GRATINÉ, _m._ (familiar), _swell_, “masher.” For synonymous expressions
see GOMMEUX.
GRATIS (popular), faire ----, _to borrow_, “to bite one’s ear,” or
“to break shins;” _to lend_. (Thieves’) Etre ---- malade, _to be in
prison_, _to be_ “put away.”
GRATON, _m._ (popular), _razor_. From gratter, _to scratch_.
GRATOUILLE, _f._ (popular), _itch_. From gratter, _to scratch_, _to
itch_.
GRATOUSE, _f._ (thieves’), _lace_.
GRATOUSÉ, adj. (thieves’), _adorned with lace_.
GRATTE, _f._ (popular), _itch_; _unlawful profits of shopmen on the
sale of goods_, something like the “fluff” or profits on short change
by railway ticket-clerks; _bonus allowed to shopmen_; ---- couenne,
_barber_, “strap;” ---- pavé, _loiterer seeking for a living_, _one_
“on the mouch.”
GRATTÉE, _f._ (popular), _blows_, “props.”
GRATTE-PAPIER, _m._ (familiar and popular), _clerk_, or “quill-driver;”
(military) _non-commissioned officer filling the functions of clerk_.
GRATTER (popular), _to shave_; _to thrash_, “to wallop.” See VOIE.
Gratter, _to purloin portions of cloth, given for the making of
apparel_; _to apprehend_. See PIPER. Gratter le papier, _to write_;
_to be a clerk_, or “quill-driver;” ---- la couenne, _to shave_. En
----, _to perform on the dancing-rope_. Les frères qui en grattent,
_rope-dancers_. Gratter les pavés, _to lead a life of poverty_.
GRATTOIR, GRATON, _m._ (popular), _razor_. Passer au ----, _to get
shaved_, or “scraped.”
GRAVEUR SUR CUIR, _m._ (popular), _shoemaker_, “snob.”
GRÈCE, _f._ (familiar), _the tribe of card-sharpers_. Tomber dans
la ----, _to become a card-sharper_. Vol à la ----, _card swindle_.
(Thieves’) Grèce, or soulasse, _swindler who offers one a high profit
on the change of gold coins, for which he substitutes base coin when
the bargain has been struck_. A variety of the confidence trick. Vidocq
thus describes the mode of operating of these gentry. A confederate
forms an acquaintance with a farmer or country tradesman on a visit to
town. While the new pair of friends are promenading, they are accosted
by another confederate, who pretends to be a foreigner, and who
exhibits gold coin which he wishes to exchange for silver. Subsequently
the three adjourn to a wine-shop, where the pigeon, being entrusted
with one of the coins, is requested to have it tested at a changer’s,
when he finds it to be genuine. A bargain is soon struck, and, when
the thieves have decamped, the victim finds that in exchange for sound
silver coin he has received a case full of coppers or gunshot.
GRÉCER (thieves’), _to swindle at cards_. From “grec,” card-sharper.
GRECQUERIE, _f._ (familiar), _tribe of card-sharpers_.
GRÉER (naval), se ----, _to dress oneself_, “to rig oneself out.”
GREFFER (popular), _to be hungry_, “to be bandied.” Je greffe, or je
déclare, _I am hungry_. (Thieves’) Greffer, _to steal an object by
skilfully whisking it up_, “to nip.”
GREFFIER, _m._ (popular and thieves’), _cat_, or “long-tailed beggar.”
From griffe, _claw_.
C’est la dabuche Michelon
Qu’a pomaqué son greffier,
Qui jacte par la venterne
Qui le lui refilera,
Le dab Lustucru
Lui dit: “Dabuch’ Mich’lon,
Allez! votre greffier n’est pas pomaqué;
Il est dans le roulon,
Qui fait la chasse aux tretons,
Avec un bagaffre de fertange
Et un fauchon de satou.”
Popular song of _C’est la mère Michel qui a perdu son chat_, in
thieves’ cant, quoted by F. Michel.
GREFFIQUE, _f._ (roughs’), _the magistracy and lawyers_.
GREFIER (Breton cant), _cat_.
GRÊLE, _m. and f._ (popular), _master_, or “boss;” _master tailor_.
Ils ne nous exploiteront plus en maîtres, ces
grêles.--=MACÉ.=
(Thieves’) Grêle, _row or fight_, “shindy.”