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

ATTRAPER (popular), _to scold_, “to jaw;” ---- l’oignon, _to receive

a blow intended for another_; _to have to pay for others’ reckoning_.

S’----, _to abuse_, _to_ “slang” _one another_. Se faire ----, _to get

scolded, abused_, “blown up.” Attraper le haricot, or la fève, _to

have to pay for others_. An allusion to one who finds a bean in his

share of the cake at the “fête des rois,” or Twelfth-night, and who,

being proclaimed king, has to treat the other guests. (Journalists’)

Attraper, _to sharply criticise or run down a person or literary

production_; (theatrical) _to hiss_, or “goose;” (actors’) ---- le

lustre, _to open wide one’s mouth_; _to make a fruitless attempt to

give emission to a note_.

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

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

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

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

ATTRIQUEUR, _m._, ATTRIQUEUSE, _f._ (thieves’), _receiver of stolen

clothes_, “fence.”

AUBER, _m._, _a sum of money_, “pile.” A play on the word “haubert,”

_coat of mail_, _an assemblage of_ “mailles,” _meaning_ “meshes” or

“small change.” Compare the expression, Sans sou ni maille.

AUMÔNE, _f._ (thieves’), voler à l’----, _stealing from a jeweller, who

is requested to exhibit small trinkets, some of which, being purloined,

are transmitted to the hand of a confederate outside who pretends to

ask for alms_.

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

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

things in general_.

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

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

anything_.

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

“mill,” or “jigger.”

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

AUTEL, (freemasons’), _table at which the master sits_; (popular) ----

de besoin, _prostitute_, or “bed-fagot;” ---- de plume, _bed_, “doss.”

AUTEUR, _m._ (familiar), _father or mother_, “governor,” or “mater;”

---- beurrier, _unsuccessful author whose works are sold as

wrapping-paper for tradesmen_.

AUTOR (familiar and popular), jouer d’----, _to play cards without

proposing_. Travailler d’---- et d’achar, _to work with energy_.

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

Dis donc, fourline, la première fois que nous trouverons la

Pégriotte, faut l’emmener d’autor.--=EUGÈNE SUE.=

AUTRE, _adj._ (popular), cet ---- chien, _that chap_. Etre l’----, _to

be duped_, or “bamboozled;” _to be the lover_; _the mistress_. L’----

côté, _appellation given by Paris students to that part of the city

situated on the right bank of the river_. Femme de l’---- côté, _woman

residing in that part of Paris_.

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

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_.

BISMARCK, couleur ----, _brown colour_; ---- en colère, ---- malade,

_are various shades of brown_.

BISMARCKER (gamesters’), _to mark twice_; _to appropriate by fair or

foul means_. It is to be presumed this is an allusion to Bismarck’s

alleged summary ways of getting possession of divers territories.

BISQUANT, _adj._ (popular), _provoking_, _annoying_.

BISSARD, _m._ (popular), _brown bread_.

BISTOURNÉ, _m._ (popular), _hunting horn_.

BISTRO, BISTROT, _m._ (popular), _landlord of wine-shop_.

BITTE ET BOSSE (sailors’), _carousing exclamation_.

Laisse arriver! voiles largues, et remplissez les

boujarons, vous autres! Tout à la noce! Bitte et

bosse!--=RICHEPIN=, _La Glu_.

BITTER CUIRASSÉ, _m._ (familiar), _mixture of bitters and curaçoa_.

BITUME, _m._ _foot-pavement_. Demoiselle du ----, _street-walker_.

Faire le ----, _to walk the street_. Fouler, or polir le ----, _to

saunter on the boulevard_.

BITUMER _is said of women who walk the streets_.

BITURE, _f._ (familiar), _excessive indulgence in food or drink_,

“scorf.”

BITURER (popular), se ----, _to indulge in a_ “biture” (which see).

BLACKBOULAGE, _m._ (familiar), _blackballing_.

BLACKBOULER (familiar), _to blackball_. The expression has now a wider

range, and is used specially in reference to unreturned candidates

to Parliament. Un blackboulé du suffrage universel, _an unreturned

candidate_.

BLAFARD (cads’), _silver coin_.

Il avait vu sauter une pièce de cent sous,

Se cognant au trottoir dans un bruit de cymbales,

Un écu flambant neuf, un blafard de cinq balles.

=RICHEPIN=, _Chanson des Gueux_.

BLAFARDE (cads’), _death_.

BLAGUE, _f._ Literally _facility of speech, not of a very high order_;

_talk_; _humbug_; _fib_; _chaff_; _joke_. Avoir de la ----, _to have

a ready tongue_. N’avoir que la ----, _to be a facile utterer of

empty words_. Avoir la ---- du métier, _to be an adept in showing off

knowledge of things relating to one’s profession_. Nous avons fait

deux heures de ----, _we talked together for two hours_. Pas de ----!

_none of your nonsense_; _let us be serious_. Pousser une ----, _to

cram up_; _to joke_. Sans ----, _I am not joking_. Une bonne ----, _a

good joke_; _a good story_. Une mauvaise ----, _a bad, ill-natured

joke_; _bad trick_. Quelle ----, _what humbug! what a story!_ Ne faire

que des blagues _is said of a literary man whose productions are of no

importance_. (Popular) Blague sous l’aisselle! _no more humbugging! I

am not joking!_ ---- dans le coin! _joking apart_; _seriously_.

BLAGUER (familiar), _to chat_; _to talk_; _to joke_; _not to be in

earnest_; _to draw the long-bow_; _to quiz_, _to chaff_, _to humbug

one_, “to pull the leg;” _to make a jaunty show of courage_. Tu blagues

tout le temps, _you talk all the time_. Il avait l’air de blaguer mais

il n’était pas à la noce, _he made a show of bravery, but he was far

from being comfortable_.

BLAGUES À TABAC, _f._ (popular), _withered bosoms_.

BLAGUEUR, BLAGUEUSE (familiar), _humbug; story-teller; one who rails

at_, _scoffer_.

BLAICHARD (popular), _clerk_, or “quill-driver.”

Et les ouvriers en vidant à midi une bonne chopine, la

trogne allumée, les regards souriants, se moquent des

déjetés, des blaichards.--=RICHEPIN=, _Le Pavé_.

BLAIR, BLAIRE, _m._ (popular), _nose_, “boko,” “smeller,” “snorter,” or

“conk.” Se piquer le ----, _to get tipsy_. See SE SCULPTER.

Si les prop’ à rien...

Ont l’droit de s’piquer l’blaire,

Moi qu’ai toujours à faire...

J’peux boire un coup d’bleu.

=RICHEPIN=, _Chanson des Gueux_.

BLAIREAU, _m._ (military), _recruit_, or “Johnny raw;” _a broom_;

_foolish young man who aspires to literary honours and who squanders

his money in the company of journalistic Bohemians_.

BLANC, _m._ (popular), _street-walker_; _white wine_; _white brandy_;

_one-franc piece_. (Printers’) Jeter du ----, _to interline_.

(Thieves’) N’être pas ----, _to have a misdeed on one’s conscience_;

_to be liable to be_ “wanted.” (Military) Faire faire ---- à quelqu’un

de sa bourse, _to draw freely on another’s purse_; _to live at

another’s expense in a mean and paltry manner_, “to spunge.” (Familiar)

Blanc, _one of the Legitimist party_. The appellation used to be given

in 1851 to Monarchists or Bonapartists.

Enfin pour terminer l’histoire,

De mon bœuf blanc ne parlons plus.

Je veux le mener à la foire,

A qui le veut pour dix écus.

De quelque sot fait-il l’affaire,

Je le donne pour peu d’argent,

Car je sais qu’en France on préfère

Le rouge au blanc.

=PIERRE BARRÈRE=, 1851.

BLANCHEMONT, _m._ (thieves’), pivois de ----, _white wine_.

BLANCHES, _f. pl._ (printers’). The different varieties of type are:

“blanches, grasses, maigres, allongées, noires, larges, ombrées,

perlées, l’Anglaise, l’Américaine, la grosse Normande.”

BLANCHI, _adj._ (popular), mal ----, _negro_, or “darkey.”

BLANCHIR (journalists’), _to make many breaks in one’s manuscript_,

_much fresh-a-lining_.

BLANCHISSEUR, _m._ (popular), _barrister_; (literary) _one who revises

a manuscript_, _who gives it the proper literary form._

BLANCHISSEUSE DE TUYAUX DE PIPE (popular), _variety of prostitute_. See

GADOUE.

BLANC-PARTOUT, _m._ (popular), _pastry-cook’s boy_.

Plus généralement connu sous le nom de gâte-sauce, désigné

aussi sous le nom de blanc-partout, le patronnet est ce

petit bout d’homme que l’on rencontre environ tous les cinq

cents pas.--=RICHEPIN=, _Le Pavé_.

BLANCS, _m. pl._ (familiar), d’Eu, _partisans of the D’Orléans family_;

---- d’Espagne, _Carlists_.

BLANC-VILAIN, _m._ (popular), _man whose functions consist in throwing

poisoned meat to wandering dogs_.

BLANQUETTE, _f._ (thieves’), _silver coin_; _silver plate_.

Il tira de sa poche onze couverts d’argent et deux montres

d’or qu’il posa sur le guéridon. 400 balles tout cela,

ce n’est pas cher, les bogues d’Orient et la blanquette,

allons aboule du carle.--=VIDOCQ=, _Mémoires_.

BLANQUETTER (thieves’), _to silver_.

BLANQUETTIER (thieves’), _silverer_.

BLARD, or BLAVARD, _m._ (thieves’), _shawl_.

BLASÉ, E, _adj._ (thieves’), _swollen_. From the German blasen, _to

blow_.

BLAVE, BLAVIN, _m._ (thieves’), _handkerchief_, “muckinger” (from the

old word blave, _blue_); _necktie_, “neckinger.”

BLAVIN, _m._ (thieves’), _pocket-pistol_, “pops.” An allusion to

blavin, _pocket-handkerchief_.

BLAVINISTE, _m._ (thieves’), _pickpocket who devotes his attention to

handkerchiefs_, “stook hauler.”

BLÉ, BLÉ BATTU, _m._ (popular), _money_, “loaver.”

BLÈCHE, _adj._, _middling_; _bad_; _ugly_. Faire banque ----, _not to

get any pay_. Faire ----, _to make a_ “bad” _at a game, such as the

game of fives for instance_.

BLEU, _m._ (military), _recruit_, or “Johnny raw;” _new-comer at the

cavalry school of Saumur_; (thieves’) _cloak_; _also name given to

Republican soldiers by the Royalist rebels of Brittany in 1793_. After

1815 the Monarchists gave the appellation to Bonapartists. (Popular)

Petit ----, _red wine_. Avoir un coup d’----, _to be slightly tipsy_,

“elevated.” See POMPETTE.

Quand j’siffle un canon...

C’est pas pour faire l’pantre.

C’est qu’ j’ai plus d’cœur au ventre...

Après un coup d’bleu.

=RICHEPIN=, _Chanson des Gueux_.

(Familiar) Bleu, _adj._ _astounding_; _incredible_; _hard to stomach_.

En être ----; en bailler tout ----; en rester tout ----, _to be

stupefied, much annoyed or disappointed_, “to look blue;” _to be

suddenly in a great rage_. (Theatrical) Etre ----, _to be utterly

worthless_.

BLEUE (familiar), elle est ---- celle-là; en voilà une de ----; je la

trouve ----, _refers to anything incredible, disappointing, annoying,

hard to stomach_. Une colère ----, _violent rage_.

BLÉZIMARDER (theatrical), _to interrupt an actor_.

BLOC, _m._, _military cell_, _prison_, “mill,” “Irish theatre,”

“jigger.”

BLOCKAUS, _m._ (military), _shako_.

BLOND, _m._ (popular), beau ----, _man who is neither fair nor

handsome_; (thieves’) _the sun_.

BLONDE, _f._ (popular), _bottle of white wine_; _sweetheart_,

or “jomer;” _glass of ale at certain cafés_, “brune” _being the

denomination for porter_.

BLOQUÉ, _adj._ (printers’), être ---- à la banque, _to receive no pay_.

BLOQUER (military), _to imprison_, _confine_; (popular) _to sell_, _to

forsake_; (printers’) _to replace temporarily one letter by another_,

_to use a_ “turned sort.”

BLOQUIR (popular), _to sell_.

BLOT, _m._ (popular and thieves’), _price_; _affair_; _concern in

anything_; _share_, or “_whack_.” Ça fait mon ----, _that suits me_.

Nib dans mes blots, _that is not my affair_; _that does not suit me_.

L’turbin c’est bon pour qui qu’est mouche,

A moi, il fait nib dans mes blots.

=RICHEPIN=, _Chanson des Gueux_.

BLOUMARD, _m._, BLOUME, _f._ (popular), _hat_, “tile.”

BLOUSE, _f._ (familiar), _the working classes_. Mettre quelqu’un dans

la ----, _to imprison, or cause one to fall into a snare_. Une blouse

is properly _a billiard pocket_.

BLOUSIER, _m._ (familiar), _cad_, “rank outsider.”

BOBE, _m._ (thieves’), _watch_, “tattler.” Faire le ----, _to ease a

drunkard of his watch_, “to claim a canon’s red toy.”

BOBÊCHON, _m._ (popular), _head_, “nut.” Se monter le ----, _to be

enthusiastic_.

BOBELINS, _m. pl._ (popular), _boots_, “hock-dockies,” or

“trotter-cases.” See RIPATONS.

BOBINASSE, _f._ (popular), _head_, “block.”

BOBINE, _f._ (popular), _face_, “mug,” (old word bobe, _grimace_). Une

sale ----, _ugly face_. Plus de fil sur la ----. See AVOIR. Se ficher

de la ---- à quelqu’un, _to laugh at one_.

Un cocher passe, je l’appelle,

Et j’lui dis: dites donc l’ami;

V’là deux francs, j’prends vot’ berline

Conduisez-moi Parc Monceau.

Deux francs! tu t’fiches d’ma bobine,

Va donc, eh! fourneau!

_Parisian Song_.

BOBINO. See BOBE.

BOBONNE, for bonne, _nursery-maid_; _servant girl_, or “slavey.”

BOBOSSE, _f._ (popular), _humpback_, “lord.”

BOBOTTIER, _m._ (popular), _one who complains apropos of nothing_. From

bobo, _a slight ailment_.

BOC, _m._ (popular), _house of ill-fame_, “nanny-shop.”

BOCAL, _m._ (popular), _lodgings_, “crib;” _stomach_, “bread basket.”

Se coller quelque chose dans le ----, _to eat_. Se rincer le ----, _to

drink_, “to wet one’s whistle.” (Thieves’) Bocal, _pane_, _glass_.

BOCARD, _m._ (popular), _café_; _house of ill-fame_, “nanny-shop;” ----

panné, _small coffee-shop_.

BOCARI, _m._ (thieves’), _the town of Beaucaire_.

BOCHE, _m._ (popular), _rake_, “rip,” “molrower,” or “beard splitter.”

Tête de ----, _an expression applied to a dull-witted person_.

Literally _wooden head_. Also _a German_.

BOCKER (familiar), _to drink bocks_.

BOCOTTER, _to grumble_; _to mutter_. Literally _to bleat like a_

bocquotte, _goat_.

BOCQUE, BOGUE, _m._ (thieves’), _watch_, “tattler.”

BOCSON (common), _house of ill-fame_, “nanny-shop;” (thieves’)

_lodgings_, “dossing-ken.”

Montron ouvre ta lourde,

Si tu veux que j’aboule

Et piausse en ton bocson.

=VIDOCQ=, _Mémoires_.

BŒUF, _m._ (popular), _king of playing cards_; _shoemaker’s workman,

or journeyman tailor, who does rough jobs_. Avoir son ----, _to get

angry_, “to nab the rust.” Etre le ----, _to work without profit_. Se

mettre dans le ----, _to be reduced in circumstances_, an allusion to

bœuf bouilli, very plain fare. (Printers’) Bœuf, _composition of a few

lines done for an absentee_. Bœuf, _adj._, _extraordinary_, “stunning;”

_enormous_; synonymous of “chic” at the Ecole Saint-Cyr; (cads’)

_pleasant_.

BŒUFIER, _m._ (popular), _man of choleric disposition_, _one prone_ “to

nab his rust.”

BOFFETE, _f._, _box on the ear_, “buck-horse.” From the old word buffet.

BOG, or BOGUE, _f._ (thieves’), _watch_; ---- en jonc, ---- d’orient,

_gold watch_, “red ’un,” or “red toy;” ---- en plâtre, _silver watch_,

“white ’un.”

J’enflaque sa limace.

Son bogue, ses frusques, ses passes.

=VIDOCQ.=

BOGUISTE (thieves’), _watch-maker_.

BOIRE (printers’), de l’encre _is said of one who on joining a party

of boon companions finds all the liquor has been disposed of_. He will

then probably exclaim,

Est-ce que vous croyez que je vais boire de

l’encre?--=BOUTMY.=

(Familiar) ---- dans la grande tasse, _to be drowned_; (actors’) ----

du lait, _to obtain applause_; ---- une goutte, _to be hissed_, “to be

goosed.”

BOIS, _m._ (cads’), pourri, _tinder_; (thieves’) ---- tortu, _vine_.

(Theatrical) Avoir du ----, or mettre du ----, _to have friends

distributed here and there among the spectators, whose applause excites

the enthusiasm of the audience. Literally to put on fuel_.

BOISSEAU, _m._ (popular), _shako_; _tall hat_, “chimney pot.” For

synonyms see TUBARD; _litre wine bottle_.

BOISSONNER (popular), _to drink heavily_, “to swill.”

BOISSONNEUR (popular), _assiduous frequenter of wine-shop_, a

“lushington.”

BOISSONNIER (popular), _one who drinks heavily_, a “lushington.”

BOÎTE, _f._ (familiar and popular), _mean house, lodging-house, or

restaurant_; _trading establishment managed in an unbusiness-like

manner_; _one’s employer’s establishment_; _workshop_; _crammer’s

establishment_; _disorderly household_; _carriage_, or “trap;” ---- à

cornes, _hat or cap_; ---- à dominos, _coffin_, “cold meat box;” ----

à gaz, _stomach_; ---- à surprises, _the head of a learned man_; ----

à violon, _coffin_; ---- au sel, _head_, “tibby;” ---- aux cailloux,

_prison_, “stone-jug;” ---- d’échantillons, _latrine tub_; (thieves’)

---- à Pandore, _box containing soft wax for taking imprints of

keyholes_; (military) _guard-room_, “jigger;” ---- aux réflexions,

_cells_. Boulotter de la ----, coucher à la ----, _to get frequently

locked up_. Grosse ----, _prison_. (Printers) Boîte, _printer’s shop,

and more particularly one of the inferior sort_.

“C’est une boîte,” dit un vieux singe; “il y a toujours

mèche, mais hasard! au bout de la quinzaine, banque blèche.”

Faire sa ----, _to distribute into one’s case_. Pilleur de ----, or

fricoteur, _one who takes on the sly type from fellow compositor’s

case_.

BOITER (popular), des calots, _to squint_, _to be_ “boss-eyed;”

(thieves’) ---- des chasses, _to squint_, _to be_ “squinny-eyed.”

BOLÉRO, _m._ (familiar), _a kind of lady’s hat, Spanish fashion_.

BOLIVAR, _m._ (popular), _hat_, “tile.”

BOMBE, _f._ (popular), _wine measure, about half a litre_; (military)

---- de vieux oint, _bladder of lard_. Gare la ----! _look out for

squalls!_

BOMBÉ, _m._ (popular), _hunchback_, “lord.”

BON, _man to be relied on in any circumstance_; _one who is_ “game;”

_man wanted by the police_. Etre le ----, _to be arrested, or the

right man_. Vous êtes ---- vous! _you amuse me! well, that’s good!_

(Printers’) Bon, _proof which bears the author’s intimation_, “bon

à tirer,” _for press_. Avoir du ----, _to have some composition not

entered in one’s account, and reserved for the next_. (Familiar)

Bon jeune homme, _candid young man_, in other terms _greenhorn_;

(popular) ---- pour cadet _is said of a dull paper, or of an unpleasant

letter_; ---- sang de bon sang, _mild oath elicited by astonishment or

indignation_. (Popular and familiar) Etre des bons, _to be all right,

safe_. Nous arrivons à temps, nous sommes des bons. Le ---- endroit,

_posteriors_. Donner un coup de pied juste au ---- endroit, _to kick

one’s behind_, to “hoof one’s bum.” Arriver ---- premier, _to surpass

all rivals_, “to beat hollow.”

BONBON, _m._ (popular), _pimple_.

BONBONNIÈRE, _f._ (popular), _latrine tub_; ---- à filous, _omnibus_.

BONDE (thieves’), _central prison_.

BON-DIEU (soldiers’), _sword_. (Popular) Il n’y a pas de ----, _that

is_, il n’y a pas de ---- qui puisse empêcher cela. (Convicts’) _Short

diary of fatigue parties at the hulks_.

BONDIEUSARD, _m._ (familiar), _bigot_; _dealer in articles used for

worship in churches_.

BONDIEUSARDISME, _f._, _bigotry_.

BONDIEUSERIE, _f._, _article used for worship_; _dealing in such

articles_.

BONHOMME, _m._ (thieves’), _saint_. (Familiar and popular) Un ----,

_an individual_, a “party.” Mon ----, _my good fellow_. Petit ---- de

chemin, see ALLER.

BONICARD, _m._, BONICARDE, _f._ (thieves’), _old man, old woman_.

BONIFACE, _m._ (popular), _simple-minded man_, “flat,” or “greenhorn.”

BONIFACEMENT (popular), _with simplicity_.

BONIMENT, _m._ (familiar), _puffing speech of quacks, of mountebanks,

of shopmen, of street vendors, of three-card-trick sharpers, and

generally clap-trap speech in recommendation or explanation of

anything_. Richepin, in his _Pavé_, gives a good specimen of the

“boniment” of a “maquilleur de brèmes,” or three-card-trick sharper.

Accroupi, les doigts tripotant trois cartes au ras du sol,

le pif en l’air, les yeux dansants, un voyou en chapeau

melon glapit son boniment d’une voix à la fois traînante

et volubile:.... C’est moi qui perds. Tant pire, mon p’tit

père! Rasé, le banquier! Encore un tour, mon amour. V’là le

cœur, cochon de bonheur! C’est pour finir. Mon fond, qui

se fond. Trèfle qui gagne. Carreau, c’est le bagne. Cœur,

du beurre, pour le voyeur. Trèfle, c’est tabac! Tabac pour

papa. Qui qu’en veut? Un peu, mon neveu! La v’là. Le trèfle

gagne! Le cœur perd. Le carreau perd. Voyez la danse! Ca

recommence. Je le mets là. Il est ici, merci. Vous allez

bien? Moi aussi. Elle passe. Elle dépasse. C’est moi qui

trépasse, hélas!... Regardez bien! C’est le coup de chien.

Passé! C’est assez! Enfoncé! Il y a vingt-cinque francs au

jeu! &c.

BONIQUE, _m._ (thieves’), _white-haired old man_.

BONIR (thieves’), _to talk_; _to say_, “to patter;” ---- au ratichon,

_to confess to a priest_.

Le dardant riffaudait ses lombes,

Lubre il bonissait aux palombes,

Vous grublez comme un guichemard.

=RICHEPIN=, _Chanson des Gueux_.

BONISSEUR, _m._, _one who makes a_ “boniment” (which see); (thieves’)

_barrister_; ---- de la bate, _witness for the defence_.

BONJOUR, _m._ (thieves’), voleur au ----, bonjourier, or chevalier

grimpant, _thief who, at an early hour, enters a house or hotel, walks

into a room, and appropriates any suitable article_. If the person

in bed wakes up, the rogue politely apologises for his pretended

error. Other thieves of the same description commence operations at

dinner-time. They enter a dining-room, and seize the silver plate laid

out on the table. This is called “goupiner à la desserte.”

BON MOTIF, _m._ (familiar). Faire la cour à une fille pour le ----, _to

make love to a girl with honourable intentions_.

BONNE, _adj._ (familiar), _amusing, or the reverse_. Elle est bien

----, _what a good joke! what a joke!_ Elle est ----, celle-là! _well,

it is too bad! what next?_ (Popular) Etre à la ----, _to be loved_.

Etre de la ----, _to be lucky_. Avoir à la ----, _to like_. Bonne

fortanche, _female soothsayer_; ---- grâce, _cloth used by tailors as

wrappers_.

BONNET, _m._, _secret covenant among printers_.

Espèce de ligue offensive et défensive que forment quelques

compositeurs employés depuis longtemps dans une maison et

qui ont tous, pour ainsi dire la tête sous le même bonnet.

Rien de moins fraternel que le bonnet. Il fait la pluie

et le beau temps dans un atelier, distribue les mises en

page et les travaux les plus avantageux à ceux qui en font

partie.--=E. BOUTMY=, _Argot des Typographes_.

(Thieves’) ---- carré, _judge_, or “cove with the jazey;” ---- vert

à perpète, _one sentenced to penal servitude for life_, or “lifer;”

(popular) ---- de coton, _lumbering, weak man_, or “sappy;” _mean

man_, or “scurf;” ---- de nuit sans coiffe, _man of a melancholy

disposition_, or “croaker;” ---- d’évêque, _rump of a fowl_, or

“parson’s nose.” (Familiar) Bonnet, _small box at theatres_; ----

jaune, _twenty-franc coin_; (military) ---- de police, _recruit_, or

“Johnny raw.”

BONNETEAU, _m._, jeu de ----, _card-sharping game_; _three-card trick_.

BONNETEUR, _m._, _card-sharper_, or “broadsman.”

BONNICHON, _m._ (popular), _working girl’s cap_.

BONO (popular), _good_, _middling_.

BONS, _m._ (military), la sonnerie des ---- de tabac, (ironical)

_trumpet call for those confined to barracks_.

BORDÉ (cocottes’), être ----, _to have renounced the pleasures of

love_, “_sua sponte_,” _or otherwise_. Literally _to be lying in bed

with the bed-clothes tucked in_.

BORDÉE, _f._ (familiar and popular), _unlawful absence_. Tirer

une ----, _to absent oneself for some amusement of a questionable

character_; _to go_ “on the booze.”

La paie de grande quinzaine emplissait le trottoir d’une

bousculade de gouapeurs tirant une bordée.--=ZOLA.=

Bordée de coups de poings, _rapid delivery of blows_, or “fibbing.”

BORDEL, _m._ (popular), _small faggot_; _tools_; ---- ambulant,

_hackney coach_.

BORDELIER (popular), _libertine_, “molrower,” or “mutton-monger.”

BORGNE, _m._ (cads’), _breech_, or “blind cheek;” _ace of cards_; ----

de cœur, _ace of hearts_, “pig’s eye.”

BORGNER (cads’), _to look_.

BORGNIAT (popular), _one-eyed man_, “boss-eyed.”

BORNE DE VIEUX OINT, _f._ (popular), _bladder of lard_.