Une communication de M. Fey assigne à ce mot une
origine allemande. Dans les universités de ce pays, les
admonestations officielles commencent par les mots:
_fidibus_ (pour _fidelibus_) _discipulis universitatis_,
&c. Les délinquants qui allument par forfanterie leurs
pipes avec le papier de l’admonestation, lui ont donné pour
nom le premier mot de sa première ligne.--_Dict. Hist.
d’Argot._
FIÉROT, _m._ (popular), _stuck-up_, “uppish.”
FIÈVRE, _f._ (thieves’), accès de ---- cérébrale, _accusation on
the capital charge_; _sentence of death_. Redoublement de ----,
_aggravating circumstances or new charge made against a prisoner who is
already on his trial_.
La Cigogne a la digestion difficile, surtout en fait de
redoublement de fièvre (révélation d’un nouveau fait à
charge).--=BALZAC.=
FIFERLIN, _m._ (popular), _soldier_, “swaddy,” or “wobbler.” From
fifre, _fife_.
FIFI, _m. and f._ (popular), un ----, _a scavenger employed at emptying
cesspools_, a “gold finder;” _scavenger’s cask in which the contents of
cesspools are carried away_. Une ----, _a thin, skinny girl_.
Les plantureuses et les fifis, les grands carcans et les
bassets ... les rosières comme aussi les enragées qu’ont
donné des arrhes à son promis.--=TRUBLOT=, _Le Cri du
Peuple_, Sept., 1886.
FIFI-LOLO, _m._ (popular), _one who plays the fool_.
FIFLOCHE, _m._ (popular), _one more skilful than the rest, who leads
the quadrille at a dancing hall_.
FIFLOT, _m._ (military), _infantry soldier_, “beetle-crusher,” “grabby.”
FIGARISTE, _m._ (familiar). Properly _a contributor to the Figaro
newspaper_, and figuratively _term of contempt applied to unscrupulous
journalists_.
FIGNARD, _m._, FIGNE, _f._ (popular), _the breech_, or “one-eyed
cheek.” See VASISTAS.
FIGNOLADE, _f._ (theatrical), _prolonged trilling_.
FIGNOLE, _f. adj._ (thieves’), _pretty_, “dimber.”
Alors aboula du sabri,
Moure au brisant comme un cabri,
Une fignole gosseline.
=RICHEPIN.=
FIGURATION, _f._ (theatrical), _staff of supernumeraries_, or “sups.”
FIGURE, _f._ (popular), _the breech_, see VASISTAS; _sheep’s head_. Ma
----, _myself_, “No. 1.”
FIGURER (thieves’), _to be in irons_.
FIL, _m._ (thieves’), de soie, _thief_, “prig.” See GRINCHE. (Popular)
Avoir le ----, or connaître le ----, _to know what one is about_,
“to be up to a dodge or two.” N’avoir pas inventé le ---- à couper
le beurre _is said of one who is not particularly bright, who is_
“no conjurer.” N’avoir plus de ---- sur la bobine, _to be bald_, or
“stag-faced.” Prendre un ----, _to have a dram of spirits, a drop of_
“something damp,” or a “drain.” Un verre de ----, _a glass of brandy_.
Une langue qui a le ----, _a sharp tongue_.
FILAGE, _m._ (card-sharpers’), _handling cards in such a manner that
trumps will turn up_; _juggling away a card as in the three-card
trick_, “slipping;” (thieves’) _tracking one_.
FILASSE, _f._ (popular), _mattress_, _bed_, “doss;” _a piece of roast
beef_. Se fourrer dans la ----, _to go to bed_, _to get into the_ “kip.”
FILATURE, _f._ (thieves’), _following stealthily a person_. Faire
la ----, or lâcher de la ---- à quelqu’un, _to follow a person
stealthily_, _to track one_, “to nose.” Prendre en ---- un voleur,
_to follow and watch a thief_. (Familiar) Filature de poivrots,
_spirit-shop patronized by confirmed drunkards_.
FILENDÈCHE, _m._ (thieves’), _one of the vagabond tribe_.
Lorsque j’occupais mon poste de commissaire de police
dans ce dangereux quartier, les habitants sans patente
des carrières d’Amérique formaient quatre catégories
distinctes: les Hirondelles, les Romanichels, les
Filendèches et les Enfants de la loupe.--_Mémoires de
Monsieur Claude._
FIL-EN-DOUBLE, _m._ (popular), _wine_.
FIL-EN-TROIS, FIL-EN-QUATRE, FIL-EN-SIX, _m._ (popular), _spirits_.
Allons ... un petit verre de fil en quatre, histoire de se
velouter et de se rebomber le torse.--=TH. GAUTIER.=
FILER (thieves’), _to steal_. See GRINCHIR. Filer la comète, or la
sorgue, _to sleep in the open air_; ---- le luctrème, _to open a door
by means of a picklock_, “to screw;” ---- une pelure, _to steal a
coat_; ---- un sinve, _to dog a man_, “to nose;” ---- une condition,
_to watch a house and get acquainted with the ins and outs in view of a
burglary_.
La condition était filée d’avance.
Le rigolo eut bientôt cassé tout!
Du gai plaisir, ils avaient l’espérance,
Quand on est pègre on peut passer partout.
From a song composed by Clément, a burglar (quoted by Pierre Delcourt,
_Paris Voleur_, 1886). This poet of the “family men” was indiscreet
enough, some days after the burglary described, to sing his production
at a wine-shop frequented by thieves, and, unfortunately, by detectives
also, with the result that he was sent over the water and given leisure
time to commune with the Muses. (Sailors’ and popular) Filer son nœud,
or son câble, _to go away_; _to run away_, “to cut the cable and run
before the wind.” See PATATROT. Filer un nœud, _to spin a yarn_. File
ton nœud, _go on with your story or your discourse_, “pay away.” With
regard to the latter expression the _Slang Dictionary_ says:--
Pay-away ... from the nautical phrase pay-away, meaning
to allow a rope to run out of a vessel. When the hearer
considers the story quite long enough, he, carrying out the
same metaphor, exclaims, “hold on!”
(General) Filer quelqu’un, _to follow one stealthily so as to watch
his movements_; (popular) ---- la mousse, _to ease oneself_. See
MOUSCAILLER. Filer le Plato, _to love in a platonic manner_; ---- une
poussée, _to hustle_, “to ramp;” ---- des coups de tronche, _to butt
at one’s adversary with the head_; ---- une ratisse, _to thrash_, “to
tan.” See VOIE. (Theatrical) Filer une scène, _to skilfully bring a
scene to its climax_; (card-sharpers’) ---- la carte, _to dexterously
substitute a card for another, to_ “slip” _a card_.
Une fois le saut de coupe fait, le grec a le soin d’y
glisser une carte large, point de repère marquant
l’endroit où il doit faire sauter la coupe au mieux de ses
intérêts... Il file la carte, c’est à dire il change une
carte pour une autre.--_Mémoires de Monsieur Claude._
FILET DE VINAIGRE, _m._ (theatrical), _shrill voice, one that sets the
teeth on edge_.
FILEUR, _m._ (police), _man who dogs one, a_ “nose;” (card-sharpers’)
_one who dexterously substitutes a card for another, who_ “slips” _a
card_; (thieves’) _confederate of the_ floueurs _and_ emporteurs (which
see), _who levies a percentage on the proceeds of a card-sharping
swindle_; _person who follows thieves and extorts money from them
by threats of disclosures_; _detective_; (familiar) ---- de Plato,
_platonic lover_.
FILLAUDIER, _m._ (popular), _one who is fond of the fair sex_,
“molrower.”
FILLE, _f._ (familiar and popular), de maison, or ---- de tourneur,
_prostitute in a brothel_; _harlot_; ---- en carte, _street-walker
whose name is in the police books as a registered prostitute_. See
GADOUE. Grande ----, _bottle of wine_. (Familiar) Fille de marbre, _a
cold-hearted courtesan_; ---- de plâtre, _harlot_, “mot.” For list of
over 140 synonyms see GADOUE.
FILLETTE, _f._ (popular), _half a bottle of wine_.
FILOCHE, _f._ (thieves’), _purse_, “skin,” or “poge.” Avoir sa ---- à
jeun, _to be penniless_, “hard up.”
FILOU, _adj._ (popular), _wily_, “up to a dodge or two.”
FILSANGE, _f._ (thieves’), _floss silk_.
FIN, _f._ (thieves’), de la soupe, _guillotine_. See VOYANTE.
(Familiar) Faire une ----, _to get married_, “spliced,” or “hitched”
(Americanism).
FINE, _f. and adj._ (popular), _excrement_, or “quaker,” abbreviation
of “fine moutarde;” (familiar) abbreviation of “fine champagne,” _best
quality of brandy_. (Thieves’) Etre en ---- pégrène, _to be in great
danger_; _to be in an_ “awful fix.”
La raille (la police) est là.... Je joue la mislocq (la
comédie) pour un fanandel en fine pégrène (un camarade à
toute extrémité).--=BALZAC.=
FINETTE, _f._ (card-sharpers’), _a pocket wherein are secreted certain
cards_.
Il a sous son habit, au dos de son pantalon, une poche dite
finette, dans laquelle il place les cartes non biseautées
qu’il doit substituer aux siennes.--_Mémoires de Monsieur
Claude._
FIOLE, _f._ (familiar), _bottle of wine_; (popular) _head_, or “tibby;”
_face_, or “mug.” J’ai soupé de ta ----, _I have had enough of you_;
_I will have nothing more to do with you_. Se ficher de la ---- à
quelqu’un, _to laugh at one_.
On y connaît ma gargarousse,
Ma fiole, mon pif qui retrousse,
Mes calots de mec au gratin.
=RICHEPIN.=
Pour la ---- à quelqu’un, _for one_.
Songez qu’ ça s’ra l’plus beau jour d’la carrière d’Truiru,
toujours sur la brèche, qui s’donne tant d’mal pour vos
fioles.--=TRUBLOT=, _Le Cri du Peuple_, 1886.
Sur la ---- à quelqu’un, _about one, concerning one_. Il fagaut ne pas
dégueularder sur leur ----, _we must say nothing about them_.
FIOLER (familiar and popular), _to drink_; ---- le rogome, _to drink
brandy_. (Thieves’) Fioler, _to stare at one_.
FIOLEUR, _m._ (familiar and popular), _one who is too fond of the
bottle_, “a lushington.”
FION, COUP DE ----. See COUP. (Cads’ and thieves’) Dire ----, _to
apologize, to beg one’s pardon_.
FIONNER (familiar and popular), _to play the dandy_.
FIONNEUR, _m._ (familiar and popular), _one who plays the dandy_.
FIQUER (thieves’), _to strike_; _to stab_, “to chive.”
FIQUES, _f. pl._ (thieves’), _clothes_, or “clobber.”
FISCAL, _adj._ (familiar), _elegant_.
FISH, _m._ (familiar), _women’s bully_, or “ponce,” generally called
“maquereau,” _mackerel_. For list of synonyms see POISSON.
FISSURE, _f._ (popular), avoir une ----, _to be slightly crazy_, “to be
a little bit balmy in one’s crumpet.”
FISTON, _m._ (popular), _term of endearment_. Mon ----, _my son,
sonny_. Mon vieux ----, _old fellow_.
FLAC, _m._ (thieves’), _sack_; ---- d’al, _money-bag_; _bed_, or “kip.”
FLACHE, _f._ (popular). See FLANCHE.
FLACONS, _m._ (popular), _shoes_, “trotter cases.” See RIPATONS.
Déboucher ses ----, _to take off one’s shoes_.
FLACUL, _m._ (thieves’), _bed_, or “kip;” _money-bag_.
Le vioque a des flaculs pleins de bille; s’il va à Niort,
il faut lui riffauder les paturons.--=VIDOCQ.= (_The old
man has bagfuls of money; if he denies it, we’ll burn his
feet._)
FLAFLA, _m._ (familiar and popular), _great showing off_. Faire du
----, _to show off_; _to flaunt_.
FLAGEOLET, _m._ (obsolete), called by Horace _cauda salax_.
FLAGEOLETS, _m._ (popular), _legs_, “pegs.” Termed also “fumerons,
guibes, guibolles.”
FLAMBANT, _m. and adj._ (military), _artillery man_, “son of a gun;”
(familiar and popular) _magnificent_, “slap up, clipping, nap.”
FLAMBARD, _m._ (thieves’), _dagger_. Formerly termed “cheery;”
(familiar and popular) _one who has dash_; _one who shows off_.
Tas d’flambards, tas d’chicards,
Les canotiers de la Seine,
Sont partout, bien reçus,
Et partout font du chahut.
_Parisian Song._
FLAMBARDE, _f._ (popular), _pipe_. Termed “dudeen” by the Irish;
(thieves’) _candle_, or “glim.”
FLAMBE, _f._ (thieves’), _sword_, or “poker.” Petite ----, _knife_,
or “chive.” From Flamberge, name given by Renaud de Montauban (one
of the four sons of Aymon who revolted against Charlemagne, and who
have been made, together with their one charger Bayard, the heroes of
chivalry legends), to his sword, and now used in the expression, Mettre
flamberge au vent, _to draw_.
FLAMBER (mountebanks’), _to perform_; (familiar and popular) _to make a
show_; _to shine_.
Ils voulaient flamber avec l’argent volé, ils achetaient
des défroques d’hasard.--=E. SUE.=
FLAMBERT, _m._ (thieves’), _dagger_. Termed “cheery” in the old English
cant.
FLAMBOTTER AUX ROTTINS (card-sharpers’), _kind of swindling game at
cards_.
FLAMSICK, FLAMSIQUE, _m._ (thieves’), _Flemish_.
FLAN, _m._ (thieves’), c’est du ----, _it is excellent_. Au ----, _it
is true_. A la ----, _at random_, _at_ “happy go lucky.” (Popular) Du
----! _an ejaculation expressive of refusal_. See NÈFLES.
FLANCHARD, FLANCHEUR, _m._ (thieves’), _cunning player_; _one who
hesitates, who backs out_.
FLANCHE, _m._ (thieves’), _game of cards_; _theft_; _plant_. Grande
----, _roulette or trente et un_. Un ---- mûr, _preconcerted robbery
or crime for the perpetration of which the time has come_. (Popular)
Flanche, _dodge_; _contrivance_; _affair_; _job_. Il connaît le ----,
_he knows the dodge_. Foutu ----! _a bad job!_ C’est ----! _it is all
right_.
Toujours des injustices; mais attendons; c’est point fini
c’flanche là.--=TRUBLOT=, _Le Cri du Peuple_, March, 1886.
(Thieves’ and cads’) Je n’entrave pas ton ----, _I don’t understand
your game_, “I do not twig,” or, as the Americans say, “I don’t catch
on.” Nib du ----, on t’exhibe! _stop your game, they are looking at
you!_ Si tu es enfilé et si le curieux veut t’entamer, n’entrave pas et
nib de tous les flanches, _if you are caught and the magistrate tries
to pump you, do not fall into the snare, and keep all the “jobs” dark_.
FLANCHER (thieves’), _to play cards_; (popular) _to laugh at_; _to back
out_; _to hesitate_; _to dilly-dally_, “to make danger” (sixteenth
century).
FLANCHET, _m._ (thieves’), _share_; _participation in a theft_. Foutu
----, _bad job_.
C’est un foutu flanchet.
Douze longes de tirade,
Pour une rigolade.
=VIDOCQ.=
FLANCHEUR, _m._ (thieves’), _an informer_, a “nark;” _one who backs
out_; _a player_; (popular) ---- de gadin, _one who takes part in a
game played with a cork, topped by a pile of halfpence, which the
players try to knock off by aiming at it with a penny_. (Popular and
thieves’) Enfonceur de ---- de gadin, _poor wretch who makes a scanty
living by robbing of their halfpence the players at the game described
above_. He places his foot on the scattered coins, and works it about
in such a manner that they find a receptacle in the interstices of his
tattered soles.
FLÂNE, _f._ (popular), _laziness_.
FLANELLE, _f._ (prostitutes’), _one who does not pay_. (General) Faire
----, _to visit a house of ill-fame with platonic intentions_.
FLANOCHER (popular), _to be lazy_; _to saunter lazily about_, “to
shool.”
FLANQUAGE, _m._ (popular), à la porte, _dismissal_, “the sack.”
FLANQUE. See FLANCHE.
FLANQUER UNE TATOUILLE (general), _to thrash_, “to wallop.” See VOIE.
FLAQUADIN, _m._ (popular), _poltroon_, or “cow’s babe.”
FLAQUE, _f._ (cads’ and thieves’), _lady’s reticule_; _lump of
excrement_, or “quaker.”
FLAQUER (popular), _to tell a falsehood_; _to ease oneself_, “to bury a
quaker.” See MOUSCAILLER.
V’là vot’ fille que j’ vous ramène,
Elle est dans un chouet’ état,
Depuis la barrière du Maine
Elle n’a fait qu’flaquer dans ses bas.
_Parisian Song._
FLAQUET, _m._ (thieves’), _fob_. Avoir de la dalle au ----, _to have
well-filled pockets_.
FLAQUOT, _m._ (thieves’), _cash-box_, or “peter.”
FLASQUER (thieves’), _to ease oneself_. See MOUSCAILLER. Flasquer du
poivre à quelqu’un, _to avoid one_; _to fly from one_. J’ai flasqué du
poivre à la rousse, _I fled from the police_.
FLATAR, _m._ (thieves’), _four-wheeler_, or “growler.”
FLAUPÉE, FLOPÉE, _f._ (popular), _mass of anything_; _crowd_. Une ----
de, _much_, or “neddy.”
FLAUPER (popular), _to thrash_, “to wallop.” See VOIE.
FLÈCHE, ROTTIN, or PÉLOT, _m._ (thieves’ and cads’), _five-centime
coin, or sou_.
FLÉMARD, _m._ (general), _lazy or_ “Mondayish” _individual_;
_poltroon_, or “cow’s babe.”
FLÈME, or FLEMME (general), _fear_; _laziness_. Lorédan Larchey says:
“Flemme est une forme ancienne de notre _flegme_. Ce n’est pas douteux
quand on voit dire en Berri _flême_ pour manque d’énergie; en Normandie
et en Suisse _fleume_; en provençal et en italien, _flemma_. Sans
compter le Trésor de Brunetto Latini qui dit dès le xiiiᵉ siècle:
‘_Flemme est froide et moiste._’” Avoir la ----, _to be afraid_.
Ça fiche joliment la flème de penser qu’il faut remonter
là-haut ... et jouer!--=E. MONTEIL.=
Avoir la ----, _to be disinclined for work_.
Aujourd’hui, c’est pas qu’j’ai la flemme. Je jure mes
grands dieux non qu’j’ai point c’maudit poil dans la main
qu’on m’accuse d’temps en temps d’avoir.--=TRUBLOT=, _Le
Cri du Peuple_, Sept., 1886.
Battre sa ----, _to be idling_, or “shooling.”
FLEUR, _f._ (popular), de macadam, _street-walker_. See GADOUE. Fleur
de mai, de mari, _virginity_. (Card-sharpers’) Verre en fleurs, _a
swindling dodge at cards_. See VERRE.
Le coup de cartes par lequel ces messieurs se concilient la
fortune, est ce qu’on appelle le verre en fleurs.--=VIDOCQ.=
FLEURANT, _m._ (thieves’), _nosegay_; (popular) _the behind_. See
VASISTAS.
FLIBOCHEUSE, _f._ (popular), _fast or_ “gay” _girl_, “shoful pullet.”
FLIC-FLAC, or FRIC-FRAC (thieves’), faire le ----, _to pick a lock_,
“to screw,” “to strike a jigger.”
FLIGADIER, _m._ (thieves’), _sou_.
FLINGOT, _m._ (general), _butcher’s steel_; _musket_. Termed formerly
“baston à feu.”
FLINGUE, _f._ (nautical), _musket_.
FLIPPE, _f._ (popular), _bad company_.
FLIQUADARD, _m._ (popular), _police officer_, “bobby,” or
“blue-bottle.” Concerning the latter expression the _Slang Dictionary_
says:--“This well-known slang term for a London constable is used by
Shakespeare. In Part II. of _King Henry IV._, act v., scene 4, Doll
Tearsheet calls the beadle who is dragging her in, a ‘thin man in a
censer, a blue-bottle rogue.’ This may at first seem singular, but the
reason is obvious. The beadles of Bridewell, whose duty it was to whip
the women prisoners, were clad in blue.” For synonyms of fliquadard see
POT-À-TABAC.
FLIQUE, _m._ (popular), _commissaire de police, or petty police
magistrate_; _police officer_, or “bobby.” For synonyms see POT-À-TABAC.
FLOPÉE. See FLAUPÉE.
FLOQUOT, _m._ (thieves’), _drawer_.
FLOTTANT, _m._ (thieves’), _fish_; (popular) _ball patronized by
women’s bullies_. Literally _a company of_ “poissons,” _or bullies_.
FLOTTARD, _m._ (students’), _student preparing for the naval school_.
FLOTTE, _f._ (students’), _monthly allowance_. A boy’s weekly allowance
is termed “allow” at Harrow School. (Popular) Etre de la ----, _to be
one of a company_. Des flottes, _many_; _much_, “neddy.” (Thieves’) La
----, _a gang of swindlers and murderers which existed towards 1825_.
La Flotte était composée de membres fameux ... ces membres
de la haute pègre travaillaient par bandes séparées:
Tavacoli l’Italien était un tireur de première force
(voleur de poche).... Cancan, Requin et Pisse-Vinaigre
étaient des assassins, des surineurs d’élite.... Lacenaire
fréquentait la Flotte sans jamais dire son véritable nom
qu’il gardait, en public.--_Mémoires de Monsieur Claude._
Vendre la ----, _to inform against accomplices_, “to turn snitch.”
FLOTTER (popular), _to bathe_. Termed at the R. M. Academy “to tosh;”
_to swim_. (Popular and thieves’) Faire ----, _to drown_.
Nous l’avons fait flotter après lui avoir grinchi la
négresse qu’elle portait sous le bras.--=E. SUE.=
FLOTTEUR, _m._ (popular), _swimmer_.
FLOU (thieves’), abbreviation of floutière, _nothing_. J’ai fait le
----, _I found nothing to steal_.
FLOUANT, _m._ (thieves’), _game_ (flouer, _to swindle_). Grand ----,
_high play_.
FLOUCHIPE, _m._ (popular), _swindler_, or “shark.” From flouer and
chiper, _to swindle and to prig_.
FLOUE, _f._ (thieves’), _crowd_, “push or scuff.” The anagram of foule,
_crowd_, or else from flouer, _to swindle_, through an association of
ideas.
FLOUÉ, _adj._ (general), _swindled_, _taken in_, “sold,” “done brown.”
Alors, en deux mots, il leur raconte la scène, le traité
brûlé, l’affaire flambée ...--Ah! la drogue ... je suis
flouée ... dit Séphora.--=A. DAUDET.=
FLOUER, _f._ (general), _to cheat_, “to do,” “to bilk;” (thieves’) _to
play cards_, playing being, with thieves, synonymous of cheating.