A LA VA-TE-FAIRE-FICHE, _anyhow_.
Un béret nature, campé par une main paysanne,
à la va te-faire-fiche, sans arrière-pensée de
pittoresque.--=RICHEPIN=, _Le Pavé_.
ALÈNES, _f. pl._ (thieves’), _tools_, _implements_, “jilts.” Properly
_shoemakers’ awls_.
ALENTOIR, _m._, for alentour (thieves’), _neighbourhood_, _vicinity_.
A L’ESBROUFFE (thieves’), faire un coup ---- sur un pantre, _to steal a
pocket-book from a person who has been seen to enter a bank, or other
financial establishment_. The thief watches his opportunity in the
neighbourhood of such establishments, and when operating keeps his hand
concealed under an overcoat which he bears on his arm.
ALIGNER (freemasons’), _to lay the cloth_. S’----, in soldiers’
language, _to fight a duel with swords_. The expression is used also by
civilians.
ALINÉALISTE, _m._ (literary), _writer who is fond of short paragraphs_.
ALLEMAND, _m._ (popular), peigne d’----, _the four fingers_.
ALLER (familiar), à Bougival, in literary men’s parlance, _is to write
a newspaper article of no interest for the general public_; ---- à la
cour des aides _is said of a married woman who has one or more lovers_;
---- au pot, _to pick up dominoes from those which remain after the
proper number has been distributed to the players_; ---- au safran,
_to spend freely one’s capital_, an allusion to the colour of gold;
---- en Belgique _is said of a cashier who bolts with the cash-box, or
of a financier who makes off with the money of his clients_; ---- se
faire fiche, _to go to the deuce_; ---- se faire foutre _has the same
meaning, but refers to a rather more forcible invitation yet_; ----
se faire lanlaire, _to go to the deuce_. Allez vous faire fiche, or
foutre! _go to the deuce_, or “you be hanged!” Je lui ai dit d’----
se faire lanlaire, _I sent him about his business_. Aller son petit
bonhomme de chemin, _to do anything without any hurry, without heeding
interruptions or hindrances_. On avait beau lui crier d’arrêter, il
allait toujours son petit bonhomme de chemin. (Familiar and popular) Y
aller, _to begin anything_. Allons-y! _let us begin! let us open the
ball! now for business_. Y aller de quelque chose, _to contribute_;
_to pay_; _to furnish_. Y ---- de son argent, _to pay_, “to stump up.”
Y ---- d’une, de deux, _to pay for one or two bottles of liquor_. Y
---- de sa larme, _to shed a tear_, _to show emotion_. Y ---- gaiment,
_to do anything willingly, briskly_. Allons y gaiment! _let us look
alive!_ (Popular) Aller à la chasse avec un fusil de toile, _to go a
begging_, “to cadge.” An allusion to a beggar’s canvas wallet. Compare
this with the origin of the word “to beg,” which is derived from “bag;”
---- à l’arche, _to fetch money_; ---- à niort, _to deny_, a play on
the words “Niort,” name of a town, and “nier,” to deny; ---- à ses
affaires, _to ease oneself_, “to go to Mrs. Jones’;” ---- au persil _is
said of street-walkers who ply their trade_. This expression may have
its origin in the practice sometimes followed by this class of women of
carrying a small basket as if going to the fruiterer’s; ---- au trot
_is said of a prostitute walking the street in grand attire_, or “full
fig;” ---- au vice, _to make one’s resort of places where immorality
is rife_; ---- voir défiler les dragons, _to go without dinner_. The
English have the expressions, “to dine out,” used by the lower classes,
and “to dine with Duke Humphrey,” by the middle and upper. According to
the _Slang Dictionary_ the reason of the latter saying is as follows:
“Some visitors were inspecting the abbey where the remains of Humphrey,
Duke of Gloucester, lie, and one of them was unfortunately shut in,
and remained there _solus_ while his companions were feasting at a
neighbouring hostelry. He was afterwards said to have dined with Duke
Humphrey, and the saying eventually passed into a proverb.” Aller aux
pruneaux _is said of the victim of a practical joke played in hospitals
at the expense of a new patient, who, being sent at the conclusion of
a meal to request another patient to furnish him with the customary
dessert, gets bolstered for his pains_; ---- où le roi va à pied, _to
go to the latrines_, or “chapel of ease;” (printers’) ---- en galilée,
or ---- en germanie (a play on the words “Je remanie,” I overrun),
_to do some overrunning in a piece of composition_; (soldiers’) ----
à l’astic, _to clean one’s equipment_; (sporting) ---- pour l’argent,
_to back one’s own horse_; (musicians’) ---- au carreau, _to seek an
engagement_. An allusion to “la Rue du Petit-Carreau,” a meeting-place
for musicians of the lowest class, and musical conductors. (Thieves’)
Aller à comberge, _to go to confession with a priest_; ---- à la
retape, _to waylay in order to murder_; ---- chez Fualdès, _to share
the booty_, “to nap the regulars.” Fualdès was a rich banker, who was
murdered in circumstances of peculiar atrocity.
ALLEZ DONC (familiar), et ----, _a kind of flourish at the end of a
sentence to emphasize an assertion_. Allez donc vous laver (popular),
_be off_, go to “pot;” ---- vous asseoir, “shut up!”
ALLIANCES, _f. pl._ (thieves’), _handcuffs_, “bracelets.” Properly
_wedding-rings_.
ALLONGER (familiar), _to pay_, to “fork out;” ---- les radis, _to pay_,
“to shell out;” (military) ---- la ficelle or la courroie, _to make an
addition to a penalty_. S’----, _to fall_, to “come down a cropper.”
ALLUME, _m._, _confederate who makes sham bids at auctions_, a
“button.”
ALLUMÉ (thieves’), _stared at_.
Sur la placarde de Vergne
Il nous faudrait gambiller,
Allumés de toutes ces largues
Et du trèpe rassemblé.
_Mémoires de Vidocq._
ALLUMER (thieves’), _to look_, “to stag,” _to see_, or “to pipe;” _to
keep a sharp look-out_, _to watch_, “to nark.”
Si le Squelette avait eu tantôt une largue comme moi pour
allumer, il n’aurait pas été mouché le surin dans l’avaloir
du grinche.--=E. SUE=, _Mystères de Paris_.
Allumer le miston, _to scan one’s features_; ---- ses clairs, _to look
attentively_, “to stag;” (prostitutes’) ---- son pétrole, son gaz,
_to get highly excited_. (Theatrical) Allumer, _to awake interest or
enthusiasm among an audience_; (popular) _to allure purchasers at fair
stalls, or the public at theatrical booths or_ “gaffs” _by glowing
accounts_. In coachmens’ parlance, _to whip_, “to flush.” (Familiar)
S’----, _to be slightly intoxicated_, “fresh;” _excited by women’s
allurements_; _brought to the proper pitch of interest by card-sharpers
or salesmen_.
Un autre compère gagne encore un coup de dix francs cette
fois. La galerie s’allume de plus en plus.--=RICHEPIN=,
_Le Pavé_.
ALLUMETTE, f. (popular), avoir son ----, _to be tipsy_, “screwed.” The
successive stages of this degree of intoxication are expressed by the
qualifying terms, “ronde,” “de marchand de vin,” “de campagne.”
ALLUMETTES, _f. pl._ (popular), _arms_, “benders.”
ALLUMEUR, _m._, _confederate at auction rooms_ (see ALLUME); _thief who
gets workmen into a state of intoxication on pay day, after which they
are seen home, and robbed of their earnings by his confederates, the
“meneuses” and “travailleurs,”_ or “bug hunters;” _gambling cheat who
plays as if he were one of the general public, and who otherwise sets a
game going_, a “buttoner,” or “decoy-duck.”
ALLUMEURS, _m. pl._ (military), de gaz, _lancers_. An allusion to their
weapon, which has some resemblance with a lamp-lighter’s rod.
ALLUMEUSE, _f._, _woman who seeks to entice passers-by into patronizing
a house of ill fame_.
ALMANACH, _m._ (popular), des vingt-cinq mille adresses, _girl or woman
of dissolute character_, “public ledger.” See GADOUE.
ALPAGA, ALPAG, _m._ (popular), _coat_, “tog,” or “Benjamin.”
ALPAGUE (popular), _clothing_, “toggery,” _coat_, “Benjamin.”
ALPHONSE (familiar), _man who protects prostitutes, ill-treats them
often, and lives off their earnings_, “pensioner.” These worthies go
also by the names of “dos, barbeau, chevalier de la guiche, marlou,”
&c. See POISSON.
ALPHONSISME (familiar), _the calling of an Alphonse_.
ALPION (gamesters’), _man who cheats at cards_, _one who_ “bites.”
ALTÈQUE (thieves’), _manly_, “spry,” _handsome_, _excellent_, “nobby.”
From altus.
AMADOU, _m._, AMADOUE, _f._ (thieves’ and tramps’), _substance with
which vagabonds rub their faces to give themselves a sickly, wretched
appearance_.
Les cagous emmènent avec sezières leurs apprentis pour
leur apprendre à exercer l’argot. Premièrement, leur
enseignent à acquiger de l’amadoue de plusieurs sortes,
l’une avec de l’herbe qu’on nomme éclaire, pour servir aux
francs-mijoux.--_Le Jargon de l’Argot._
(Popular) _man with an inflammable heart_.
AMADOUAGE, _m._ (thieves’), _marriage_, “buckling.”
AMADOUER, s’---- (thieves’ and tramps’), _to paint or otherwise make up
one’s face with a view to deceiving people_.
AMANDES, _f. pl._ (popular), de pain d’épice, _black teeth_, _few and
far between_.
AMANT (prostitutes’), de carton, _lover of no importance_, _a poor
lover in both senses_; ---- de cœur, _one who enjoys a kept woman’s
affections gratis_, _one who is loved for “love,” not money_.
AMAR, AMARRE, _m._ (thieves’), _friend_, “pal,” or “Ben cull;” ----
d’attaque, _staunch friend_.
AMAR-LOER (Breton cant), _rope which has served to hang one_.
AMARRER (thieves’), _to act in such a manner as to deceive_, _to lay a_
“plant.” Properly _to moor_.
AMATEUR (in literary men’s parlance), _writer who does not exact
payment for his productions_; (in officers’ slang) _a civilian_; _an
officer who gives himself little trouble in his profession, who takes
it easy_; (familiar) _man who makes a living by playing at cards with
people unable to leave their homes_.
AMAZONE, _f._, (thieves’), _female card-sharper_.
AMBASSADEUR, _m._ (popular), _shoemaker_, “snob;” (in gay girls’ slang)
_a bully_. See POISSON.
AMBES, _f. pl._ (thieves’), _legs_, “gambs.”
AMBIER (thieves’), _to flee_, “to pike.” See PATATROT.
Et mezière de happer le taillis et ambier le plus
gourdement possible.--_Jargon de l’Argot._ (_I got off, and
ran away as fast as possible._)
AMBRELLIN (Breton cant), _son_.
AMBULANTE, _f._ (thieves’), _female who is at once a hawker_, _a
thief_, _and a prostitute_.
AMENDIER, _m._ (theatrical), fleuri, _stage manager_, “daddy.” A play
on the word amende, _a fine_, the connection being obvious.
AMENER (popular), s’----, _to come_, _to go to_. Le voilà qui s’amène,
_here he comes_.
AMÉRICAIN (thieves’), _confederate of a thief, who goes by the name of
Jardinier_. The pair induce a simpleton to dig at the foot of a tree
for a buried treasure, when they rob him of his money; _a swindler who
pretends he has just returned from America_; (familiar) _a drink_,
_something between grog and punch_. Faire l’œil ----, _to scrutinize
with searching glance_. Oeil ----, _eye with purposely amorous_,
“killing,” _expression_; also _a very sharp eye_.
AMÉRICAINE, vol à l’ (see CHARRIAGE).
AMI (thieves’), _expert thief_, “gonnof;” ---- de collège, _prison
chum_.
AMICABLEMENT (popular), _in a friendly manner_, _affectionately_.
AMINCHE, AMINCHEMAR, AMINCHEMINCE, _m._ (thieves’), _friend_, “ben
cull;” ---- d’aff, _accomplice_, “stallsman.”
AMIS, _m. pl._ (popular), comme cochons, “thick” _friends_.
AMITEUX, _adj._ (popular), _friendly_, _amiable_, _gentle_.
AMOCHER (popular), _to bruise_, _to ill-treat_, to “manhandle.” S’----
la gueule, _to maul one another’s face_, to “mug” _one another_.
AMORCÉ, _adj._ (popular), _furnished_, _garnished_.
V’la qu’est richement amorcé, j’en suis moi-même
ébaubi.--=RICHEPIN.=
AMOUREUX (popular), _hunchback_, or “lord;” ---- de carême, _a timid
lover_. Literally a “Lent lover.” (Printers’) Papier ----, _paper that
blots_.
AMPAFLE, _m._ (thieves’), _cloth_.
AMPHI, _m._ (students’), abbreviation of amphithéâtre, _lecture room_.
AMPHIBIE (typographers’), _typographer who is at the same time a
printer and reader_, “donkey.”
AMPREFAN (Breton cant), _a low_, _insulting expression_.
AMUSATIF, _adj._ (popular), _amusing_, _funny_.
AMUSER (popular), s’---- à la moutarde, _to neglect one’s duty or work
for trifles_, _tomfooleries_.
AN, _m._ (thieves’), _litre_, _measure for wine_.
ANARCHO, _m._, _anarchist_.
ANASTASIE, _f._, _literary and theatrical official censorship_.
ANCHOIS, _m._ (popular), yeux bordés d’----, _eyes with inflamed
eyelids_.
ANCHTIBLER (thieves’), _to apprehend_, to “nab,” or “to smug.”
ANCIEN, ANCIENNE (peasants’), _father_, _mother_. “Ancien” at the
military schools _is a student who has been through the two years’
course_. In the army, _a soldier who has served one term of service at
least_.
ANDERLIQUE, _m._ (popular), _a dirty or foul-mouthed man_. Properly _a
small tub used by scavengers_.
ANDOSSE, _m._ (thieves’), _the back_.
Alors le rupin en colère, jura que s’il attrapait jamais
des trucheurs dans son pipet qu’il leur ficherait cent
coups de sabre sur l’andosse.--_Jargon de l’Argot._
ANDOUILLE, _f._ (popular), _a man devoid of energy_, a “muff.” Properly
_chitterlings_. Faire l’----, _to play the fool_. Grand dépendeur
d’andouilles, _one who prefers good cheer to work_.
Viennent aussi des bat-la-flemme, des sans-douilles,
Fainéants, suce-pots, grands dépendeurs d’andouilles,
Qui dans tous les cabarets ont tué leur je dois,
Et qui ne font jamais œuvre de leurs dix doigts.
=RICHEPIN=, _La Mer_.
(Cod-fishers’) Andouille, _wind blowing to sea-ward_.
ANGAUCHE, or ANGLUCE, _f._ (thieves’), _goose_. Tortiller de l’----,
_to eat goose_.
ANGE-GARDIEN, _m._ (popular), _man whose calling is to see drunkards
home; muslin inside a chemisette_.
ANGLAIS, _m._ (familiar), _creditor_, “dun;” _man who keeps a mistress;
a carefully made up dummy parcel in shops_. Il a de l’----, _is said
of a horse which shows blood_. Anglais à prunes, voyageurs à prunes,
_prudent travellers, who, being aware of the long price asked for fruit
at restaurants, are satisfied with a few plums_; (cabmens’) ---- de
carton, _an expression of contempt applied to a stingy_ “fare.”
ANGLAISE, _f._ (mountebanks’), _the share of each partner in the
business; the expenses of each guest at a meal_. (Popular) Danser à
l’----, _a practice followed by girls who pretend to go to the ball of
the opera, and stop at a restaurant where they await clients_. Faire
une ----, _to pay one’s share in the reckoning; also a favourite game
of loafers_. One of the players tosses all the pence of the party;
those which turn up heads, or tails as the case may be, are his;
another player adjudges to himself the tails, and so on with the rest.
Filer, or pisser à l’----, _to give the slip_, _to take_ “French leave.”
ANGLUCE, or ANGAUCHE, _f._ (thieves’), _goose_.
ANGOULÊME, _f._ (thieves’), _the mouth_, “muns.” From “engouler,” _to
swallow_. Se caresser l’----, _to eat and drink_, _to take_ “grub and
bub.” See MASTIQUER.
ANGUILLE, _f._ (thieves’), _belt_. Properly _eel_; (familiar) ---- de
buisson, _snake_.
ANIS, _m._ (popular), de l’----! _exclamation expressive of refusal_,
may be rendered by “you be hanged!” See NÈFLES.
ANISETTE, _f._ (popular), de barbillon, _water_, or “Adam’s ale.”
ANJEZ (Breton cant), _father_.
ANN DOOUZEG ABOSTOL (Breton cant), _twelve o’clock_. Literally _the
twelve apostles_.
ANNONCIER, _m._ (printers’), _compositor of advertisements_; also _man
who belongs to an advertising firm_.
ANNUAIRE, _m._ (military), passer l’---- sous le bras, _to be promoted
according to seniority_.
ANONCHALI (popular), _discouraged_, _cast down_, “down in the mouth.”
ANQUILIEUSE, _f._ (thieves’), _female thief who conceals stolen
property between her legs_. From “quilles,” a slang term for legs.
ANSE, _f._ (popular), _arm_, “bender.” Faire le panier à deux anses,
_to walk with a woman on each arm_, _to play the_ “sandwich.”
ANTIF, _m._, ANTIFFE, _f._ (thieves’), _act of walking_. Battre l’----,
_to walk_, to “pad the hoof;” _to deceive_, “to kid;” _to dissemble; to
spy_, to “nark.”
ANTIFFER (thieves’), _to enter_, _to walk in_; _to walk_, “to pad the
hoof.”
ANTIFFLE (thieves’), _church_. Battre l’----, _to be a hypocrite_,
“mawworm.”
ANTIFFLER (thieves’), _to be married in church_, “to be buckled.”
ANTILLES, _f._ _pl._ (thieves’), _testicles_.
ANTIPATHER (popular), _to abominate_.
ANTIQUE, _student of the Ecole Polytechnique who has completed the
regular course of studies_.
ANTONNE, ENTONNE, _f._ (thieves’), _church_.
Au matin quand nous nous levons,
J’aime la croûte de parfond.
Dans les entonnes trimardons,
Ou aux creux de ces ratichons.
_Chanson de l’Argot._
ANTROLER, ENTROLLER (thieves’), _to carry away_, “to chuff.”
Un de ces luisans, un marcandier alla demander la thune
à un pipet, et le rupin ne lui ficha que floutière: il
mouchailla des ornies de balle qui morfiaient du grenu
en la cour; alors il ficha de son sabre sur la tronche
à une, il l’abasourdit la met dans son gueulard et
l’entrolle.--_Le Jargon de l’Argot._
APASCLINER (thieves’), s’----, _to get used to_, _acclimatized_.
A PERPÈTE (thieves’), _for life_. Gerbé à ----, _to be sentenced to
penal servitude for life_, _to be a_ “lifer.”
APIC (thieves’), _garlic_; _eye_, “daylight, “glazier,” or “ogle.”
APLATIR (familiar), quelqu’un, _to thrash soundly_, “to lick;” _to
reduce one’s arguments to nought_, “to nonplus.” Properly _to flatten_.
APLATISSEUR, _m._ (familiar), de pièces de six liards ----, _one who is
over particular; one who attaches undue importance to trifles_.
APLOMB, _m._ (popular), être d’----, _to be strong_, _sound_, “game.”
Reluquer d’----, _to look straight in the face_.
APLOMBER (thieves’), _to abash a person by one’s coolness_.
APONICHÉ (popular), _seated_.
APOPLEXIE, _f._ (popular), de templier, _a fit of apoplexy brought on
by excessive drinking_. From the saying, Boire comme un templier.
APOTHICAIRE, _m._ (popular), sans sucre, _workman with but few tools;
tradesman with an insufficient stock in trade_.
APÔTRES (thieves’), _fingers_, or “forks.”
APPELER (theatrical), azor, _to hiss_, or “to goose.” Literally _to
whistle a dog_. Azor, a common name for a dog.
APPUYER (theatrical), _to let scenes down_.
AQUARIUM, _an assembly of prostitutes’ bullies_, or “ponces.” From
their being denominated maquereaux, _mackerels_.
AQUICHER (thieves’), _to decoy_, _allure_.
AQUIGER, QUIGER (thieves’ and cads’), _to steal_, “to lift;” _to wound;
to beat_, “to wallop;” _to make_, or “to fake;” ---- les brèmes, _to
mark cards for cheating_, or to “stock broads.” It means also _to
take_, _to procure_, _to find_.
Dévalons donc dans cette piole
Où nous aquigerons riole,
Et sans débrider nos pouchons.
=RICHEPIN=, _La Chanson des Gueux_.
AQUILIN (popular), faire son ----, _to pout_, or “to hang one’s
latch-pan;” _to turn up one’s nose_.
ARABE, _m._ (popular), _savage_, _unrelenting fellow_, or “tartar.”
ARAIGNÉE, _f._ (popular), _bicycle with a large fly-wheel_; ---- de
bastringue, _female habituée of low dancing halls_; ---- de comptoir,
_counter jumper_, or “knight of the yard;” ---- de trottoir, _dealer at
a stall, or in the open air_. Avoir une ---- dans le plafond, _to be
cracked_, _to have_ “a bee in one’s bonnet.” See AVOIR.
ARBALÈTE, _f._ (thieves’), _neck-cross_; ---- d’antonne, de chique, de
priante, _church-cross_.
ARBI, ARBICO, _m._ (army), _Arab_.
ARBIF, _m._ (thieves’), _violent man_.
ARCASIEN, ARCASINEUR, _m._ (thieves’), _thief who employs the arcat_
(which see); _a beggar who calls on people_; _cunning man_.
ARCAT, _m._ (thieves’), monter un ----, _to write a letter from prison
to a person asking for an advance in cash on a supposed buried treasure
which, later on, is to be pointed out to the donor_. From arcane,
_mystery_, _hidden thing_.
ARCAVOT, _m._ (Jew traders’), _falsehood_.
ARCHE, _f._ (popular), aller à l’----, _to fetch money_. Fendre l’----,
_to weary_, “to bore.”
ARCHICUBE, _m._, _student who has completed his three years’ course
of study at the Ecole Normale_, an institution where professors are
trained for university professorships, and which holds the first rank
among special schools in France.
ARCHIPOINTU, _m._ (thieves’), _an archbishop_.
ARCHISUPPÔT DE L’ARGOT (old cant), _learned thief_, _arch-thief_,
“gonnof.”
Les archisuppôts de l’argot sont les plus savants, les plus
habiles marpeaux de toutime l’argot, qui sont des écoliers
débauchés, et quelques ratichons, de ces coureurs qui
enseignent le jargon à rouscailler bigorne.--_Le Jargon de
l’Argot._
ARCHITECTE DE L’UNIVERS (freemasons’), _the Deity_.
ARÇON (thieves’), _sign of recognition made by passing the thumb down
the right cheek and spitting at the same time_.
Si c’étaient des amis de Pantin, je pourrais me faire
reconnaître mais des pantres nouvellement affranchis (des
paysans qui font leurs premières armes), j’aurais beau
faire l’arçon.--=VIDOCQ.=
ARÇONNER (thieves’), _to make one speak out_; _to speak_, or “to
patter.”
ARCPINCER, ARQUEPINCER (thieves’ and popular), _to take_, or “to
collar;” _to seize_, or “to grab;” ---- l’omnibus, _to catch the ’bus_.
Veuillez ---- mon anse, _pray take my arm_.
J’ai promis de reconobrer tous les grinchisseurs et de les
faire arquepincer.--=VIDOCQ.=
ARDENT, _m._ (thieves’), _candle_, or “glim.” Fauche-ardents,
_snuffers_.
ARDENTS, _m._ _pl._ (thieves’), _eyes_, or “glaziers.” See QUINQUETS.
ARDOISE, _f._ (popular), _head_, or “tibby;” _hat_, or “tile.” Avoir
l’----, _to have credit_, or “jawbone.” An allusion to the slate used
for drawing up the reckoning.
ARGA, _m._ (thieves’), _share of booty_, or “snaps.”
ARGANEAU, _m._ (thieves’), _a link connecting two convicts’ irons_.
ARGOT, _m._ (thieves’), _animal_; _fool_, or “go along;” _thieves’
brotherhood_, or “family men.”
ARGOTÉ (thieves’), _one who lays claim to being witty_.
ARGOTIER, _m._ (thieves’), _one of the brotherhood of thieves_, or
“family man.”
ARGOUSIN, _m._ (popular), _foreman_, or “boss.”
ARGUCHE, _m._ (thieves’), _cant_, or “flash;” _a fool_, _dunce_, or
“go-along.”
ARGUEMINE, _f._ (thieves’), _hand_, or “famm.”
ARICOTEUR, _m._ (thieves’), _executioner_.
ARISTO, _m._ for _aristocrat_ (popular), _a man in comfortable
circumstances_.
ARISTOCRATE, _m._, _an appellation given by prisoners to one of their
number whose means allow him to obtain victuals from the canteen_.
ARLEQUIN (popular), _broken victuals of every description mixed up and
retailed to poor people_. The word has passed into the language.
Autrefois chez Paul Niquet
Fumait un vaste baquet
Sur la devanture.
Pour un ou deux sous, je crois,
On y plongeait les deux doigts
Deux, à l’aventure.
Les mets les plus différents
Etaient là, mêlés, errants,
Sans couleur, sans forme,
Et l’on pêchait sans fouiller,
Aussi bien un vieux soulier
Qu’une truffe énorme.
=RICHEPIN=, _La Chanson des Gueux_.
ARME, _f._ (military), passer l’---- à gauche, _to die_, “to lose the
number of one’s mess.” See PIPE.
ARMÉE ROULANTE, _f._ (thieves’), formerly _gang of convicts chained
together which used to make its way by road to the hulks_.
ARMOIRE, _f._ (popular), à glace, _the four of any card_; _head_;
(military) ---- à poils, _soldiers’ knapsack_, or “scran bag.” An
allusion to the hairy skin that covers or covered soldiers’ knapsacks.
ARNAC, _m._ (thieves’), à l’----, _with premeditation_.
ARNACHE, _f._ (popular), _deceit_; _treachery_. Etre à l’----, _to
be cunning_, _wide-awake_, a “deep one;” _to deceive, and not allow
oneself to be deceived_.
ARNACQ, ARNACHE, _m._ (thieves’), _detective_, _informer_, “nark.”
ARNAUD, _m._ (popular), avoir son ----, être ----, _to be in a bad
humour_, to be “nasty.”
ARNAUDER (popular), _to grumble_.
ARNELLE (thieves’), _the town of Rouen_. From La Renelle, a small river.
ARNELLERIE, _f._ (thieves’), _rouennerie_, _printed cotton_.
ARNIF, _m._ (thieves’), _policeman or detective_. Also denominated “bec
de gaz, bourrique, cierge, flique, laune, peste, vache.” In English
cant or slang “crusher, pig, copper, cossack, nark.”
ARPAGAR, _m._ (thieves’), _the town of Arpagon, near Paris_.
ARPETTE, _m._ (popular), _apprentice_.
ARPION, _m._ (thieves’ and popular), _foot_, “trotter;” _toe_.
Moi, d’marcher ça n’me fout pas l’trac.
J’ai l’arpion plus dur que des clous.
=RICHEPIN=, _Chanson des Gueux_.
ARPIONS, _m._ _pl._ (thieves’ and popular), _toes_.
ARQUEPINCER. See ARCPINCER.
ARQUER (popular), s’----, _to be bent down through age_.
ARRACHER (thieves’), du chiendent, _to be on the look-out for a victim_
(chiendent, _dogs’ grass_); (popular) ---- son copeau, _to work_, “to
grind” (copeau, _shaving_).
ARRANGEMANER (thieves’), _to cheat_, or “to stick.”
ARRANGER (swindlers’), les pantres, _to cheat the public by means of
the three-card trick or other swindling dodges_.
ARRANGEUR, _m._ (gamesters’), _one who sets a game going_, or
“buttonner.”
ARRÊTER (familiar), les frais, _to put a stop to any proceedings_. (Les
frais, _the fee for a game of billiards_.)
ARRIÈRE-TRAIN, _m._ (familiar), _the behind_, or “tochas.” See VASISTAS.
ARRIVER PREMIER (sporting), _to be the winner_. Used figuratively to
denote superiority of any kind over others. Arriver bon premier, “to
beat hollow.”
ARRONDIR (popular), se faire ---- le globe, _to become pregnant_, or
“lumpy.”
On s’a fait arrondir el’globe,
On a sa p’tit’ butte, à c’qué vois....
Eh! ben, ça prouv’ qu’on n’est pas d’bois.
=GILL=, _La Muse à Bibi_.
ARRONDISSEMENT, _m._ (popular), chef-lieu d’----, _woman in an advanced
stage of pregnancy_, “lumpy,” _or with a_ “white swelling.”
ARROSAGE, _m._ (popular), _action of drinking_, _of_ “having something
damp.”
ARROSER (gamesters’), _to stake repeatedly on the same card_; _to make
repeated sacrifices in money_; (military) ---- ses galons, _treating
one’s comrades on being made a non-commissioned officer_, “paying for
one’s footing;” (familiar) ---- un créancier, _to settle small portion
of debt_.
ARROSEUR, _m._ (thieves’), de verdouze, _gardener_, or “master of the
mint.” Verdouze, for verdure.
ARROSOIR, _m._ (thieves’), coup d’----, _a glass of wine_; _a
watering-pot_.
ARSENAL, _m._ (thieves’), _arsenic_.
ARSONNER (thieves’), _to overhaul pockets_, to “frisk,” or “to rule
over.”
ARSOUILLE, _m._ (familiar), _a man foul in language_, _a low cad_, a
“rank outsider.” The expression has passed into the language. Milor
l’----, _a rich man with eccentric, low tastes_. The appellation was
first given to Lord Seymour.
ARSOUILLER (popular), synonymous of engueuler, to “jaw,” to “slang.”
ARTHUR, _m._, _a would-be lady-killer_; also synonymous of AMANT DE
CŒUR, which see.
ARTHURINE, _f._ (popular), _a girl of indifferent character_, _a_
“Poll.”
ARTICHAUT, _m._ (popular), cœur d’----, _fickle-hearted_.
.... Cœur d’artichaut,
C’est mon genre: un’ feuille pour tout l’monde,
Au jour d’aujourd’hui, j’gobe la blonde;
Après-d’main, c’est la brun’, qu’i m’faut.
=GILL.=
ARTICHE, _m._ (thieves’), retirer l’----, _to pick the pockets of a
drunkard_.
ARTICLE, _m._ (familiar), faire l’----, _to puff up_, “to crack up.”
(Printers’) Payer son ---- quatre, _to pay for one’s footing_. An
allusion to some item of a code of regulations. (Popular) Porté sur
l’----, _one of an amatory disposition_.
ARTICLIER, _m._, _one whose spécialité is writing newspaper articles_.
ARTIE, ARTIF, ARTIFFE, LARTIE, LARTON, _m._ (thieves’), _bread_; ----
de Meulan, _white bread_; ---- du gros Guillaume, _brown bread_; ----
de guinaut, _mouldy bread_.
Ecoutez marques et mions,
J’aime la croûte de parfond,
J’aime l’artie, j’aime la crie,
J’aime la croûte de parfond.
_Chanson de l’Argot_.
ARTILLEUR (popular), _drunkard_; _one skilful in working the_ “canon,”
_or glass of wine at wine-shops_; ---- à genoux, or de la pièce humide,
_a military hospital orderly_; ---- à l’aiguille, _tailor_; ---- de
la pièce humide, _a fireman_; also, _one who is voiding urine_, or
“lagging.”
ARTIS, _m._ (thieves’), langage de l’----, _cant_, or “flash.”
ARTISTE, _m._ (popular), _veterinary surgeon_, “vet;” _spendthrift
leading a careless life_; _sweeper_; _comrade_, or “pal.”
ARTON. See ARTIE.
ARTOUPAN, _m._ (thieves’), _guard or warder at a penal servitude
depôt_, or “screw.”
ART ROYAL (freemasons’), _freemasonry_.
AS, _m._ (popular), être à l’----, _to be short of cash_, “hard up;”
_at a restaurant or café_, _to be at table, or in private room No. 1_.
Un ---- de carreau, _soldier’s knapsack_, thus called from its shape;
_a town adjutant_, an allusion to the red facings of his uniform.
(Thieves’) As de carreau, _the ribbon of the Legion of Honour, which
is red_. (Familiar) Fichu comme l’---- de pique, _with a clumsily
built form_, _badly dressed_. As de pique meant formerly a man of no
consequence, of no intellectual worth.
ASINVER (thieves’), _to make stupid_.
ASPERGE MONTÉE, _f._ (popular), _very tall_, _lanky person_;
“sky-scraper,” or “lamp-post.”
ASPHALTE, _m._ (familiar), polir l’----, _to lounge on the Boulevards_.
ASPHYXIÉ, _adj._ (popular), _dead-drunk_, or “sewed-up.”
ASPHYXIER (popular), _to drink_; ---- le perroquet, _to drink a glass
of absinthe_, green, like a parrot; ---- un pierrot, _to drink a glass
of white wine_. Pierrot, a pantomimic character, with face painted
white, and costume to match.
ASPIC, _m._ (popular), _a slanderer_, an allusion to “aspic,” a
_viper_; (thieves’) _a miser_, or “hunks.”
ASPIQUERIE, _f._ (popular), _calumny_.
ASSEOIR (popular), s’----, _to fall_. Envoyer quelqu’un s’----, _to
throw one down_, _to silence, get rid of one_. Allez vous ----, _shut
up_, _go to_ “pot” (an allusion to the customary intimation of the
judge to a witness whose examination is concluded). S’---- sur le
bouchon, _to sit on mother earth_. S’---- sur quelqu’un, _to silence
one_, _sit upon him_. S’---- sur quelquechose, _to attach but slight
importance to a thing_.
ASSESSEUR (gamesters’), _player_.
ASSEYEZ-VOUS DESSUS ET QU’ ÇA FINISSE! (familiar), _silence him! sit
upon him!_
ASSIETTE, _f._ (popular), avoir l’---- au beurre, _to be lucky_,
_fortunate in life_.
ASSIS, _m._ (literary), _clerks_, or “quill drivers.”
Oh! c’est alors qu’il faut plaindre... les malheureux
qu’un travail sédentaire courbe sur un bureau.... c’est
alors qu’il convient de se lamenter sur le sort des
assis.--=RICHEPIN=, _Le Pavé_.
ASSISTER (thieves’), _to bring victuals to a prisoner from outside_.
ASSOCIÉE, _f._ (printers’), mon ----, _my wife_, _my_ “old woman.”
ASSOMMOIR, _m._ (familiar), _name of a wine-shop at Belleville, and
which is now common to all low drinking-shops_. From assommer, _to
knock over the head_.
ASTEC, _m._ (familiar), _stunted and weakly person_, or “barber’s cat;”
(literary) _a weak, despicable adversary_. An allusion to the Mexican
dwarfs.
ASTIC, _m._ (thieves’), _steel_, _sword_, or “poker” (from the German
stich); (soldiers’) _a mixture of pipe-clay for the furbishing of
the brass fixtures of equipment_. Aller à l’----, _to clean one’s
equipment_.
ASTICOT, _m._ (popular), _vermicelli_; _mistress of a bully or thief_,
“mollisher;” ---- de cercueil, _glass of beer_ (a play on the words
“ver” and “bière,” asticot being a _flesh-worm_).
ASTIQUAGE or ASTIQUE, _m._ (military), _cleaning the equipments_.
ASTIQUER (popular), _to beat_, or “to towel;” _to tease_. Literally _to
clean_, _to furbish_. S’----, _to have angry words, as a prelude to a
set to_; _to fight_. Literally _to make oneself neat_, or “smug.”
AS-TU FINI, or AS-TU FINI TES MANIÈRES! _words implying that a person’s
endeavours to convince or to deceive another have failed_. The
expression corresponds in some degree to “Walker!” “No go!” “What next?”
A TABLE (thieves’), se mettre ----, or, casser du sucre, _to confess a
crime_.
ATELIER (freemasons’), _place of meeting_.
ATIGÉ, _adj._ (thieves’ and popular), _ill_, or “laid up;” _stricken_,
_ruined_, or “cracked up.”
ATIGER (thieves’ and popular), _to wound, to strike_, “to clump.”
ATÔMES CROCHUS, _m. pl._ (familiar), _mysterious elements of mutual
sympathy_.
ATOUSER (convicts’), _to encourage_, _to urge_, “to kid on.”
ATOUT, _m._ (thieves’ and popular), _courage_, or “wool;”
_self-possession_; _a blow_, or “wipe;” _stomach_; _money_, or “rhino;”
_ability_. Proper meaning _trumps_. Avoir de l’----, _to have pluck_,
or “spunk;” _to have a strong arm_.
Tu m’as donné la bonne mesure, tu es un cadet qui a de
l’atout.--=E. SUE.= (_You gave me a good thrashing, you are
a strong chap._)
Le plus d’----, _a kind of swindling game played at low cafés_.
ATOUT! (popular), _exclamation to denote that a blow has taken effect_.
ATTACHE, _f._, _love tie_.
ATTACHER (thieves’), un bidon, _to inform against one_, “to blow the
gaff.”
ATTACHES, _f. pl._, (thieves’), _buckles_; ---- brillantes, _diamond
buckles_; ---- de gratousse, _lace shirt-frill_; ---- de cés, _breeches
buckles_.
J’ai fait suer un chêne,
Son auberg j’ai enganté.
Son auberg et sa toquante,
Et ses attach’s de cés.
=V. HUGO=, _Le Dernier Jour
d’un Condamné_.
ATTAQUE, d’----, _resolutely, smartly_. Un homme d’----, _a resolute
man_, _one who is game_. Etre d’----, _to show energy, resolution_. Y
aller d’----, _to set about anything with a will, smartly, as if one
meant business_. (Popular) D’attaque, _violent_, _severe_.
V’lan! v’là l’vent qui m’fiche eun’claque.
Fait vraiment un froid d’attaque.
=RICHEPIN.=
ATTELAGE, _m._ (cavalry), un bon ----, _a couple of good friends_.
ATTENDRIR (familiar), s’----, _to have reached that stage of
intoxication when one is_ “_maudlin_.”
ATTIGER. See ATIGER.
ATTIGNOLES, _f. pl._ (popular), _tripe à la mode de Caen_ (tripe stewed
with herbs and seasoning).
N’importe où nous nous empâtons,
D’arlequins, d’briffe et d’rogatons,
Que’qu’fois d’saucisse et d’attignoles.
=RICHEPIN.=
ATTRAPAGE, _m._ (familiar and popular), _severe scolding_, _sharp
criticism_, _quarrel_, _fight_, “mill;” (military) ---- du premier
numéro, _serious duel_.