Part 8

ARAIGNÉE, _f._ (popular), _bicycle with a large fly-wheel_; ---- de bastringue, _female habituée of low dancing halls_; ---- de comptoir, _counter jumper_, or “knight of the yard;” ---- de trottoir, _dealer at a stall, or in the open air_. Avoir une ---- dans le plafond, _to be cracked_, _to have_ “a bee in one’s bonnet.” See AVOIR.

ARBALÈTE, _f._ (thieves’), _neck-cross_; ---- d’antonne, de chique, de priante, _church-cross_.

ARBI, ARBICO, _m._ (army), _Arab_.

ARBIF, _m._ (thieves’), _violent man_.

ARCASIEN, ARCASINEUR, _m._ (thieves’), _thief who employs the arcat_ (which see); _a beggar who calls on people_; _cunning man_.

ARCAT, _m._ (thieves’), monter un ----, _to write a letter from prison to a person asking for an advance in cash on a supposed buried treasure which, later on, is to be pointed out to the donor_. From arcane, _mystery_, _hidden thing_.

ARCAVOT, _m._ (Jew traders’), _falsehood_.

ARCHE, _f._ (popular), aller à l’----, _to fetch money_. Fendre l’----, _to weary_, “to bore.”

ARCHICUBE, _m._, _student who has completed his three years’ course of study at the Ecole Normale_, an institution where professors are trained for university professorships, and which holds the first rank among special schools in France.

ARCHIPOINTU, _m._ (thieves’), _an archbishop_.

ARCHISUPPÔT DE L’ARGOT (old cant), _learned thief_, _arch-thief_, “gonnof.”

Les archisuppôts de l’argot sont les plus savants, les plus habiles marpeaux de toutime l’argot, qui sont des écoliers débauchés, et quelques ratichons, de ces coureurs qui enseignent le jargon à rouscailler bigorne.--_Le Jargon de l’Argot._

ARCHITECTE DE L’UNIVERS (freemasons’), _the Deity_.

ARÇON (thieves’), _sign of recognition made by passing the thumb down the right cheek and spitting at the same time_.

Si c’étaient des amis de Pantin, je pourrais me faire reconnaître mais des pantres nouvellement affranchis (des paysans qui font leurs premières armes), j’aurais beau faire l’arçon.--=VIDOCQ.=

ARÇONNER (thieves’), _to make one speak out_; _to speak_, or “to patter.”

ARCPINCER, ARQUEPINCER (thieves’ and popular), _to take_, or “to collar;” _to seize_, or “to grab;” ---- l’omnibus, _to catch the ’bus_. Veuillez ---- mon anse, _pray take my arm_.

J’ai promis de reconobrer tous les grinchisseurs et de les faire arquepincer.--=VIDOCQ.=

ARDENT, _m._ (thieves’), _candle_, or “glim.” Fauche-ardents, _snuffers_.

ARDENTS, _m._ _pl._ (thieves’), _eyes_, or “glaziers.” See QUINQUETS.

ARDOISE, _f._ (popular), _head_, or “tibby;” _hat_, or “tile.” Avoir l’----, _to have credit_, or “jawbone.” An allusion to the slate used for drawing up the reckoning.

ARGA, _m._ (thieves’), _share of booty_, or “snaps.”

ARGANEAU, _m._ (thieves’), _a link connecting two convicts’ irons_.

ARGOT, _m._ (thieves’), _animal_; _fool_, or “go along;” _thieves’ brotherhood_, or “family men.”

ARGOTÉ (thieves’), _one who lays claim to being witty_.

ARGOTIER, _m._ (thieves’), _one of the brotherhood of thieves_, or “family man.”

ARGOUSIN, _m._ (popular), _foreman_, or “boss.”

ARGUCHE, _m._ (thieves’), _cant_, or “flash;” _a fool_, _dunce_, or “go-along.”

ARGUEMINE, _f._ (thieves’), _hand_, or “famm.”

ARICOTEUR, _m._ (thieves’), _executioner_.

ARISTO, _m._ for _aristocrat_ (popular), _a man in comfortable circumstances_.

ARISTOCRATE, _m._, _an appellation given by prisoners to one of their number whose means allow him to obtain victuals from the canteen_.

ARLEQUIN (popular), _broken victuals of every description mixed up and retailed to poor people_. The word has passed into the language.

Autrefois chez Paul Niquet Fumait un vaste baquet Sur la devanture. Pour un ou deux sous, je crois, On y plongeait les deux doigts Deux, à l’aventure. Les mets les plus différents Etaient là, mêlés, errants, Sans couleur, sans forme, Et l’on pêchait sans fouiller, Aussi bien un vieux soulier Qu’une truffe énorme.

=RICHEPIN=, _La Chanson des Gueux_.

ARME, _f._ (military), passer l’---- à gauche, _to die_, “to lose the number of one’s mess.” See PIPE.

ARMÉE ROULANTE, _f._ (thieves’), formerly _gang of convicts chained together which used to make its way by road to the hulks_.

ARMOIRE, _f._ (popular), à glace, _the four of any card_; _head_; (military) ---- à poils, _soldiers’ knapsack_, or “scran bag.” An allusion to the hairy skin that covers or covered soldiers’ knapsacks.

ARNAC, _m._ (thieves’), à l’----, _with premeditation_.

ARNACHE, _f._ (popular), _deceit_; _treachery_. Etre à l’----, _to be cunning_, _wide-awake_, a “deep one;” _to deceive, and not allow oneself to be deceived_.

ARNACQ, ARNACHE, _m._ (thieves’), _detective_, _informer_, “nark.”

ARNAUD, _m._ (popular), avoir son ----, être ----, _to be in a bad humour_, to be “nasty.”

ARNAUDER (popular), _to grumble_.

ARNELLE (thieves’), _the town of Rouen_. From La Renelle, a small river.

ARNELLERIE, _f._ (thieves’), _rouennerie_, _printed cotton_.

ARNIF, _m._ (thieves’), _policeman or detective_. Also denominated “bec de gaz, bourrique, cierge, flique, laune, peste, vache.” In English cant or slang “crusher, pig, copper, cossack, nark.”

ARPAGAR, _m._ (thieves’), _the town of Arpagon, near Paris_.

ARPETTE, _m._ (popular), _apprentice_.

ARPION, _m._ (thieves’ and popular), _foot_, “trotter;” _toe_.

Moi, d’marcher ça n’me fout pas l’trac. J’ai l’arpion plus dur que des clous.

=RICHEPIN=, _Chanson des Gueux_.

ARPIONS, _m._ _pl._ (thieves’ and popular), _toes_.

ARQUEPINCER. See ARCPINCER.

ARQUER (popular), s’----, _to be bent down through age_.

ARRACHER (thieves’), du chiendent, _to be on the look-out for a victim_ (chiendent, _dogs’ grass_); (popular) ---- son copeau, _to work_, “to grind” (copeau, _shaving_).

ARRANGEMANER (thieves’), _to cheat_, or “to stick.”

ARRANGER (swindlers’), les pantres, _to cheat the public by means of the three-card trick or other swindling dodges_.

ARRANGEUR, _m._ (gamesters’), _one who sets a game going_, or “buttonner.”

ARRÊTER (familiar), les frais, _to put a stop to any proceedings_. (Les frais, _the fee for a game of billiards_.)

ARRIÈRE-TRAIN, _m._ (familiar), _the behind_, or “tochas.” See VASISTAS.

ARRIVER PREMIER (sporting), _to be the winner_. Used figuratively to denote superiority of any kind over others. Arriver bon premier, “to beat hollow.”

ARRONDIR (popular), se faire ---- le globe, _to become pregnant_, or “lumpy.”

On s’a fait arrondir el’globe, On a sa p’tit’ butte, à c’qué vois.... Eh! ben, ça prouv’ qu’on n’est pas d’bois.

=GILL=, _La Muse à Bibi_.

ARRONDISSEMENT, _m._ (popular), chef-lieu d’----, _woman in an advanced stage of pregnancy_, “lumpy,” _or with a_ “white swelling.”

ARROSAGE, _m._ (popular), _action of drinking_, _of_ “having something damp.”

ARROSER (gamesters’), _to stake repeatedly on the same card_; _to make repeated sacrifices in money_; (military) ---- ses galons, _treating one’s comrades on being made a non-commissioned officer_, “paying for one’s footing;” (familiar) ---- un créancier, _to settle small portion of debt_.

ARROSEUR, _m._ (thieves’), de verdouze, _gardener_, or “master of the mint.” Verdouze, for verdure.

ARROSOIR, _m._ (thieves’), coup d’----, _a glass of wine_; _a watering-pot_.

ARSENAL, _m._ (thieves’), _arsenic_.

ARSONNER (thieves’), _to overhaul pockets_, to “frisk,” or “to rule over.”

ARSOUILLE, _m._ (familiar), _a man foul in language_, _a low cad_, a “rank outsider.” The expression has passed into the language. Milor l’----, _a rich man with eccentric, low tastes_. The appellation was first given to Lord Seymour.

ARSOUILLER (popular), synonymous of engueuler, to “jaw,” to “slang.”

ARTHUR, _m._, _a would-be lady-killer_; also synonymous of AMANT DE CŒUR, which see.

ARTHURINE, _f._ (popular), _a girl of indifferent character_, _a_ “Poll.”

ARTICHAUT, _m._ (popular), cœur d’----, _fickle-hearted_.

.... Cœur d’artichaut, C’est mon genre: un’ feuille pour tout l’monde, Au jour d’aujourd’hui, j’gobe la blonde; Après-d’main, c’est la brun’, qu’i m’faut.

=GILL.=

ARTICHE, _m._ (thieves’), retirer l’----, _to pick the pockets of a drunkard_.

ARTICLE, _m._ (familiar), faire l’----, _to puff up_, “to crack up.” (Printers’) Payer son ---- quatre, _to pay for one’s footing_. An allusion to some item of a code of regulations. (Popular) Porté sur l’----, _one of an amatory disposition_.

ARTICLIER, _m._, _one whose spécialité is writing newspaper articles_.

ARTIE, ARTIF, ARTIFFE, LARTIE, LARTON, _m._ (thieves’), _bread_; ---- de Meulan, _white bread_; ---- du gros Guillaume, _brown bread_; ---- de guinaut, _mouldy bread_.

Ecoutez marques et mions, J’aime la croûte de parfond, J’aime l’artie, j’aime la crie, J’aime la croûte de parfond.

_Chanson de l’Argot_.

ARTILLEUR (popular), _drunkard_; _one skilful in working the_ “canon,” _or glass of wine at wine-shops_; ---- à genoux, or de la pièce humide, _a military hospital orderly_; ---- à l’aiguille, _tailor_; ---- de la pièce humide, _a fireman_; also, _one who is voiding urine_, or “lagging.”

ARTIS, _m._ (thieves’), langage de l’----, _cant_, or “flash.”

ARTISTE, _m._ (popular), _veterinary surgeon_, “vet;” _spendthrift leading a careless life_; _sweeper_; _comrade_, or “pal.”

ARTON. See ARTIE.

ARTOUPAN, _m._ (thieves’), _guard or warder at a penal servitude depôt_, or “screw.”

ART ROYAL (freemasons’), _freemasonry_.

AS, _m._ (popular), être à l’----, _to be short of cash_, “hard up;” _at a restaurant or café_, _to be at table, or in private room No. 1_. Un ---- de carreau, _soldier’s knapsack_, thus called from its shape; _a town adjutant_, an allusion to the red facings of his uniform. (Thieves’) As de carreau, _the ribbon of the Legion of Honour, which is red_. (Familiar) Fichu comme l’---- de pique, _with a clumsily built form_, _badly dressed_. As de pique meant formerly a man of no consequence, of no intellectual worth.

ASINVER (thieves’), _to make stupid_.

ASPERGE MONTÉE, _f._ (popular), _very tall_, _lanky person_; “sky-scraper,” or “lamp-post.”

ASPHALTE, _m._ (familiar), polir l’----, _to lounge on the Boulevards_.

ASPHYXIÉ, _adj._ (popular), _dead-drunk_, or “sewed-up.”

ASPHYXIER (popular), _to drink_; ---- le perroquet, _to drink a glass of absinthe_, green, like a parrot; ---- un pierrot, _to drink a glass of white wine_. Pierrot, a pantomimic character, with face painted white, and costume to match.

ASPIC, _m._ (popular), _a slanderer_, an allusion to “aspic,” a _viper_; (thieves’) _a miser_, or “hunks.”

ASPIQUERIE, _f._ (popular), _calumny_.

ASSEOIR (popular), s’----, _to fall_. Envoyer quelqu’un s’----, _to throw one down_, _to silence, get rid of one_. Allez vous ----, _shut up_, _go to_ “pot” (an allusion to the customary intimation of the judge to a witness whose examination is concluded). S’---- sur le bouchon, _to sit on mother earth_. S’---- sur quelqu’un, _to silence one_, _sit upon him_. S’---- sur quelquechose, _to attach but slight importance to a thing_.

ASSESSEUR (gamesters’), _player_.

ASSEYEZ-VOUS DESSUS ET QU’ ÇA FINISSE! (familiar), _silence him! sit upon him!_

ASSIETTE, _f._ (popular), avoir l’---- au beurre, _to be lucky_, _fortunate in life_.

ASSIS, _m._ (literary), _clerks_, or “quill drivers.”

Oh! c’est alors qu’il faut plaindre... les malheureux qu’un travail sédentaire courbe sur un bureau.... c’est alors qu’il convient de se lamenter sur le sort des assis.--=RICHEPIN=, _Le Pavé_.

ASSISTER (thieves’), _to bring victuals to a prisoner from outside_.

ASSOCIÉE, _f._ (printers’), mon ----, _my wife_, _my_ “old woman.”

ASSOMMOIR, _m._ (familiar), _name of a wine-shop at Belleville, and which is now common to all low drinking-shops_. From assommer, _to knock over the head_.

ASTEC, _m._ (familiar), _stunted and weakly person_, or “barber’s cat;” (literary) _a weak, despicable adversary_. An allusion to the Mexican dwarfs.

ASTIC, _m._ (thieves’), _steel_, _sword_, or “poker” (from the German stich); (soldiers’) _a mixture of pipe-clay for the furbishing of the brass fixtures of equipment_. Aller à l’----, _to clean one’s equipment_.

ASTICOT, _m._ (popular), _vermicelli_; _mistress of a bully or thief_, “mollisher;” ---- de cercueil, _glass of beer_ (a play on the words “ver” and “bière,” asticot being a _flesh-worm_).

ASTIQUAGE or ASTIQUE, _m._ (military), _cleaning the equipments_.

ASTIQUER (popular), _to beat_, or “to towel;” _to tease_. Literally _to clean_, _to furbish_. S’----, _to have angry words, as a prelude to a set to_; _to fight_. Literally _to make oneself neat_, or “smug.”

AS-TU FINI, or AS-TU FINI TES MANIÈRES! _words implying that a person’s endeavours to convince or to deceive another have failed_. The expression corresponds in some degree to “Walker!” “No go!” “What next?”

A TABLE (thieves’), se mettre ----, or, casser du sucre, _to confess a crime_.

ATELIER (freemasons’), _place of meeting_.

ATIGÉ, _adj._ (thieves’ and popular), _ill_, or “laid up;” _stricken_, _ruined_, or “cracked up.”

ATIGER (thieves’ and popular), _to wound, to strike_, “to clump.”

ATÔMES CROCHUS, _m. pl._ (familiar), _mysterious elements of mutual sympathy_.

ATOUSER (convicts’), _to encourage_, _to urge_, “to kid on.”

ATOUT, _m._ (thieves’ and popular), _courage_, or “wool;” _self-possession_; _a blow_, or “wipe;” _stomach_; _money_, or “rhino;” _ability_. Proper meaning _trumps_. Avoir de l’----, _to have pluck_, or “spunk;” _to have a strong arm_.

Tu m’as donné la bonne mesure, tu es un cadet qui a de l’atout.--=E. SUE.= (_You gave me a good thrashing, you are a strong chap._)

Le plus d’----, _a kind of swindling game played at low cafés_.

ATOUT! (popular), _exclamation to denote that a blow has taken effect_.

ATTACHE, _f._, _love tie_.

ATTACHER (thieves’), un bidon, _to inform against one_, “to blow the gaff.”

ATTACHES, _f. pl._, (thieves’), _buckles_; ---- brillantes, _diamond buckles_; ---- de gratousse, _lace shirt-frill_; ---- de cés, _breeches buckles_.

J’ai fait suer un chêne, Son auberg j’ai enganté. Son auberg et sa toquante, Et ses attach’s de cés.

=V. HUGO=, _Le Dernier Jour d’un Condamné_.

ATTAQUE, d’----, _resolutely, smartly_. Un homme d’----, _a resolute man_, _one who is game_. Etre d’----, _to show energy, resolution_. Y aller d’----, _to set about anything with a will, smartly, as if one meant business_. (Popular) D’attaque, _violent_, _severe_.

V’lan! v’là l’vent qui m’fiche eun’claque. Fait vraiment un froid d’attaque.

=RICHEPIN.=

ATTELAGE, _m._ (cavalry), un bon ----, _a couple of good friends_.

ATTENDRIR (familiar), s’----, _to have reached that stage of intoxication when one is_ “_maudlin_.”

ATTIGER. See ATIGER.

ATTIGNOLES, _f. pl._ (popular), _tripe à la mode de Caen_ (tripe stewed with herbs and seasoning).

N’importe où nous nous empâtons, D’arlequins, d’briffe et d’rogatons, Que’qu’fois d’saucisse et d’attignoles.

=RICHEPIN.=

ATTRAPAGE, _m._ (familiar and popular), _severe scolding_, _sharp criticism_, _quarrel_, _fight_, “mill;” (military) ---- du premier numéro, _serious duel_.

ATTRAPE (popular), à te rappeler, _mind you remember!_

ATTRAPER (popular), _to scold_, “to jaw;” ---- l’oignon, _to receive a blow intended for another_; _to have to pay for others’ reckoning_. S’----, _to abuse_, _to_ “slang” _one another_. Se faire ----, _to get scolded, abused_, “blown up.” Attraper le haricot, or la fève, _to have to pay for others_. An allusion to one who finds a bean in his share of the cake at the “fête des rois,” or Twelfth-night, and who, being proclaimed king, has to treat the other guests. (Journalists’) Attraper, _to sharply criticise or run down a person or literary production_; (theatrical) _to hiss_, or “goose;” (actors’) ---- le lustre, _to open wide one’s mouth_; _to make a fruitless attempt to give emission to a note_.

ATTRAPE-SCIENCE, _m._, _printer’s apprentice_, or “devil.”

ATTRAPEUR, _m._ (literary), _a sharp or scurrilous critic_.

ATTRIMER (thieves’), _to take_, to “nibble;” _to seize_, to “grab.”

ATTRIQUER (thieves’), _to buy_; _to buy stolen clothes_.

ATTRIQUEUR, _m._, ATTRIQUEUSE, _f._ (thieves’), _receiver of stolen clothes_, “fence.”

AUBER, _m._, _a sum of money_, “pile.” A play on the word “haubert,” _coat of mail_, _an assemblage of_ “mailles,” _meaning_ “meshes” or “small change.” Compare the expression, Sans sou ni maille.

AUMÔNE, _f._ (thieves’), voler à l’----, _stealing from a jeweller, who is requested to exhibit small trinkets, some of which, being purloined, are transmitted to the hand of a confederate outside who pretends to ask for alms_.

AUMÔNIER, _m._ (thieves’), _a thief who operates as described above_.

AU PRIX OÙ EST LE BEURRE (familiar), _at the present rate of prices of things in general_.

AURE, or HAURE (thieves’), le grand ----, _God_.

AÜS, _m._ (shopmen’s), _perplexed purchaser who leaves without buying anything_.

AUSTO, _m._ (soldiers’), _guard-room_, _cells_, “Irish theatre,” “mill,” or “jigger.”

AUTAN, _m._ (thieves’), _loft_, _attics_ (old word hautain, high).

AUTEL, (freemasons’), _table at which the master sits_; (popular) ---- de besoin, _prostitute_, or “bed-fagot;” ---- de plume, _bed_, “doss.”

AUTEUR, _m._ (familiar), _father or mother_, “governor,” or “mater;” ---- beurrier, _unsuccessful author whose works are sold as wrapping-paper for tradesmen_.

AUTOR (familiar and popular), jouer d’----, _to play cards without proposing_. Travailler d’---- et d’achar, _to work with energy_.

AUTOR, d’---- (thieves’), _in a peremptory manner_; _deliberately_.

Dis donc, fourline, la première fois que nous trouverons la Pégriotte, faut l’emmener d’autor.--=EUGÈNE SUE.=

AUTRE, _adj._ (popular), cet ---- chien, _that chap_. Etre l’----, _to be duped_, or “bamboozled;” _to be the lover_; _the mistress_. L’---- côté, _appellation given by Paris students to that part of the city situated on the right bank of the river_. Femme de l’---- côté, _woman residing in that part of Paris_.

AUVERGNAT, _m._ (popular), avaler l’----, _to take communion_.

AUVERPIN, _m._ (popular), _native of Auvergne_. Appellation given to commissionnaires, charcoal-dealers, water-carriers, &c., who generally hail from Auvergne.

Et là seulement vous trouverez les bals-musette, les vrais, tenus par des Auverpins à la fois mastroquets et charbonniers, hantés par des Auverpins aussi, porteurs d’eau, commissionnaires, frotteurs, cochers.--=RICHEPIN=, _Le Pavé_.

AUVERPINCHES, _m. pl._ (popular), _clumsy shoes usually worn by Auvergnats_.

AUX (popular), petits oignons, _in first-rate style, excellently_. Etre ---- petits oiseaux, _to be comfortable, snug_.

AUXILIAIRE (prisoners’), _prisoner acting as servant_, or “fag.”

AVALÉ (popular), avoir ---- le pépin, _to be pregnant_, or “lumpy.” An allusion to the apple. Avoir ---- une chaise percée, _to have an offensive breath_. Avoir ---- un sabre, _to be stiff_, “to have swallowed a poker.” Avoir ---- le bon Dieu en culotte de velours, _to have swallowed some excellent food or drink_.

Et toujours le patron doit terminer sa lampée par un hum engageant et satisfait comme s’il avait avalé le bon Dieu en culotte de velours.--=RICHEPIN=, _Le Pavé_.

AVALER (thieves’), le luron, _to receive the Host at communion_. (Popular) Avaler sa cuiller; sa fourchette; sa gaffe; sa langue; ses baguettes; _to die_. In other words, “to lay down one’s knife and fork;” “to kick the bucket;” “to croak;” “to stick one’s spoon in the wall,” &c.; ---- son poussin, _to be dismissed_, “to get the sack;” ---- son absinthe, _to put a good face on some disagreeable matter_. (Familiar) Avoir l’air de vouloir tout ----, _to look as though one were going to do mighty things_; _to look savage and threatening_.

AVALE-TOUT-CRU, _m._ (popular), _braggart_, or “swashbuckler;” (thieves’) _thief who conceals jewels in his mouth_.

AVALOIR, _m._ (popular and thieves’), _throat_, “peck alley,” or “gutter lane.”

AVANTAGES, _m. pl._, AVANT-CŒUR, _m._, AVANT-MAIN, _f._, AVANT-POSTES, _m. pl._, AVANT-SCÈNES, _f. pl._ (popular and familiar), _bosoms_, “Charlies,” “dairies,” or “bubbies.”

AVANTAGEUX, _adj._ (popular), _convenient_, _roomy_. Des souliers ----, _easy shoes_.

AVANT-COURRIER, _m._ (thieves’), _auger_.

AVARO, _m._ (popular), _damage_. From avarie.

AVERGOT, _m._ (thieves’), _egg_.

AVERTINEUX, _adj._ (popular), _of a suspicious, gruff disposition_; _of a forbidding aspect_.

AVOCAT BÊCHEUR, _m._ (printers’), _backbiter_; (thieves’) _public prosecutor_.

AVOINE, _f._ (military), _brandy_. (Popular) Avoir encore l’----, _to have still one’s maidenhead_. (Coachmens’) Donner l’----, _to whip_; _to thrash_, or “flush.”