Part 38

Six plombes et ----, _half-past six_. (Printers’) Mèche, _work_. Chercher ----, _to seek for employment_.

MÉCHI, _m._ (thieves’), _misfortune_. From the old French “meschief,” _mischief_.

MÉCHILLON, _m._ (thieves’), _quarter of an hour_.

MECQ, _m._ (popular), _prostitute’s bully_. See POISSON.

MECQUE, _f._ (thieves’), _man_, or “cove;” _victim_.

MÉDAILLARD, _m._ (artists’), _artist who has obtained a medal at the Exhibition_.

MÉDAILLE, _f._ (popular), _silver five-franc coin_; also called ---- de Saint-Hubert; ---- d’or, _twenty-franc piece_; ---- en chocolat, _the Saint-Helena medal_. Called also “médaille de commissionnaire,” or “contre-marque du Père-Lachaise.”

MÉDAILLON, _m._ (popular), _breech_, see VASISTAS; ---- de flac, _cul-de-sac, or blind alley_.

MÉDECIN, _m._ (thieves’), _counsel_, or “mouth-piece.” It is natural that thieves should follow the advice of a doctor when on the point of entering the “hôpital,” or _prison_, where they will stay as “malades,” or _prisoners_, and whence they will come out “guéris,” or _free_.

MÉDECINE, _f._ (thieves’), _defence by a counsel_; _advice_. Une ---- flambante, _a piece of good advice_.

Collez-moi cinquante balles et je vous coque une médecine flambante.--=VIDOCQ.= (_Tip me fifty francs, and I’ll give you a piece of good advice._)

(Popular) Médecine, _dull, tiresome person_.

MÉFIANT, _m._ (military), _foot soldier_, “beetle-crusher, or grabby.”

MEG, _m._ (thieves’), _chief_. Le ---- des megs, _God_.

Il y a un mot qui reparaît dans toutes les langues du continent avec une sorte de puissance et d’autorité mystérieuse. C’est le mot _magnus_; l’Ecosse en fait son _mac_ qui désigne le chef du clan ... l’argot en ait le _meck_ et plus tard le _meg_, c’est à dire Dieu. --=V. HUGO=, _Les Misérables_.

MÉGARD, _m._ (thieves’), _head of a gang of thieves_, or “dimber damber.”

MÉGO, _m._ (popular), _balance in favour of credit_.

MÉGOT, _m._ (popular), _end of cigarette_.

Près des théâtres, dans les gares, Entre les arpions des sergots, C’est moi que j’cueille les bouts d’cigares, Les culots d’pipe et les mégots.

=RICHEPIN.=

MÉGOTTIER, _m._ (popular), _one whose trade is to collect cigar or cigarette ends_, a “hard up.”

MÉLASSE, _f._ (popular), tomber dans la ----, _to be in great trouble_, or “hobble;” _to be ruined_, or “to go a mucker.”

MÉLASSON, _m._ (popular), _clumsy, awkward man_, “a cripple;” _dunce_, or “flat.”

MÊLÉ, _m._ (popular), _mixture of anisette, cassis, or absinthe, with brandy_.

MELET, _m._, MELETTE, _f._, _adj._, (thieves’), _small_.

MÉLO, _m._ (familiar and popular), _abbreviation of mélodrame_.

Le bon gros mélo a fait son temps.--_Paris Journal._

MELON, _m._ (cadets’ of the military school of Saint-Cyr), _a first-term student_. Called “snooker” at the R. M. Academy, and “John” at the R. M. College of Sandhurst. (General) Un ----, _a dunce_, or “flat.” Termed “thick” at Winchester School.

MEMBRE DE LA CARAVANE, _m._ (popular), _prostitute_, or “mot.” See GADOUE. Euphemism for “chameau.”

MEMBRER (military), _to drill_; _to work_.

Poussant éternellement devant eux une brouette qu’ils avaient soin de laisser éternellement vide, s’arrêtant pour contempler ... les camarades qui membraient. --=G. COURTELINE.=

MÉNAGE À LA COLLE, _m._ (familiar), _cohabitation of an unmarried couple_, the lady being termed “wife in water-colours.”

MENDIANT, _m._ (familiar), à la carte, _a begging impostor who pretends to have been sent by a person whose visiting card he exhibits_; ---- à la lettre, _begging-letter impostor_; ---- au tabac, _beggar who pretends to pick up cigar ends_.

MENDIGOT, MENDIGO, or MENDIGOTEUR (popular), _a variety of the brotherhood of beggars that visits country houses and collects at the same time information for burglars_; a “putter up.” La faire au mendigo, _to pretend to be begging_.

MENDIGOTER (popular), _to beg_.

MENÉE, _f._ (thieves’), _dozen_. Une ---- d’ornichons, _a dozen chickens_.

MENER (military), pisser quelqu’un, _to compel one to fight a duel_. (Popular) On ne le mène pas pisser, _he has a will of his own_, _one can’t do as one likes with him_. N’en pas ---- large, _to be ill at ease, or crestfallen_, “glum.”

Puis une fois la fumée dissipée, on verra une vingtaine d’assistants sur l’flanc, foudrayés du coup en n’en m’nant pas large.--=TRUBLOT=, _Cri du Peuple_.

(Thieves’) Mener en bateau, _to deceive_, “to stick.”

Ces patriarches, pères et fils de voleurs, ne restent pas moins fidèles à leur abominable lignée. Ils n’instruisent la préfecture que pour la mener en bateau.--_Mémoires de Monsieur Claude._

Mener en bateau un pante pour le refaire, _to deceive a man in order to rob him_, “to bamboozle a jay and flap him.”

MENESSE, _f._ (thieves’ and cads’), _prostitute_, or “bunter,” see GADOUE; _mistress_, or “doxy.”

MENÊTRE, _f._ (thieves’), _soup_.

MENEUSE, _f._ (popular), _woman who entices a passer-by to some back alley, where he is robbed, and sometimes murdered, by accomplices_. Also _woman whose calling is to take charge of babies, and take them to some country place, where they are left to the care of a wet nurse_.

MENGIN, or MANGIN, _m._ (familiar), _political or literary charlatan_. From the name of a celebrated quack, a familiar figure of crossways and squares in Paris under the Third Empire. He was attired in showy costume of the Middle Ages, and sported a glistening helmet topped by enormous plumes. He sold pencils, drew people’s caricatures at a moment’s notice, and was attended by an assistant known under the name of Vert-de-gris.

MÉNILMONTE, or MÉNILMUCHE (popular), _Ménilmontant, formerly one of the suburbs of Paris_. According to Zola, the word is curiously used in connection with the so-called sign of the cross of drunkards:--

Coupeau se leva pour faire le signe de croix des pochards. Sur la tête il prononça Montpernasse, à l’épaule droite Ménilmonte, à l’épaule gauche la Courtille, au milieu du ventre Bagnolet, et dans le creux de l’estomac trois fois Lapin sauté.--_L’Assommoir._

MENOUILLE, _f._ (popular), _money, or change_.

MENTEUSE, _f._ (thieves’), _tongue_, or “prating cheat.” Termed also “le chiffon rouge, la battante, la diligence de Rome, rouscaillante.”

MENU. See CONNAÎTRE.

MENUISIER. See CÔTELETTE.

MENUISIÈRE, _f._ (popular), _long coat_.

MÉQUARD, or MÉGARD, _m._ (thieves’), _head of a gang_, or “dimber damber.” From mec, _master_, _chief_.

MÉQUER (thieves’), _to command_. From meq, meg, _chief_, _head of gang_, or “dimber damber.”

MERCADET, _m._ (familiar), _man who sets on foot bubble companies, swindling agencies, and other fishy concerns_. A character of Balzac.

MERCANDIER, _m._ (popular), _butcher who retails only meat of inferior quality_.

MERCANTI, _m._, _name given by the army in Africa to traders, generally thievish Jews_.

Cependant les mercantis, débitants d’absinthe empoisonnée et de vins frelatés, escrocs, banqueroutiers, repris de justice, marchands de tout acabit.--=HECTOR FRANCE=, _Sous le Burnous_.

MERDAILLON, _m._ (popular), _contemptible man_, or “snot.”

MERDE, _f._ (thieves’), de pie, _fifty-centime piece_. (Popular) Faire sa ----, _to give oneself airs_, _to look_ “botty.” Des écrase ----, _fashionable boots, as now worn, with large low heels_. Termed also “bottines à la mouget.”

MERDEUX, _m._ (popular), _scavenger employed to empty cesspools_, “gold-finder;” _despicable mean fellow_, “snot.”

MÈRE, _f._ (popular), abbesse, _mistress of a brothel_; ---- de petite fille, _bottle of wine_; ---- d’occase, _procuress who plays the part of a young prostitute’s mother, or a beggar who goes about with hired children_; ---- aux anges, _woman who gives shelter to forsaken children, and hires them out to mendicants_; (thieves’) ---- au bleu, _guillotine_. See VOYANTE. (Corporations’) Mère, _innkeeper, where_ “compagnons,” _or skilled artisans of a corporation, hold their meetings_. The compagnons used to individually visit all the towns of France, working at each place, and the long journey was termed “tour de France.”

MÉRINOS, _m._ (popular), _man with an offensive breath_. Manger du ----, _to play billiards_, or “spoof.”

MERLANDER (popular), _to dress the hair_. From merlan, popular expression for _hairdresser_.

MERLIFICHE, _m._ (thieves’), _mountebank_, _showman_. Probably from “merlificque,” used by Villon with the signification of _marvellous_.

MERLIN, _m._ (popular), _leg_, “pin.” Un coup de passif dans le ----, _a kick on the shin_.

MERLOU. See MARLOU.

MERLOUSIER, MERLOUSIÈRE, _adj._ (thieves’), _cunning_. La dabuche est merlousière, _the lady is cunning_.

MERLUCHE, _f._ (popular), pousser des cris de ----, _to squall_; _to scold vehemently_.

MERRIFLAUTÉ, _adj._ (thieves’), _warmly clad_.

MÉRUCHÉ, _f._, MÉRUCHON, _m._ (thieves’), _stove_, _frying-pan_.

MÉRUCHÉE, _f._ (thieves’), _stoveful_.

MERVEILLEUX, _m._ (familiar), _dandy of 1833_. See GOMMEUX.

A l’avant-scène se prélassait un jeune merveilleux agitant avec nonchalance un binocle d’or émaillé.--=TH. GAUTIER.=

The _Slang Dictionary_ includes the word “dandy” among slang expressions. It says: “Dandy, _a fop, or fashionable nondescript_. This word, in the sense of a fop, is of modern origin. Egan says it was first used in 1820, and Bee in 1816. Johnson does not mention it, although it is to be found in all late dictionaries. Dandies wore stays, studied a feminine style, and tried to undo their manhood by all manner of affectations which were not actually immoral. Lord Petersham headed them. At the present day dandies of this stamp have almost entirely disappeared, but the new school of muscular Christians is not altogether faultless. The feminine of dandy was dandizette, but the term only lived for a short season.”

MÉSIGO, MÉZIÈRE, MÉZIGUE, (thieves’), _I_, _me_, “dis child,” as the negroes say; ---- roulait le trimard, _I was tramping along the road_.

MESSE, _f._ (popular), être à la ----, _to be late_. Nous avons été à la ---- de cinq minutes, _we were five minutes late_. (Thieves’) La ---- du diable, _examination of a prisoner by a magistrate, or trial_, an ordeal the unpleasant nature of which is eloquently expressed by the words. Termed by English rogues “cross kidment.”

MESSIADIEN, _adj. and m._ (thieves’), _convicted_, _sentenced_, “booked.” The epithet is applied to one who has been compelled to attend “la messe du diable,” with unpleasant consequences to himself. Il est ---- à six bergarès plombes, _he is in for six years’ prison_, “put away” for “six stretches;” ---- pour pégrasse, _convicted for stealing_, “in for a vamp.” Il fagaut ta magnette blague de maniagnère que tu n’es paga les pindesse dans le dintesse pour pégrasse, autrement tu es messiadien et tu laveragas tes pieds d’agnet dans le grand pré, which signifies, in the thieves’ jargon of the day, _You must take an alias, so that you may escape the clutches of the police; if not, you will be convicted and transported_.

MESSIER, or MESSIÈRE, _m._ (thieves’), _man_; _inhabitant_. A form of mézière, _a fool_. Les messiers de cambrouse, _the country folk_, or “clods.”

MESSIÈRE, _m._ (thieves’), _man_; _victim_; ---- de la haute, _well-to-do man_, “nib cove, or gentry cove;” ---- franc, _citizen_; _individual_, or “cove.”

MESSIRE LUC, _m._ (familiar), _breech_, or “Nancy.” See VASISTAS.

MESURE, _f._ (popular), prendre la ---- des côtes, _to thrash_, “to wollop.”

MÉTHODE CHEVÉ, _f._ (familiar and popular), _playing billiards in an out-of-the-way fashion--with two cues, for instance, or by pushing the balls with the hand_.

MÉTIER, _m._ (artists’), _skill in execution_; _clever touch_. Avoir un ---- d’enfer, _to paint with great manual skill_.

MÈTRE, _m._ (familiar and popular), chevalier du ----, _shopman_, “counter-jumper, or knight of the yard.”

METTEUX, _m._ (printers’), _metteur en pages, or maker-up_.

METTRE (general), au clou, _to pawn_, “to put in lug,” or “to pop up the spout.” An allusion to the spout up which the brokers send the ticketed articles until such time as they shall be redeemed. The spout runs from the ground-floor to the wareroom at the top of the house. English thieves term pawning one’s clothes, “to sweat one’s duds.” Le ----, is explained by the following:--

Mot libre, pour chevaucher, faire le déduit, se divertir avec une femme. Ce mot est équivoque et malicieux, car une personne laisse-t-elle tomber son busque ou son gant? On dit, Mademoiselle, voulez-vous que je vous le mette? --=LE ROUX=, _Dict. Comique_.

Termed, in the language of the Paris roughs, “mettre en prison.” Mets ça dans ta poche et ton mouchoir par dessus, _said of a blow or repartee, and equivalent to, take that and think over it, or digest it, or let it be a warning to you_, “put that in your pipe and smoke it.” Mettre à l’ombre, or dedans, _to imprison_, “to give the clinch.” See PIPER. Mettre à l’ombre signifies also _to kill_, “to cook one’s goose;” ---- du pain dans le sac de quelqu’un, _to beat one, or to kill him_; ---- dans le mille, _to be successful_, _to have a piece of good luck_, or “regular crow;” _to hit the right nail on the head_.

D’abord en passant, faut y’ régler son affaire à mon aminche eul’ zig Gramont d’ l’Intransigeant, qu’a mis dans l’mille en disant qu’ eul’ Théâtre de Paris sera naturaliste ou qu’i ne sera pas.--=TRUBLOT=, _Cri du Peuple_.

Mettre quelqu’un dedans, _to deceive_, _to cheat one_, _to outwit_, “to take a rise out of a person.”

A metaphor from fly-fishing, the silly fish rising to be caught by an artificial fly.--_Slang Dictionary._

Le ---- à quelqu’un, _to deceive one_, “to bamboozle” _one_.

Du reste, c’est un flanche, vous voulez me le mettre ... je la connais.--=V. HUGO.=

(Popular) Mettre la tête à la fenêtre, _to be guillotined_. See FAUCHÉ. Mettre une pousse, _to strike_, _to thrash_, “to wallop;” ---- à pied, _to dismiss from one’s employment temporarily or permanently_; ---- quelqu’un dans la pommade, _to beat one at a game_; ---- en bringue, _to smash_; ---- des gants sur ses salsifis, _to put gloves on_; ---- la table pour les asticots, _to become food for the worms_. See PIPE. Mettre sous presse, _to pawn_, _to put_ “in lug.” Se ---- sur les fonts de baptême, _to get involved in some difficulty_, _to be in a fix_, _in a_ “hole.” (Theatrical) Se ---- en rang d’oignons _is said of actors who place themselves in a line in front of the foot-lights_. Formerly mettre en rang d’oignons meant _to admit one into a company on an equal standing with the others_. (Thieves’) Mettre en dedans, _to break open a door_, “to strike a jigger;” ---- la pogne dessus, _to steal_, “to nim.” From the old English nim, _to take_, says the _Slang Dictionary_. Motherwell, the Scotch poet, thought the old word nim (_to snatch or pick up_) was derived from nam, nam, the tiny words or cries of an infant when eating anything which pleases its little palate. A negro proverb has the word:--

Buckra man nam crab, Crab nam buckra man.

Or, in the buckra man’s language,

White man eat (for steal) the crab, And then crab eat the white man.

Shakespeare evidently had the word nim in his head when he portrayed Nym. Mettre une gamelle, _to escape from prison_. Se ---- à table, _to inform against one_, “to blow the gaff,” “to nick.” See GRINCHIR.

En v’là un malheur si la daronne et les frangines allaient se mettre à table.--=VIDOCQ.= (_That’s a misfortune if the mother and the sisters inform._)

(Popular and thieves’) Se ---- en bombe, _to escape from prison_.

Mon magistrat, ... nous nous sommes tirés pour faire la noce. Nous sommes en bombe! Nous n’avons plus de braise et nous venons nous rendre.--_Un Flâneur._

Mettre sur la planche au pain, _to put a prisoner on his trial_, “in for patter;” (military) ---- le chien au cran de repos, _to sleep_; ---- le moine, _to fasten a cord to a sleeping man’s big toe, and to teaze him by occasionally jerking it_; ---- les tripes au soleil, _to kill_.

A force d’entendre des phrases comme celles-ci: crever la paillasse, mettre les tripes au soleil, taillader les côtes, brûler les gueules, ouvrir la panse, je m’y étais habitué et j’avais fini par les trouver toutes naturelles.--=H. FRANCE=, _L’Homme qui Tue_.

(Bullies’) Mettre un chamègue à l’alignement, _to send a woman out to walk the streets as a prostitute_.

MEUBLE, _m._ (popular), _sorry-looking person_.

MEUBLER (familiar), _to pad_.

MEUDON, _m._ (thieves’), grand ----, _police_, _the_ “reelers.”

MEULAN. See ARTIE.

MEULARD, _m._ (thieves’), _calf_. In old English cant “lowing cheat.”

MEULES DE MOULIN, _f. pl._ (popular), _teeth_, or “grinders.”

MEUNIER, _m._ (thieves’), _receiver_, or “fence.” Porter au moulin _is to take stolen property to the receiver_, “to fence the swag.”

MEURT-DE-FAIM, _m._ (popular), _penny loaf_.

MÉZIÈRE, _adj., pron., and m._ (thieves’), _simple-minded_, _gullible_. Etre ----, _to be a_ “cull or flat.” The word, says Michel, derives its origin from the confidence-trick swindle, when one of the confederates who acts the part of a foreigner, and who pretends to speak bad French, addresses the pigeon as “mézière” instead of “monsieur.”

Moi vouloir te faire de la peine! plutôt être gerbé à vioque (jugé à vie); faut être bien mézière (nigaud) pour le supposer.--=VIDOCQ.=

Mézière, _I_, _me_, _myself_. Le havre protège ----, _God protect me_. Un ----, _a_ “flat,” _name given by thieves to their victims_.

Depuis que nous nous sommes remis à escarper les mézières, il ne nous en est pas tombé sous la poigne un aussi chouette que celui-ci.--=VIDOCQ.= (_Since we began again to kill the flats, we haven’t had in our claws a single one as rich as that one._)

MÉZIGUE, MÉZIGO (thieves’), _I_, _myself_.

Auquel cas, c’ serait pas long; mézigue sait c’ qu’y lui rest’rait à faire.--=TRUBLOT=, _Le Cri du Peuple_.

MIB, or MIBRE, _m._ (street boys’), _thing in which one excels_; _triumph_. C’est mon ----, _that’s just what I am a dab at_. C’est ton ----, _you’ll never do that_; _that beat’s you hollow_.

MICHAUD, _m._ (thieves’), _head_, or “tibby, nob, or knowledge box.” Faire son ----, _to sleep_, “to doss.”

MICHE, _f._ (popular and thieves’), _lace_, or “driz.” An allusion to the holes in a loaf of white bread. Miche, or ---- de profonde, _money_. The term in this case exactly corresponds to the English “loaver.”

MICHÉ, _m._ (general), _client of a prostitute_. Literally _one who has_ “michon,” _or money_, _who_ “forks out.”

Les filles isolées, soit en carte, soit insoumises ... ont, par contre, le désagrément d’éprouver souvent certains déboires. Le client n’est pas toujours un “miché” consciencieux.--=LÉO TAXIL.=

Faire un ----, _to find a client_, or “flat.” Un ---- de carton, _client who does not pay well, or who does not pay at all_. Un ---- sérieux, _one who pays_.

Les femmes appellent “michés sérieux” les clients qui “montent” et “flanelles” ceux qui se contentent de “peloter” et de payer un petit verre.--=LÉO TAXIL.=

Concerning the language of such women Léo Taxil says:--“On a prétendu que toutes les prostituées de Paris avaient un argot ou un jargon qui leur était particulier ... ceci n’est pas exact ... nous avons vu qu’elles désignent le client sous le nom de ‘miché,’ le visiteur qui ne monte pas sous celui de ‘flanelle.’ Pour elles, les inspecteurs des mœurs sont des ‘rails,’ un commissaire de police un ‘flique,’ une jolie fille une ‘gironde’ ou une ‘chouette,’ une fille laide un ‘roubiou,’ etc. Ce sont là des expressions qui font partie du langage des souteneurs qui, eux, possèdent un véritable argot; elles en retiennent quelques mots et les mêlent à leur conversation. Quant aux prostituées qui s’entendent avec les voleurs et qui n’ont recours au libertinage que pour cacher leur réelle industrie, il n’est pas étonnant qu’elles aient adopté le jargon de leurs suppôts; mais on ne peut pas dire que ce langage soit celui des prostituées.” (Popular) Miché, _fool_. From Michel. It is to be remarked, after Montaigne, that many names of men have been taken to signify the word fool; such are Grand Colas, Jean-Jean, and formerly Gautier, Blaise. (Photographers’) Miché, _client_. (Familiar and popular) Un vieux ----, _an old beau_.

Tel, au printemps, un vieux miché Parade en galante toilette.

=GILL.=

MICHEL, _m._ (fishermen’s), cassant ses œufs, _thunder_. (Military) Ça fait la rue ----, _it’s the same for everybody_.

Eh bien, si j’y coups pas, v’là tout, j’coucherai à la boîte comme les camarades, et ça fera la rue Michel. --=G. COURTELINE.=

MICHELET, _m._ (popular), faire le ----, _to feel about in a crowd of women_, not exactly with righteous intentions.

MICHET, MICHÉ, or MICHETON, _m._ (popular), _client of a prostitute_.

Elles tournent la tête et jetant sur ce type, Par dessus leur épaule, un regard curieux, Songent: oh! si c’était un miché sérieux!

=GILL.=

MICHON, _m._ (thieves’), _money_ which procures a miche, or a _loaf_, “loaver.” See QUIBUS.

C’est ce qui me fait ambier hors de cette vergne; car si je n’eusse eu du michon je fusse côni de faim.--_Le Jargon de l’Argot._

Foncer du ----, _to give money_, “to grease the palm.”

MIDI! (popular), _too late!_ Il est ----, _a warning to one to be on his guard_; _I don’t take that in!_ “not for Joe!” Il est ---- sonné, _it’s not for you_; _it is impossible_.

Faut pas te figurer comme ça qu’ t’as l’droit de t’coller un bouc ... quand tu seras de la classe, comme me v’là, ça s’pourra; mais jusque-là c’est midi sonné.--=G. COURTELINE.=

MIE, _f._ (popular), de pain, _louse_, or “grey-backed ’un;” (printers’) _thing of little value_, or “not worth a curse.” Compositeur ---- de pain, _an unskilled compositor_, _or clumsy_ “donkey.”

MIEL! (popular), _euphemism for a coarser word_, “go to pot!” “you be hanged!” C’est un ----, _is expressive of satisfaction, or is used ironically_. Of a good thing they say: “C’est un miel!” On entering a close, stuffy place: “C’est un miel!” Of a desperate street fight: “C’est un miel!” “a rare spree!” “what a lark!” (=DELVAU=).

MIELLÉ! _adj._ (popular), du sort, _happy_; _fortunate in life_.

Il n’était pas plus miellé du sort, il n’avait pas la vie plus en belle.--=RICHEPIN=, _La Glu_.

MIGNARD, _m._ (popular), _term of endearment_; _child_, or “kid.”

MIGNON, _m._ (thieves’), _mistress_, or “mollisher.”

J’avais bonheur, argent, amour tranquille, les jours se suive mais ne se ressemble pas. Mon mignon connaissait l’anglais, l’allemand, très bien le français, l’auvergna et l’argot.--_From a thief’s letter, quoted by L. Larchey._

(Popular and thieves’) Mignon de port (obsolete), _porter_. Mignon had formerly the signification of _foolish_, _ignorant_.

MIGNOTER (popular), _to fondle_, “to forkytoodle.”

MIKEL, _m._ (mountebanks’), _dupe_, or “gulpin.”

MILIEU, _m._ (popular), _breech_, or “Nancy.”

MILLARDS, _m. pl._ (old cant), _in olden times a variety of the cadger tribe_.

Millards sont ceux qui trollent sur leur andosse de gros gueulards; ils truchent plus aux champs qu’aux vergnes, et sont haïs des autres argotiers, parce qu’ils morfient ce qu’ils ont tout seuls.--_Le Jargon de l’Argot._ (_The “millards” are those who carry a large bag on their back; they beg in the country in preference to the towns, and are hated by their brethren because they eat all alone what they get._)

MILLE, _m. and f._ (familiar), mettre dans le ----, _to meet with a piece of good luck_, or “regular crow;” _to_ _be successful_. One often sees at fairs a kind of machine for testing physical strength. A pad is struck with the fist, and a needle marks the extent of the effort, “le mille” being the maximum. (Thieves’) Mille, _woman_, or “burrick” (obsolete).

MILLE-LANGUES, _m._ (popular), _talkative person_; _tatler_.

MILLE-PERTUIS, _m._ (thieves’), _watering pot_ (obsolete).