Part 39

MILLERIE, _f._ (thieves’), _lottery_. Thus termed on account of the thousands which every holder of a ticket hopes will be his.

MILLET, MILLOT, _m._ (popular), _1,000 franc bank-note_. From mille.

MILLIARDAIRE, _m._ (familiar), _very rich man_, _one who rolls on gold_.

C’est de cette époque que date aujourd’hui sa fortune car il est aujourd’hui milliardaire.--=A. SIRVEN.=

MILLOUR, _m._ (thieves’), _rich man_, “rag splawger” (obsolete). From the English _my lord_.

MILORD, _m._ (familiar and popular), _rich man_; ---- l’Arsouille, _nickname of Lord Seymour_. See ARSOUILLE.

Les Folies-Belleville ... où Milord l’Arsouille engueulait les malins, cassait la vaisselle et boxait les garçons.--=P. MAHALIN.=

MINCE, _m. and adv._ (thieves’), _note-paper_; _bank-note_, or “soft.” (Popular) The word has many significations: it means, _of course_; _certainly_; _much_.

Dois-tu comme Walder, Et comme la muscade, Te donner mince d’air Après ton escapade?

=RAMINAGROBIS.=

Mince! _no_; _certainly not_. It is sometimes expressive of disappointment or contempt. Tu n’as plus d’argent? ah! ---- alors, _you have no money? hang it all then!_ Il a ---- la barbe, _he is completely drunk_. Pensez si je me marre, ah! ----! _don’t I get amused, just!_ Aux plus rupins il disait ----, _even to the strongest he said_, “you be hanged! “Mince de potin! _a fine row!_ ---- de crampon! _an awful bore!_ ---- que j’en ai de l’argent! _haven’t I money? of course I have!_ Ah! ---- alors! _to the deuce, then!_ Mince de chic, _glass of beer_. The ejaculation mince! in some cases may find an equivalent in the English word rather! an exclamation strongly affirmative. It is also used as an euphemism for an obscene word.

Et moi sauciss’, j’su quand j’turbine. Mais, bon sang! la danse s’débine Dans l’coulant d’air qui boit ma sueur. Eux aut’s, c’est pompé par leur linge. Minc’ qu’ils doiv’ emboucanner l’singe. Vrai, c’est pas l’linge qui fait l’bonheur.

=RICHEPIN.=

MINE, _f._ (popular), à poivre, _low brandy shop_.

Lui était un bon, un chouette, un d’attaque. Ah! zut! le singe pouvait se fouiller, il ne retournait pas à la boîte, il avait la flemme. Et il proposait aux deux camarades d’aller au _Petit bonhomme qui tousse_, une mine à poivre de la barrière Saint-Denis, où l’on buvait du chien tout pur.--=ZOLA=, _L’Assommoir_.

Une ---- à chier dessus, _ugly face_, “knocker face.”

Qu’est-ce qu’il vient nous em ... ieller, celui-là, avec sa mine à chier dessus.--=RIGAUD.=

MINERVE, _f._ (printers’), _small printing machine worked with the foot_.

MINERVISTE, _m._ (printers’), _one who works the_ Minerve (which see).

MINEUR, _m._ (thieves’), _Manceau, or native of Le Mans_.

MINIK (Breton cant), _small_.

MINISTRE (military), _sumpter mule_; (peasants’) _ass_, “moke,” _or mule_.

MINOIS, _m._ (thieves’), _nose_, or “conk” (obsolete).

MINOTAURE, _m._ (familiar), _deceived husband_, “stag face.” The expression is Balzac’s.

Je serais le dernier de M. Paul de Kock; minotaure, comme dit M. de Balzac.--=TH. GAUTIER.=

MINOTAURISER QUELQU’UN (familiar), _to seduce one’s wife_. An allusion to the horns of the Minotaur.

Quand une femme est inconséquente, le mari, serait, selon moi, minotaurisé--=BALZAC.=

MINSON (Breton cant), _bad_; _badly_.

MINSONER (Breton cant), _mean_.

MINTZINGUE, _m._ (popular), _landlord of wine-shop_.

Mais sapristi, jugez d’mon embargo, Depuis ce temps elle est toujours pompette, Et chez l’mintzingue ell’ croque le magot.

_Almanach Chantant_, 1869.

MINUIT, _m._ (thieves’), _negro_. Termed also, in different kinds of slang, “Bamboula, boule de neige, boîte à cirage, bille de pot-au-feu, mal blanchi,” and in the English slang, “snowball, Sambo, bit o’ ebony, blacky.” Enfant de ---- meant formerly _thief_. Enfants de la messe de minuit, says Cotgrave, “_quiresters of midnights masse; night-walking rakehells, or such as haunt these nightly rites, not for any devotion, but only to rob, abuse, or play the knaves with others_.”

MINZINGUE, or MINZINGO, _m._ (popular), _landlord of tavern_. Termed also manzinguin, mindzingue.

La philosophie, vil mindzingue, quand ça ne servirait qu’à trouver ton vin bon.--=GRÉVIN.=

MION, _m._ (thieves’), child, or “kid;” ---- de gonesse, _stripling_; ---- de boule, _thief_, “prig.” See GRINCHE.

MIPE, _m._ (thieves’), faire un ---- à quelqu’un, _to outdrink one_.

MIRADOU, _m._ (thieves’), _mirror_.

MIRANCU, _m._ (obsolete), _apothecary_.

Respect au capitaine Mirancu! Qu’il aille se coucher ailleurs, car s’il s’avisoit de jouer de la seringue, nous n’avons pas de canesons pour l’en empêcher.--_L’Apothicaire empoisonné_, 1671.

Mirancu, a play on the words mire en cul, which may be better explained in Béralde’s words, in Molière’s _Le Malade Imaginaire_:--

Allez, monsieur; on voit bien que vous n’avez pas accoutumé de parler à des visages.

MIRECOURT, _m._ (thieves’), _violin_. The town of Mirecourt is celebrated for its manufactures of stringed instruments. Rigaud says that it is thus termed from a play on the words mire court, _look on from a short distance_, the head of the performer being bent over the instrument, thus bringing his eyes close to it.

MIRE-LAID, _m._ (popular), _mirror_. An expression which cannot be gratifying to those too fond of admiring their own countenances in the glass.

MIRETTES, _f. pl._ (popular and thieves’), _eyes_, “peepers, ogles, top-lights, or day-lights.” Fielding uses the latter slang term:--

Good woman! I do not use to be so treated. If the lady says such another word to me, damn me, I will darken her day-lights.--=FIELDING=, _Amelia_.

In old cant eyes were termed “glaziers.”

Toure out with your glaziers, I swear by the ruffin, That we are assaulted by a queer cuffin.

=BROOME=, _A Jovial Crew_.

Which means _look out with all your eyes, I swear by the devil a magistrate is coming_. Mirettes en caoutchouc, or en caouche, _telescope_; ---- glacées, or en glacis, _spectacles_, or “gig-lamps.” Sans ----, _blind_, or “hoodman.”

MIREUR, _m._ (popular), _one who looks on intently_; _spy_; _person employed in the immense underground store cellars of the Halles to inspect provisions by candle-light_.

Deux cents becs de gaz éclairent ces caves gigantesques, où l’on rencontre diverses industries spéciales.... Les “mireurs,” qui passent à la chandelle une délicate révision des sujets. Les “préparateurs de fromages” qui font “jaunir” le chester, “pleurer” le gruyère, “couler” le brie ou “piquer” le roquefort.--=E. FRÉBAULT.=

MIRLIFLORE, _m._ (familiar), _a dandy of the beginning of the present century_. For synonyms see GOMMEUX. The term has now passed into the language with the signification of _silly conceited dandy or fop_.

Nos mirliflors Vaudroient-ils cet homme à ressorts?

_Chansons de Collé._

Concerning the derivation of this word Littré makes the following remarks: “Il y avait dans l’ancien français _mirlifique_, altération de _mirifique_; on peut penser que mirliflore est une altération analogue où _flor_ ou _fleur_ remplace fique: qui est comme une fleur merveilleuse. Francisque Michel y voit une altération de _mille-fleurs_, dénomination prise des bouquets dont se paraient les élégants du temps passé.” It is more probable, however, that the term is connected with _eau de mille-fleurs_, an elixir of all flowers, a mixed perfume, and this origin seems to be borne out by the circumstance that after the Revolution of 1793 dandies received the name of “muscadins,” from _musc_, or musk, their favourite perfume. Workmen sometimes call a dandy “un puant.” See this word.

MIRLITON, _m._ (popular), _nose_, or “smeller.” For synonyms see MORVIAU. Also _voice_. Avoir le ---- bouché, _to have a bad cold in the head_. Jouer du ----, _to talk_, “to jaw;” _to blow one’s nose_. Mirliton properly signifies a kind of reed-pipe.

MIROBOLAMMENT (familiar and popular), _marvellously_, “stunningly.”

MIROBOLANT, _adj._ (familiar and popular), _excellent_, “slap-up, or scrumptious;” _marvellous_, “crushing.”

Eh! c’est la bande! c’est la fameuse, la superbe, l’invincible, à jamais triomphante, séduisante et mirobolante bande du Jura.--_Bande du Jura._ _Madame de Gasparin._

“Mirobolant” is a corruption of admirable. Another instance of this kind of slang formation is “abalobé,” from abalourdi.

MIROIR, _m._ (card-sharpers’), _a rapid glance cast on the stock of a game of piquet, or on the first cards dealt at the game of baccarat_. A tricky “dodge” which enables the cheat to gain a knowledge of his opponent’s hand. (Popular) Un ---- à putains, synonymous of bellâtre, _a handsome but vulgar man_, one likely to find favour with the frail sisterhood. Rigaud says: “Miroir à putains, joli visage d’homme à la manière des têtes exposées à la vitrine des coiffeurs.” The phrase is old.

Dis-lui qu’un miroir à putain Pour dompter le Pays Latin Est un fort mauvais personnage.

=SCARRON.=

Fielding thus expatiates on the readiness of women to look with more favour on a handsome face than on an intellectual one:--

How we must lament that disposition in these lovely creatures which leads them to prefer in their favour those individuals of the other sex who do not seem intended by nature as so great a masterpiece!... If this be true, how melancholy must be the consideration that any single beau, especially if he have but half a yard of ribbon in his hat, shall weigh heavier in the scale of female affection than twenty Sir Isaac Newtons!--_Mr. Jonathan Wild the Great._

MIRQUIN, _m._ (thieves’), _woman’s cap_.

MIRZALES, _f. pl._ (thieves’), _earrings_.

MISE, _f._ (prostitutes’), faire sa ----, _to pay a prostitute her fee_, or “present.” (Popular) Mise à pied, _temporary or permanent dismissal from one’s employment, the_ “sack.”

MISE-BAS, _f._ (popular) _strike of work_; (servants’) _cast-off clothes which servants consider as their perquisites_.

MISER (gamesters’), _to stake_.

Et si je gagne ce soir cinq à six mille francs au lansquenet, qu’est-ce que soixante-dix mille francs de perte pour avoir de quoi miser?--=BALZAC.=

MISÉRABLE, _m._ (popular), _one halfpenny glass of spirits_, “un monsieur” being one that will cost four sous, and “un poisson” five sous.

MISLOQUE, or MISLOCQ, _f._ (thieves’), _theatre_; _play_. Flancher, or jouer la ----, _to act_.

Ah! ce que je veux faire, je veux jouer la mislocq.--=VIDOCQ.=

MISLOQUIER, _m._, MISLOQUIÈRE, _f._ (thieves’), _actor_, “cackling cove,” or “mug faker,” and _actress_.

MISSISSIPI, _m._ (popular), au ----, _very far away_.

MISTENFLÛTE, _f._ (popular), _thingumbob_.

MISTICHE (thieves’), un ----, _half a “setier,” or small measure of wine_. Une ----, _half an hour_.

MISTICK, _m._ (thieves’), _foreign thief_.

MISTIGRIS, or MISTI, _m._ (popular), _knave of clubs_; _apprentice to a house decorator_.

MISTON (thieves’). See ALLUMER. (Popular) Mon ----, _my boy_, “my bloater.”

MISTOUF, or MISTOUFFLE, _f._ (popular), _practical joke_; _scurvy trick_. Faire une ---- à quelqu’un, _to pain, to annoy one_.

Vous lui aurez fait quelque mistouf, vous l’aurez menacée de quelque punition, et alors.--=A. CIM=, _Institution de Demoiselles_.

Coup de ----, _scurvy trick brewing_. Faire des mistouffles, _to teaze_, “to spur,” _to annoy one_. (Thieves’) Mistouffle à la saignante, _trap laid for the purpose of murdering one_.

Voilà trop longtemps ... que le vieux me la fait au porte-monnaie. Il me faut son sac. Mais ... pas de mistouffle à la saignante, je n’aime pas ça. Du barbotage tant qu’on voudra.--_Mémoires de Monsieur Claude._

MISTRON, _m._ (popular), _a game of cards called_ “trente et un.”

MISTRONNEUR, _m._ (popular), _amateur of_ “mistron” (which see).

MITAINE, _f._ (thieves’), grinchisseuse à la ----, _female thief who causes some property, lace generally, to fall from a shop counter, and by certain motions of her foot conveys it to her shoe, where it remains secreted_.

MITARD, _m._ (police), _unruly prisoner confined in a punishment cell_.

MITE-AU-LOGIS, _f._ (popular), _disease of the eyes_. A play on the words mite and mythologie.

MITEUX, _adj._ (familiar and popular), _is said of one poorly clad, of a wretched-looking person_.

Quand nous arrivâmes à la posada, on ne voulut pas nous recevoir, l’aubergiste nous trouvant, comme disait La Martinière mon compagnon de route, trop “miteux.” --=HECTOR FRANCE=, _A travers l’Espagne_.

MITRAILLE, _f._ (general), _pence_, _coppers_. The expression is old. This term seems to be derived from the word “mite,” copper coin worth four “oboles,” used in Flanders.

MITRAILLEUSE, _f._ (popular), étouffer une ----, _to drink a glass of wine_. Synonymous of “boire un canon.”

MITRE, _f._ (thieves’), _prison_, or “stir. See MOTTE. Meant formerly _itch_, the word being derived from the name of a certain ointment termed “mithridate.”

MOBILIER, _m._ (thieves’), _teeth_, or “ivories.” Literally _furniture_.

MOBLOT, _m._ (familiar), _used for Mobile in 1870_. “La garde mobile” at the beginning of the war formed the reserve corps.

MOCASSIN, _m._ (popular), _shoe_. See RIPATON.

MOC-AUX-BEAUX (thieves’), _quarter of La Place Maubert_.

MOCHE, or MOUCHE, _adj._ (popular and thieves’), _bad_.

MODE, _f._ (swindlers’), concierge à la ----, _a doorkeeper who is an accomplice of a gang of swindlers termed_ BANDE NOIRE (which see).

La “bande noire” était--et est encore, car le dixième à peine des membres sont arrêtés--une formidable association, ayant pour spécialité d’exploiter le commerce des vins de Paris, de la Bourgogne et du Bordelais.... Pour chaque affaire, le courtier recevait dix francs. Le concierge, désigné sous le nom bizarre de concierge à la mode, n’était pas moins bien rétribué. Il touchait dix francs également.--_Le Voltaire_, 6 Août, 1886.

MODÈLE, _m._ (familiar), _grandfather or grandmother_.

MODERNE, _m._ (familiar), _young man of the “period,”_ in opposition to antique, _old-fashioned_.

MODILLON, _f._ (modistes’), _a second year apprentice at a modiste’s_.

MODISTE, _m._ (literary), formerly _a journalist who sought more to pander to the tastes of the day than to acquire any literary reputation_.

MOELLEUX, _m._ (popular), _cotton_, which is soft.

MOELONNEUSE, _f._ (popular), _prostitute who frequents builders’ yards_. See GADOUE.

MOIGNONS, _m. pl._ (popular), _thick clumsy ankles_. The _Slang Dictionary_ says a girl with thick ankles is called a “Mullingar heifer” by the Irish. A story goes that a traveller passing through Mullingar was so struck with this local peculiarity in the women, that he determined to accost the next one he met. “May I ask,” said he, “if you wear hay in your shoes?” “Faith, an’ I do,” said the girl, “and what then?” “Because,” said the traveller, “that accounts for the calves of your legs coming down to feed on it.”

MOINE, _m._ (familiar), _earthen jar filled with hot water, which does duty for a warming pan_; (printers’) _spot on a forme which has not been touched by the roller, and which in consequence forms a blank on the printed leaf_. Termed “friar” by English printers. (Popular) Mettre le ----, _to fasten a string to a sleeping man’s big toe_. By jerking the string now and then the sleeper’s slumbers are disturbed and great amusement afforded to the authors of the contrivance. This sort of practical joking seems to be in favour in barrack-rooms. Donner, or bailler le ----, was synonymous of mettre le ----, and, used as a proverbial expression, meant _to bear ill luck_.

MOINE-LAI, _m._ (popular), _old military pensioner who has become an imbecile_.

MOINETTE, _f._ (thieves’), _nun_, moine being a _monk_.

MOÏSE, _m._ (familiar and popular), _man deceived by his wife_. The term is old, for, says Le Roux, “Moïse, mot satirique, qui signifie cocu, homme à qui on a planté des cornes.”

MOITIÉ, _f._ (popular), tu n’es pas la ---- d’une bête, _you are no fool_.

Oui, t’es pas la moitié d’une bête. Là-dessus aboule tes quatre ronds.--=G. COURTELINE.=

MOLANCHE, _f._ (thieves’), _wool_. From mol, _soft_.

MOLARD, _m._ (familiar and popular), _expectoration_, or “gob.”

MOLARDER (familiar and popular), _to expectorate_.

MOLIÈRE, _m._ (theatrical), _scenery which may be used for the performance of any play of Molière_.

MOLLE, _adj._ (popular and thieves’), être ----, _to be penniless_, alluding to an empty pocket, which is flabby; “to be hard up.”

MOLLET, _m._ (popular). M. Charles Nisard, in his _Parisianismes Populaires_, says of the word, “Gras de la partie postérieure de la jambe” (the proper meaning), and he adds, “Partie molle de diverses autres choses.”

Vous ne cachez pas tous vos mollets dans vos bas: c’est comme la barque d’Anières, ça n’sart plus qu’à passer l’iau.--_Le Déjeuner de la Rapée._

Following the adage, “Le latin dans les mots brave l’honnêteté,” M. Nisard gives the following explanation of the above:--“Hæc sunt verba cujusdam petulantis mulierculæ ad quemdam jam senescentem virum, convalescentem e morbo, et carnale opus adhuc penes se esse male jactantem. In eo enim Thrasone mulieroso pars ista corporis quam proprie vocant ‘Mollet,’ non solum in tibialibus ejus inclusa erat, sed et in bracis, ubi, mutata ex toto forma, nil valebat nisi, scaphæ Asnieriæ instar, ‘à passer l’eau,’ id est, ad meiendum. Sed, animadvertas, oro, sensum locutionis ‘passer l’eau’ æquivocum; hic enim unda transitur, illic eadem transit.”

MOLLUSQUE, _m._ (familiar), _narrow-minded man_; _routine-loving man_; huître being a common term for a _fool_.

MOMAQUE, _m._ (thieves’), _child_, or “kid.”

MOMARD, or MOMIGNARD, _m._ (popular), _child_, or “kid.”

MÔME, _m. and f._ (popular and thieves’), _child_, or “kid.”

Ces mômes corrompus, ces avortons flétris, Cette écume d’égoût c’est la levure immonde, De ce grand pain vivant qui s’appelle Paris, Et qui sert de brioche au monde.

=RICHEPIN.=

Môme noir, _student at a priest’s seminary_. Thus termed on account of their clerical attire. Called also by thieves, “Canneur du mec des mecs,” _afraid of God_. Une ----, _young woman_, “titter.”

Va, la môme, et n’fais pas four.

=RICHEPIN.=

Une ----, or mômeresse, _mistress_, “blowen.” C’est ma ----, elle est ronflante ce soir, _It is my girl, she has money to-night_. Un ---- d’altèque, _handsome young man_. Taper un ----, _to commit a theft_; _to commit infanticide_.

Car elle est en prison pour un môme qu’elle a tapé.--_From a thief’s letter, quoted by L. Larchey._

Madame Tire-mômes, _midwife_. Termed in the seventeenth century, “madame du guichet, or portière du petit guichet.” (Convicts’) Môme bastaud, _convict who is a Sodomist, a kind of male prostitute_.

MÔMEUSE, _f._ See MÔMIÈRE.

MOMICHARDE, _f._ (popular), _little girl_.

Envoie les petites ... qu’elles aboulent, les momichardes!--=LOUISE MICHEL.=

MÔMIÈRE, _f._ (thieves’), _midwife_. Termed also “Madame Tire-mômes, Madame Tire-monde, or tâte-minette.”

MOMIGNARD, _m._ (popular and thieves’), _child_, or “kid;” _baby_; ---- d’altèque, _a fine child_.

Frangine d’altèque, je mets l’arguemine à la barbue, pour te bonnir que ma largue aboule de mômir un momignard d’altèque.--=VIDOCQ.= (_My good sister, I take the pen to say that my wife has just given birth to a fine child._)

MOMIGNARDAGE À L’ANGLAISE, _m._ (popular), _miscarriage_.

MOMIGNARDE, _f._ (popular and thieves’), _little girl_; _young girl_, “titter.”

Mes momignardes ... allons, c’est dit, on rebâtira le sinve. Il faut espérer que la daronne du grand Aure nous protégera.--=VIDOCQ.= (_My little girls ... come, it’s settled, the fool shall be killed. Let us hope the Holy Virgin will protect us._)

MÔMIR (popular and thieves’), _to be delivered of a child_, “to be in the straw.” The _Slang Dictionary_ says: “Married ladies are said to be in the straw at their accouchement.” The phrase is a coarse metaphor, and has reference to farmyard animals in a similar condition. It may have originally been suggested to the inquiring mind by the Nativity. Mômir pour l’aff, _to have a miscarriage_. Termed also “casser son œuf, décarrer de crac.”

MONACOS, _m. pl._ (familiar and popular), _money_. See QUIBUS.

Je vais te prouver à toi et à ta grue, ... que je suis encore bonne pour gagner des monacos. Et allez-y! --=HECTOR FRANCE=, _Marie Queue-de-Vache_.

Avoir des ----, _to be wealthy_. Termed also “être foncé, être sacquard, or douillard; avoir le sac, de l’os, des sous, du foin dans ses bottes, de quoi, des pépettes, or de la thune; être californien.” The English synonyms being “to be worth a plum, to be well ballasted, to be a rag-splawger, to have lots of tin, to have feathered one’s nest, to be warm, to be comfortable.” Abouler les ----, _to pay_, “to fork out, to shell out, to down with the dust, to post the pony, to stump the pewter, to tip the brads.”

MONANT, _m._, MONANTE, _f._ (thieves’), _friend_.

MONARQUE, _m._ (popular), _five-franc piece_. Termed also “roue de derrière,” the nearly corresponding coin, a crown piece, being called in English slang a “hind coach wheel.” (Prostitutes’) Monarque, _money_. Faire son ----, _to have found clients_.

MONDE, _m._ (popular), renversé, _guillotine_. See VOYANTE. Il y a du ---- au balcon _is said of a woman with large breasts_, _of one with opulent_ “Charlies.” (Familiar) Demi ----, _world of cocottes_, _kept women_.

Dans ce qu’on appelle le demi-monde il y a nombre de filles en carte, véritables chevaliers d’industrie de la jeunesse et de l’amour qui, bien en règle avec la préfecture, mènent joyeuse vie pendant quinze ans et éludent constamment la police correctionnelle.--=LÉO TAXIL.=

(Showmen’s) Du ----, _public who enter the show_. There may be a large concourse of people outside, but no “monde.”

MONFIER (thieves’), _to kiss_.

MON GNIASSE (popular and thieves’), _me_, “my nibs.”

MON LINGE EST LAVÉ (popular), _I give in_, “I throw up the sponge.”

MONNAIE, _f._ (popular), plus que ça de ----! _what luck!_

MON ŒIL! (popular), _expressive of refusal or disbelief_, “don’t you wish you may get it?” or “do you see any green in my eye?” See NÈFLES.

MONÔME, _m._ (students’), _yearly procession in single file through certain streets of Paris of candidates to the government schools_.

MONORGUE (thieves’), _I_, _myself_.

MONSEIGNEUR, _m._ (thieves’), or pince ----, _short crowbar with which housebreakers force open doors or safes_. Termed “Jemmy, James, or the stick.”

Ils font sauter gâches et serrures ... avec une espèce de pied de biche en fer qu’ils appellent cadet, monseigneur, ou plume.--=CANLER.=

MONSEIGNEURISER (thieves’), _to force open a door_, “to strike a jigger.”

MONSIEUR, _m._ (artists’), le ----, _the principal figure in a picture_. (Popular) Un ----, _a twopenny glass of brandy_; _a five-sous glass of wine from the bottle at a wine retailer’s_; ---- Vautour, or Père Vautour, _the landlord_; also _an usurer_.

Vous accorder un nouveau délai pour le capital? ... mais depuis trois ans ... vous n’avez pas seulement pu rattraper les intérêts.--Ah! père Vautour, ça court si vite vos intérêts!--=GAVARNI.=