CANTIQUE, _m._ (freemasons’), _bacchanalian song_.
CANTON, _m._ (thieves’), _prison_, or “stir.” For synonyms see MOTTE.
Comte de ----, _jailer_, “dubsman,” or “jigger-dubber.”
CANTONADE, _f._ (literary), écrire à la ----, _to write productions
which are_ _not read by the public_. From a theatrical expression,
Parler à la ----, _to speak to an invisible person behind the scenes_.
CANTONNIER, _m._ (thieves’), _prisoner_, _one in_ “quod.”
CANULANT, _adj._ (familiar), _tedious_, _tiresome_, “boring.” From
canule, _a clyster-pipe_.
CANULARIUM, _m._ (Ecole Normale), _ordeal which new pupils have to go
through, such as passing a mock examination_.
CANULE, _f._ (popular), _tedious man_, _bore_. Canule, properly
speaking, is _a clyster-pipe_.
CANULER (popular), _to annoy_, _to bore_.
CANULEUR. See CANULE.
CAOUTCHOUC, _m._ (popular), _clown_. Properly _india-rubber_.
CAP, _m._ (thieves’), _chief warder at the hulks_. (Familiar) Doubler
le ----, _to go a roundabout way in order to avoid meeting a creditor,
or passing before his door_. Doubler le ---- des tempêtes, _to clear
safely the 1st or 15th of the month, when certain payments are due_.
Doubler le ---- du terme, _to be able to pay one’s rent when due_.
Doubler un ----, _to be able to pay a note of hand when it falls due_.
CAPAHUT, _f._ (thieves’), voler à la ----, _to murder an accomplice so
as to get possession of his share of the booty_.
CAPAHUTER. See CAPAHUT.
CAPE, _f._ (thieves’), _handwriting_.
CAPET, _m._ (popular), _hat_, or “tile.” See TUBARD.
CAPINE, _f._ (thieves’), _inkstand_.
CAPIR (thieves’), _to write_, or “to screeve.”
CAPISTON, _m._ (military), _captain_; ---- bêcheur, _an officer who
acts as public prosecutor at courts-martial_. Termed also “capitaine
bêcheur.”
CAPITAINE (thieves’), _stock-jobber_; _financier_; (military) ----
bêcheur, see CAPISTON; ---- de la soupe, _an officer who has never been
under fire_.
CAPITAINER (thieves’), _to be a stock-jobber_.
CAPITAL, _m._ (popular), _maidenhead_. Villon, fifteenth century, terms
it “ceincture.”
CAPITOLE, _m._ (schoolboys’), formerly _the black hole_.
CAPITONNÉE, _adj._ (popular), _is said of a stout woman_.
CAPITONNER (popular), se ----, _to grow stout_.
CAPITULARD, _m._ (familiar and popular), _term of contempt applied
during the war of 1870 to those who were in favour of surrender_.
CAPORAL, _m._, _tobacco of French manufacture_.
CAPORALISME, _m._ (familiar), _pipe-clayism_.
CAPOU, _m._ (popular), _a scribe who writes letters for illiterate
persons in return for a fee_.
CAPOUL (familiar), bandeaux à la ----, or des Capouls, _hair brushed
low on forehead_, _fringe_, or “toffs.” From the name of a celebrated
tenor who some twenty years ago was a great favourite of the public,
especially of the feminine portion of it.
CAPRICE, _m._, _appellation given by ladies of the demi-monde to their
lovers_; ---- sérieux, _one who keeps a girl_.
CAPSULE, _f._ (popular), _hat with narrow rim_; _infantry shako_. See
TUBARD.
CAPTIF, _m._ (popular), abbreviation of ballon captif. Enlever le ----,
_to kick one in the hind quarters_, “to root.”
CAPUCIN, _m._ (sportsmen’s), _hare_.
CAPUCINE, _f._ (familiar and popular), jusqu’à la troisième ----,
_completely_, “awfully.” Etre paf jusqu’à la troisième ----, _to be
quite drunk_, or “ploughed.” See POMPETTE. S’ennuyer ----, &c., _to
feel_ “awfully” dull.
CAQUER (popular), _to ease oneself_. See MOUSCAILLER.
CARABINE, _f._ (popular), _sweetheart of a_ “carabin,” _or medical
student_; (military) _whip_.
CARABINÉ, _adj._ (popular), _excessive, violent_. Un mal de tête ----,
_a violent headache_. Une plaisanterie carabinée, _a spicy joke_.
CARABINER (military), les côtes, _to thrash_. See VOIE.
CARABINIER, _m._ (popular), de la Faculté, _chemist_.
CARAFE, _f._ (cads’), _throat_, or “gutter lane;” _mouth_, or “mug.”
Fouetter de la ----, _to have an offensive breath_.
CARAMBOLAGE, _m._ (popular), _collision; general set-to; coition_, or
“chivalry.” Properly _cannoning at billiards_.
CARAMBOLER (popular), _to come into collision with anything_; _to
strike two persons at one blow_; _to thrash a person or several
persons_. Also corresponds to the Latin _futuere_. The old poet Villon
termed this “chevaulcher,” or “faire le bas mestier,” and Rabelais
called it, “faire la bête à deux dos.” Properly “caramboler” signifies
_to make a cannon at billiards_.
CARANT, _m._ (thieves’), _board_; _square piece of wood_. A corruption
of carré, _square_.
CARANTE, _f._ (thieves’), _table_.
CARAPATA, _m._ (popular), _pedestrian_; _bargee_; (cavalry) _recruit_,
or “Johnny raw.”
CARAPATER (popular), _to run_, “to brush.” Se ----, _to run away_, or
“to slope.” Literally, courir à pattes. See PATATROT.
CARAVANE, _f._ (popular), _travelling show_, or “slang.” Des caravanes,
_love adventures_. Termed also “cavalcades.”
CARBELUCHE, _m._ (thieves’), galicé, _silk hat_.
CARCAGNO, or CARCAGNE, _m._ (thieves’), _usurer_.
CARCAGNOTTER (thieves’), _to be a usurer_.
CARCAN, _m._ (popular), _worthless horse_, or “screw;” _opprobrious
epithet_; _gaunt woman_; ---- à crinoline, _street-walker_. See GADOUE.
CARCASSE, _f._ (thieves’), états de ----, _loins_. Carcasse, in popular
language, _body_, or “bacon.” Je vais te désosser la ----, _I’ll break
every bone in your body_.
CARCASSIER, _m._ (theatrical), _clever playwright_.
CARDER (popular), _to claw one’s face_. Properly _to card_.
CARDINALE, _f._ (thieves’), _moon_, or “parish lantern.”
CARDINALES, _f. pl._ (popular), _menses_.
CARDINALISER (familiar), se ---- la figure, _to blush, or to get
flushed through drinking_.
CARE, _f._ (thieves’), _place of concealment_. Vol à la ----, see
CAREUR.
CARÊME, _m._ (popular), amoureux de ----, _timid or platonic lover_.
Literally _a Lenten lover_, one who is afraid of touching flesh.
CARER (thieves’), _to conceal, to steal_. See CAREUR. Se ----, _to seek
shelter_.
CAREUR, or VOLEUR À LA CARE, _m._ (thieves’), _thief who robs a
money-changer under pretence of offering old coins for sale_, “pincher.”
CARFOUILLER (popular), _to thrust deeply_.
Il délibéra ... pour savoir s’il lui carfouillerait le
cœur avec son épée ou s’il se bornerait à lui crever les
yeux.--_Figaro._
CARGE (thieves’), _pack_.
CARGOT, _m._ (military), _canteen man_.
CARGUER (sailors’), ses voiles, _to retire from the service_. Properly
_to reef sails_.
CARIBENER, or CARER, _to steal_ “à la care.” See CAREUR.
CARISTADE, _f._ (printers’), _relief in money_; _charity_.
CARLE, _m._ (thieves’), _money_, “lour,” or “pieces.”
CARLINE, _f._ (thieves’), _death_.
CARME, _m._ (popular), _large flat loaf_; (thieves’) _money_, “pieces.”
See QUIBUS. On lui a grinchi tout le ---- de son morlingue, _the
contents of his purse have been stolen_. Carme à l’estorgue, or à
l’estoque, _base coin_, or “sheen.”
CARMER (thieves’), _to pay_, “to dub.”
CARNAVAL, _m._ (popular), _ridiculously dressed person_, “guy.”
CARNE, _f._ (popular), _worthless horse_, or “screw;” _opprobrious
epithet applied to a woman, strumpet_; _woman of disreputable
character_, “bed-fagot,” or “shake.” Etre ----, _to be lazy_.
CAROTTAGE, _m._ (popular), _chouse_.
CAROTTE, _f._ (military), _medical inspection_; ---- d’épaisseur,
_great chouse_. (Familiar) Tirer une ---- de longueur, _to concoct a
far-fetched story for the purpose of obtaining something from one,
as money, leave of absence, &c._ (Theatrical) Avoir une ---- dans le
plomb, _to sing out of tune, or with a cracked voice_; (popular) _to
have an offensive breath_. Avoir ses carottes cuites, _to be dead_.
(Thieves’) Tirer la ----, _to elicit secrets from one_, “to pump” one.
Il s’agit de te faire arrêter pour être conduit au dépôt où
tu tireras la carotte à un grinche que nous allons emballer
ce soir.--=VIDOCQ.=
CAROTTER (familiar), l’existence, _to live a wretched, poverty-stricken
life_; ---- à la Bourse, _to speculate in a small way at the Stock
Exchange_; (military) ---- le service, _to shirk one’s military duties_.
CAROUBLAGE, _m._ (thieves’), _picking of a lock_.
CAROUBLE, _f._ (thieves’), _skeleton key_, “betty,” or “twirl.”
CAROUBLEUR, _m._ (thieves’), _thief who uses a picklock_, or
“screwsman;” ---- à la flan, _thief of this description who operates at
haphazard_; ---- au fric-frac, _housebreaker_, “panny-man,” “buster,”
or “cracksman.”
CARQUOIS, _m._ (popular), d’osier, _rag-picker’s basket_.
CARRE, _f._ (thieves’), du paquelin, _the Banque de France_. Mettre à
la ----, _to conceal_.
CARRÉ, _m._ (students’), _second-year student in higher mathematics_;
(thieves’) _room, or lodgings_, “diggings;” ---- des petites gerbes,
_police court_; ---- du rebectage, _court of cassation_, a tribunal
which revises cases already tried, and which has power to quash a
judgment.
CARREAU, _m._ (popular), de vitre, _monocular eyeglass_. Aller au ----,
see ALLER. (Thieves’ and cads’) Carreau, _eye_, or “glazier;” ----
brouillé, _squinting eye_, or “boss-eye;” ---- à la manque, _blind
eye_. Affranchir le ----, _to open one’s eye_.
CARREAUX BROUILLÉS, _m. pl._ (popular), _house of ill-fame_, or
“nanny-shop.” Such establishments which are under the surveillance of
the police authorities have whitewashed window-panes and a number of
vast dimensions over the street entrance.
CARRÉE, _f._ (popular), _room_, “crib.”
CARREFOUR, _m._ (popular), des écrasés, _a crossing of the Faubourg
Montmartre_, a dangerous one on account of the great traffic.
CARRER (popular and thieves’), se ----, _to conceal oneself_; _to run
away_, “to brush;” ---- de la débine, to _improve one’s circumstances_.
CARREUR, _m._ (thieves’), _receiver of stolen goods_, “fence.” Termed
also “fourgue.”
CARTAUDE, _f._ (thieves’), _printer’s shop_.
CARTAUDÉ (thieves’), _printed_.
CARTAUDER (thieves’), _to print_.
CARTAUDIER (thieves’), _printer_.
CARTE, _f._ (popular), femme en ----, _street-walker whose name is down
in the books of the police as a registered prostitute_. Revoir la ----,
_to vomit_, or “to cascade,” “to cast up accounts,” “to shoot the cat.”
(Cardsharpers’) Maquiller la ----, _to handle cards_; _to tamper with
cards_, or “to stock broads.”
CARTON, _m._ (gamesters’), _playing-card_, or “broad.” Manier,
tripoter, graisser, travailler, patiner le ----, _to play cards_.
Maquiller le ----, _to handle cards_, _to tamper with cards_, or “to
stock broads.”
CARTONNEMENTS, _m. pl._ (literary), _manuscripts consigned to oblivion_.
CARTONNER (gamesters’), _to play cards_.
CARTONNEUR, _m._, _one fond of cards_.
CARTONNIER, _m._ (popular), _clumsy worker_; _card-player_.
CARTOUCHE, _f._ (military), avaler sa ----, _to die_, “to lose the
number of one’s mess.” Déchirer la ----, _to eat_. See MASTIQUER.
CARTOUCHIÈRE À PORTÉES, _f._, _pack of prepared cards which swindlers
keep secreted under their waistcoat_, “books of briefs.”
CARUCHE, _f._ (thieves’), _prison_, or “stir.” Comte de la ----,
_jailer_, or “dubsman.” See MOTTE.
CARVEL, _m._ (thieves’), _boat_. From the Italian caravella.
CAS, _m._ (popular), montrer son ----, _to make an indecent exhibition
of one’s person_.
CASAQUIN, _m._ (popular), _human body_, or “apple cart.” Avoir
quelquechose dans le ----, _to be uneasy_; _ill at ease in body or
mind_. Tomber, sauter sur le ---- à quelqu’un, _to give one a beating_,
“to give one Jessie.” Grimper, tanner, travailler le ----, _to
belabour_, “to tan.” See VOIE.
CASCADER (familiar), _interpolating by an actor of matter not in the
play_; _to lead a fast life_.
CASCADES, _f. pl._ (theatrical), _fanciful improvisations_; (familiar)
_eccentric proceedings_; _jokes_. Faire des ----, _to live a fast life_.
CASCADEUR (theatrical), _actor who interpolates in his part_;
(familiar) _man with no earnestness of purpose, and who consequently
cannot be trusted_; _fast man_.
CASCADEUSE, _f._ (familiar), _fast girl or woman_.
CASCARET, _m._ (thieves’), _two-franc coin_.
CASE, CARRÉE, or PIOLE, _f._ (thieves’), _room_; _lodgings_,
“diggings,” or “hangs out;” (popular) _house_; _any kind of lodgings_,
“crib.” Le patron de la ----, _the head of any establishment_, _the
landlord_, _the occupier of a house or apartment_. (Familiar) N’avoir
pas de case judiciaire à son dossier _is said of one who has never
been convicted of any offence against the law_. The “dossier” is a
record of a man’s social standing, containing details concerning his
age, profession, morality, &c. Every Parisian, high and low, has his
“dossier” at the Préfecture de Police.
CASIMIR, _m._ (popular), _waistcoat_, “benjy.”
CASIN, _m._ (familiar), _pool at billiards_.
CASINETTE, _f._ (popular), _habituée of the Casino Cadet_, a place
somewhat similar to the former Argyle Rooms.
CASOAR, _m._, _plume of shako_, in the slang of the students of the
Saint-Cyr military school, the French Sandhurst.
CASQUE, _m._ (popular), _hat_, “tile.” See TUBARD. Casque à auvent,
_cap with a peak_; ---- à mèche, _cotton nightcap_. Avoir du ----,
_to have a spirited, persuasive delivery_; _to speak with a quack’s
coolness and facility_. An allusion to Mangin, a celebrated quack in
warrior’s attire, with a large helmet and plumes. This man, who was
always attended by an assistant who went by the name of Vert-de-gris,
made a fortune by selling pencils. Avoir le ----, _to have a headache
caused by potations_; _to have a fancy for a man_. Avoir son ----, _to
be completely tipsy_. See POMPETTE.
CASQUER (popular), _to pay_, or “to fork out;” _to fall blindly into a
snare_; _to mistake_.
CASQUETTE, _f._ (familiar and popular), _money lost at some game at
a Café_. Une ---- à trois ponts, _a prostitute’s bully_, or “ponce,”
thus termed on account of the tall silk cap sported by that worthy. See
POISSON. Etre ----, _to be intoxicated_. See POMPETTE. (Familiar) Etre
----, _to have vulgar manners_, _to be a boor_, “roly-poly.”
CASQUEUR, _m._ (theatrical), _spectator who is not on the free list_.
CASSANT, _m._ (thieves’), _walnut tree_; (sailors’) _biscuit_.
CASSANTES, _f. pl._ (thieves’), _teeth_, or “head-rails;” _nuts_;
_walnuts_.
CASSE, _f._ (popular), _chippings of pastry sold cheap_. Je t’en ----,
_that’s not for you_.
CASSE-GUEULE, _m._ (popular), _suburban dancing-hall; strong spirits_,
or “kill devil.”
CASSEMENT, _m._ (thieves’), de porte, _housebreaking_, “cracking a
Crib.”
CASSER, (thieves’), _to eat_, “to grub;” ---- du sucre, or se mettre à
table, _to confess_; ---- du sucre, or ---- du sucre à la rousse, _to
peach_, “to blow the gaff;” ---- la hane, _to steal a purse_, “to buz a
skin;” ---- sa canne, _to sleep_, or “to doss;” _to be very ill_; _as a
ticket-of-leave man, to break bounds_; _to die_; ---- sa ficelle, _to
escape from the convict settlement_; (popular) ---- un mot, _to talk_;
---- du bec, _to have an offensive breath_; ---- du grain, _to do
nothing of what is required_; ---- du sucre sur la tête de quelqu’un,
_to talk ill of one in his absence, to backbite_; ---- la croustille,
_to eat_, “to grub;” ---- la gueule à une négresse, _to drink a bottle
of wine_; ---- la gueule à un enfant de chœur, _to drink a bottle of
wine_ (red-capped like a chorister); ---- la marmite, _to quarrel with
one’s bread and cheese_; ---- le cou à un chat, _to eat a rabbit stew_;
---- le cou à une négresse, _to discuss a bottle of wine_; ---- sa
pipe, son câble, son crachoir, or son fouet, _to die_, “to kick the
bucket,” “to croak.” See PIPE. Casser son œuf, _to have a miscarriage_;
---- son pif, _to sleep_, “to have a dose of balmy;” ---- son lacet,
_to break off one’s connection with a mistress_, “to bury a moll;” ----
une roue de derrière, _to spend part of a five-franc piece_. Se la
----, _to get away_, _to move off_, “to hook it.” See PATATROT. N’avoir
pas cassé la patte à coco, _to be dull-witted_, or “soft.” (Familiar)
A tout ----, _tremendous; awful_. Une noce à tout ----, _a rare
jollification_, “a flare-up,” or “break-down.” Un potin à tout ----, _a
tremendous row_, or “shindy.”
CASSEROLAGE, _m._ (thieves’), _informing against an accomplice_.
CASSEROLE, _f._ (thieves’), _informer_, or “buz-man;” _spy_, or
“nark;” _police officer_, or “copper.” See POT-À-TABAC. Casserole,
_prostitute_, or “bunter.” See GADOUE. Coup de ----, _denunciation_,
or “busting.” Passer à ----, _to be informed against_. (Popular)
Casserole, _name given to the Hôpital du Midi_. Passer à ----, see
PASSER.
CASSEUR, _m._ (thieves’), de portes, _housebreaker_, “buster,” or
“screwsman;” ---- de sucre à quatre sous, _military convict of
the Algerian_ “_compagnies de discipline_,” _chiefly employed at
stone-breaking_. The “compagnies de discipline,” or punishment
companies, consist of all the riff-raff of the army.
CASSINE, _f._ (popular), properly _small country-house_; _house where
the master is strict_; _workshop in which the work is severe_.
CASSOLETTE, _f._ (popular), _chamber utensil_, or “jerry;” _scavenger’s
cart_; _mouth_, or “gob.” Plomber de la ----, _to have an offensive
breath_.
CASSURE, _f._ (theatrical), jouer une ----, _to perform in the
character of a very old man_.
CASTAGNETTES, _f. pl._ (military), _blows with the fist_.
CASTE, _f._ (old cant), de charrue, _one-fourth of a crown_.
CASTOR, or CASTORIN, _naval officer who shirks going out to sea, or one
in the army who is averse to leaving the garrison_.
CASTORIN, _m._ (popular), _hat-maker_.
CASTORISER _is said of an officer who shirks sea duty, or who likes to
make a long stay in some pleasant garrison town_.
CASTROZ, _m._ (popular), _capon_.
CASTU, _m._ (thieves’), _hospital_. Barbeaudier de ----, _hospital
director_.
CASTUE, _m._ (thieves’), _prison_, or “stir.” See MOTTE. Comte de ----,
_jailer_, or “jigger-dubber.”
CATAPLASME, _m._ (popular), au gras, _spinach_; ---- de Venise, _blow_,
“clout.”
CATAPLASMIER, _m._ (popular), _hospital attendant_.
CATAPULTEUX, CATAPULTEUSE, _adj._ (popular), _beautiful_; _marvellous_.
Une femme ----, _a magnificent woman_, a “blooming tart.”
CATINISER (popular), se ----, _to be in a fair way of becoming a
street-walker_.
CAUCHEMARDANT (popular), _tiresome_, _annoying_, “boring.”
CAUCHEMARDER (popular), _to annoy_, _to bore_. Se ----, _to fret_.
CAUSE, _f._ (familiar), grasse, _case in a court of justice offering
piquant details_.
CAUSOTTER (familiar), _to chat familiarly in a small circle_.
CAVALCADE, _f._ (popular), _love intrigue_. Avoir vu des cavalcades _is
said of a woman who has had many lovers_.
CAVALE, _f._ (popular), _flight_. Se payer une ----, _to run away_, or
“to crush.” See PATATROT. (Thieves’) Tortiller une ----, _to form a
plan for escaping from prison_.
CAVALER (thieves’ and cads’), quelqu’un, _to annoy one_, to “rile”
_him._ Se ----, _to make off_, “to guy.” For list of synonyms see
PATATROT. Se ---- au rebectage, _to pray for a new trial in the_ “_Cour
de Cassation_.” This court may quash a judgment for the slightest flaw
in the procedure, such as, for instance, the fact of a witness not
lifting his right hand when taking the oath. Se ---- cher au rebectage,
_to pray for a commutation of a sentence_.
CAVALERIE, _f._ (popular), grosse ----, _man who works in the sewers_,
a “rake-kennel.” An allusion to his high boots.
CAVÉ, _m._ (popular), _dupe_, or “gull;” _cat’s-paw_.
CAVÉE, _f._ (thieves’), _church_.
CAYENNE, _m._ (popular), _suburban cemetery_; _suburban factory_;
_workshop at a distance from Paris_. Gibier de ----, _scamp_,
_jail-bird_.
CAYENNE-LES-EAUX, _m._ (thieves’), _the Cayenne dépôt for transported
convicts_.
CÉ, _m._ (thieves’), _silver_. Attaches de ----, _silver buckles_.
Bogue de ----, _silver watch_, “white ’un.” Tout de ----, _very well_.
CELA ME GÊNE (theatrical), _words used by actors to denote anything
which interferes with the impression they seek to produce by certain
tirades or by-play_.
CELUI (popular), avoir ---- de ..., stands for avoir l’honneur de ...,
_to have the honour to ..._.
CENSURE, _f._ (thieves’), passer la ----, _to repeat a crime_.
CENTIBALLE, _m._ (popular), _centime_. Balle, _a franc_.
CENTRAL, _m._ (familiar), _pupil of the_ “_Ecole Centrale_,” a public
engineering school; _telegraph office of the_ “_Place de la Bourse_.”
CENTRE, _m._ (thieves’), _name_, “monarch or monniker.” Also _a
meeting-place for malefactors_. Un ---- à l’estorgue, _a false name_,
or “alias.” Un ---- d’altèque, _a real name_. Coquer son ----, _to give
one’s name_. (Familiar) Le ---- de gravité, _the behind_, or “seat of
honour.” See VASISTAS. Perdre son ----, _to be tipsy_, “fuddled.”
CENTRÉ, _adj._ (popular), _is said of one who has failed in business_,
“gone to smash.”
CENTRIER, or CENTRIPÈTE, _m._ (military), _foot soldier_,
“beetle-crusher or wobbler;” (familiar) _member of the_ “_Centre_”
_party_ (_Conservative_) _of the House, under Louis Philippe_. The
House is now divided into “extrême gauche” (rabid radicals); “gauche”
(advanced republicans); “centre-gauchers” (conservative republicans);
“centre” (wavering members); “centre droit” (moderate conservatives);
“droite” (monarchists and clericals); “extrême droite” (rabid
monarchists and ultramontane clericals).
CENTRIOT, _m._ (thieves’), _nickname_.
CERCLE, _m._ (thieves’), _silver coin_. (Familiar) Pincer or rattraper
au demi ----, _to come upon one unawares, to catch_, “to nab” _him_.
From an expression used in fencing.
CERCUEIL, _m._ (students’), _glass of beer_. A dismal play on the word
“bière,” which has both significations of _beer and coffin_.
CERF, _m._ (popular), _injured husband, or cuckold_. Se déguiser
en ----, _to decamp_; _to run away_; _to be off in a_ “jiffy.” See
PATATROT.
CERF-VOLANT, _m._ (thieves’), _female thief who strips children at play
in the public gardens or parks_. A play on the words “cerf-volant,”
_kite_, and “voler,” _to steal_.
CERISE, _f._ (popular), _mason of the suburbs_.
CERISES, _f. pl._ (military), monter en marchand de ----, _to ride
badly, with toes and elbows out, and all of a heap, like a man with a
basket on his arm_.
CERISIER, _m._ (popular), _sorry horse_. An allusion to the name given
to small horses which used to carry cherries to market.
CERNEAU, _m._ (literary), _young girl_. Properly _fresh walnut_.
CERTIFICATS, _m. pl._ (military), de bêtise, _long-service stripes_.
C’EST (printers’), à cause des mouches, _sneering reply_.
Eh! dis donc, compagnon, pourquoi n’es-tu pas venu à la
boîte ce matin? L’autre répond par ce coq-à-l’âne: C’est à
cause des mouches.--=BOUTMY.=