Part 32

HASARD! or H! (printers’), ironical exclamation meaning _that happens by chance, of course!_

HAÜS, or AÜS, _m._ (shopmens’), _appellation applied by shopmen to a person who, after much bargaining, leaves without purchasing anything_.

HAUSSE-COL, _m._ (military), _cartridge-box_. The expression has become obsolete.

HAUSSIER, _m._ (familiar), a “bull,” that is, _one who agrees to purchase stock at a future day, at a stated price, but who simply speculates for a rise in public securities to render the transaction a profitable one_. Should stocks fall, the “bull” is then called upon to pay the difference. The “bear” is the opposite of the “bull,” the former selling, the latter purchasing--the one operating for a _fall_, the other for a _rise_. They are respectively called “liebhaler” in Berlin, and “contremine” in Vienna.

HAUSSMANNISATION, _f._ See below.

HAUSSMANNISER (familiar), _to pull down houses wholesale_, after the fashion of M. Haussmann, a Prefect of the Seine under the Third Empire, who laid low many of the old houses of Paris, and opened some broad passages in the city. Corresponds in some degree to “boycott.”

HAUT-DE-TIRE, _m._ (thieves’), _breeches_, “hams, kicks, sit-upons.”

HAUTE, _f. and adj._ (general), for haute société, _the higher class of any social stratum_, “pink.”

Il y a lorette et lorette. Mademoiselle de Saint-Pharamond était de la haute.--=P. FÉVAL.=

La ---- bicherie, _higher class of cocottes_, _the world of_ “demi-reps.” Un escarpe de la ----, _a swindler moving in good society_. La ---- pègre, _swell mob_, and, used ironically, _good society_. Un restaurant de la ----, _a fashionable restaurant_, _a_ “swell” _restaurant_.

Si nous ne soupons pas dans la haute, je ne sais guère où nous irons à cette heure-ci.--=G. DE NERVAL.=

HAUTOCHER (thieves’), _to ascend_; _to rise_.

HAUT-TEMPS, _m._ (thieves’), for autan, _loft_.

HAVRE, or GRAND HAVRE, _m._ (thieves’), _God_. Literally _the harbour_, _great harbour_. Le ---- garde mézière, _God protect me_.

HEOL AR BLEI (Breton cant), _the moon_.

HERBE, _f._ (popular), à grimper, _fine bosoms or shoulders_. This phrase is obsolete; ---- à la vache, _clubs of cards_.

Quinte mangeuse portant son point dans l’herbe à la vache.--=ZOLA=, _L’Assommoir_.

Herbe sainte, _absinthe_. To all appearance this is a corruption of absinthe.

HERPLIS, _m._ (thieves’), _farthing_. Sans un herplis dans ma fouillouse, _without a farthing in my pocket_.

HERR, _m._ (general), a man of importance, one of position or talent, a “swell.”

HERSE, _f._ (theatrical), _lighting apparatus on the sides of the stage which illuminates those parts which receive no light from the chandelier_.

HERZ, or HERS, _m._ (thieves’), _master_, or “boss;” _gentleman_, or “nib-cove.” From the German herr.

HIGH-BICHERY, _f._ (familiar), _the world of fashionable cocottes_.

Quelque superbe créature de la high-bichery qui traîne son domino à queue avec les airs souverains d’une marquise d’autrefois.--=P. MAHALIN.=

HIRONDEAU, _m._ (tailors’), _journeyman tailor who shifts from one employer to another_. An allusion to the swallow, a migratory bird.

HIRONDELLE, _f._ (familiar), _penny boat plying on the Seine_; (popular) _commercial traveller_; _journeyman tailor from the country temporarily established in Paris_; _hackney coachman_; ---- d’hiver, _retailer of roasted chestnuts_; ---- de pont, _vagrant who seeks a shelter at night under the arches of bridges_; ---- du bâtiment, _mason from the country who comes yearly to work in Paris_. (Thieves’) Une ----, _variety of vagabond_.

Les Hirondelles, les Romanichels hantaient, comme les taupes, l’intérieur de leurs souterrains insondables. Romanichels et Hirondelles venaient y dormir, souper et méditer leurs crimes.--_Mémoires de Monsieur Claude._

Une ---- de potence, _a gendarme_ (obsolete).

HISSER (popular), _to give a whistle call_; ---- un gandin. See GANDIN.

HISTOIRES, _f. pl._ (general), _menses_. Termed also “affaires, cardinales, anglais.”

HOMARD, _m._ (popular), _doorkeeper, or servant in red livery_. (Military) _spahis_. The spahis, called also cavaliers rouges, are a crack corps of Arab cavalry commanded by French officers. There are now four regiments of spahis doing duty in Algeria or in Tonkin.

HOMICIDE, _m._ See HALEINE.

HOMME, _m._ (familiar), au sac, _rich man_, _one who is_ “well ballasted.” Un ---- affiche, _a_ “sandwich” _man_, that is, a man bearing a back-and-front advertising board. Avoir son jeune ----, _to be drunk_, or “tight.” See POMPETTE. (Thieves’) Un ---- de lettres, _forger_: ---- de peine, _old offender_, “jail-bird.” (Printers’) Homme de bois, _workman who repairs wooden fixtures of formes in a printing shop_.

HOMME DE LETTRES, or SINGE, _m._ (printers’), _compositor_.

Le compositeur est un bipède auquel on donne la dénomination de “singe.”... Pour vous éblouir il triture une “matière pleine” de mots équivoques: “commandite, bordereau, banque, impositions” et cela avec la gravité d’une “Minerve.” Fier du rang qu’il occupe dans l’imprimerie, ce chevalier du “composteur” s’intitule “homme de lettres,” mais c’est un “faux titre” qu’il a pris dans sa “galée,” car de tous les ouvrages auxquels il a mis des “signatures” et qu’il prétend avoir “composés,” il lui serait difficile de “justifier” une ligne, &c. &c.--_Déclaration d’amour d’un imprimeur typographe à une jeune brocheuse_, 1886.

HOMMELETTE, _m._ (popular), _man devoid of energy_, “sappy.”

HONNÊTE, _m._ (thieves’), _the spring_.

HONTEUSE, _f._, être en ----. See LESBIEN.

HÔPITAL, _m._ (thieves’), _prison_, or “stir.” See MOTTE. A thief in prison is said to be “malade,” and when liberated he is, of course, “guéri.” (Popular) Goujon d’----, _leech_.

HORIZONTALE, _f._ (familiar), _prostitute_, or “mot;” ---- de grande marque, _fashionable cocotte_, or “pretty horse-breaker.” For list of over one hundred and thirty synonyms, see GADOUE.

HORLOGER, _m._ (popular), avoir sa montre chez l’----, _to have one’s watch at the pawnbroker’s_, “in lug,” or “up the spout.”

HORREURS, _f. pl._ (popular), _broad talk_, or “blue talk.” Dire des ----, _to talk_ “smut.” Faire des ----, _to take liberties with women_, “to fiddle,” or “to slewther,” as the Irish have it.

HOSTO, or AUSTO (soldiers’ and thieves’), _prison_, or “stir,” see MOTTE; (popular) _house_, or “crib.”

HÔTEL, _m._ (popular), de la modestie, _poor lodgings_; ---- des haricots, _prison_, or “jug.” See MOTTE. Coucher à l’---- de la belle étoile, _to sleep in the open air, on mother Earth_, or “to skipper it.”

HOTTERIAU, HOTTERIOT, _m._ (popular), _rag-picker_, or “tot-picker.” From hotte, _wicker basket_.

HOUBLON, _m._ (popular), _tea_.

HOUPE DENTELÉE, _f._ (freemasons’), _ties of brotherhood_.

HOUSETTE, _f._ (thieves’), _boot_, or “daisy root.” Traîne-cul-les housettes, a _tatterdemalion_.

HOUSSINE, _f._ (thieves’), Jean de l’----, _stick_; _bludgeon_.

HOUSTE À LA PAILLE! (thieves’), _out with him!_

HUBIN, _m._ (thieves’), _dog_, or “tyke.”

Après, ils leur enseignent à aquiger certaines graisses pour empêcher que les hubins les grondent.--_Le Jargon de l’Argot._

HUBINS, _m. pl._ (old cant), _tramps who pretend to have been bitten by rabid dogs or wolves_.

Les hubins triment ordinairement avec une luque comme ils bient à Saint-Hubert.--_Le Jargon de l’Argot._

Saint Hubert was credited with the power of miraculously curing hydrophobia. There is still a church in Belgium, not far from Arlon, consecrated to Saint Hubert, to whose shrine rabid people (in more than one sense) repair to be cured.

HUGOLÂTRE, _m._ (familiar), _fanatical admirer of the works of V. Hugo_.

HUGREMENT (thieves’), _much_, or “neddy” (Irish).

HUILE, _f._ (general), _wine_; _suspicion_; ---- blonde, _beer_; ---- de bras, de poignet, _physical strength_; _work_, or “elbow grease;” ---- de cotret, _blows administered with a stick_; might be rendered by “stirrup-oil.” The _Dict. Comique_ has: “Huile de cotret, pour coups de bâton, bastonnade.”

Qu’ils vinssent vous frotter les épaules de l’huile de cotret.--_Don Quichotte._

Huile de mains, _money_, or “oil of palm.” For synonyms see QUIBUS. Pomper les huiles, _to drink wine to excess_, or “to swill.”

HUIT (theatrical), battre un ----, _to cut a caper_. (Familiar) Un ---- ressorts, _a handsome, well-appointed two-horse carriage_. (Military) Flanquer ---- et sept, _to give a man a fortnight’s arrest_.

Y m’a flanqué huit-et-sept à cause que j’avais égaré le bouchon de mon mousqueton.--=G. COURTELINE.=

HUÎTRES, _f. pl._ (popular), de gueux, _snails_; (thieves’) ---- de Varennes, _beans_.

HUÎTRIFIER (familiar), s’----, _to become commonplace and dull of intellect_. From huître, figuratively _a fool_.

HUMECTER (popular), s’---- les amygdales, la dalle du cou, or le pavillon, _to drink_, “to wet one’s whistle.” For synonyms see RINCER.

HUPPÉ, _adj._ (popular), daim ----, _rich person_, _one who is_ “well ballasted.”

HURE, _f._ (popular), _head_, or “tibby.” Properly _wild boar’s head_. See TRONCHE.

HURÉ, _adj._ (thieves’), _rich_, or “rag splawger.”

HURF, URF, _adj._ (general), c’est ----, _that’s excellent_, “tip-top, cheery, slap-up, first-chop, lummy, nap, jam, true marmalade, tsing-tsing.” Le monde ----, _world of fashion_.

HURLUBIER, _m._ (thieves’), _idiot_, or “go along;” _madman_, or “balmy cove;” _tramp_, or “pikey.”

Vous que le chaud soleil a teints, Hurlubiers dont les peaux bisettes, Ressemblent à l’or des gratins.

=RICHEPIN.=

HUSSARD, _m._ (popular), à quatre roues, _soldier of the train or army service corps_. Elixir de ----, _brandy_. (Popular and thieves’) Hussard de la guillotine, _gendarme on duty at executions_.

Il est venu pour sauver Madeleine ... mais comment?... les hussards de la guillotine sont là.--=BALZAC.=

Hussard de la veuve, _gendarme on duty at executions_.

Oui, c’est pour aujourd’hui, les hussards de la veuve (autre nom, nom terrible de la mécanique) sont commandés--=BALZAC.=

HUST-MUST (thieves’), _thank you very much_.

I

ICICAILLE, ICIGO (thieves’), _here_.

IENNA (Breton cant), _to deceive_, _impose upon_.

IERCHEM (roughs’), _to ease oneself_. A coarse word disguised. It is of “back slang” formation, with the termination em.

IERGUE, parler en ----, _to use the word as a suffix to other words_.

IGNORANTIN (common), _a “frère des Ecoles de la Doctrine chrétienne.”_ Thus called on account of their ignorance. They are lay brothers, and formerly had charge of what were termed in England ragged schools.

IGO (thieves’), _here_. La chamègue est ----, _the woman is here_.

IL (popular), y a de l’empile, or de l’empilage, _there is some trickery, unfair play, cheating_; ---- y a de l’empile, la peau alors! je me débine, _they are cheating, to the deuce then! I’ll go_; ---- y a des arêtes dans ce corps-là, _an euphemism to denote that a man makes his living off a prostitute’s earnings_, alluding to the epithet “poisson” applied to such creatures; ---- a plu sur sa mercerie _is said of a woman with thin skinny breasts_; ---- tombera une roue de votre voiture _is said of a person in too high spirits, to express an opinion that his mirth will soon receive a damper_. (Theatrical) Il pleut! _is used to denote that a play is a failure, that it is being hissed down_, or “damned.”

IL EST MIDI! (popular), _an exclamation used to warn one who is talking in the presence of strangers or others to be prudent and guarded in his speech_. It also means _it’s of no use, it is all in vain_.

ILLICO, _m._ (popular), _grog prepared on the sly by patients in hospitals, an extemporized medicine made of sugar, spirits, and tincture of cinnamon_.

IMBÉCILE À DEUX ROUES, _m._ (popular), _bicyclist_.

IMBIBER (popular), s’---- le jabot, _to drink_, “to wet one’s whistle.”

IMMOBILITÉ, _f._ (painters’), mercenaire de l’----, _model who makes a living by sitting to painters_.

IMPAIR, _m._ (familiar), faire un ----, _to make a blunder_, “to put one’s foot in it.” (Thieves’) Impair! _look out!_ ----, acré nous v’là noblés, _look out, be on your guard, we are recognized_.

IMPÉRATRICE, _f._, for impériale, _top of bus_.

IMPÈRE (popular), abbreviation of impériale, _or top of bus_.

IMPÉRIALE, _f._ (general), _tuft of hair on the chin_. Formerly termed “royale.” The word has passed into the language.

IMPORTANCE (general), d’----, _strongly_, _vigorously_. J’te vas le moucher d’----, _I’ll let him know a piece of my mind_; _I’ll snub him_.

IMPÔT, _m._ (thieves’), _autumn_.

IMPRESSIONISME, _m._ (familiar), _school of artists who paint nature according to the personal impression they receive_. Some carry the process too far, perhaps, for if their retina conveys to them an impression that a horse, for instance, is indigo or ultramarine, they will reproduce the image in Oxford or Cambridge blue on the canvas. Needless to say, the result is sometimes startling.

IMPRESSIONISTE, _m._, _painter of the school called_ impressionisme (which see).

IMPURE, _f._ (familiar), _kept woman_, or “demi-rep.” For the list of synonyms see GADOUE.

INCOMMODE, _m._ (thieves’), _lantern_, _lamp-post_. Properly _inconvenient_, thieves being lovers of darkness.

INCOMMODÉ, _adj._ (thieves’), être ----, _to be taken red-handed_, _to be_ “nabbed” _in the act_.

INCONOBRÉ, _m. and adj._ (thieves’), _stranger_; _unknown_.

INCROYABLE, _m._ (familiar), _dandy under the Directoire at the end of the last century_. The appellation was given to swells of that period on account of their favourite expression, “C’est incroyable!” pronounced c’est incoyable, according to their custom of leaving out the r, or giving it the sound of w. For synonyms see GOMMEUX.

INDEX (popular), travailler à l’----, _to work at reduced wages_.

INDICATEUR, _m._ (general), _spy in the pay of the police_, “nark.” Generally a street hawker, sometimes a thief.

Il y a deux genres d’indicateurs: les indicateurs sur place, tels que les marchands de chaînes de sûreté et les marchands d’aiguilles, bimbelotiers d’occasion, faux aveugles, etc., et les indicateurs errants: marchands de balais, faux infirmes, musiciens ambulants: ... Il y avait, sous l’empire, des indicateurs jusque dans le haut commerce parisien.--_Mémoires de Monsieur Claude._

INDICATRICE, _f._ (familiar), _female spy in the employ of the police_.

INDIGENT, _m._ (bus conductors’), _outside passenger on a bus_. Thus termed on account of the outside fare being half that inside. Indigent, properly _pauper_.

INEXPRESSIBLES, _m. pl._ (familiar), from the English, _trousers_.

INFANTERIE, _f._ (popular), entrer dans l’----, _to become pregnant_, or “lumpy.” Compare with the English expression “infantry,” a nursery term for _children_.

INFECT, _adj._ (general), _utterly bad_. The expression is applied to anything. Ce cigare est ----, _that cigar is rank_. Ce livre est ----, _that book is worthless_. Un ---- individu, _a contemptible individual_.

INFECTADOS, _m._ (familiar), _cheap cigar_, “cabbage leaf.”

INFÉRIEUR, _adj._ (popular), cela m’est ----, _that is all the same to me_.

INFIRME, _m._ (popular), _clumsy fellow_.

Ils sonnèrent tant bien que mal ces infirmes, et les gens accoururent au tapage.--=L. CLADEL=, _Ompdraillés_.

INGRAT, _m._ (thieves’), _clumsy thief_.

INGURGITER SON BILAN (popular), _to die_, or “to snuff it.” See PIPE.

INODORE, _adj._ (familiar), soyez calme et ----, _be cool_; _don’t get excited_; _be calm_; _be decorous_, or, as the Americans say, “pull your jacket down.”

INOUISME, _m._ (familiar), ruisselant d’----, _extraordinarily fine_, _good_, _dashing_, “slap up, or tzing tzing.”

INSÉPARABLES, _m. pl._ (familiar), _cigars sold at fifteen centimes a couple_.

INSINUANT, _m._ (thieves’), _apothecary_; _one who performs, or used to perform, the_ “clysterium donare” _of Molière_.

INSINUANTE, _f._ (thieves’), _syringe_.

INSINUATION, _f._ (thieves’), _clyster_.

INSOLPÉ, _m. and adj._ (thieves’), _insolent_, “cheeky.”

INSPECTEUR DES PAVÉS, _m._ (popular), _workman out of work_, or “out of collar.”

INSTITUTRICE, _f._ (popular), _female who keeps a brothel_; _the mistress of an_ “academy.”

INSTRUIT, _adj._ (thieves’), être ----, _to be a skilful thief_, a “gonnof.”

INSURGÉ DE ROMILLY, _m._ (popular), _lump of excrement_, or “quaker.”

INTERLOQUER (soldiers’), _to talk_. Je vais aller en ---- avec le marchichef, _I will talk about it to the quartermaster sergeant_.

INTERVER, ENTRAVER (thieves’), _to understand_. Je n’entrave que le dail, _I do not understand_, _I don’t_ “twig.” Interver dans les vannes, _to allow oneself to be_ “stuffed up,” _to be_ “bamboozled.”

INTIME, _m._ (theatrical), _man who is paid to applaud at a theatre_. Termed also “romain.”

INTRANSIGEANT, _m._ (familiar), _politician of extreme opinions who will not sacrifice an iota of his programme_. The reverse of opportuniste.

INUTILE, _m._ (thieves’), _notary public_.

INVALO, _m._ (popular), for invalide, _pensioner of the “Hôtel des Invalides,” a home for old or disabled soldiers_.

INVITE, _f._ (popular), faire une ---- à l’as _is said of a woman who makes advances to a man_.

INVITEUSE, _f._ (general), _waitress at certain cafés termed_ “caboulots.” Her duties, besides serving the customers, consist in getting herself treated by them to any amount of liquor; but, to prevent accidents, the drinks intended for the inviteuse are generally water or some mild alcoholic mixture. The inviteuse often plies also another trade--that of a semi-prostitute.

IOT FETIS (Breton cant), _porridge of buckwheat flour_.

IOULC’H (Breton cant), _giddy girl_.

IOULC’HA (Breton cant), _to play the giddy girl_.

IPÉCA, _m._ (military), le père ----, _the regimental surgeon_.

IRLANDE, _f._ (thieves’), envoyer en ----, _to send anything from prison_.

IRRÉCONCILIABLE, _m._ (familiar), _member of the opposition under Napoleon III_.

ISGOURDE, _f._ (popular), _ear_, “wattle,” or “lug.”

ISOLAGE, _m._ (thieves’), _abandonment_; _leaving in the lurch_.

ISOLER (thieves’), _to forsake_.

ISOLOIR, _m._ (familiar), se mettre sur l’----, _to forsake one’s friends_.

ITALIAN (Breton cant), _rum_.

ITALIQUE, _f._ (popular), avoir les jambes en ----, _to be bandy-legged_. Pincer son ----, _to reel about_.

ITOU, _adv._ (popular), _also_. Moi ----, _I too_.

ITRER (thieves’), _to have_.

J’itre mouchaillé le babillard.--_Le Jargon de l’Argot._ (_I have looked at the book._)

IVOIRES, _f._ (popular), _teeth_, “ivories.” Faire un effet d’----, _to show one’s teeth_, “to flash one’s ivories.”

IZABEL (Breton cant), _brandy_.

J

JABOT, _m._ (popular), _stomach_, or “bread-basket.” Meant formerly _heart_, _breast_. Chouette ----, _fine breasts_. Faire son ----, _to eat_.

JACQUE, _m._ (thieves’), _a sou_.

JACQUELINE, _f._ (soldiers’), _cavalry sword_.

JACQUES, _m._ (thieves’), _crowbar_, “James, or the stick.” (Military) Faire le ----, _to manœuvre_.

JACTANCE, _f._ (thieves’ and cads’), _speech_, _talking_, “jaw.” Properly _silly conceit_. Caleter la ----, _to stop talking_, “to put a clapper to one’s jaw.” Quelle sale ---- il a! _how he does talk!_ Faire la ----, _to talk_, “to jaw;” _to question_, or “cross-kid.”

JACTER (popular and thieves’), _to speak_, “to rap;” _to cry out_; _to slander_. Meant formerly _to boast_.

JACTEUR, _m._ (popular), _speaker_.

JAFFE, _f._ (popular), _soup_; _box on the ear_. Refiler une ----, _to box one’s ears_. (Thieves’) Jaffes, _cheeks_, or “chops.”

JAFFIER, _m._ (thieves’), _garden_, or “smelling cheat.”

JAFFIN, _m._ (thieves’), _gardener_. Termed in English slang “master of the mint.”

JALUZOT, _m._ (general), _umbrella_, or “rain-napper, mush, or gingham.” From the name of the proprietor of the “Printemps,” who, being a wealthy man, said to his shopmen that he had not the means to buy an umbrella. So goes an idiotic song:--

Il n’a pas de Jaluzot, Ça va bien quand il fait beau, Mais quand il tombe de l’eau, Il est trempé jusqu’aux os.

JAMBE, _f._ (popular), de vin, _intoxication_. S’en aller sur une ----, _to drink only a glass or a bottle of wine_. (Thieves’) Jambe en l’air (obsolete), _the gallows_, “scrag, nobbing-cheat, or government signpost.” (Familiar and popular) Lever la ----, _to dance the cancan_, see CHAHUT; _is said also of a girl who leads a fast, disreputable sort of life_. Faire ---- de vin had formerly the signification of _to drink heavily_, “to swill.”

Dès ce matin, messieurs, j’ai fait jambe de vin. --=LA RAPINIÈRE.=

Jambes de coq, _thin legs_, “spindle-shanks.” Jambes de coton, _weak legs_. Jambes en manche de veste, _bandy legs_. (Military) Sortir sur les jambes d’un autre, _to be confined to barracks or to the guard-room_.

JAMBINET, _m._ (railway porters’), _coffee with brandy_.

JAMBON, _m._ (popular), _violin_. (Military) Faire un ----, _to break one’s musket_, a crime sometimes punished by incorporation in the compagnies de discipline in Africa.

JAMBONNEAU, _m._ (popular), ne plus avoir de chapelure sur le ----, _to be bald_. For synonymous terms see AVOIR.

JAMBOT, _m._ (obsolete), _penis_. The term is used by Villon.

JAPPE, _f._ (popular), _prattling_, “jaw.” Tais ta ----, _hold your_ “jaw,” “put a clapper to your mug,” or “don’t shoot off your mouth” (American).

JAPPER (popular), _to scream_, _to squall_.

JARDIN, _m._ (popular), faire du ----, _to quiz_, “to carry on.”

JARDINAGE, _m._ (popular), _running down_, _slandering_.

JARDINER (thieves’ and cads’), _to slander_; _to run down_; _to quiz_.

Les gonciers qui nous jardinent, I’ s’ront vraiment j’tés.

=RICHEPIN.=

Jardiner quelqu’un, _to make one talk so as to elicit his secrets from him_, _to_ “pump” _one_.

JARDINEUR, _m._ (popular and thieves’), _man who seeks to discover a secret_; _inquisitive man, a kind of_ “Paul Pry.”

JARDINIER, _m._ (thieves’), see JARDINEUR; _a thief who operates in the manner described at the word_ “charriage.”

JARGOLLE, or JERGOLE, _f._ (thieves’), _Normandy_.

JARGOLLIER, _m._ (thieves’), _a native of Normandy_.

JARGOUILLER (thieves’), _to talk incoherently_.

JARGUER (thieves’). See JARS.

JARNAFFE, _f._ (thieves’), _garter_.

JARRETIÈRE, _f._ (thieves’), _watch chain_, or “slang.”

JARS, _m._ (thieves’), _cant_, or “flash.” Dévider, jaspiner le ----, or jarguer, _to talk cant_, “to patter flash.” Entraver or enterver le ----, _to understand cant_. The language of thieves is also termed “thieves’ Latin,” as appears from the following quotation:--

“Go away,” I heard her say, “there’s a dear man,” and then something about a “queer cuffin,” that’s a justice in these canters’ thieves’ Latin.--=KINGSLEY=, _Westward Ho_.

Entendre le ---- had formerly the signification of _to be cunning_.

JARVILLAGE, _m._ (thieves’), _conversation_; _dirt_. An illustrious Englishman, whose name I forget, gave once the definition of dirt as “matter in the wrong place.”

JARVILLER (thieves’), _to converse_, “to rap;” _to dirty_.

JASANTE, _f._ (thieves’), _prayer_.

JASER (thieves’), _to pray_.

JASPIN, or GY (thieves’), _yes_, or “usher.”

Y a-t-il un castu dans cette vergne? Jaspin.--_Le Jargon de l’Argot_. (_Is there an hospital in this country? Yes._)

The word has also the meaning of _chat_, _language_, “jaw.”

J’ai bien que’qu’ part un camerluche Qu’est dab dans la magistrat’muche. Son jaspin esbloque les badauds.

=RICHEPIN.=

JASPINEMENT, _m._ (thieves’), _barking of a dog_.

JASPINER (thieves’), _to talk_, _to speak_, “to rap, to patter.” Termed also “débagouler, dévider, gazouiller, jacter, jardiner, baver, tenir le crachoir;” ---- bigorne, _to talk in slang_, “to patter flash.” Le cabe jaspine, _the dog barks_. Jaspiner de l’orgue, _to inform against_, “to blow the gaff.”

JASPINEUR, _m._ (thieves’), _talker_; _orator_.