PAL, a partner, acquaintance, friend, an accomplice. _Gipsey_, a
brother.
PALAVER, to ask, or talk,—not deceitfully, as the term usually
signifies; “PALAVER to the nibs for a shant of bivvy,” ask the master
for a quart of beer. In this sense used by _tramps_.—Derived from
_French_, PARLER.
PALL, to detect.
PALM OIL, or PALM SOAP, money.
PALMING, robbing shops by pairs,—one thief bargaining with apparent
intent to purchase, whilst the other watches his opportunity to steal.
An amusing example of PALMING came off some time since. A man entered
a “ready made” boot and shoe shop and desired to be shown a pair of
boots,—his companion staying outside and amusing himself by looking in
at the window. The one who required to be fresh shod was apparently
of a humble and deferential turn, for he placed his hat on the floor
directly he stepped in the shop. Boot after boot was tried on until at
last a fit was obtained,—when lo, forth came a man, snatched up the
customer’s hat left near the door, and down the street he ran as fast
as his legs could carry him. Away went the customer after his hat, and
Crispin, standing at the door, clapped his hands and shouted “go it,
you’ll catch him,”—little thinking that it was a concerted trick, and
that neither his boots nor the customer would ever return. PALMING
sometimes refers to secreting money or rings in the hand.
PAM, the knave of clubs; or, in street phraseology, Lord Palmerston.
PANNAM, food, bread.—_Lingua Franca_, PANNEN; _Latin_, PANIS; _Ancient
cant_, YANNAM.
PANNAM-BOUND, stopping the prison food or rations to a prisoner.
PANNAM-STRUCK, very hungry.
PANNIKIN, a small pan.
PANNY, a house—public or otherwise; “flash PANNY,” a public-house used
by thieves; PANNY MEN, housebreakers.
PANTILE, a hat. The term PANTILE is properly applied to the mould
into which the sugar is poured which is afterwards known as “loaf
sugar.” Thus, PANTILE, from whence comes the phrase “a sugar-loaf hat,”
originally signified a tall, conical hat, in shape similar to that
usually represented as the head gear of a bandit. From PANTILE, the
more modern slang term TILE has been derived. _Halliwell_ gives PANTILE
SHOP, a meeting-house.
PANTILER, a dissenting preacher. Probably from the practice of the
Quakers, and many dissenters, of not removing the hat in a place of
worship.
PAPER MAKERS, rag gatherers and gutter rakers—similar to the
chiffonniers of Paris. Also, those men who tramp through the country,
and collect rags on the pretence that they are agents to a paper mill.
PAPER WORKERS, the wandering vendors of street literature; street folk
who sell ballads, dying speeches and confessions, sometimes termed
RUNNING STATIONERS.
PARADIS, _French_ slang for the gallery of a theatre, “up amongst the
GODS,” which see.
PARISH LANTERN, the moon.
PARNEY, rain; “dowry of PARNEY,” a quantity of rain. _Anglo-Indian_
slang from the _Hindoo_, PÃNI, water; _Gipsey_, PANÉ. Old Indian
officers always call brandy and water BRANDY PAWNEE.