Frime à la manque, _ugly face_; _face of a one-eyed person_, termed
“a seven-sided animal,” as, says the _Slang Dictionary_, he has an
inside, outside, left side, right side, foreside, backside, and blind
side. Tomber en ----, _to meet face to face_. (Popular) Une ----,
_falsehood_; _trick_.
Quelque frime pour se faire donner du sucre! ah! il allait
se renseigner, et si elle mentait!--=ZOLA=, _L’Assommoir_.
FRIMER (thieves’), _to peer into one’s face_. Faire ----, _to place a
prisoner in presence of a prosecutor for purpose of identification_.
(Popular) Frimer, _to make a good appearance_; _to look well_; _to
pretend_. Cet habit frime bien, _this coat looks well_. Ils friment de
s’en aller, _they pretend to go away_.
FRIMOUSSE, _f._ (thieves’), _figure card_. (Popular) C’est pour ma
----, _that’s for me_. Literally _physiognomy_.
FRIMOUSSER (card-sharpers’), _to swindle by contriving to turn up the
figure cards_.
FRIMOUSSEUR (card-sharpers’), _card-sharper_, “broadsman.”
FRINGUE, _f._ (thieves’), _article of clothing_, “clobber.” (Popular)
Les fringues, _players at a game called_ “l’ours.” These stand upright
in a knot at the centre of a circle, face to face, with heads bent and
arms passed over one another’s shoulders so as to steady themselves.
The business of other players outside the circle is to jump on the
backs of those in the knot without being caught by one called “le
chien” or “l’ours,” who keeps running about in the circle.
FRINGUER (thieves’), se ----, _to dress oneself_, “to rig oneself out
in clobber.”
FRIPE, _f._ (popular), _food_, “prog.” From the old word fripper,
_to eat_; _cooking of food_; _expense_; _share in the reckoning_, or
“shot;” ---- sauce, _cook_, or “dripping.” Faire la ----, _to cook_.
FRIPIER, _m._ (popular and thieves’), _cook_, or “dripping;” _master of
an eating-house, of a_ “carnish ken.”
FRIPOUILLE, _f._ (familiar), _rogue_; _scamp_. From fripe, _rag_. Tout
ce monde là c’est de la ----, _these people are a bad lot_.
FRIQUES, _f. pl._ (thieves’), _rags_.
FRIQUET, _m._ (thieves’), _spy in the employ of the police_, “nark,” or
“nose.”
FRIRE UN RIGOLO (thieves’), _to pick the pockets of a person while
embracing him, under a pretence of mistaken identity_.
FRISCHTI, _m._ (military), _dainty food; stew_.
FRISÉ, _m._ (popular), _Jew_, “sheney,” or “mouchey.” Termed also
“youtre, pied-plat, guinal.”
FRISQUE, _m._ (popular), _cold_.
Le frisque du matin, qui ravigote le sang, qui cingle la
vie--=RICHEPIN=, _Le Pavé_.
FRISSANTE, _f. adj._ (sailors’), _with gentle ripples_.
La mé n’est pas toujours rêche comme une étrille.
Vois, elle est douce, un peu frissante, mais pas plus.
=RICHEPIN=, _La Mer_.
FRITES, _f. pl._ (popular), for pommes de terre frites, _fried
potatoes_. Termed “greasers” at the R. M. Academy.
FRITURER (popular), _to cook_.
FRIVOLISTE, _m._ (literary), _light writer_; _contributor, for
instance, to a journal of fashion_.
FROISSEUX, _adj._ (popular), _traitor_, “cat-in-the-pan;” _slanderer_.
From froisser, _to hurt one’s feelings_.
FROLLANT, _m._ (thieves’), _slanderer_; _traitor, one who_ “turns
snitch.”
FROLLER (thieves’), sur la balle, _to slander one_. From the old word
frôler, _to thrash, to injure_.
FROMGIBE, _m._ (popular), _cheese_.
FRONT, _m._ (popular), avoir le ---- dans le cou, _to be bald, to be_
“stag-faced.”
FROTESKA, _f._ (popular), _thrashing_, “tanning,” or “hiding.” See VOIE.
FROTIN, _m._ (popular), _billiards_, or “spoof.” Coup de ----, _game of
billiards_. Flancher au ----, _to play billiards_.
FROTTE, _f._ (popular), _itch_.
FROTTÉE, _f._ (familiar and popular), _thrashing_, or “licking.” See
VOIE.
Cinq ou six matelots de l’Albatros furent attaqués par une
dizaine de marins du Mary-Ann et reçurent une des plus
vénérables frottées dont on eût ouï parler sur la côte du
Pacifique.--=J. CLARETIE.=
FROTTER (gamesters’), se ---- au bonheur de quelqu’un. The expression
is explained by the following quotation:--
Le joueur est superstitieux, il croit au fétiche. Un
bossu gagne-t-il, on voit des pontes acharnés se grouper
autour de lui pour lui toucher sa bosse et se frotter à
son bonheur. A Vichy, les joueurs sont munis de pattes de
lapin pour toucher délicatement le dos des heureux du tapis
vert.--_Mémoires de Monsieur Claude._
FROUFROU, _m._ (thieves’), _master-key_.
FROUSSE, _f._ (popular and thieves’), _diarrhœa_; _fear_.
J’ai fait chibis. J’avais la frousse
Des préfectanciers de Pantin.
=RICHEPIN.=
FRUCTIDORISER (familiar), _to suppress one’s political adversaries by
violent means, such as transportation wholesale_. An allusion to the
18th Fructidor or 4th September, 1797.
FRUGES, _f. pl._ (popular), _more or less lawful profits on sales by
shopmen_. English railway ticket-clerks give the name of “fluff” to
profits accruing from short change given by them.
FRUSQUE, _f._ (popular), _coat_, “Benjamin.”
FRUSQUES, _f. pl._ (general), _clothing_, “toggery,” or “clobber;” ----
boulinées, _clothes in tatters_.
On allait ... choisir ses frusques chez Milon, qui avait
des costumes moins brillants.--=E. MONTEIL.=
FRUSQUINER (popular), se ----, _to dress_, “to rig” _oneself out_.
FRUSQUINEUR, _m._ (popular), _tailor_, “snip, steel-bar driver, cabbage
contractor, or button catcher.”
FRUSQUINS, _m. pl._ (popular), _clothes_, or “toggery.”
FUIR (popular), laisser ---- son tonneau, _to die_. For synonyms see
PIPE.
FUMÉ, _adj._ (familiar and popular), _to be in an awful fix, past
praying for_, “a gone coon.” With regard to the English slang
equivalent, the _Slang Dictionary_ says: “This expression is said
to have originated in the first American War with a spy who dressed
himself in a racoon skin, and ensconced himself in a tree. An English
soldier, taking him for a veritable coon, levelled his piece at him,
upon which he exclaimed, ‘Don’t shoot, I’ll come down of myself; I know
I’m a gone coon.’ The Yankees say the Britisher was so ‘flummuxed’
that he flung down his musket and ‘made tracks’ for home.” The phrase
is pretty general in England. (There is one difficulty about this
story--how big was the man who dressed himself in a racoon skin?)
FUMER (popular), _to snore_, “to drive one’s pigs to market;” ---- sans
pipe et sans tabac, _to be_ “riled;” _to fume_. Avoir fumé dans une
pipe neuve, _to feel unwell in consequence of prolonged potations_.
FUMERIE, _f._ (popular), _smoking_, “blowing a cloud.”
FUMERON, _m._ (popular), _hypocrite_, “mawworm.”
FUMERONS, _m. pl._ (popular), _legs_, “pegs.”
FUMISTE, _m._ (familiar), _practical joker_; _humbug_. Farce de ----,
_practical joke_. For quotation see FARCE. (Polytechnic School) Etre en
----, _to be in civilian’s clothes_, “in mufti.”
FUSEAUX, _m. pl._ (popular), _legs_, or “pins.” Jouer des ----, _to
run_, “to leg it.” See PATATROT.
Il juge qu’il est temps de jouer des fuseaux, mais au
moment où il se dispose à gagner plus au pied qu’à la toise
... le garçon le saisit à la gorge.--=VIDOCQ.=
FUSÉE, _f._ (popular), lâcher une ----, _to be sick_, “to shoot the
cat.”
FUSER (popular), _to ease oneself_ See MOUSCAILLER.
FUSIL, _m._ (popular), _stomach_; ---- à deux coups, _trousers_; ----
de toile, _wallet_. Aller à la chasse avec un ---- de toile, _to beg_.
Colle-toi ça dans le ----, _eat or drink that_; _put that in your_
“bread-basket.” Ecarter du ----, _to spit involuntarily when talking_.
Se rincer, se gargariser le ----, _to drink_, “to swig.” See RINCER.
Changer son ---- d’épaule, _to change one’s political opinions_, _to
turn one’s coat_. Repousser du ----, _to have an offensive breath_.
FUSILIER (military), _to spend money_. Literally faire partir ses
balles, the last word having the double signification of _bullets_,
_francs_; ---- ses invités, _to give one’s guests a bad dinner_; ----
le pavé, _to use one’s fingers as a pocket-handkerchief_; ---- le
plancher, _to set off at a run_; ---- son pèse, _to spend one’s money_;
(thieves’) ---- le fade, _to give one’s share of booty_; _to make one_
“stand in.”
FUSILLEUR, _m._ See BANDE NOIRE.
FUTAILLE, _f._ (thieves’), vieille ----, _old woman_.
G
GABARI, _m._ (popular), passer au ----, _to lose a game_.
GABARIT, _m._ (sailors’), _body_; _breast_; ---- sans bossoirs, _breast
with thin bosoms_.
J’aime pas bien son gabarit sans bossoirs. Elle a plutôt
l’air d’un moussaillon que d’autre chose.--=RICHEPIN=, _La
Glu_.
GABELOU, _m._ (common), _a custom-house officer, or one of the
“octroi.”_
Bras Rouge est contrebandier ... il s’en vante au nez des
gabelous.--=E. SUE=, _Les Mystères de Paris_.
GÂCHER (popular), serré, _to work hard_, “to sweat;” ---- du gros, _to
ease oneself_.
GADIN, _m._ (popular), _cork_; _shabby hat_. Flancher au ----, _to play
a gambling kind of game with a cork and coins_. Some halfpence being
placed on the cork, the players aim in turns with a coin. A favourite
game of Paris cads.
GADOUARD, _m._ (popular), _scavenger_, a “rake-kennel.” From gadoue,
_street refuse or mud_.
GADOUE, _f._ (familiar and popular), _prostitute_. Properly _street mud
or refuse_.
File, mon fiston, roule ta gadoue, mon homme, ça
pue.--_Catéchisme Poissard_.
The slang terms for the different varieties of prostitutes are, in
familiar and popular language: “cocotte, demi-mondaine, horizontale,
verticale, agenouillée, déhanchée impure, petite dame, lorette,
camélia, boulevardière, pêche à quinze sous, belle petite, soupeuse,
grue, lolo, biche, vieille garde (_old prostitute_), fille de
trottoir, gueuse, maquillée, ningle, pélican, pailletée, laqueuse,
chameau, membre de la caravane, demi-castor, passe-lacet, demoiselle
du Pont-Neuf, matelas ambulant, boulonnaise (_one who plies her trade
in the Bois de Boulogne_), crevette, trumeau, traîneuse, fenêtrière,
trychine, cul crotté, omnibus, carcan à crinoline, pieuvre, pigeon
voyageur, piqueuse de trains, marcheuse, morue, fleur de macadam,
vache à lait, camelote, roulante, raccrocheuse, génisse, almanach
des trente-six mille adresses, chausson, hirondelle de goguenot,
moelonneuse, mal peignée, persilleuse, lard, blanchisseuse en chemises,
planche à boudin, galvaudeuse, poule, mouquette, poupée, fille de
tourneur, fille de maison or à numéro, boutonnière en pantalons, fille
en carte or en brème, lésébombe, baleine, traînée, demoiselle du
bitume, vessie, boule rouge (_one who walks the Faubourg Montmartre_),
voirie, rivette, fille à parties, terrière, terreuse, femme de terrain,
rempardeuse, grenier à coups de sabre, saucisse, peau, peau de chien,
vésuvienne, autel de besoin, cité d’amour, mangeuse de viande crue,
dessalée, punaise, polisseuse de mâts de cocagne en chambre, pompe
funèbre, polisseuse de tuyaux de pipe, pontonnière, pont d’Avignon,
veau, vache, blanc, feuille, lanterne, magneuse, lipète, chamègue,
bourdon, pierreuse, marneuse, paillasse de corps de garde, paillasse à
troufion, rouleuse, dossière, fille de barrière, roulure, andre (old
word), Jeanneton, taupe, limace, waggon, retapeuse, sommier de caserne,
femme de cavoisi, prat, sauterelle, tapeuse de tal, magnée, torchon.”
The bullies of unfortunates call them “marmite, fesse, ouvrière,
Louis, ponife, galupe, laisée.” Thieves give them the appellations of
“lutainpem, môme, ponante, calège, panuche, asticot, bourre de soie,
panturne, rutière, ronfle, goipeuse, casserole, magnuce, larguèpe,
larque, menesse, louille.” In the English slang they are termed:
“anonyma, pretty horse-breaker, demi-rep, tartlet, mot, common Jack,
bunter, trollop, bed-fagot, shake, poll, dollymop, blowen, bulker, gay
woman, unfortunate, barrack-hack, dress lodger, bawdy basket, mauks,
and quædam” (obsolete), &c.
GAFFE, _m. and f._ (thieves’), _sentry_; _thief on the watch_, or
“crow;” _prison warder_, or “bloke.”
Les gaffes (gardiens) ont la vie dure. Ils tiennent sur
leurs pattes comme des chats ... si je l’ai manqué, je
ne me suis pas manqué, moi, je suis sûr d’aller à la
butte.--_Mémoires de Monsieur Claude_.
Gaffe à gail, _mounted police_; ---- de sorgue, _night watchman_; ----
des machabées, _cemetery watchman_. Etre en ----, faire ----, _to be on
the watch_, “to dick.”
Riboulet et moi, nous étions restés en gaffe afin de donner
l’éveil en cas d’alerte.--=VIDOCQ.=
Grivier de ----, _soldier of the watch_. (Popular) Gaffe, _f._, _joke_;
_deceit_; _tongue_, or “red rag.” Avaler sa ----, _to die_, “to snuff
it.” See PIPE. Coup de ----, _loud talking_, “jawing.” Monter une ----,
_to play a trick_; _to deceive_, “to bamboozle,” “to pull the leg.”
(Familiar) Faire une ----, _to take an inconsiderate step_; _to make an
awkward mistake_, “to put one’s foot in it.”
GAFFER (thieves’), _to watch_, “to dick;” _to look_, “to pipe;” ---- la
mirette, _to keep a sharp look-out_. Gaffe les péniches du gonse, _look
at that man’s shoes_. Gaffer, _to cause to stand_; _to stop_.
Il fallait faire gaffer un roulant pour y planquer les
paccins (il fallait faire stationner un fiacre pour y
placer les paquets).--=VIDOCQ.=
GAFFEUR, _m._ (thieves’), _man on the watch_.
GAFFIER, _m._ (thieves’), _pickpocket who operates at markets_; _warder
in a prison or convict settlement_, a “screw.”
GAFFINER (thieves’ and cads’), _to look at_, “to pipe.” Gaffine lago,
la riflette t’exhibe, _look there, the policeman is watching you_, or,
in other words, “pipe there, the bulky is dicking.”
GAFILER (thieves’), _to listen attentively_.
GAGA, _m._ (familiar), _man who, through a life of debauchery, has
become almost an imbecile_.
GAGNIE, _f._ (popular), _buxom lady_.
GAHISTO, _m._ (thieves’), _the devil_, “ruffin,” or “darble.” From the
Basque giztoa, _bad_, _wicked_, according to V. Hugo.
GAI, _adj._ (popular), être ----, _to be slightly tipsy_, or
“elevated.” See POMPETTE. Avoir la cuisse gaie _is said of a woman of
lax morality who is lavish of her favours_.
GAIL, GALIER, _m._ (thieves’), _horse_, “prad.” Vol au ----, _horse
stealing_, or “prad napping.” GAILLARD À TROIS BRINS, _m._ (sailors’),
_able sailor_; _old tar_.
J’ai travaillé, mangé, gagné mon pain
parmi
Des gaillards à trois brins qui me traitaient
en mousse.
=RICHEPIN=, _La Mer_.
GAILLON, _m._ (popular and thieves’), _horse_, “prad, nag, or tit.”
GAILLOTERIE, _f._ (popular), _stable_.
GAIMAR (popular), _gaily_; _willingly_. Allons y ----, _let us look
alive_; _with a will!_
GALAPIAT, GALAPIAN, GALOPIAU, _m._ (popular), _lazy fellow_, or
“bummer;” _street boy_.
Quelle rigolade pour les gamins! Et l’un de ces galapiats
qui a peut-être servi chez des saltimbanques, chipe un
clairon et souffle dedans un air de foire.--=RICHEPIN=, _Le
Pavé_.
GALBE, _m._ (familiar), _elegance_, _dash_. Etre truffé de ----, _to
be extremely elegant, dashing_, or “tsing tsing.” Galbe, literally
_elegance in the curve of vases, pillars_.
GALBEUX, _adj._ (familiar), _elegant_, _dashing_, “tsing tsing.”
GALERIE, _f._ (familiar), faire ----, to _be one of a number of
lookers-on_. Parler pour la ----, _to address to a person words meant
in reality for the ears of others, or for the public_.
GALETTE, _f._ (popular), _money_, “tin.” For synonyms see QUIBUS.
Boulotter de la ----, _to spend money_. (Military school of Saint-Cyr)
Promenade ----, _general marching out_. Sortie ----, _general holiday_.
GALEUX, _m._ (popular), _the master_, or “boss.” Properly _one who has
the itch_.
GALFÂTRE, _m._ (popular), _idiot_; _greedy fellow_.
Certes il n’aimait pas les corbeaux, ça lui crevait le
cœur de porter ses six francs à ces galfâtres-là qui n’en
avaient pas besoin pour se tenir le gosier frais.--=ZOLA=,
_L’Assommoir_.
GALIER, _m._ (thieves’), _horse_, or “prad.”
GALIÈRE, _f._ (thieves’), _mare_.
GALIFARD, _m._ (popular), _shoemaker_, or “snob;” _errand boy_;
(thieves’) _one who is not yet an adept in the art of thieving_.
GALIFARDE, _f._ (popular), _shop-girl_.
GALIMARD, _m._ (artists’), se touche! _The expression is used
in reference to a brother artist who extols his own self or own
productions._ For the following explanation I am indebted to Mr. G. D.,
a French artist well known to the English public:--“Galimard se touche,
phrase que vous avez lue probablement dans tous les Rambuteau de
Paris, a pris origine dans notre atelier Cogniet. Galimard, un artiste
de quelque talent, mais qui se croyait un génie, trouvant qu’on ne
s’occupait pas assez de lui, écrivit sur le salon des articles fort
bien faits mais par trop sévères pour les confrères. Il avait mis au
bas un pseudonyme quelconque. Arrivé au tour de sa fameuse Léda, il ne
tarissait pas d’éloges sur cette peinture vraiment médiocre. Bertall,
que je connaissais fort bien, découvrit le pot aux roses. Galimard
était son propre panégyriste! J’arrive à l’atelier et je dis: ‘Galimard
se fait jouir lui-même, c’est lui l’auteur des articles en question.’
De là, le fameux ‘Galimard se touche’ expression maintenant consacrée
lorsqu’un artiste parle trop de lui-même. Il faut ajouter que les mots
furent écrits dans tous les Rambuteau du Quartier du Temple puis, non
seulement à Paris, mais par toute la France. L’empereur acheta la Léda
après une tentative criminelle de la part d’un malfaiteur et sur la
toile et sur Galimard. On fit une enquête et l’on découvrit que le
malfaiteur n’était autre que ... Galimard. L’affaire en resta là. La
Léda fut placée au Musée du Luxembourg, après cicatrisation des coups
de poignard, bien entendu.”
GALIOTE, _f._ (thieves’), _conspiracy of card-sharpers to swindle a
player_.
GALIPOTER (sailors’), _to smear_.
GALLI-BÂTON, _m._ (popular), _general fight_; _great row_, or “shindy.”
GALLI-TRAC, _m._ (popular), _poltroon_, “cow’s babe.”
GALOCHE, _f._ (thieves’), _chin_; (popular) _a game played with a cork
and halfpence_.
GALONS, _m. pl._ (military), d’imbécile, _long-service stripes_.
Arroser ses ----, _to treat one’s comrades on being made a
non-commissioned officer_; _to pay for one’s footing_.
GALOPANTE, _f._ (popular), _diarrhœa_, or “jerry-go-nimble.”
GALOPÉ, _adj._ (popular), _done hurriedly_, _carelessly_.
GALOPER (popular), _to annoy; to make unwell_. Ça me galope sur le
système, or sur le haricot, _it troubles me_; _it makes me ill_; ----
une femme, _to make hot love to a woman_.
GALOPIN, _m._ (familiar), _small glass of beer at cafés_. Had formerly
the signification of _small measure of wine_.
GALOUBET, _m._ (theatrical), _voice_. Avoir du ----, _to possess a good
voice_. Donner du ----, _to sing_.
En scène, les fées! Attaquons vivement le chœur d’entrée.
Du galoubet et de l’ensemble!--=P. MAHALIN.=
GALOUSER (thieves’), _to sing_, “to lip.”
GALTOS, _m._ (sailors’), _dish_. Passer à ----, _to eat_. (Popular)
Galtos, _money_, or “pieces.” See QUIBUS.
GALTRON, _m._ (thieves’), _foal_.
GALUCHE, _f._ (thieves’), _braid_; _lace_.
GALUCHÉ, _adj._ (thieves’), _braided_; _laced_. Combriot ----, _laced
hat_.
GALUCHET, _m._ (popular), _the knave at cards_.
GALUPE, _f._ (thieves’ and popular), _street-walker_, “bunter.” See
GADOUE.
Les galup’s qu’a des ducatons
Nous rincent la dent, nous les battons.
=RICHEPIN.=
GALUPIER, _m._ (popular), _man who keeps a_ “galupe.” See this word.
GALURE, GALURIN (popular), _hat_, or “tile.” See TUBARD.
GALVAUDAGE, _m._ (popular), _squandering of one’s money_; _pilfering_.
GALVAUDER (popular), _to squander one’s money_. Se ----, _to lead a
disorderly life_.
GALVAUDEUSE, _f._ (popular), _lazy, disorderly woman_; _street-walker_.
See GADOUE.
GALVAUDEUX, _m._ (popular), _lazy vagabond_, or “raff;” _disorderly
fellow_; _bad workman_.
GAMBETTES, _f. pl._ (popular), _legs_. From the old word gambe, _leg_.
Jouer des ----, _to run_. See PATATROT.
GAMBIER, _f._ (popular), _cutty pipe_. From the name of the
manufacturer.
GAMBILLARD, _m._ (popular), _active_, _restless man_.
GAMBILLER (popular), _to dance_, “to shake a leg.” Is used by Molière
with the signification of _to agitate the legs_:--
Oui de le voir gambiller les jambes en haut devant tout le
monde.--_Monsieur de Pourceaugnac._
GAMBILLES, _f. pl._ (popular), _legs_, or “pins.”
GAMBILLEUR, _m._ (familiar), _political quack_; (thieves’) _dancer_;
---- de tourtouse, _rope-dancer_.
GAMBILLEUSE, _f._ (popular), _girl who makes it a practice of attending
dancing halls_.
GAMBRIADE, _f._ (thieves’), _dance_.
GAME, _f._ (thieves’), _hydrophobia_.
GAMELAD (Breton cant), _porringer_.
GAMELER (thieves’), _to inform against one_, “to blow the gaff.”
GAMELLE, _f._ (sailors’), aux amours, _mistress_. (Popular and
thieves’) Attacher une ----, _to decamp_, _to run away_. See PATATROT.
GAMME, _f._ (popular), _thrashing_, or “wallopping.” Faire chanter une
----, or monter une ----, _to thrash_, “to lead a dance.” See VOIE. The
expression is used by Scarron:--
Avec Dame Junon sa femme,
Qui souvent lui chante la game.
GANACHE, _f._ (theatrical), jouer les père ----, _to perform in the
character of a foolish old fellow_. Properly ganache, _an old fool_, “a
doddering old sheep’s head.”
GANCE, _f._ (thieves’), _a gang_, or “mob.” The Slang Dictionary says
“mob” signifies _a thief’s immediate companions_, as “our own mob.”
GANDILLE, _f._ (thieves’), _sword_, or “poker;” _dagger_, or “cheery;”
_knife_, or “chive.”
GANDIN, _m._ (familiar), _dandy_, or “masher.” Literally a frequenter
of the “Boulevard de Gand,” now Boulevard des Italiens. For list
of synonymous expressions see GOMMEUX. (Second-hand clothes-men’s)
Gandin, _fine words to attract purchasers_. Monter un ----, _to entice
a purchaser in_; _to get a customer_. (Thieves’) Gandin, a “job” _in
preparation, or quite prepared_; ---- d’altèque, _the insignia of any
order_. Hisser un ----, _to deceive_, “to kid,” or “to best.” See
JOBARDER.
GANDINERIE, _f._, GANDINISME, _m._ (familiar), _the world of gandins_,
or “swelldom.”
GANDOUSE, _f._ (popular), _mud_, _dirt_.
GANNALISER (familiar), _to embalm_. From Gannal, name of a
practitioner. The expression is little used.
GANT, _m._ (popular), moule de ----, _box on the ear_. Properly _mould
for a glove_.
GANTER (cocottes’), 5½, _to be close-fisted_; ---- 8½, _to be
open-handed_.
GANTIÈRE, _f._ (familiar), _disreputable establishment where the female
assistants make a show of selling gloves or perfumery, but where they
retail anything but those articles_.
GANTS DE PIED, _m. pl._ (military), _wooden shoes_.
GARÇON, _m._ (popular), à deux mains, _slaughterer_; ---- de bidoche,
_butcher boy_. (Thieves’) Garçon, _thief_, “prig.” Un brave ----, _an
expert thief_. Un ---- de campagne, or de cambrouse, _highwayman_.
Termed formerly in the English cant “bridle-cull.”
La cognade à gayet servait le trèpe pour laisser abouler
une roulotte farguée d’un ratichon, de Charlot et de son
larbin, et d’un garçon de cambrouse.--=VIDOCQ.= (_The
horse-police were keeping back the crowd in order to
open a passage for a cart which contained a priest, the
executioner, his assistant, and a highwayman._)
GARDANNE, _f._ (familiar), _odd piece of silk_.
GARDE, _m. and f._ (popular), national, _lot of bacon rind_. Gardes
nationaux, _beans_. (Familiar) Descendre la ----, _to die_, “to kick
the bucket.” See PIPE. Vieille ----, _superannuated cocotte_, or
“played out tart.”
Il pouvait citer tel et tel, des noms, des gentilshommes de
sang plus bleu que le sien, aujourd’hui collés légitimement
et très satisfaits, et pas reniés du tout, avec de vraies
roulures, avec des vieilles-gardes!--=RICHEPIN=, _La Glu_.
GARDE-MANGER, _m._ (popular), _the behind_. See VASISTAS.
GARDE-PROYE (thieves’), _wardrobe_.
GARDER (familiar), se ---- à carreau, _to take precautions in view of
future mishaps_.
GARDIEN, _m._ (popular and thieves’), ange ----, _man who undertakes to
see drunkards home_; _rogue who offers to see a drunkard home, robs,
and sometimes murders him_.
GARÉ, _adj._ (popular), des voitures _is said of a steady, prudent man,
or of one who has renounced a disreputable way of living_.
GARE-L’EAU, m. (thieves’), _chamber-pot_, or “jerry.”
GARGAGOITCHE, _f._ (thieves’ and cads’), _face_, or “mug.”
GARGARISER (familiar and popular), se ----, _to drink_, “to wet one’s
whistle.” For synonyms see RINCER. The expression is old.
Donnez ordre que buvons, je vous prie; et faictes tant
que nous ayons de l’eau fraische pour me gargariser le
palat.--=RABELAIS=, _Pantagruel_.
Se ---- le rossignolet, _to drink_, “to have a quencher.”
GARGARISME, _m._ (popular), _a drink_, a “drain,” or “quencher.”
(Familiar) Faire des gargarismes, _to trill when singing_.
GARGAROUSSE, _f._ (popular and thieves’), _throat_, or “gutterlane;”
_face_, or “mug.” (Sailors’) Se suiver la ----, _to eat_; _to drink_,
or “to splice the mainbrace.”
GARGOINE, _f._ (popular and thieves’), _throat_, formerly “gargamelle;”
_mouth_, or “potato-trap.” Termed formerly “potato-jaw,” according to a
speech of the Duke of Clarence’s to Mrs. Schwellenberg:--
“Hold you your potato-jaw, my dear,” cried the Duke,
patting her.--_Supplementary English Glossary._
Se rincer la ----, _to drink_, “to smile, to see a man” (American).
GARGOT, _m._ (familiar and popular), _restaurant_; _cheap
eating-house_. Some of the restaurants in Paris have two departments,
the cheap one on the ground floor, and a more respectable one higher up.
GARGOUENNE. See GARGOINE.
GARGOUILLADE, _f._ (popular), _rumbling noise in the stomach_.
GARGOUILLE; GARGOUINE; GARGUE, _f._ (popular), _face_; _mouth_. For
list of synonyms see PLOMB.
GARGOUSSE, _f._ (sailors’), avec le cœur en ----, _with sinking heart_.
Un’ brise à fair’ plier l’pouce,
Rigi, rigo, riguingo,
Avec le cœur en gargousse,
Rigi, rigo, riguingo,
Ah! riguinguette.
=J. RICHEPIN=, _La Mer_.
GARGOUSSES DE LA CANONNIÈRE (popular), _turnips, cabbages, or beans_.
GARIBALDI, _m._ (familiar), _red frock_; _sort of hat_. (Thieves’) Coup
de ----, _blow given by butting at one’s stomach_.
GARNAFFE, _f._ (thieves’), _farm_.
GARNAFFIER, _m._ (thieves’), _farmer_, or “joskin.”
GARNIR (popular), se ---- le bocal, _to eat_, “to grub.” See MASTIQUER.
GARNISON, _f._ (popular), _lice_, “grey-backed uns.”
GARNO, _m._ (popular), _lodging-house_, “dossing crib.”
GAS, _m._ (familiar and popular), for gars, _boy_; _fellow_. Grand
----, _tall chap_. Mauvais ----, _ill-tempered fellow_. (Roughs’) Gas
de la grinche, _thief_. Faut pas frayer avec ça, c’est un ---- de la
grinche, _you must not keep company with the fellow, he is a thief_. Un
---- qui flanche, _a hawker_. (Thieves’) Fabriquer un ---- à la flan, à
la rencontre, or à la dure, _to attack a man at night and rob him_, “to
jump a cove.”
GASPARD, _m._ (popular), _cunning fellow_, or “sharp file;” _rat_;
_cat_, or “long-tailed beggar.” Concerning this expression there is a
tale that runs thus: A boy, during his first very short voyage to sea,
had become so entirely a seaman, that on his return he had forgotten
the name for a cat, and pointing to Puss, asked his mother “what she
called that ’ere long-tailed beggar?” Accordingly, sailors, when they
hear a freshwater tar discoursing too largely on nautical matters, are
very apt to say, “but how, mate, about that ’ere long-tailed beggar?”
GÂTEAU, _m._ (popular), feuilleté, _shoe out at the sole_. (Thieves’)
Avoir du ----, _to get one’s share of booty_, “to stand in.”
GÂTE-PÂTE, _m._ (popular), _redoubtable wrestler_.
GÂTER (popular), de l’eau, _to void urine_, “to lag.” Se ---- la
taille, _to become pregnant_, or “lumpy.”
GÂTEUSE, _f._ (familiar), _long garment worn over clothes to protect
them from the dust_.
GÂTISME, _m._ (familiar), _stupidity_. Le ---- littéraire, _decaying
state of literature_.
GAUCHER, GAUCHIER, _m._ (familiar), _member of the Left whether in the
Assemblée Nationale or Senate_.
GAUDILLE, or GANDILLE, _f._ (thieves’), _sword_, or “poker.”
GAUDINEUR, _m._ (popular), _house decorator_. Probably from gaudir,
_to be merry_, house decorators having the reputation of being
light-hearted.
GAUDISSARD, _m._ (familiar), _commercial traveller_, from the name of a
character of Balzac’s; _practical joker_; _jovial man_.
GAUDRIOLER (familiar), equivalent to “dire des gaudrioles,” _to make
jests of a slightly licentious character_.
GAUDRIOLEUR, _m._ (familiar), _one fond of_ gaudrioler (which see).
GAUFRES, _f. pl._ (popular), faire des ----, _is said of pock-marked
persons who kiss one another_. Moule à ----, _pock-marked face_, or
“cribbage-faced.”
GAULE, _f._ (popular), d’omnicroche, _omnibus conductor_. Une gaule,
properly _a pole_. (Thieves’) Gaules de schtard, _bars of a cell
window_.
GAULÉ, _m._ (popular), _cider_.
GAUX, _m._ (thieves’), _lice_, “grey-backed uns;” ---- picantis,
_lice in clothing_. Basourdir les ----, _to kill lice_.
GAVE, _adj. and f._ (popular and thieves’), _drunken man_,
“lushington;” _stomach_.
Va encore à l’cave,
Du cidre il faut
Plein la gave,
Du cidre il faut
Plein l’gaviot.
=RICHEPIN.=
Etre ----, _to be intoxicated_. See POMPETTE.
GAVÉ, _m._ (thieves’), _drunkard_. Faire les gavés, _to rob drunkards_;
_to go_ “bug-hunting.” (Popular) Gavé, _term of contempt applied to
rich people_. From gaver, _to glut_.
Y a des gens qui va en sapins,
En omnibus et en tramways,
Tous ces gonc’s-là, c’est des clampins,
Des richards, des muf’s, des gavés.
=RICHEPIN.=
GAVEAU, _m._ (thieves’), tortiller le ----, _to kill one by
strangulation_.
GAVIOLÉ. See GAVÉ.
GAVIOT, _m._ (popular), _throat_; _mouth_. See PLOMB. Figuratively
_stomach_.
Mais quoi! ces ventrus sur leurs pieds
N’peuvent plus supporter leur gaviot.
=RICHEPIN.=
GAVOT. See GAVÉ.
GAVROCHE, _m._ (familiar), _Paris street boy_. Faire le ----, _to talk
or act as an impudent boy_.
GAY, _adj._ (thieves’), _ugly_; _queer_, or “rum.”
GAYE. See GALIOTE.
GAYET, _m._ (thieves’), _horse_, or “prad.” Termed also “gail.” La
cognade à ----, _mounted police_. Des gayets, _rogues who prowl about
the suburbs just outside the gates of Paris_.
C’étaient des rôdeurs de barrière ... c’étaient des
gayets.--_Mémoires de Monsieur Claude._
GAZ, _m._ (popular), allumer son ----, _to look attentively_, “to
stag.” Eteindre son ----, _to sleep_, “to doss;” _to die_, “to snuff
it.” See PIPE. Prendre un coup de ----, _to have a dram of spirits_.
GAZETTE, _f._ (familiar), lire la ----, _to eat nothing_.
GAZIER, _m._ (popular), _humbug_.
GAZON, _m._ (popular), _wig_, or “periwinkle;” _hair_, or “thatch.”
N’avoir plus de ---- sur la plate-bande, or sur le pré, _to be bald_.
See AVOIR. Se ratisser le ----, _to comb one’s hair_.
GAZONNER (popular), se faire ---- la plate-bande, _to provide oneself
with a wig_.
GAZOUILLER (popular), _to speak_; _to sing_; _to stink_.
Oh! la la! ça gazouille, dit Clémence en se bouchant le
nez.--=ZOLA.=
GÉANT, _m._ (thieves’), montagne de ----, _gallows_, “scrag,” “nobbing
cheat,” or the obsolete expression “government sign-post.”
GEINDRE, _m._ (popular), _journeyman baker_. Properly _to groan
heavily_.
GENDARME, _m._ (popular), _red herring_; _mixture of white wine, gum,
and water_; _one-sou cigar_; _pressing iron_.
GÉNÉRAL, _m._ (popular), le ---- macadam, _the street_, or “drag.”
GÊNEUR, _m._ (familiar), _bore_.
GÉNISSE, _f._, _woman of bad character_. See GADOUE.
GÉNITEUR, _m._ (popular), _father_.
GENOU, _m._ (familiar), BALD PATE.
GENRE, _m._ (familiar), grand ----, _pink of fashion_. C’est tout à
fait grand ----, _it is quite “the” thing_. Se donner du ----, _to
assume fashionable ways or manners in speech or dress_; _to look
affected, to have_ “highfalutin airs.”
GENREUX, _adj. and m._ (familiar), _elegant_; _fashionable_, “dasher,”
“tsing tsing;” _one who gives himself airs_.
GENS, _m. pl._ (popular), être de la société des ---- de lettres,
_to belong to a tribe of swindlers who extort money by threatening
letters_, “socketers.”
GENTILHOMME SOUS-MARIN, _m._ (popular), _prostitute’s bully_, “ponce.”
For synonyms see POISSON.
GEORGET, _m._ (popular), _waistcoat_, “benjy.”
Les rupines et marquises leur fichent, les unes un georget,
les autres une lime ou haut-de-tire, qu’ils entrolent
au barbaudier de castu, ou à d’autres qui les veulent
abloquir.--_Le Jargon de l’Argot._ (_The ladies and wives
give them, some a waistcoat, others a shirt, or a pair of
breeches, which they take to the hospital overseer, or to
others who are willing to buy them._)
GERBABLE, _m._ (thieves’), _prisoner who is sure to be convicted_, _who
is_ “booked.”
GERBE, _m._ (thieves’), trial, or “patter;” _sentence_. Planque de
----, _assize court_. Le carré des petites gerbes, _the police court_.
GERBÉ, _adj._ (thieves’), _sentenced_, or “booked.”
On dit qu’il vient du bagne où il était gerbé à 24 longes
(condamné à 24 ans).--=VIDOCQ.=
Etre ---- à viocque, _to be sentenced to penal servitude for life_, or
“settled.”
GERBEMENT, _m._ (thieves’), _trial_; called also “sapement.”
La conversation roulait sur les camarades qui
étaient au pré, sur ceux qui étaient en gerbement
(jugement).--=VIDOCQ.=
GERBER (thieves’), _to sentence_.
Te voilà pris par la Cigogne, avec cinq vols qualifiés,
trois assassinats, dont le plus récent concerne deux riches
bourgeois ... tu seras gerbé à la passe.--=BALZAC.=
GERBERIE, _f._ (thieves’), _court of justice_.
GERBIER, _m._ (thieves’), _judge_, or “beak;” _barrister_, or
“mouthpiece.” Mec des gerbiers, _executioner_.
GERBIERRES, _f. pl._ (thieves’), _skeleton keys_, or “screws.”
GERCE, _f._ (thieves’), _wife_, or “mollisher;” mattress; (popular)
_woman with unnatural passions_. Un qui s’est fait poisser la ----, _a
Sodomist_.
GERMANIE, _f._, aller en ----. See ALLER.
GERMINY, _m._ (familiar and popular), _Sodomist_. From the name of a
nobleman who a few years ago was tried for an unnatural offence.
GERMINYSER (familiar and popular), se faire ----, _to be a Sodomist_.
GERNAFLE, _f._ (thieves’), _farm_.
GERNAFLIER, _m._ (thieves’), _farmer_, or “joskin.”
GÉRONTOCRACIE, _f._ (familiar), _narrow-mindedness_.
GÉSIER, _m._ (popular), _throat_. Se laver le ----, _to drink_.
GESSEUR, _m._ (popular), _fussy man_; _eccentric man_, a “rum un’.”
GESSEUSE, _f._ (popular), _prude_; _female who gives herself airs_.
GESTES. See ACCENTUER.
GET, GETI, _m._ (thieves’), _reed_, _cane_.
G--G, _m._ (popular), avoir du ----, _to have good sense_, “to know
what’s o’clock,” “to be up to a trick or two.”
GI, or GY (thieves’), _yes_, or “usher.”
GIBASSES, _f. pl._ (popular), _large skinny breasts_.
GIBELOTTE DE GOUTTIÈRE, _f._ (popular), _cat stew_.
GIBERNE, _f._ (popular), _the behind_. See VASISTAS.
GIBIER, _m._ (popular), à commissaire, _woman of disorderly or drunken
habits_; ---- de Cayenne, _incorrigible thief_, or “gallows’ bird.”
GIBOYER, _m._ (literary), _journalist of the worst sort_. From a play
by Emile Augier.
GIBUS, _m._ (familiar), _hat_, or “stove pipe.” See TUBARD.
GIGOLETTE, _f._ (popular), _girl of the lower orders who leads a more
than fast life, and is an assiduous frequenter of low dancing-halls_.
Si tu veux être ma gigolette,
Moi, je serai ton gigolo.
_Parisian Song._
GIGOLO, _m._ (popular), _fast young man of the lower orders_, _a kind
of_ “’Arry,” _the associate of a_ GIGOLETTE (which see).
GIGOT, _m._ (popular), _large thick hand_, “mutton fist.”
GIGUE ET JON! _bacchanalian exclamation of sailors_.
Largue l’écoute! Bitte et bosse!
Largue l’écoute! Gigue et jon!
Largue l’écoute! on s’y fout des bosses.
Chez la mère Barbe-en-jonc.
=RICHEPIN=, _La Mer_.
GILBOQUE, _m._ (thieves’ and cads’), _billiards_. Termed “spoof” in the
English slang.
GILET, _m._ (popular), s’emplir le ----, _to eat or drink_. Avoir le
---- doublé de flanelle _is said of one who has comforted himself with
a plate of thick, hot soup_. The English use the term “flannel” or “hot
flannel” for a comforting drink of a hot mixture of gin and beer with
nutmeg, sugar, &c. According to the _Slang Dictionary_ there is an
anecdote told of Goldsmith helping to drink a quart of “flannel” in a
night-house, in company with George Parker, Ned Shuter, and a demure,
grave-looking gentleman, who continually introduced the words “crap,”
“stretch,” “scrag,” and “swing.” Upon the Doctor asking who this
strange person might be, and being told his profession, he rushed from
the place in a frenzy, exclaiming, “Good God! and have I been sitting
all this while with a hangman?” Un ---- à la mode, _opulent breasts_.
(Familiar) Un ---- en cœur, _a dandy_, or “masher.”
Amantha, que Corbois avait complètement perdue de vue,
était aux Bouffes et faisait la joie des gilets en
cœur.--=E. MONTEIL.=
GILLE, _m._ (popular), faire ----, _to run away_, “to slope,” “bolt.”
See PATATROT. The expression is old.
Jupin leur fit prendre le saut.
Et contraignit de faire gille,
Le grand Typhon jusqu’en Sicile.
=SCARRON.=
Faire ---- déloge (obsolete), _to decamp_.
GILMONT, _m._ (thieves’), _waistcoat_, or “benjy.”
GILQUIN, _m._ (popular), coup de ----, _blow with the fist_, a “bang,”
or “biff” (Americanism).
GIMBLER (sailors’), _to moan_. Le vent gimble, _the wind moans, roars_.
Bon! qu’il gimble tant qu’il voudra dans les agrès!
Nous en avons troussé bien d’autres au plus près.
Ce n’est pas encore lui qui verra notre quille.
Souffle, souffle, mon vieux! souffle à goule écarquille!
=RICHEPIN=, _La Mer_.
GIN (thieves’), à son ----, _see! behold!_ This expression has been
reproduced in the spelling of my informant, an associate of thieves.
GINGIN, _m._ (popular), _good sense_; _behind_. See VASISTAS.
GINGINER (popular), _to make one’s dress bulge out_; _to ogle_; _to
flirt_.
GINGLARD, GINGLET, or GINGUET, _m._ (popular), _thin sour wine_.
GIRAFE, _f._ (popular), grande ----, petite ----, _spiral flights of
steps_, _in the Seine swimming baths, with a lower and upper landing
serving as diving platforms._
GIROFLE, _adj._ (thieves’), _pretty_, “dimber.” Largue ----, _pretty
girl_, or “dimbermort.”
GIROFLERIE, _f._ (thieves’), _amiability_.
GIROFLETER (popular), _to smack one’s face_, “to warm the wax of one’s
ear.” Synonymous of “donner du sucre de giroflée.”
GIROLE (thieves’), expression of assent: _so be it_, “usher.”
Il y a deux menées de ronds en ma henne et deux ornies en
mon gueulard, que j’ai égraillées sur le trimar; bions les
faire riffoder, veux-tu?--Girole, et béni soit le grand
havre qui m’a fait rencontrer si chenâtre occasion.--_Le
Jargon de l’Argot._ (_There are two dozen halfpence in my
purse and two hens in my wallet, which I have caught on
the road; we will cook them, if you like?--Certainly, and
blessed be the Almighty who made me fall in with such a
piece of good luck._)
GIRONDE, _adj. and f._ (thieves’), _gentle_; _pretty_, “dimber;”
_pretty woman or girl_, “dimbermort.” Also _a girl of bad character_,
_a_ “bunter.”
GIRONDIN, _m._ (thieves’), _simple-minded fellow_, “flat,” or “jay.” Le
---- a donné, “the jay has been flapped.”
GIRONDINE, _f._ (thieves’), _handsome young girl_, or “dimbermort.”
GÎTE, _m._ (popular), dans le ----, _something of the best_. An
allusion to gîte à la noix, _savoury morsel of beef._