank to make a deposit, or to draw an amount of money, allows himself to be thrown down and robbed, in order to have his pocket picked.

PUZZLE-COVE. A lawyer.

Q

QUACKING CHEAT. A duck.

QUAG. Unsafe; not reliable; not to be trusted.

QUAIL. An old maid.

QUAIL-PIPE. A woman's tongue.

QUAKING-CHEAT. A calf or a sheep.

QUANDARY. What shall I do.

QUARREL-PICKER. A glazier.

QUARROON. A body.

QUARTERED. To receive a part of the profits.

QUASH. To kill; the end of; no more.

QUEAN. A slut; a worthless woman.

QUEEN DICK. Never. "It happened in the reign of Queen Dick," it never occurred; has never been.

QUEEN STREET. "The joskin lives in Queen Street," the fool is governed entirely by his wife.

QUEER. Counterfeit bank bills; base; roguish; worthless.

QUEER. To puzzle. "The cove queered the full bottom," the fellow puzzled the judge. "The bloke queered his ogles among the bruisers," he had his eyes blacked by the pugilists.

QUEER BIRDS. Reformed convicts who return to their old profession.

QUEER BLUFFER. The keeper of a rum-shop that is the resort of the worst kind of rogues, and who assists them in various ways.

QUEER BURY. An empty purse.

QUEER COLE FENCER. A passer of bad money.

QUEER COLE MAKER. One who makes bad money.

QUEER PRANCER. A bad horse.

QUEER ROOSTER. A fellow that lodges among thieves to hear what they have to say, and then imparts his information to officers for a consideration.

QUEMAR. Burn the fellow.

QUES. Points.

QUIDS. Cash; five dollars. "The swell tipped the mace cove fifty quids for the prad," the gentleman gave fifty dollars for the horse.

QUINSEY. Choaked. "Quinsey the bloke while I frisk his sacks," choke the fellow while I pick his pockets.

QUOD. Prison.

QUOTA. Share. "Tip me my quota," give me my share.

R

RABBIT. A rowdy. "Dead rabbit," a very athletic rowdy fellow.

RABBIT-SUCKERS. Young spendthrifts; fast young men.

RACKLAW. A married woman.

RAG. A dollar. "Not a rag," not a dollar.

RAG-WATER. Intoxicating liquor of all kinds. If frequently taken to excess, will reduce any person to rags.

RAGGED. Abused; slandered.

RAGS. Paper money. "Poor cove, rags are few with him," poor fellow, money is not plenty with him.

RAILS. Curtain lectures.

RAINBOW. A footman; so called from the fact that he wears livery, or garments of different colors.

RAINY DAY. A day of sickness; a day of want; bad times and rainy days.

RAKE. To apportion; share.

RALPH. A fool.

RAMMER. The arm. "The copper seized my rammer, and run me like a prad to the wit," the officer laid hold of my arm, and run me like a horse to prison.

RAMP. To snatch; to tear anything forcibly from the person. Pickpockets are said to be ramping a man when a number of them rush on him as if in a great hurry to pass, but manage to run against him, and in the flurry pick his pocket.

RANCAT COVE. A man covered with fur.

RANDY. Unruly; rampant.

RANGLING. Intriguing with a number of women.

RAP. To take a false oath; to curse.

RAPPER. A perjurer.

RASCAGLION. A eunuch.

RAT. A trick; a cheat. "To smell a rat," to suspect.

RATTLE. A hackney coach.

RATTLING COVE. A coachman.

READ AND WRITE. Flight. "He took to _read and write_ with Joe in Daisyville."

READER. A pocket-book.

READER MERCHANTS. Pickpockets who operate in and about the banks.

READY. Cash.

RECKON. Cheat.

RECRUITING. Thieves hunting for plunder.

RED. Gold; a cent.

RED FUSTIAN. Porter or red wine.

RED LANE. The throat.

RED RAG. The tongue. "Shut your potato-trap and give the red rag a holiday," shut your mouth and let your tongue rest.

RED RIBBON. Brandy.

RED SUPER. A gold watch.

REDGE. Gold.

REEFING. Drawing. "Reefing up into work," drawing up the pocket until the purse or portmonnaie is within reach of the fingers.

REGULARS. Share or portion. "The coves cracked the swell's crib, fenced the swag, and then each bloke napped his regulars," the fellows broke open a gentleman's house, sold the goods to a receiver, and each man received his portion.

REP. A man of good reputation.

REPS. A woman of good reputation.

REVERSED. A man made to stand on his head by rowdies, in order that his money may fall out of his pockets. It is then picked up as money found.

RHINO. Money.

RHINO FAT. Being rich.

RIB. A cross, ill-natured wife.

RIB-ROAST. The act of scolding a husband unmercifully by his wife.

RIBBON. Liquor.

RICHARDSNARY. A dictionary.

RIG. Joke; fun.

RIGGING. Clothing.

RIGHT. All right; just as it was wished to be.

RIGHT SORT. One of your kind; a good fellow.

RIGHTS. "To rights," clear. "Oh! then, you are _to rights_ this time," there is a clear case against you.

RING. To ring in is to join in with another and appear to think as he thinks; to intrude; to force one's self into company where he is not wanted.

RIP. A poor devil.

RIPPERS. Spurs.

ROAST. To arrest.

ROBIN'S MEN. From Robin Hood. Expert thieves; grand larceny men; bank robbers, etc.

ROCKED IN A STONE CRADLE. Born in a prison.

RODGER. A portmanteau.

ROGUE. "_Rogue_ and pulley," a man and woman going out to rob gentlemen.

ROLL OF SNOW. A roll of linen.

ROME COVE. A king; the president.

ROME MORT. A queen.

ROME VILLE. New-York.

ROMONERS. Fortune-tellers.

ROMONEY. A gipsy.

ROOFER. A hat.

ROOK. A cheat.

ROOST-LAY. Stealing poultry.

ROPED. Led astray; taken in and done for.

ROPER-IN. A man who visits hotels and other places for the purpose of ingratiating himself with persons who are supposed to have plenty of cash and little prudence, and inducing them to visit gaming-houses.

ROSE. A secret.

ROTAN. Any wheeled carriage.

ROUGH MUSIC. Noise made by beating old tins.

ROUGHS. Men that are ready to fight in any way or shape.

ROUND. Good.

ROUND ABOUT. An instrument used by burglars to cut a large hole into an iron chest or door.

ROUND ROBIN. A burglar's instrument.

ROUNDING. Informing; giving information.

ROVERS. Thoughts.

RUB. Run. "Don't rub us to wit," don't run us to prison.

RUB US TO WIT. Send us to prison.

RUFFELS. Hand-cuffs.

RUFFIAN. The devil. "May the ruffian nab the cuffin queer, and let the copper twine with his kinchins around his colquarren," may the devil take the justice, and let the policeman be hanged with all his children about his neck. "The ruffian cly you," the devil take you.

RUG. Sleep.

RUGG. It is all right.

RUM BITE. A smart cheat; a clean trick.

RUM BLOWEN. A handsome girl.

RUM BLUFFER. A jolly landlord.

RUM CHUB. A fellow.

RUMBEAK. A magistrate that can be bribed.

RUMBING. A full purse.

RUMBLE THE FLATS. Playing cards.

RUMBO. A prison.

RUMBOB. A money-drawer.

RUMBOB. A young apprentice.

RUMBOSE. Wine or any kind of good drink.

RUMBUGHER. A valuable dog.

RUN. Fine; good; valuable.

RUN IN. Arrested.

RUNNING HIM THROUGH. A term used by gamblers when they play with a sucker, and don't give him a chance to win a single bet.

RUSHERS. House-breakers who break into country houses.

RUSTY. Ill-natured. His tongue goes like a door on rusty hinges.

RYBUCK. All right; straight; it will do; I am satisfied.

RYDER. A cloak.

S

SACHEVEREL. An iron door.

SACK. A pocket.

SAINT GILES BUZZMAN. A handkerchief thief.

SAINT TERRA. A churchyard.

SAM. A stupid fellow.

SANGUINARY. Bloody.

SANS. Without; nothing.

SAWNEY. Bacon; fat pork.

SCAMP-FOOT. A foot-pad.

SCANDAL PROOF. One who has eaten shame and drank after it; or would blush at being ashamed.

SCANDAL SOUP. Tea.

SCARCE. To slip away; to make one's self scarce.

SCAVOIR. Sharp; cunning; knowledge.

SCENT. Bad management. "The cove was nabbed on the scent," the fellow was arrested by reason of his own bad management.

SCHEME. A party of pleasure.

SCHOFEL. Bad money.

SCHOFEL-PITCHERS. Passers of bad money.

SCHOOL. A gang of thieves. "A school of knucks," a gang of pickpockets.

SCHOOL OIL. A whipping.

SCHOOLING. Jostling; pitching.

SCOLD'S CURE. A coffin. "The blowen has napped the scold's cure," the jade is in her coffin.

SCOT. A young bull.

SCOUR. To run away.

SCOUT. A watchman.

SCRAGG. The neck.

SCRAGGED. Hanged.

SCRAN. Food.

SCRANNING. Begging.

SCRAPE. Trouble.

SCRAPP. A plan to rob a house or commit any kind of roguery.

SCRAPPER. A pugilist.

SCRATCH. To write; to forge.

SCRATCH. Time agreed upon; to meet at the appointed time; to face another.

SCRATCHER. A forger; a copyist.

SCREAVES. Paper money.

SCREEN. A bank-bill.

SCREW. A key.

SCREWING. Opening a lock with keys.

SCREWING UP. Choking; garroting. "Screw up the bloke, and that will stop his blasted red rag from chanting beef," choke the man, and that will prevent him from crying "stop thief."

SCREWSMAN. A burglar who works with keys, picks, dubs, bettys, etc., etc.

SCRIP. Writing-paper. "The bloke freely scratched the scrip, and tipped me forty cases," the man readily signed the paper, and gave me forty dollars.

SCROBE. A private chastisement.

SCROOF. To live with a friend, and at his expense.

SCROOFING. Living at a friend's expense. Thieves are in the habit of scroofing with an old pal when they first come out of prison, until they can steal something for themselves.

SCRUB. A mean fellow.

SCRUB-BADO. A mean, insignificant puppy; the lowest of the low; _the itch_.

SCUTTLE. To cut a pocket.

SEA-CRAB. A sailor.

SEAVEY. Sense; knowledge.

SECRET. Cheated. "The bloke was let into the secret," the man was cheated.

SEES. The eyes.

SEND. To drive or break. "Take the jimmy and send it into the jigger," take the crow and force it into the door.

SERENE. All right. It is all _serene_.

SERVE HIM OUT. Give him a good thrashing.

SERVED. Found guilty; convicted.

SET. Prepared beforehand; "a set thing;" a trap; a determined thing.

SETTER. A shadow; an officer in disguise, who points out the thief for others to arrest.

SETTLED. Knocked down; murdered.

SETTLING. Killing. "Settling a bloke," killing a man.

SHADOW. A first-class police officer; one who possesses naturally the power of retaining with unerring certainty the peculiar features and characteristics of persons, added to the indomitable perseverance of the slot-hound to follow his quarry.

SHADY. Quiet; out of sight; not easily found.

SHADY GLIM. A dark lantern.

SHAKE. A prostitute; one who gambles with dice; to shake; to draw any thing from the pocket. "The knuck shook the swell of his fogle," the pickpocket stole the gentleman's handkerchief.

SHAKEDOWN. A panel-thief or badger's crib.

SHAKESTER. A lady.

SHALERS. Girls.

SHALLY. A negative; a person that is never positive.

SHAM LEGGERS. Men who pretend to sell smuggled goods.

SHAP. A hat.

SHAPES. Naked.

SHARK. A custom-house officer.

SHARP. A man that is well posted; one who "knows a thing or two;" a gambler.

SHARPER. One who obtains goods or money by any kind of false pretense or representation.

SHARPER'S TOOLS. A fool and false dice or cards.

SHAVER. A cheat.

SHEEN. Bad money.

SHEENEY. A Jew thief.

SHELF. A pawn-shop.

SHELION. A shilling.

SHERIFF'S BALL. An execution.

SHERO. The head.

SHERRID. Run away.

SHICKSTER. A woman.

SHIFTING. Cheating or stealing.

SHIGUS. A judge.

SHILLEY. No stability.

SHIN-BREAKING. Borrowing money.

SHINERAGS. Nothing.

SHINES. Gold coin.

SHOE-LEATHER. A phrase to denote some one is approaching.

SHOON. A fool; a country lout.

SHOOTING-STARS. Thieves who do not remain long in one place.

SHOP. A prison.

SHOPPED. Imprisoned.

SHOVE. Pass money. "Shove the blunt," spend the money. "Shove queer," pass counterfeit money.

SHOVING. Passing bad money.

SHRED. A tailor.

SHYCOCK. A man who is fearful of being arrested; shy of the officers.

SICER. Sixpence.

SICK. Imprisoned.

SIDE-POCKET. A drinking-saloon in an out-of-the-way-place; a resort for thieves.

SIFTING. Examining; emptying purses or pocket-books for the purpose of examining their contents, is called sifting.

SILENCE. To kill; to knock down.

SIMKIN. A fool.

SIMON. A simpleton.

SING. To cry aloud. "The cove sings beef," the fellow calls thief.

SING SMALL. Have little to say for yourself.

SINK. To cheat; to hide from a partner.

SINKERS. Thieves who do not divide fair with their companions.

SINKING. Cheating a partner; not dividing fair.

SKEP. A pocket full of money; a place for keeping money; a savings bank.

SKEW. A cup.

SKEWER. A sword or dagger.

SKILLEY. Prison fare.

SKIN. A purse. "The bloke's skin was full of honey," the man's purse was full of money.

SKINK. A waiter.

SKINNERS. Small lawyers who hang about police offices and figuratively skin their clients.

SKIP-KENNEL. A footman.

SKIPPER. A barn.

SKIT. Humbug; a joke.

SKULL. The head of the house; the President of the United States; the Governor; the head man.

SKY-BLUE. Gin.

SKYCER. A mean, sponging fellow.

SLAMKIN. A slovenly female.

SLANEY. A theatre.

SLANG or SLAG. A watch-chain. "The knucks twisted the swell's thimble, slang, and onions, and also touched his leather, but it was very lathy. It only raked a case and a half; the thimble was a foist, but the slang and onions were bene. The altemel of the swag raked only fifteen cases," the pickpockets stole a gentleman's watch, chain, and seals, and also his pocket-book; but there was only a dollar and a half a piece for them in it. The watch was a cheat, but the chain and seals were good. The whole plunder divided gave the thieves fifteen dollars each.

SLANGED. Chained by the leg.

SLAP-BANG. An eating-house; a restaurant.

SLASH. Outside coat pocket.

SLAT. A half-dollar.

SLATE. A sheet.

SLAWEY. A female servant.

SLICK-A-DIE. A pocket-book.

SLIM. Punch.

SLINGTAIL. Poultry.

SLIPPERY. Soap.

SLOP. Tea.

SLOPS. Ready-made clothing.

SLOUGH. To bow the head.

SLUBBER. A heavy, stupid fellow.

SLUBBER DE GULLION. A mean fellow.

SLUICE YOUR GOB. Take a good long drink.

SLUICED. To drink. "The bene cove sluiced their gobs with slim till they all snoozed in the strammel like sounders," the good fellow gave them punch till they slept in the straw like hogs.

SLUM. A package of bank bills; a low drinking-place.

SLUMING. Passing spurious bills.

SLUMMING. Stealing packages of bank-bills.

SLY-BOOTS. A fellow that pretends to be a fool.

SMACK. To share. "Smack the swag," share the spoil.

SMACK. To swear on the Bible. "The queer cuffin bid me smack the calf-skin, but I only bussed my thumb," the justice told me to kiss the book, but I only kissed my thumb.

SMACKING COVE. A coachman.

SMALL SNOW. Children's linen.

SMART. Spruce.

SMASH. To change.

SMASH-FEEDER. A silver spoon.

SMASHER. Money-changer.

SMEAR. A plasterer; a mason.

SMEAR GILT. A bribe.

SMELLER. A nose.

SMELLING CHEAT. A bouquet.

SMELTS. Half-eagles; five dollars.

SMICKET. A woman's shift or skirt.

SMILE. To drink.

SMILER. A bumper.

SMIRK. A superficial fellow.

SMITER. The arm.

SMOKE. Humbug; any thing said to conceal the true sentiment of the talker; to cover the intent.

SMOKE. To observe; to suspect; to understand.

SMOKY. Suspicious; curious; inquisitive.

SMOUCH. To steal.

SMUG. A blacksmith.

SMUSH. To seize suddenly; to snatch.

SMUT. Indecent.

SNABLE. To plunder; sometimes to kill.

SNAFFLERS. Highwaymen.

SNAGLING. Stealing poultry by putting a worm on a fish-hook, thereby catching the fowl, then twisting their necks and putting them in a bag.

SNAGS. Large teeth.

SNAKE. A fellow that glides into a store or warehouse, and conceals himself for the purpose of letting in his companions.

SNAKED. Arrested.

SNAM. To snatch.

SNAPPED. Arrested.

SNAPPER. A gun.

SNAPPERS. Pistols.

SNAPT. Arrested; caught.

SNEAK-THIEF. A fellow who sneaks into areas, basement-doors or windows, or through front-doors by means of latch-keys, and entering the various apartments, steals any thing he can carry off.

SNEAKING. Conveying away stolen goods.

SNEAKSMAN. _See Sneak-thief._

SNEEZER. A snuff-box.

SNID. Six.

SNIDE STUFF. Bad money.

SNITCH. An informer; the nose; a spy.

SNITE. Slap; wipe. "Snite his snitch," wipe his nose.

SNIVEL. To cry.

SNOOZING-KEN. A bawdy-house.

SNOT. A gentleman.

SNOUT. A hogshead.

SNOW. Linen.

SNUDGE. A thief who conceals himself under the bed.

SNUFF. Offended. "To take snuff," to be offended.

SNUG. Quiet; all right.

SOAP. Money.

SOD. A worn-out debauchee, whom excess of indulgence has rendered unnatural.

SOFT. Bank bills; paper money.

SOLDIER. A smoked herring.

SOLFA. A clerk.

SOP. A bribe.

SOT-WEED. Tobacco.

SOUNDERS. Hogs.

SPADO. A sword.

SPANISH. Silver coin.

SPARK. A diamond.

SPEAK. To steal; to take away. "Bob spoke with the toney on the chestnut prancer," Bob robbed the fool on the chestnut horse. "To speak with," to steal from.

SPEAKER. Plunderer.

SPEALERS. Gamblers.

SPEILER. A gambler.

SPEILING. Gambling.

SPICE. To steal.

SPICER. A foot-pad.

SPICER HIGH. A highway-robber.

SPIT. A sword or dagger.

SPLIT. Parted; separated.

SPLIT CAUSE. A lawyer.

SPLIT ON HIM. Informs against; denounces him.

SPLIT OUT. No longer friends; quarrelled; dissolved partnership.

SPOONEY. Foolish.

SPORT. A gamester; a man fond of racing and gaming of all kinds.

SPOT. To make a note of something you wish to remember; to look at a person with the intention of remembering him; to point one out to another as a suspected person, or one to be remembered.

SPOUT. A pawnbroker's shop.

SPRAT. Sixpence.

SPREAD. Butter. "The cove pinched a keeler of spread, and was pulled foul. The beaks sent him to the premonitory for three moons," the fellow stole a tub of butter, and was arrested with it in his possession. The judges sent him to the penitentiary for three months.

SPRINGING THE PLANT. To discover the place where stolen property is concealed; to remove stolen property from its place of concealment. "When I was in the old doss I told my skinner to see Jack and tell him to spring the plant, fence it, and send me my regulars, as I wanted to melt it," when I was in the Tombs I told my lawyer to see Jack, and tell him to remove the plunder from the place in which we hid it, to sell it, and send me my share of the proceeds, as I wanted to spend it.

SPUD. Base coin; bad money.

SPUNG. A miser.

SPUNK. Matches.

SPUNK-FAKERS. Match-sellers.

SQUAIL. A drink.

SQUARE. Honest; upright; good.

SQUEAK or SQUEAL. To inform. A thief is said to "squeak" or "squeal" when, after his arrest, he gives information against his accomplices, or where stolen property may be found.

SQUEAKER. A child.

SQUEEZE. Silk or satin.

SQUEEZE CLOUT. A silk handkerchief.

SQUELCH. A fall.

STAG. One who has turned State's evidence.

STAG. To see. "_Stag_ the cop," see the policeman.

STAGGED. Discovered; informed on.

STAIT. City of New-York.

STAKE. Plunder, large or small in value, as the case may be.

STALL. One whose business it is to conceal as far as possible the manipulation of his confederate who is trying to pick a person's pocket. The stall places himself either in front, back, or sideways, or by any stratagem attracts the attention of the intended victim. Any thing said or done by which the attention is directed from the true state of the case is called a _stall_.

STALLING-KEN. A house for the reception of stolen goods.

STAMFISH. To talk in a way not generally understood.

STAMP. A particular way of throwing dice out of the box.

STAMPERS. Feet; shoes; sometimes the stairs.

STANDING. Purchasing stolen property.

STANDING IN. Bidding for; making an offer; taking part with. "The bloke _stands in_ with the cross-coves, and naps his regulars," the man takes part with the thieves, and receives his share of the plunder.

STAR THE GLAZE. Break the show-case; break the glass.

STAR-GAZERS. Prostitutes; street-walkers.

STARCH. Pride.

STARDER. A receiver.

STARK NAKED. Stripped of every thing; "skinned by a Tombs lawyer."

START. The Tombs. "The cove has gone to the old start," the fellow has gone to the Tombs.

STAUNCH. Can not be made to tell; reliable; can be trusted with a secret. "I say, Smasher, won't the cove squeak if he's pinched and promised by the beak to be turned up?" "No, not for all the blasted beaks this side of Sturbin. I tell you he is a staunch cove, and there need be no fear." I say, Smasher, won't the fellow betray us if he is arrested and promised by the judge to be set at liberty again? No, not for all the blasted judges this side of State prison. I tell you he is a reliable fellow, and there is no fear.

STAY-TAPE. A dry-goods clerk.

STEAMBOAT. A term used by gamblers. _See Indians about._

STEAMER. A tobacco pipe.

STEEL. House of Refuge.

STEPPER. The treadmill.

STEPPING-KEN. A dance-house.

STICK. A breastpin.

STICK-FLAMS. Gloves.

STICKS. Pistols; household furniture.

STIFF. A letter; a written or printed paper; a newspaper.

STIFF 'UN. A corpse.

STIFLE. Kill.

STIFLE THE SQUEAKER. Kill the child.

STINK. To publish an account of a robbery.

STIR. A crowd; a fire.

STOGGER. A pickpocket.

STONE PITCHER. Sing Sing.

STOP. A detective officer.

STOP LAY. Two or more well-dressed pickpockets go into a fashionable quiet street and promenade singly until they select a person that will answer their purpose; one of them stops the person and inquires the direction to a place somewhat distant. On being informed of the route he should take, he pretends not to exactly understand his informant, who, getting a little more interested in his desire to be explicit, draws closer to the inquirer. At about this point, one or both the others walk up and in an instant the amiable individual is minus some part of his movable property. The above practice is what is termed the "stop lay."

STOW YOUR WID. Be silent.

STRAMMEL. Straw; hay.

STRANGER. A guinea.

STRAW-MAN. False bail.

STRETCH. One year.

STRETCHERS. Horse-racers.

STRIKE. To get money from candidates before an election, under the pretense of getting votes for them; to borrow without intending to pay back.

STRING. To humbug. "String the bloke and pinch his honey," humbug the man and get his money.

STRUMMER-FEKER. A hair-dresser.

STUBBLE. Stop it.

STUBBLE YOUR RED RAG. Hold your tongue.

STUFF. Money.

STUKE. A handkerchief.

STUMPS. Legs.

STUN HIM OUT OF HIS REGULARS. Cheat him out of his rights; deprive him of his share of the plunder.

STUNNER. Extra; superior; very good.

STURBIN. State prison.

SUBSIDE. Get out of the way; run away.

SUCK. Any kind of liquor.

SUCKED. Cheated.

SUCKER. A term applied by gamblers to a person that can be cheated at any game of cards.

SUDSDAY. Washday.

SUET. Liquor.

SUGAR. Money.

SUITE. Watch, seals, etc.

SUPER or SOUPER. A watch.

SUPOUCH. A landlady.

SURE THING. A term used to denote that the person is certain to be a winner.

SUSPERCOL. To hang.

SWABLER. A dirty fellow.

SWADDLER. A fellow who pretends to be anxious for the salvation of every body, and harangues crowds of gaping knaves and fools in the parks, or any other public place. The pickpockets generally pay him well for his efforts. Sometimes fellows who pick a quarrel with a man, beat him, and at the same time rob him, are called swaddlers.

SWAG. Plunder.

SWAG-COVE. A receiver of stolen goods.

SWAG-RUM. Full of wealth.

SWEATING. Reducing the weight of gold coin by putting it in a bag and shaking it violently for some time, and then collecting the dust which is thus worn off.

SWELL. A gentleman. "Swell mob," the well-dressed thieves with good address, who appear like honest gentlemen.

SWIG. Liquor of any kind.

SWIG-COVES. Fellows who traverse the country under the pretense of begging old clothes.

SWING. To hang.

SWITCHED. Married.

SYEBUCK. Sixpence.

SYNTAX. A schoolmaster.

T

TABBY. An old maid; or a talkative old woman.

TACE. A candle; silence; hold your tongue.

TACKLE. A mistress; sometimes clothing.

TAIL-DIVER. A thief who steals pocket-handkerchiefs from coat-tail pockets.

TALE. The number; quantity; share. "Give him tale," give him his share.

TALLEYMEN. Men who loan clothing to prostitutes.

TANGLE-FOOT. Bad liquor.

TANGLE-FOOTED. Drunk.

TANNER. Sixpence. "The kiddy tipped the rattling cove a tanner for lush," the lad gave the coachman sixpence to get a drink.

TAP. To arrest.

TAPE. Liquor.

TAPPERS. Officers.

TARRELS. Skeleton-keys.

TATS. False dice; rags.

TATTLER. A watch or clock. "To flash a tattler," to sport a watch.

TATTY-TOG. A sweat-cloth.

TEASE. A slave; to work.

TEEHOKOIS. Dogs or dog.

TEIZE. To flog. "To nap the teize," to receive a flogging.

TESTON. A coin with a head on it.

THEATRE. Police court.

THIMBLE. A watch.

THORNS. Anxious; fearful.

THRESWINS. Three cents or pence.

THROUGH HIM. Search him.

THROW. To cheat; to rob; to steal.

THROWING OFF. A term used by gamblers when a capper is the partner of a sucker. The capper can lose when he pleases, thereby throwing the sucker off, as it is termed.

THRUMS. Three-cent pieces.

TIBBS. A goose.

TIBBY. A cat.

TICK. Trust.

TICKRUM. A license.

TIED UP GONNOFFING. Stopped stealing; living honestly.

TIFFING. A good natured war of words.

TILE. A hat.

TIMBER. Matches.

TIME ON THAT. Wait awhile, sir; not so fast.

TIP. Information; give; hand to me; lend. "Tip me your daddle, my bene cove," give me your hand, my good fellow.

TIPPET. The halter.

TIT. A horse.

TITTER. A sword.

TIZZY. Sixpence.

TO BE PUT IN A HOLE. To be cheated by a comrade out of a just share of the plunder.

TO BLOW THE GAB. To confess.

TO BLOWER. One who imparts secrets; to inform.

TO BOUNCE. To brag or hector; to tell improbable stories.

TO BOUNCE HIM. To get one's property and refuse to pay for it.

TO BREAK A LEG. To seduce a girl.

TO HAVE A GAME DEAD. The gambler has a sure thing, and must beat his opponent.

TO RIGHTS. The evidence is conclusive enough to convict. "Try all they knew, the coppers could not pinch him to rights--he was too fly for them," the officers were not able to find evidence enough against him. He was too cunning for them.

TO TURN STAG. To turn informer.

TO YARD KICK. Coat and pants.

TOBBY COVES. Fellows that in the night walk the streets near a river. They stun their victim by striking him with a bludgeon; they then rob him and tumble him into the river. If the body is found, it is difficult to say that the man was not accidentally drowned.

TOBED. Struck on the head and made senseless.

TOBY. The highway.

TOBY-LAY. Robbing on the highway.

TODGE. To smash. "Todge the bloke and pad," smoke the man and run.

TOGE. A coat.

TOGEMANDS. A gown or cloak.

TOGS. Clothes. "The swell is rum-togged," the gentleman is well dressed.

TOLOBON. The tongue.

TOLOBON RIG. Fortune-tellers.

TOM-CONEY. A foolish fellow.

TOMBSTONES. Teeth.

TOMMEY. Bread.

TONEY. A simpleton.

TOOLS. Burglars' instruments.

TOOTH-MUSIC. Chewing food with a good appetite.

TOP. To cheat; to trick.

TOP-DIVER. A roué.

TOP-ROPES. Extravagant or riotous living.

TOP-TOG. An overcoat.

TOPPED. Hanged. "The cove was topped for settling a bloke," the fellow was hanged for killing a man.

TOPPER. A blow on the head.

TOPPING-COVE. The head man of a party; sometimes the hangman.

TOTH. Rum.

TOUCH. To steal.

TOUNGE-PAD. A scold.

TOUT. Look; take notice; remember that.

TOUTED. Followed or pursued.

TOUTING-KEN. The bar of a drinking-place.

TOWER. Rage; very angry.

TOWN-TODDLERS. Silly fellows easily taken in by the sharpers.

TRACK. To go.

TRADESMEN. Thieves.

TRANSLATORS. Second-hand boots or shoes.

TRAP. Shrewd; smart.

TRAPES. Sluttish women.

TRAPS. Officers.

TRAY. Three.

TRIB. A prison.

TRICKS. Anything stolen from a person at one time by pickpockets.

TRICUM LEGIS. A quirk or quibble.

TRINING. Hanging.

TRINKETS. Bowie-knife and revolver.

TRISTIS. Not good. "The fly kinchin is a tristis canis," the smart boy is a sad dog.

TROLL. To loaf or loiter about.

TROT. An old woman.

TROTTER-CASES. Stockings.

TROTTERS. Feet.

TRUCKS. Pants.

TRUET. Stealing money under pretense of changing it.

TRUMP. A brave fellow.

TRUMPET. A vain fellow who has a decided partiality for the letter I.

TRUNDLERS. Peas.

TRUNKER. The body.

TRUNT. Nose.

TRY ON. To endeavor; attempt it. "Coves who try on," fellows who live by stealing.

TUMBLED. Suspected; found it out. "Tumbled on him," came upon him unexpectedly. "Tumbled to him," suspected him; thought it was him.

TUMBLER. A cart; a lock; a sharper.

TUNE. To beat. "Tune the toney," beat the fool.

TURF. Race-course. "The knucks work the turf for leather and skins," the pickpockets attend the race-courses to steal pocket-books and purses.

TURKEY-MERCHANTS. Purchasers of stolen silk.

TURNED UP. Acquitted; discharged.

TURNING OVER. Examining.

TURTLE-DOVES. A pair of gloves.

TWIG. To observe. "Twig the copper, he is peery," observe the officer, he is watching us.

TWISTED. Convicted, hanged.

TWITTOCK. Two.

TWO TO ONE. A pawnbroker.

TYBURN BLOSSOM. A young thief.

TYE. A neckcloth.

TYKE. A dog; a clown.

U

U. S. COVE. A soldier; a man in the employ of the United States.

U. S. PLATE. Fetters; handcuffs.

UNCLE. A pawnbroker.

UNDER-DUBBER. A turnkey.

UNICORN. Two men and one woman, or two women and one man banded together to steal.

UNTRUSS. To let down the shutters of a store.

UP HILLS. False dice.

UP THE SPOUT. Pawned.

UP TO. Knowing.

UP TO SLUM. Humbug; gammon.

UP TO SNUFF. Cunning; shrewd.

UPISH. Testy; quarrelsome.

UPPER-BENJAMIN. An overcoat.

UPRIGHT MAN. King of the gipsies; the head of a gang of thieves; the chief of banditti.

UPRIGHTS. Liquor measures.

USED UP. Killed; murdered.

V

VAG. Vagrant. "Done on the vag," committed for vagrancy.

VAMOSE. Run away; be off quick.

VAMP. To pledge.

VAMPERS. Stockings.

VAMPIRE. A man who lives by extorting money from men and women whom they have seen coming out of or going into houses of assignation.

VARDY. Opinion.

VELVET. The tongue.

VENITE. Come.

VENUS' CURSE. Venereal disease.

VERGE. A gold watch.

VICTUALLING OFFICE. The stomach.

VINCENT'S LAW. The art of cheating at cards.

VINEGAR. A cloak or gown.

VIRTUE ATER. A prostitute.