Part 37
MARDI S’IL FAIT CHAUD (popular), _never_ (obsolete), _at Doomsday_, “when the devil is blind.”
MARE, or MARIOLLE, _adj._ (popular and thieves’), _clever_, _sharp_, _cunning_, “leary,” _or one who is_ “fly to wot’s wot.”
MARÉCAGEUX, _adj._ (popular), œil ----, _eye with languid expression_, _with a killing glance_.
MARGAUDER (familiar), _to run down a person or thing_.
MARGOULETTE, _f._ (popular), rincer la ---- à quelqu’un, _to treat one to drink_. Débrider la ----, _to eat_, “to put one’s nose in the manger.” See MASTIQUER. Déboîter la ---- à quelqu’un, _to damage one’s countenance_. Mettre la ---- en compote, _superlative of above_.
MARGOULIN, _m._ (commercial travellers’), _retailer_.
Margoulinage (commercial travellers’), _retailing_.
MARGOULINER (commercial travellers’), _to retail_.
MARGOULIS, _m._ (popular), _scandal_.
MARGUERITES, _f. pl._ (popular), or ---- de cimetière, _white hairs in the beard_.
MARGUILLIER DE BOURRACHE, _m._ (thieves’), _juryman_. This expression is connected with “fièvre chaude,” or _accusation_, borage tea being given to patients in cases of fever.
MARGUINCHON, _f._ (popular), _dissolute girl_, a “regular bitch.”
MARIAGE, _m._ (popular), à l’Anglaise, _marriage of a couple who, directly after the ceremony, separate and live apart_; ---- d’Afrique, or ---- à la détrempe, _cohabitation of a couple living as man and wife_, _of a pair who live_ “tally.” From “peindre à la détrempe,” _to paint in distemper_. Compare the English expression, “wife in water-colours,” or mistress.
MARIANNE, _f._ (popular), la ----, _the Republic_. (Thieves’) Marianne, _guillotine_. See VOYANTE.
MARIASSE, _m._ (popular), _scamp_, “bad egg.”
MARIDA, _f._ (cads’ and thieves’), _married woman_.
MARIE-JE-M’EMBÊTE (popular), faire sa ----, _to make many ceremonies_; _to allow oneself to be begged repeatedly_.
MARIE-MANGE-MON-PRÊT, _f._ (military), _mistress_. Literally _Mary spends my pay_.
MARIN, _m._ (popular), d’eau douce, _one who sports a river-boat_; ---- de la Vierge Marie, _river or canal bargee_.
MARINGOTTE, _f._ (popular), _mountebank’s show-waggon_, or “slang.”
MARIOL, MARIOLLE, _adj. and m._ (popular and thieves’), _cunning_, “downy, or fly to wot’s wot.”
MARIOLISME, _m._ (popular and thieves’), _cunning_.
MARIOLLE, _m. and adj._ (popular and thieves’), _cunning, knowing man_, _a deep or artful one_, “one who has been put up to the hour of day, who is fly to wot’s wot.” Termed also a “file,” originally a term for a pickpocket, when _to file_ was to cheat and to rob.
C’est d’nature, on a ça dans l’sang: J’suis paillasson! c’est pas d’ma faute, Je m’fais pas plus marioll’ qu’un aut’e: Mon pèr’ l’était; l’Emp’reur autant!
=GILL=, _La Muse à Bibi_.
MARIONNETTE, _f._ (popular), _soldier_, or “grabby.”
MARI ROBIN (Breton cant), _gendarmes_.
MARLOU, _m. and adj._ (general), _prostitute’s bully_, “ponce, or pensioner.” See POISSON.
Les marlous qui soutiennent les filles en carte, les insoumises du trottoir et les femmes des maisons de bas étage, ne se contentent pas de rançonner ces malheureuses qu’ils appellent leur marmite, leur dabe; ils détroussent sans cesse les passants et assassinent pour s’entretenir la main.--=LÉO TAXIL.=
MARLOU, _cunning_, “downy.”
La viscope en arrière et la trombine au vent L’œil marlou, il entra chez le zingue.
=RICHEPIN.=
(Thieves’) Le -- de Charlotte, _the executioner_, nicknamed Charlot.
MARLOUPATTE, or MARLOUPIN, _m._ (popular), _prostitute’s bully_, or “petticoat’s pensioner.”
Ce marloupatte pâle et mince Se nommait simplement Navet; Mais il vivait ainsi qu’un prince ... Il aimait les femmes qu’on rince.
=RICHEPIN.=
MARLOUPIN, _m._ (popular and thieves’), _prostitute’s male associate_, “pensioner, petticoat’s pensioner, Sunday man, prosser, or ponce.” See POISSON.
Quand on paie en monnai’ d’singe Nous aut’ marloupins, Les sal’s michetons qu’a pas d’linge, On les pass’ chez paings.
=RICHEPIN.=
MARLOUSIER. See MARLOUPIN.
MARMIER, _m._ (thieves’), _shepherd_.
MARMITE, _f._ (bullies’), _mistress of a bully_. Literally _flesh-pot_. The allusion is obvious, as the bully lives on the earnings of his associate.
Un souteneur sans sa marmite (sa maîtresse) est un ouvrier sans travail, ... pour lui tout est là: fortune, bonheur, amour, si ce n’est pas profaner ce dernier mot que de lui donner une acception quelconque à l’égard du souteneur.--_Mémoires de Canler._
Marmite de terre, _prostitute who does not pay her bully_; ---- de cuivre, _one who brings in a good income_; ---- de fer, _one who only brings in a moderate one_. (Military) La ---- est en deuil, _the fare is scanty at present, that is, the flesh-pot is empty_.
MARMITON DE DOMANGE, _m._ (popular), _scavenger employed in emptying cesspools_, or “gold-finder.” Domange was a great contractor in the employ of the city authorities.
MARMOT, _m._ (thieves’), nourrir un ----, _to make preparations for a robbery_, “to lay a plant.” Literally _to feed, to nurse a child_.
MARMOTTIER, _m._ (popular), _a native of Savoy_. Literally _one who goes about exhibiting a marmot_.
MARMOUSE, _f._ (thieves’), _beard_.
MARMOUSET, _m._ (thieves’), _flesh-pot_. Le ---- riffode, _the pot is boiling_.
MARMOUSIN, _m._ (popular), _child_, or “kid.”
MARMYON, _m._ (thieves’), _flesh-pot_, and figuratively _purse_.
MARNE, _f._ (popular), faire la ----, _is said of prostitutes who prowl about the river-side_.
MARNER (popular), _to steal_, or “to nick.” See GRINCHIR. Marner, _to work hard_, “to sweat.”
MARNEUR, _m._ (popular), _strong, active labourer_.
MARNEUSE, _f._ (popular), _prostitute of the lowest class who plies her trade by the river-side_. See GADOUE.
MARON, or MARRON, _adj._ (thieves’), _caught in the act_.
Non, il n’est pas possible, disait l’un; pour prendre ainsi “marons” les voleurs, il faut qu’il s’entende avec eux.--=VIDOCQ.=
MARON, or MURON, _salt_.
MARONNER (thieves’), _to fail_. Une affaire maronnée, _fruitless attempt at robbery_.
Il y a du renaud à l’affaire de la chique, elle est maronnée, le dabe est revenu.--=VIDOCQ.= (_There is some trouble about the job at the church, it has failed, father is returned._)
MAROT, _adj._ (popular), _cunning_; “up to snuff, one who knows wot’s wot, one who has been put up to the hour of day, one who knows what’s o’clock, leary.”
MAROTTIER, _m._ (thieves’), _hawker_, or “barrow-man;” _pedlar travelling about the country selling stuffs, neckerchiefs, &c., to country people_. Termed, in the English cant, a “dudder” or “dudsman.” “In selling a waistcoat-piece,” says the _Slang Dictionary_, “which cost him perhaps five shillings, for thirty shillings or two pounds, he would show great fear of the revenue officer, and beg the purchasing clodhopper to kneel down in a puddle of water, crook his arm, and swear that it might never become straight if he told an exciseman, or even his own wife. The term and practice are nearly obsolete. In Liverpool, however, and at the East-end of London, men dressed up as sailors, with pretended silk handkerchiefs and cigars, ‘only just smuggled from the Indies,’ are still to be plentifully found.”
MARPAUT, or MARPEAU, _m._ (old cant), _man_; _master of a house_ (obsolete).
Pour n’offenser point le marpaut, Afin qu’il ne face deffaut De foncer à l’appointement.
_Le Pasquil de la rencontre des Cocus._
The word was formerly used by the Parisians with the signification of _fool_, _greenhorn_, _loafer_.
Marpaud. Mot de Paris, pour sot, niais, nigaut, badaud.--=LE ROUX=, _Dict. Comique_.
Again, Cotgrave renders it as _an ill-favoured scrub, a little ugly, or swarthy wretch_; _also a lickorous or saucy fellow_; _one that catches at whatever dainties come in his way_. Michel makes the remark that morpion (_crab-louse_, a popular injurious term) must be derived from marpaut.
MARQUANT, _m._ (thieves’), _man_; _master_; _chief of a gang_, or “dimber damber;” _women’s bully_, or “Sunday man,” see POISSON; _drunkard, or one who gets_ “canon.”
MARQUE, _f._ (familiar), horizontale de grande ----, _very fashionable cocotte_. Horizontale de petite ----, _the ordinary sort of cocottes_.
Décidément je ne sais quelle ardeur guerrière a soufflé sur nos horizontales de grande marque et de petite marque, mais depuis un mois nous avons à enregistrer un nouveau combat singulier dont elles sont les héroïnes.--_Le Figaro_, Oct., 1886.
(Thieves’) Marque, _girl_, or “titter;” _woman_, “laced mutton, hay-bag, cooler, shakester;” _prostitute_, or “bunter;” _month_, or “moon.” Il a été messiadien à six marques pour pégrasse, _he has been sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for theft_. Six marques, _six months_, or “half a stretch.” Une ---- de cé, _a thief’s wife_. Termed, in old cant, “autem-mort;” autem, _a church_, and mort, _woman_. Marque franche, or marquise, _a thief’s female associate_, or “mollisher.” Concerning this expression, Michel says:--
On trouve dans l’ancienne germania espagnole “marca, marquida et marquisa” avec le sens de “femme publique.”--_Dict. d’Argot._
Quart de ----, _week_. Tirer six marques, _to be imprisoned for six months_, “to do half a stretch, or a sixer.”
MARQUÉ, _m. and adj._ (thieves’), _month_, “moon.” From the Italian marchese. Concerning this word, Michel says:--
Il ne saurait être douteux que ce nom ne soit venu à cette division de l’année, de l’infirmité périodique qu’ont les “marques” ou femmes, “lors que la Lune, pour tenir sa diette et vaquer à ses purifications menstruelles, fait marquer les logis féminins par son fourrier, lequel pour escusson n’a que son impression rouge.”--_Dict. d’Argot._
(Popular) Etre ----, _to have a black eye_, or “mouse.” (Printers’) Marqué à la fesse, _tiresome, over-particular man_.
MARQUE-MAL, _m._ (printers’), _one who receives the folios from the printing machine_; (popular) _an ugly man_, _one with a_ “knocker face.”
MARQUER (popular), à la fourchette _is said of a restaurant or coffee-house keeper who adds imaginary items to a bill_; ---- le coup, _to clink glasses when drinking_. Bien ----, _to show a good appearance_, marquer mal being the reverse. Ne plus ----, _is said of a woman who is past her prime_; that is, who no longer has her menses. (Thieves’) Marquer, _to have the appearance of a man in good circumstances_.
MARQUIN, _m._ (thieves’), _hat or cap_, “tile.” See TUBARD.
MARQUIS D’ARGENTCOURT, _m._ (popular), or de la Bourse Plate, _needy and vain-glorious man_.
MARQUISE, _f._ (familiar), _kind of mulled white claret_; (thieves’) _wife_, or “raclan.”
Nouzailles pairons notre proie, A ta marquise d’un baiser, A toi d’un coup d’arpion au proye.
=RICHEPIN.=
MARRAINE, _f._ (thieves’), _female witness_.
MARRE, _f._ (popular), _amusement_. Etre à la ----, _to be joyously inclined_; _to amuse oneself_. J’en ai pris une ----, _I have enjoyed myself_.
MARRER (popular), se ----, _to amuse oneself_; _to be amused_. Pensez si je me marre? Mince! _Don’t I get amused, just!_
MARRON, or MARON, _adj._ (popular), sculpté, _grotesque, ugly face_, or “knocker-head.” Cocher ----, “cabby” _without a licence_. Etre ----, _to be taken in_, “bamboozled.” (Military) Marron, _report of an officer who goes the rounds_; (printers’) _clandestine print_; also _compositor working on his own account at a printer’s, who furnishes him with the necessary plant for a consideration_. (Thieves’) Paumer or pommer ----, _to catch in the act_, _red-handed_.
On la crible à la grive, Je m’la donne et m’esquive, Elle est pommée marron.
=VIDOCQ.=
(Thieves’) Etre servi ----, _to be caught in the act_.
Que je sois servie marron au premier messière que je grinchirai si je lui en ouvre simplement la bouche.--=VIDOCQ.=
MARRONNER, or MARONNER (thieves’), un grinchissage, _to make an unsuccessful attempt at a robbery through lack of skill or due precautions_. Maronner, _to suspect_.
Je maronne que la roulotte de Pantin trime dans le sabri.--=V. HUGO=, _Les Misérables_. (_I suspect that the Paris mail-coach is going through the wood._)
MARSEILLAISE, _f._ (popular), _short pipe_, or “cutty,” called “dudeen” by the Irish. Avoir une ---- dans le kiosque, _to be_ “cracked.” For synonyms see AVOIR.
Enfin, pour sûr la politique lui aura tourné la tête! Il a une Marseillaise dans le kiosque.--_Baumaine et Blondelet._
MARSOUIN, _m._ (popular), _smuggler_; (military) _marine_, or “jolly.” Literally _porpoise_.
MARTIN, _m._ (popular), fournir ----, _to wear furs_. “Martin” is the equivalent of “Bruin.” Le mal Saint-Martin had formerly the signification of _intoxication_. An allusion to the sale of wine at fairs held on Saint Martin’s day.
MARTINET, _m._ (thieves’), _punishment irons used at the penal servitude settlements_. Properly _a cat-o’-nine tails_.
MARTINGALIER, _m._ (gamblers’), _gamester who imagines he is master of an infallible process for winning_.
C’est un martingalier. C’est un des abstracteurs de quintessence moderne, qui s’imaginent avoir trouvé la marche infaillible pour faire sauter les banques.--=RICHEPIN.=
MARTYR, _m._ (military), _corporal_. Termed also “chien de l’escouade.”
MASCOTTE, _f._, _gambler’s fetish_.
MASQUER EN ALEZAN (horsedealers’), _to paint a horse so as to deceive purchasers_. Termed also “maquiller un gayet.” Among other dishonest practices, horsedealers play improper tricks with an animal to make him look lively: they “fig” him, the “fig” being a piece of wet ginger placed under a horse’s tail for the purpose of making him appear lively, and enhance his price.
MASSAGE, _m._ (popular), _work_, “graft,” or “elbow grease.”
MASSE, _f._ (military), avoir la ---- complète, _to possess a well-filled purse_. La ---- noire, _mysterious cash-box, supposed, by suspicious soldiers, to enclose the proceeds of unlawful profits made at the expense of the aforesaid by non-commissioned officers entrusted with the victualling or clothing department_. (Thieves’ and cads’) Masse, _work_, “graft,” or “elbow grease.”
MASSER (popular and thieves’), _to work_, “to graft.”
Tu sais, j’dis ça à ton copain, Pa’c’que j’vois qu’ c’est un gonc’ qui boude, Mais entre nous, mon vieux lapin, J’ai jamais massé qu’à l’ver l’coude.
=RICHEPIN.=
MASSEUR, _m._ (popular), _active workman_.
MASTAR AU GRAS-DOUBLE, _f._ (thieves’), faire la ----, or la faire au mastar, _to steal lead off roofs_, “to fly the blue pigeon.”
MASTARÉ, _adj._ (thieves’), _leaden_.
MASTAROUFLEUR, _m._ (thieves’), _one who steals lead_, a “bluey cracker.”
MASTIC, _m._ (freemasons’), _bread or meat_; (popular) _deceit_. Péter sur le ----, _to forsake work_. (Thieves’) Mastic, _man_, or “cove;” (printers’) _long, entangled speech_; (theatrical) _painting and otherwise making-up one’s face_. Faire son ----, _to paint one’s face_, “to stick slap on.”
C’est l’ensemble de ces travaux de badigeon qui constitue le mastic. Un mastic consciencieux exige près d’une heure de peine.--=P. MAHALIN.=
MASTIQUER (popular), _to cobble_; (familiar and popular) _to eat_, “to grub,” “to yam.” It seems this latter term is connected with the word _yam_, the English name of the large edible tuber _Dioscorea_, a corruption of the name used in the West Indies at the time of the discovery, _iniama_ or _inhame_. With regard to the expression the _Slang Dictionary_ says:--“This word is used by the lowest class all over the world; by the Wapping sailor, West Indian negro, or Chinese coolie. When the fort called the ‘Dutch Folly,’ near Canton, was in course of erection by the Hollanders, under the pretence of being intended for an hospital, the Chinese observed a box containing muskets among the alleged hospital stores. ‘Hy-aw!’ exclaimed John Chinaman, ‘how can sick man yam gun?’ The Dutch were surprised and massacred the same night.” The synonyms for the term _to eat_, in the various kinds of French slang, are the following: “Tortiller du bec, becqueter, béquiller, chiquer, bouffer, boulotter, taper sur les vivres, pitancher, passer à la tortore, tortorer, se l’envoyer, casser la croustille, briffer, brouter, se caler, se calfater le bec, mettre de l’huile dans la lampe, se coller quelque chose dans le fanal, dans le fusil, or dans le tube, chamailler des dents, jouer des badigoinces, jouer des dominos, déchirer la cartouche, gobichonner, engouler, engueuler, friturer, gonfler, morfiaillier, cacher, se mettre quelque chose dans le cadavre, se lester la cale, se graisser les balots, se caresser l’Angoulême, friper, effacer, travailler pour M. Domange, clapoter, débrider la margoulette, croustiller, charger pour la Guadeloupe, travailler pour Jules, se faire le jabot, jouer des osanores.”
MASTIQUEUR, _m._ (popular), _cobbler_.
MASTROC, MASTRO, or MASTROQUET, _m._ (popular), _landlord of wine-shop_. Termed also “bistrot, troquet, mannezingue, empoisonneur.”
Tout récemment, j’étais à la Bourbe, allé voir Une fille, de qui chez un mastroc, un soir, J’avais fait connaissance.
=GILL.=
MATA, _m._ (printers’), abbreviation of matador, _swaggerer_, one who “bulldozes,” as the Americans say.
MATADOR, _m._ (popular), faire son ----, _to give oneself airs_; _to swagger_, _to look_ “botty.” From the Spanish matador, _bull-killer_.
MATAGOT, _m._ (obsolete), _funny eccentric individual who amuses people by his antics_. Rabelais used it with the signification of _monkey_, _monk_:--
Ci n’entrez pas, hypocrites, bigots, Vieux matagots, mariteux, boursoflé.
_Gargantua._
MATATANE, _f._ (military), _guard-room_; _cells_, “mill, jigger, or Irish theatre.”
MATELAS, _m._ (popular), ambulant, _street-walker_, or “bed-fagot.” See GADOUE.
MATELASSER (popular), se ----, _is said of a woman who makes up for nature’s niggardliness by padding her bodice_.
MATELOT, _m._ (sailors’), _chum_, _mate_.
MATELOTE, _f._ (sailors’), trimer à la ----, _to be a sailor_.
Et de Nantes jusqu’à Bordeaux, Trime à la matelote, N’ayant qu’un tricot sur le dos, Et pour fond de culotte Le drap d’sa peau.
=RICHEPIN=, _La Mer_.
MATELUCHE, _m._ (sailors’), _bad sailor_.
MATÉRIAUX, _m. pl._ (freemasons’), _food_.
MATÉRIELLE, _f._ (gamesters’), _one’s bread and cheese_.
Et alors, quelques malheureux pontes ... se sont livres au terrible travail qui consiste à gagner avec des cartes le pain quotidien, ce que les joueurs appellent la matérielle.--=BELOT=, _La Bouche de Madame X_.
MATERNELLE, _f._ (students’), _mother_, “mater.”
MATHURIN, _m._ (sailors’), _sailor_, “salt, or Jack tar.” Termed also “otter;” _wooden man-o’-war_. Parler ----, _to speak the slang of sailors_.
Je ne suis pas de ces vieux frères premier brin Qui devant qu’être nés parlaient jà mathurin, Au ventre de leur mère apprenant ce langage, Roulant à son roulis, tanguant à son tangage.
=RICHEPIN.=
(Thieves’) Les mathurins, _dice_, or “ivories.” (Popular) Mathurins plats, _dominoes_.
Ces objets doivent leur nom d’argot à leur ressemblance avec le costume des Trinitaires, vulgairement appelés Mathurins, qui chez nous portaient une soutane de serge blanche, sur laquelle, quand ils sortaient, ils jetaient un manteau noir.--=MICHEL.=
MATIGNON, _m._ (thieves’), _messenger_.
MATOIS, or MATOUAS, _m._ (thieves’), _morning_.
Le condé de Nanterre et un quart d’œil, suivis d’un trèpe de cuisiniers sont aboulés ce matois à la taule.--=VIDOCQ.= (_The mayor of Nanterre and a commissaire de police, followed by a body of police, came this morning to the house._)
MATOU, _m._ (popular), _man who is fond of the petticoat_. Bon ----, _libertine_, “rattle-cap,” or “molrower.” Literally _a good tomcat_.
MATRAQUE, _m._ (soldiers’ in Africa), _bludgeon_.
Nous avions brûlé le pays. Vous dire pourquoi, j’en serais bien en peine: une poule volée à un colon influent, un coup de matraque appliqué par un Bédouin ruiné sur la tête d’un Juif voleur ... et pif, paf, boum, coups de fusils, obus.--=HECTOR FRANCE=, _Sous le Burnous_.
MATRICULER (military), _to steal_; said ironically, as “le numéro matricule,” borne by a soldier’s effects, is the only proof of ownership. Se faire ----, _to get punished_, “to be shopped.”
MÂTS, _m. pl._ (thieves’), les deux ----, _the guillotine_. See VOYANTE.
MATTE, _f._ (thieves’), enfant de la ----, _thief_, a “family-man.” For synonyms see GRINCHE. Michel says matte is derived from the Italian mattia, _folly_; so that “enfants de la matte” signifies literally _children of folly_.
MATURBES, _m. pl._ (thieves’), _dice_, or “ivories.” Jouer des ----, _to eat_, “to grub.”
MAUBE, _f._ (popular), Place ----, for _Place Maubert_, a low quarter of Paris.
MAUGRÉE, _m._ (thieves’), _governor of a prison_. From maugréer, _to grumble_.
MAURICAUD, _m._ (thieves’), _cash-box_, “peter.”
Il faut tomber sur ce mauricaud, et selon moi ce n’est pas la chose du monde la plus facile.--=VIDOCQ.= (_We must find the cash-box, and in my opinion it is not the easiest thing in the world._)
MAUVAISE (general), elle est ----! _bad joke!_ _bad trick!_ “sawdust and treacle!” _none of that!_ “draw it mild!”
MAUVE, _f._ (popular), _umbrella of a reddish colour_, _a kind of_ “gingham.”
MAUVIETTE, _f._ (popular), _ribbon of a decoration in the button-hole_.
MAYEUX, _m._ (popular), _humpback_, or “lord.” Name given to a caricatured individual, a humpback, who appears in many of the coloured caricatures of 1830. Mayeux is a form of the old name Mahieu (Mathieu).
MAZAGRAN, _m._ (general), _coffee served up in a glass at cafés, or mixture of coffee and water_.
MAZARO, or LAZARO, _m._ (military), CELLS, “jigger,” Irish theatre, or mill.
MAZE, _f._ (thieves’), abbreviation of _Mazas, a central prison in Paris_. Tirer un congé à la ----, _to serve a term of imprisonment in Mazas_.
MAZETTE, _f._ (military), _recruit_, or “Johnny raw;” _man_, or “cove.”
MEC, or MEG, _m._ (thieves’), _master_; _chief_, “dimber damber.”
Bravo, mec! faisons lui son affaire et renquillons à la taule, je cane la pégrenne.--=VIDOCQ.= (_Bravo, chief, let us do for him, and let us return home, I am dying of hunger._)
(Popular and thieves’) Mec, _women’s bully_, or “ponce.” See POISSON. Un ---- à la redresse, _good, straightforward man_. Le ---- des mecs, _the Almighty_.
Voyons, daronne ... il ne faut pas jeter à ses paturons le bien que le mec des mecs nous envoie.--=VIDOCQ.= (_Come, mother, we must not throw at our feet the good things which the Almighty sends us._)
Mec à la colle forte, _desperate malefactor_; ---- à sonnettes, _rich man_, “rag-splawger;” ---- de la guiche, _women’s bully_, or “ponce,” see POISSON; ---- des gerbiers, _executioner_; ---- de la rousse, _prefect of police_; (popular) ---- à la roue, _one who is conversant with the routine of a trade_.
MÉCANICIEN, _m._ (popular), _executioner’s assistant_.
MÉCANIQUE, _f._ (popular), _guillotine_. Charrier à la ----, see CHARRIER.
MÉCANISER (thieves’), _to guillotine_; (popular) _to annoy_.
Coupeau voulut le rattraper. Plus souvent qu’il se laissât mécaniser par un paletot.--=ZOLA.=
MÉCHANT, _adj._ (familiar and popular), n’être pas ----, _to be inferior_, _of little value_, “tame, no great scratch.” Un livre pas ----, _a_ “tame” _book_. Une plaisanterie pas méchante, _a dull joke_. Un caloquet pas ----, _a plain bonnet_.
MÈCHE (popular), il y a ----, _it is possible_. Il n’y a pas----, _it is impossible_. This expression has passed into the language. Et ----! _and the rest!_ Combien avez-vous payé, dix francs?--Et mèche! _How much did you pay, twenty francs?--Yes, and something over._ (Thieves’) Etre de ----, _to go halves_.
On vous obéira. J’ai trop envie d’être de mèche.--=VIDOCQ.= (_You shall be obeyed. I have too great a desire to go halves._)
Also _to be in confederacy_.
M’est avis que tu es de mèche avec les rupins pour nous emblêmer.--=VIDOCQ.= (_My opinion is that you are in confederacy with the swells to deceive us._)