Albert Barrre

Baba, adj. (popular), dumb-founded, abashed, “blue,” or “flabbergasted.” From Ébahi, astounded.

Babillard, m. (thieves’), confessor; book; newspaper. Griffonneur de ——, journalist. It also means a petition.

Ma largue part pour Versailles,

Aux pieds d’sa MajestÉ,

Elle lui fonce un babillard

Pour m’faire dÉfourailler.

V. Hugo, Dernier Jour d’un CondamnÉ.

Babillarde, f. (thieves’), watch, or “jerry;” letter, “screeve,” or “stiff.”

Babillaudier, m. (thieves’), bookseller.

Babille, f. See Babillarde.

Babiller (thieves’), to read. Properly to prattle, to chatter.

Babines, f. pl. (popular), mouth, “muzzle.” S’en donner par les ——, to eat voraciously, “to scorf.” S’en lÉcher les ——, to enjoy in imagination any kind of pleasure, past or in store.

Babouine, f. (popular), mouth, “rattle-trap,” “kisser,” “dubber,” or “maw.” See Plomb.

Babouiner (popular), to eat.

Bac, for baccarat or baccalaurÉat.

Ce serait bien le diable s’il parvenait À organiser de petits bacs À la raffinerie.—Vast-Ricouard, Le Tripot.

Bacchantes (thieves’), the beard; but more especially the whiskers. From a play on the word bÂche, an awning, covering.

Baccon, m. (thieves’), pig, or “sow’s baby;” pork, or “sawney.”

Bachasse, f. (thieves’), hard labour; convict settlement.

BÂche, f. (thieves’ and cads’), cap, or “tile;” stakes; bed, or “doss.” Se mettre dans la ——, to go to bed. BÂche, properly a cart tilt or an awning.

BacheliÈre, f., female associate of students at the Quartier Latin, the headquarters of the University of France. Herein are situated the Sorbonne, CollÈge de France, Ecole de MÉdecine, Ecole de Droit, &c.

BÂcher, pagnotter, or percher (thieves’ and popular). Se ——, to go to bed.

Bachot, m. (students’), baccalaurÉat, or examination for the degree of bachelor of arts or science conferred by the University of France. Etre ——, to be a bachelor. Faire son ——, to read for that examination.

Bachotier, m. (students’), tutor who prepares candidates for the baccalaurÉat, a “coach,” or a “crammer.”

Bachotter (sharpers’), to swindle at billiards.

Bachotteur, m. (sharpers’), a confederate of blacklegs at a four game of billiards. The “bachotteur” arranges the game, holds the stakes, &c., pretending meanwhile to be much interested in the victim, or “pigeon.” His associates are “l’emporteur,” or “buttoner,” whose functions consist in entering into conversation with the intended victim and enticing him into playing, and “la bÊte,” who feigns to be a loser at the outset, so as to encourage the pigeon.

BÂcler, boucler (thieves’), to shut, to arrest. BÂclez la lourde! shut the door! “dub the jigger.” (Popular) BÂcler, to put, to place. BÂclez-vous lÀ! place yourself there!

Bacreuse, f. (popular), pocket. From creuse, deep.

BadaudiÈre, f., the tribe of badauds, people whose interest is awakened by the most trifling events or things, and who stop to gape wonderingly at such events or things.

Parmi tous les badauds de la grande badaudiÈre parisienne, qui est le pays du monde oÙ l’on en trouve le plus, parmi tous les flÂneurs, gÂcheurs de temps ... bayeurs aux grues.—Richepin, Le PavÉ.

Badigeon, m. (popular), painting of the face; paint for the face, “slap.” Se coller du ——, to paint one’s face, “to stick on slap.”

Badigeonner, la femme au puits, to lie, “to cram.” An allusion to Truth supposed to dwell in a well. Se ——, to paint one’s face.

Badigoinces, f. pl. (popular), lips, mouth, “maw.” Jouer des ——, or se caler les ——, to eat, “to grub.” S’en coller par les ——, to have a good fill, “to stodge.” See Mastiquer.

Badinguiste, badingÂteux, badingouin, badingueusard, badingouinard, terms of contempt applied to Bonapartists. “Badinguet,” nickname of Napoleon III., was the name of a mason who lent him his clothes, and whose character he assumed to effect his escape from Fort Ham, in which he was confined for conspiracy and rebellion against the government of King Louis Philippe.

Badouillard, m., badouillarde, f. (popular), male and female habituÉs of low fancy balls.

Badouille, f. (popular), henpecked husband, or “stangey;” fool, or “duffer.”

Badouiller (popular), to frequent low public balls; to wander about without a settled purpose, “to scamander;” to have drinking revels, “to go on the booze.”

Badouillerie, f. (popular), dissipated mode of living.

Baffre, f. (popular), a blow in the face with the fist, a “bang in the mug.”

Bafouiller, (popular), to jabber; to splutter; to sputter.

Bafouilleur, bafouilleux, m., bafouilleuse, f., one who sputters.

Bagniole, f. (popular), carriage, “trap,” or “cask.”

Bagnole, f. (popular), diminutive of bagne, convict settlement, hulks: wretched room or house, or “crib;” costermonger’s hand-barrow, “trolly,” or “shallow.”

La maigre, salade ... que les bonnes femmes poussent devant elles dans leur bagnole À bras.—Richepin, Le PavÉ.

Bagou, bagoÛt, m. (familiar), (has passed into the language), facility of speech (used disparagingly). Quel —— mes amis! well, he is the one to talk! Avoir un fier ——, to have plenty of jaw.

On se laissa bientÔt aller À la joie ravivÉe sans cesse au bagout du vieux, qui n’avait jamais ÉtÉ aussi bavard.—Richepin, La Glu.

(Thieves’) Bagou, name, “monniker,” “monarch.”

Bagoulard, m. (popular), a very talkative man, a “clack-box,” or “mouth-all-mighty.” C’est un fameux ——, “He’s the bloke to slam.”

Bagouler (popular and thieves’), to prattle, to do the “Poll Parrot;” to give one’s name, or “dub one’s monniker.”

Bague, f. (thieves’), name, “monniker,” “monarch.”

Baguenaude (thieves’ and cads’), pocket, “cly,” “sky-rocket,” or “brigh;” —— À sec, empty pocket; —— ronflante, pocket full of money. Faire la retourne des baguenaudes, to rob drunkards who go to sleep on benches.

... Une bande de filous, vauriens ayant travaillÉ les baguenaudes dans la foule.—Richepin, Le PavÉ.

Baguenots, m. pl. (popular), faire les ——, to pick pockets, “to fake a cly.”

Baguettes, f. pl. Properly rods, or drum-sticks. (Military) Avaler ses ——, to die. (Familiar) Baguettes de tambour, thin legs, spindle-shanks; lank hair.

Bahut, m. (popular), furniture, “marbles.” Properly large dresser, or press; (cadets’) —— spÉcial, the military school of Saint-Cyr; (students’) —— paternel, paternal house. Bahut, a crammer’s establishment; college, or boarding-school.

Eux, les pauvres petits galÉriens, ils continuent À vivre entre les murs lÉpreux du bahut.—Richepin, Le PavÉ.

BahutÉ (Saint-Cyr cadets’), ceci est ——, that is smart, soldier-like. Une tenue bahutÉe, smart dress or appearance.

Bahuter (Saint-Cyr cadets’), to create a disturbance, “to kick up a row;” (schoolboys’) to go from one educational establishment to another.

Bahuteur, m., one fond of a “row;” unruly scholar; pupil who patronizes, willingly or not, different educational establishments.

Baigne-dans-le-beurre (popular), womens’ bully, or “pensioner.” An allusion to “maquereau,” or mackerel, a common appellation for such creatures. See Poisson.

Baigneuse, f. (thieves’ and cads’), head, or “block,” “canister,” “nut.” See Tronche.

Baignoire À bon Dieu, f. (cads’), chalice.

Bailler au tableau (theatrical), to have an insignificant part in a new play.

Terme de coulisses qui s’applique À un acteur, qui voit au tableau la mise en rÉpÉtition d’une piÈce dans laquelle il n’a qu’un bout de rÔle.—A. Bouchard, La Langue thÉÂtrale.

Baimbain (Breton cant), potatoes.

Bain de pied (familiar), the overflow into the saucer from a cup of coffee or glass of brandy; third help of brandy after coffee, those preceding being “la rincette” and “la surrincette.”

Bain-Marie, m. (popular), a person with a mild, namby-pamby disposition allied to a weakly constitution, a “sappy” fellow.

Bain qui chauffe, m. (popular), a rain cloud in hot weather.

Baiser (popular), la camarde, to die, “to kick the bucket,” “to snuff it;” (gamesters’) —— le cul de la vieille, not to score, to remain at “love.”

Baissier, m., man on ’Change who speculates for a fall in the funds, “bear.” See Haussier.

Baite, f. (thieves’), house, “crib.”

Bajaf, m. (popular), a stout, plethoric man. Gros ——, “forty guts.”

Bajoter (popular), to chatter, “to gabble.”

Bal, m. (military), extra drill (called a “hoxter” at the Royal Military Academy).

Baladage, balladage, m. (popular), chanteur au ——, street singer, “street pitcher.”

Balade, ballade, f. (popular and familiar), walk, stroll, lounge, “miking.” Canot de ——, pleasure boat. Faire une ——, se payer une ——, to take a walk. Chanteur À la ——, itinerant singer, “chaunter.” (Thieves’) Balade, or ballade, pocket; also called “fouillouse, profonde, valade,” and by English rogues, “sky-rocket, cly, or brigh.”

Balader (thieves’), to choose; to seek. (Popular) Se ——, to take a walk; to stroll; “to mike;” to make off; to run away, “to cut one’s lucky.” See Patatrot.

Baladeur, m. (popular), one who takes a walk.

Baladeuse, f. (popular), woman with no heart for work and who is fond of idly strolling about.

Balai, m. (hawkers’), police officer, or gendarme, “crusher;” (military) —— À plumes, plumes of shako. (Popular) Balai, the last ’bus or tramcar at night. Donner du —— À quelqu’un, to drive one away.

Balancement, m. (clerks’), dismissal, “the sack.”

Balancer (popular), to throw at a distance; —— quelqu’un, to dismiss from one’s employment, “to give the sack;” to get rid of one; to make fun of one; to hoax, “to bamboozle;” (thieves’) —— la rouscaillante, to speak, or “to rap;” —— sa canne is said of a vagrant who takes to thieving, of a convict who makes his escape, or of a ticket-of-leave man who breaks bounds; —— sa largue, to get rid of one’s mistress, “to bury a Moll;” —— ses alÈnes, to turn honest; to forsake the burglar’s implements for the murderer’s knife; —— ses chasses, to gaze about, “to stag;” —— son chiffon rouge, to talk, “to wag one’s red rag;” —— une lazagne, to send a letter, “screeve,” or “stiff.”

Balanceur, m. (thieves’), de braise, money changer. An allusion to the practice of weighing money.

Balancier, m. (popular), faire le ——, to wait for one.

BalanÇoir, balanÇon, m. (thieves’), window-bar.

BalanÇoire, f. (familiar), fib, “flam;” nonsense; stupid joke. Envoyer À la ——, to get rid of one, to invite one to make himself scarce, or to send one to the deuce.

BalanÇon, m. (thieves’), iron hammer; window-bar.

Balandrin, m. (popular), parcel made up in canvas; a small pedlar’s pack.

Balauder (tramps’), to beg, “to cadge.”

Balayage, m. Properly sweeping; used figuratively wholesale getting rid of. On devrait faire un balayage dans cette administration, there ought to be a wholesale dismissal of officials.

Balayer (theatrical), les planches, to be the first to sing at a concert.

Balayez-moi-Ça, m. (popular), woman’s dress. Literally you just sweep that away.

Balcon, m. (popular), il y a du monde, or il y a quelqu’un au ——, an allusion to well-developed breasts.

Balconnier, m., orator who makes a practice of addressing the crowd from a balcony.

Baleine, f. (popular), disreputable woman, “bed-fagot.” Rire comme une ——, to laugh in a silly manner with mouth wide open like a whale’s.

Baliverneur, m. (popular), monger of “twaddle,” of tomfooleries, of “blarney.”

Ballade, f. (popular), aller faire une —— À la lune, to ease oneself.

Balle, f. (thieves’), secret; affair; opportunity. Ça fait ma ——, that just suits me. Manquer sa ——, to miss one’s opportunity. Faire ——, to be fasting. Faire la ——, to act according to instructions. (Popular) Balle, one-franc piece; face, “mug;” head, “block.” Il a une bonne ——, he has a good-natured looking face, or a grotesque face. Rond comme ——, is said of one who has eaten or drunk to excess; of one who is drunk, or “tight.” Un blafard de cinq balles, a five-franc piece. (Familiar) Enfant de la ——, actor’s child; actor; one who is of the same profession as his father. (Prostitutes’) Balle d’amour, handsome face. Rude ——, energetic countenance, with harsh features. Balle de coton, a blow with the fist, a “bang,” “wipe,” “one on the mug,” or a “cant in the gills.”

Ballomanie, f., mania for ballooning.

Ballon, m. (popular), glass of beer; the behind, or “tochas.” Enlever le —— À quelqu’un, to kick one in the hinder part of the body, “to toe one’s bum,” “to root,” or “to land a kick.” En ——, in prison, “in quod.” Se donner du ——, to make a dress bulge out. Se lÂcher du ——, to make off rapidly, “to brush.”

BallonnÉ, adj. (thieves’), imprisoned, “in limbo.”

Ballot, m. (tailors’), stoppage of work.

Balloter (tailors’), to be out of work, “out of collar;” (thieves’) to throw.

Bal-musette, m., dancing place for workpeople in the suburbs.

Les bals-musette au plancher de bois qui sonne comme un tympanon sous les talons tambourinant la bourrÉe montagnarde ... que la musette remplit de son chant agreste.—Richepin, Le PavÉ.

Balochard, balocheur, m. (popular), one who idles about town carelessly and merrily.

Aussi j’laisse l’chic et les chars,

Aux feignants et aux galupiers,

Et j’suis l’roi des Balochards,

Des Balochards qui va-t-À pieds.

Richpin, Gueux de Paris.

Balocher, (popular), to be an habituÉ of dancing halls; to bestir oneself; to fish in troubled waters; to have on hand any unlawful business; to move things; to hang them up; to idle about carelessly and merrily, or “to mike.”

Balots, m. pl. (thieves’), lips. Se graisser les ——, to eat, “to grub.”

Balouf (popular), very strong, “spry.”

Balthazar, m. (familiar), a plentiful meal, “a tightener.”

Baluchon, m. (popular), parcel, or “peter.”

Bambino, bambochino, m. (popular), term of endearment for a child.

Bamboche, adj. (popular), Être ——, to be tipsy, or “to be screwed.”

Banban, m. and f. (popular), lame person, “dot and go one;” small stunted person, “Jack Sprat.”

Banc, m. (convicts’), camp bed; (Parisians’) —— de Terre-Neuve, that part of the Boulevard between the Madeleine and Porte Saint-Denis. Probably an allusion to the ladies of fishy character, termed “morues,” or codfish, who cruise about that part of Paris, and a play on the word Terre-Neuve, Newfoundland, where the real article is fished in large quantities. (Military) Pied de ——, sergeant. See Pied.

Bancal, m. (soldiers’), cavalry sword.

Et, je me sens fier, ingambe,

D’un plumet sur mon colbac,

D’un bancal, et du flic-flac

De ce machin sur ma jambe.

A. de Chatillon.

Bande, Properly cushion of billiard table. Coller sous ——, to get one in a fix, in a “hole.”

Bande d’air, f. (theatrical), frieze painted blue so as to represent the sky.

Bande noire, f., a gang of swindlers who procure goods on false pretences and sell them below their value, “long firm.”

La Bande Noire comprises four categories of swindlers working jointly: “le courtier À la mode,” who, by means of false references, gets himself appointed as agent to important firms, generally wine merchants, jewellers, provision dealers. He calls on some small tradesmen on the verge of bankruptcy, denominated “petits faisans,” or “frÈres de la cÔte,” and offers them at a very low price merchandise which they are to dispose of, allowing him a share in the profits. The next step to be taken is to bribe a clerk of some private information office, who is thus induced to give a favourable answer to all inquiries regarding the solvency of the “petit faisan.” The courtier À la mode also bribes with a like object the doorkeeper of his clients. At length the goods are delivered by the victimized firms; now steps in the “fusilleur” or “gros faisan,” who obtains the merchandise at a price much below value—a cask of wine worth 170 francs, for instance, being transferred to him at less than half that sum—the sale often taking place at the railway goods station, especially when the “petit faisan” is an imaginary individual represented by a doorkeeper in confederacy with the gang.—Translated from the “RÉpublique FranÇaise” newspaper, February, 1886.

Bander (popular), la caisse, to abscond with the cash-box. Properly to tighten the drum; —— l’ergot, to run away, “to crush.”

Bannette (popular), apron.

BanniÈre, f. (familiar), Être en ——, to be in one’s shirt, in one’s “flesh bag.”

Banque, f. (popular), falsehood, imposition, “plant.” (Hawkers’) La ——, the puffing up of goods to allure purchasers; the confraternity of mountebanks. (Showmens’) Truc de ——, password which obtains admission to booths or raree-shows. (Printers’) Banque, pay. La —— a fouaillÉ expresses that pay has been deferred. Etre bloquÉ À la ——, or faire —— blÈche, to receive no pay.

Banquet, m. (freemasons’), dinner.

Banquette, f. (popular), chin.

Banquezingue, m. (thieves’), banker, “rag-shop cove.”

Banquiste (thieves’), one who prepares a swindling operation.

BaptÊme, m. (popular), head, “nut.”

Baquet, m. (popular), washerwoman; —— insolent, same meaning (an allusion to the impudence of Parisian washerwomen); —— de science, cobbler’s tub.

Barant, m. (thieves’), gutter, brook. From the Celtic baranton, fountain.

Baraque, f., disparaging epithet for a house or establishment; (servants’) a house where masters are strict and particular; a “shop;” newspaper of which the editor is strict with respect to the productions; (schoolboys’) cupboard; (soldiers’) a service stripe; (sharpers’) a kind of swindling game of pool.

Barbaque, or bidoche, f. (popular), meat, or “carnish.”

Barbe, f. (students’), private coaching. (Popular) Avoir de la —— is said of anything old, stale. (Theatrical) Faire sa ——, to make money. (Familiar) Vieille ——, old-fashioned politician. (Printers’) Barbe, intoxication, the different stages of the happy state being “le coup de feu,” “la barbe simple,” “la barbe indigne.” Prendre une ——, to get intoxicated, or “screwed.” (Popular) Barbe, women’s bully, or “pensioner.”

Barbe À poux, m., an insulting expression especially used by cabbies, means lousy beard. Also a nickname given sometimes to the pioneers in the French army on account of their long beards.

Barbeau, m. (popular), prostitute’s bully. Properly a barbel.

Barbeaudier (thieves’), doorkeeper; turnkey, “dubsman,” or “jigger dubber;” —— de castu, hospital overseer. Concerning this expression Michel says: Cette expression, qui nous est donnÉe par le Dictionnaire Argotique du Jargon, a ÉtÉ formÉe par allusion À la tisane que l’on boit dans les hÔpitaux, tisane assimilÉe ici À la biÈre. En effet, barbaudier avait autrefois le sens de brasseur, si l’on peut du moins s’en rapporter À Roquefort, qui ne cite pas d’exemple. En voici un, malheureusement peu concluant. Tais-toi, putain de barbaudier: Le coup d’oeil purin.

Barberot, m. (convicts’), barber, a “strap.”

Barbet, m. (thieves’), the devil, “old scratch,” or “ruffin.”

Barbichon, m. (popular), monk. An allusion to the long beard generally sported by the fraternity.

Barbille, barbillon, m., girl’s bully, young hand at the business.

Barbillons, m. pl. (popular), de Beauce, vegetables (Beauce, formerly a province); —— de Varenne, turnips.

Barbot, m. (popular), duck; girl’s bully, “ponce.” See Poisson. (Thieves’) Vol au ——, pocket-picking, or “buz-faking.” Faire le ——, to pick pockets, “to buz,” or “to fake a cly.”

Barbotage, m., theft, “push.” From barboter, to dabble.

Barbote, f. (thieves’), searching of prisoners on their arrival at the prison, “turning over.”

Barboter (thieves’), to search on the person, “to turn over;” to steal, “to clift;” to purloin goods and sell them; —— les poches, to pick pockets, “to buz;” (familiar) —— la caisse, to appropriate the contents of a cashbox.

Barboteur, m. (thieves’), de campagne, night thief.

Barbotier, m., searcher at prisons.

Barbotin, m. (thieves’), theft; proceeds of sale of stolen goods, “swag.”

AprÈs mon dernier barbotin,

J’ai flasquÉ du poivre À la rousse.

Richepin.

Barbue, f. (thieves), pen.

Bar-de-tire, m. (thieves’), hose.

Baril de moutarde (cads’), breech. See Vasistas.

Barka (military), enough (from the Arabic).

Baron, m. (popular), de la crasse, man ill at ease in garments which are not suited to his station in life, and which in consequence give him an awkward appearance.

Barre, f. (thieves’), needle; (popular) compter À la ——, primitive mode of reckoning by making dashes on a slate.

BarrÉ, adj. (popular), dull-witted, “cabbage-head.”

Barrer (popular), to leave off work; to relinquish an undertaking; to scold. Se ——, to make off, “to mizzle;” to conceal oneself.

Barres, f. pl. (popular), jaws. Se rafraÎchir les ——, to drink, “to wet or whet one’s whistle.”

Barrique, f. (freemasons’), decanter or bottle.

Bas (popular), de buffet, a person or thing of no consequence; —— de plafond, —— du cul, short person. Vieux —— de buffet, old coquette.

Basane, or bazane, f. (popular), skin, or “buff.” Tanner la ——, to thrash, “to tan.” (Military) Tailler une ——, is to make a certain contemptuous gesture the nature of which may best be described as follows:—

Un tel, quatre jours de salle de police, ordre du sous-officier X... a rÉpondu À ce sous-officier en lui taillant une bazane; la main appliquÉe sur la braguette du pantalon, et lui faisant dÉcrire une conversion À gauche, avec le pouce pour pivot.—Quoted by L. Merlin, La Langue Verte du Troupier.

Bas-bleuisme, m. (literary), mania for writing. Used in reference to those of the fair sex.

Bascule, f. (popular), guillotine.

Basculer (popular), to guillotine.

Bas-off, m. (Polytechnic School), under-officer.

Basourdir (thieves’), to knock down; to stun; to kill, “to give one his gruel.” See Refroidir.

Basse, f. (thieves’), the earth.

Bassin, m., bassinoire, f. (familiar), superlatively dull person, a bore.

Bassinant, adj. (familiar), dull, annoying, boring.

Bassiner (familiar), to annoy, to bore.

Bassinoire, f., large watch, “turnip.” See Bassin.

Basta (popular), enough; no more. From the Spanish.

Bastimage (thieves’), work, “graft.”

Bastringue, m. (popular), low dancing-hall; noise, disturbance, “rumpus;” (prisoners’) a fine steel saw used by prisoners for cutting through iron bars.

Bastringueuse, f. (popular), female habituÉe of bastringues, or low dancing-saloons.

Bataclan, m. (popular), set of tools; (thieves’) house-breaking implements, or “jilts.”

J’ai dÉjÀ prÉparÉ tout mon bataclan, les fausses clefs sont essayÉes.—Vidocq, MÉmoires.

Bataille, f., (military), chapeau en ——, cocked hat worn crosswise. Chapeau en colonne, the opposite of “en bataille.”

BÂtard, m. (popular), heap of anything.

Bate, f., (popular), Être de la ——, to be happy, fortunate, to have “cocum.”

Bateau, m. (popular), mener en ——, to swindle, to deceive. Monter un ——, to impose upon; to attempt to deceive.

Bateaux, m. pl. (popular), shoes, “carts;” large shoes; shoes that let in water.

Bateaux-mouches, m. pl. (popular), large shoes.

BatelÉe, f. (popular), concourse of people.

Bath, or bate (popular), fine; excellent; tip-top; very well. The origin of the expression is as follows:—Towards 1848 some Bath note-paper of superior quality was hawked about in the streets of Paris and sold at a low price. Thus “papier bath” became synonymous of excellent paper. In a short time the qualifying term alone remained, and received a general application.

Un foulard tout neuf, ce qu’il y a de plus bath!—Richepin.

C’est rien ——, that is excellent, “fizzing.” C’est —— aux pommes, it is delightful. (Thieves’) Du ——, gold or silver. Faire ——, to arrest.

Batiau, m. (printers’), jour du ——, day on which the compositor makes out his account for the week. Parler ——, to talk shop.

Batif, m. (thieves’), bative, batifonne f., new; pretty, or “dimber.” La fÉe est bative, the girl is pretty, she is a “dimber mort.”

Batimancho (Breton), wooden shoes.

BÂtiment (familiar), Être du ——, to be of a certain profession.

BÂtir (popular), sur le devant, to have a large stomach; to have something like a “corporation” growing upon one.

BÂton, m. (thieves’), creux, musket, or “dag;” —— de cire, leg; —— de rÉglisse, police officer, “crusher,” “copper,” or “reeler;” priest, or “devil dodger” (mountebanks’) —— de tremplin, leg. Properly tremplin, a spring board; (familiar) —— merdeux, man whom it is not easy to deal with, who cannot be humoured; (thieves’) —— rompu, ticket-of-leave convict who has broken bounds. Termed also “canne, trique, tricard, fagot, cheval de retour.”

BÂtons de chaise, m. pl. (popular), noce de ——, grand jollification, “flare up,” or “break down.”

Batouse, batouze, f. (thieves’), canvas; —— toute battante, new canvas.

Batousier, m. (thieves’), weaver.

Battage (popular), lie, “gag;” imposition; joke; humbug; damage to any article.

Battant, m. (thieves’), heart, “panter;” stomach; throat, “red lane;” tongue, “jibb.” Un bon ——, a nimble tongue. Se pousser dans le ——, to drink, “to lush.” Faire trimer le ——, to eat.

Battante, f. (popular), bell, or “ringer.”

Battaqua, m. (popular), slatternly woman, dowdy.

Batterie, f. (popular), action of lying, of deceiving, “cram;” the teeth, throat, and tongue; —— douce, joke. (Freemasons’) Batterie, applause.

Batteur, m. (popular and thieves’), liar, deceiver; —— d’antif, thief who informs another of a likely “job;” —— de beurre, stockbroker; —— de dig dig, thief who feigns to be seized with an apoplectic fit in a shop so as to facilitate a confederate’s operations by drawing the attention to himself; (popular) —— de flemme, idler.

Battoir, m. (popular), hand, “flipper;” large hand, “mutton fist.”

Battre (thieves’), to dissemble; to deceive; to make believe.

Ne t inquiÈte pas, je battrai si bien que je dÉfie le plus malin de ne pas me croire emballÉ pour de bon.—Vidocq.

Battre À la Parisienne, to cheat, “to do;” —— À mort, to deny; —— comtois, to play the simpleton; to act in confederacy; —— de l’oeil, to be dying; —— entifle, to be a confederate, or “stallsman;” —— Job, to dissemble; —— l’antif, to walk, “to pad the hoof;” to play the spy, “to nark;” —— morasse, to call out “Stop thief!” “to give hot beef;” —— en ruine, to visit.

Drilles ou narquois sont des soldats qui ... battent en ruine les entiffes et tous les creux des vergnes.—Le Jargon de l’Argot.

(Popular) Battre la muraille, to be so drunk as “not to be able to see a hole in a ladder,” or not to be able “to lie down without holding on;” —— la semelle, to play the vagrant; —— le beurre, to speculate on ’Change; to be “fast;” to dissemble; —— le briquet, to be knock-kneed; —— sa flÈme, or flemme, to be idle, to be “niggling;” —— son quart is said of prostitutes who walk the streets. Des yeux qui se battent en duel, squinting eyes, or “swivel-eyes.” S’en battre l’oeil, la paupiÈre, or les fesses, not to care a straw. (Familiar) Battre son plein, to be in all the bloom of beauty or talent, “in full blast;” (military) —— la couverte, to sleep; (sailors’) —— un quart, to invent some plausible story; (printers’) —— le briquet, to knock the type against the composing-stick when in the act of placing it in.

Batture. See Batterie.

Bauce, bausse, m. (popular), master, employer, “boss;” (thieves’) rich citizen, “rag-splawger;” —— fondu, bankrupt employer, “brosier.”

Bauceresse, f. (popular), female employer.

Baucher (thieves’), se ——, to deride; to make fun of.

Baucoter (thieves’), to teaze.

Baude, f. (thieves’), venereal disease.

Baudrouillard, m. (thieves’), fugitive.

Baudrouiller (thieves’), to decamp, “to make beef.” See Patatrot.

Baudrouiller, or baudru, m. (thieves’), whip.

Bauge, f. (thieves’), box, chest, or “peter;” belly, “tripes.”

Baume, m. (popular), d’acier, surgeons’ and dentists’ instruments; —— de porte-en-terre, poison.

Bausser (popular), to work, “to graft.”

Bavard, m. (popular), barrister, lawyer, “green bag;” (military) punishment leaf in a soldier’s book.

Bavarde, f. (thieves’), mouth, “muns,” or “bone box.”

Une main autour de son colas et l’autre dans sa bavarde pour lui arquepincer le chiffon ronge.—E. Sue.

Baver (popular), to talk, “to jaw;” —— des clignots, to weep, “to nap a bib;” —— sur quelqu’un, to speak ill of one, to backbite. Baver, also to chat. The expression is old.

Baveux, m. (popular), one who does not know what he is talking about.

Bayafe, m. (thieves’), pistol, “barking iron,” or “barker.”

Bayafer (thieves’), to shoot.

Bazar, m. (military), house of ill-fame, “flash drum;” (servants’) house where the master is particular, “crib;” (popular) any house; (prostitutes) furniture, “marbles;” (students) college or school, “shop.”

Bazarder (popular), to sell off anything, especially one’s furniture; to barter; (military) to pillage a house; to wreck it.

Bazenne, f. (thieves’), tinder.

BÉ, m. (popular), wicker-basket which rag-pickers sling to their shoulders.

BÉar, adj. (popular), laisser quelqu’un ——, to leave one in the lurch.

Beau, m., old term for swell; ex-——, superannuated swell.

Beau blond (thieves’), a poetical appellation for the sun.

Beauce, f. (thieves’), plume de ——, straw, or “strommel.”

Beauce, m., beauceresse, f., second-hand clothes-dealers of the Quartier du Temple.

Beauge, m. (thieves’), belly, “guts.”

Beausse, m. (thieves’), wealthy man, “rag-splawger,” or one who is “well-breeched.”

BÉbÉ, m. (popular), stunted man; female dancer at fancy public balls in the dress of an infant; the dress itself; term of endearment. Mon gros ——! darling! ducky!

Bec, m. (popular), mouth, “maw;” —— salÉ, a thirsty mortal. Claquer du ——, to be fasting, “to be bandied.” Rincer le —— À quelqu’un, to treat one to some drink. Se rincer le ——, to wet one’s whistle. Tortiller du ——, to eat, “to peck.” Casser du ——, to have an offensive breath. Avoir la rue du —— mal pavÉe, to have an irregular set of teeth. Ourler son ——, to finish one’s work. (Sailors’) Se calfater le ——, to eat or drink, “to splice the mainbrace.” (Thieves’) Bec de gaz, bourrique, flique, cierge, arnif, peste, laune, vache, police-officer or detective, “pig,” “crusher,” “copper,” “cossack,” “nark,” &c.

BÉcane, f. (popular), steam engine, “puffing billy;” small printing machine.

BÉcarre is the latest title for Parisian dandies; and the term is also used to replace the now well-worn expression “chic.” The “bÉcarre” must be grave and sedate after the English model, with short hair, high collar, small moustache and whiskers, but no beard. He must always look thirty years of age; must neither dance nor affect the frivolity of a floral button-hole nor any jewellery; must shake hands simply with ladies and gravely bend his head to gentlemen. “BÉcarre—being translated—is ‘natural’ in a musical sense.”—Graphic, Jan. 2, 1886. The French dandy goes also by the appellations of “cocodÈs, petit crevÉ, pschutteux,” &c. See Gommeux.

BÉcasse, f. (popular), female guy.

Eh! va donc, grande bÉcasse!

Becfigue de cordonnier, m. (popular), goose.

BÊchage, m. (familiar), sharp criticism.

BÊcher (familiar), to criticize, to run down; (popular) to beat, “to bash.” Se ——, to fight, “to have a mill.”

BÊcheur, m. (thieves’), beggar, “mumper;” juge d’instruction, a magistrate whose functions are to make out a case, and examine a prisoner before he is sent up for trial. Avocat ——, public prosecutor.

BÊcheuse, f. (thieves’), female thief.

BÉcot, m. (popular), mouth, “kisser;” kiss, “bus.”

BÉcoter (popular), to kiss; to fondle, “to firkytoodle.”

Becquant, m. (thieves’), chicken, “cackling cheat,” or “beaker.”

Becquetance, f. (popular), food, “grub.”

Becqueter (popular), to eat, “to peck.”

Dis-donc! viens-tu becqueter? Arrive clampin! Je paie un canon de la bouteille.—Zola.

Bedon, m. (popular), belly, “tripes,” or “the corporation.”

BÉdouin, m. (popular), harsh man, or “Tartar;” one of the card-sharper tribe.

Beek (Breton), wolf. Gwelet an euz ar beek is equivalent to elle a vu le loup, that is, she has lost her maidenhead.

Beffeur, m., beffeuse, f. (popular), deceiver, one who “puts on.”

BÈgue, f. (thieves’), oats; also abbreviation of bÉzigue, a certain game of cards.

BÉguin, m. (popular), head, “nut;” a fancy. Avoir un —— pour quelqu’un, “to fancy someone, “to cotton on to one.”

Beigne, f. (popular), cuff or blow, “bang.”

BÊlant, m. (thieves’), sheep, “wool-bird.”

BelÊt, m. (horse-dealers’), sorry horse, “screw.”

Belette, f. (popular), fifty-centime piece.

Belge, f. (popular), Belgian clay-pipe.

Belgique (familiar), filer sur ——, to abscond with contents of cash-box, is said also of absconding fraudulent bankrupts, who generally put the Belgian frontier between the police and their own persons.

BÉlier, m. (cads’), cuckold.

Bellander (tramps’), to beg, “to cadge.”

Belle, f. (popular and familiar), attendre sa ——, to wait one’s opportunity. Jouer la ——, to play a third and decisive game. La perdre ——, to lose a game which was considered as good as won; to lose an opportunity. (Thieves’) Etre servi de ——, to be imprisoned through mistaken identity; to be the victim of a false accusation. (Popular) Belle À la chandelle, f., ugly; —— de nuit, female habituÉe of balls and cafÉs; (familiar) —— petite, a young lady of the demi-monde, a “pretty horse-breaker.”

BÉnard, m. (popular), breeches, “kicks,” or “sit-upons.”

BÉnef, m., for bÉnÉfice, profit.

BÉnÉvole, m. (popular), young doctor in hospitals.

BÉni-coco (military), Être de la tribu des ——, to be a fool.

BÉni-Mouffetard (popular), dweller of the Quartier Mouffetard, the abode of rag-pickers.

BÉnir (popular), bas, to kick one in the lower part of the back, “to toe one’s bum,” “to root,” or “to land a kick;” (popular and thieves’) —— des pieds, to be hanged, “to cut caper-sauce,” or “to be scragged.”

BÉnisseur, m. (familiar), one who puts on a dignified and solemn air, as if about to give his blessing, and who delivers platitudes on virtue, &c.; one who makes fine but empty promises; political man who professes to believe, and seeks to make others believe, that everything is for the best. An historical illustration of this is General Changarnier thus addressing the House on the very eve of the Coup d’Etat which was to throw most of its members into prison, “ReprÉsentants du peuple, dÉlibÉrez en paix!”

BenoÎt, m. (popular), woman’s bully, “ponce.” See Poisson.

La vrai’ vÉritÉ,

C’est qu’ les BenoÎts toujours lichent

Et s’graissent les balots.

Vive eul’ bataillon d’ la guiche,

C’est nous qu’est les dos.

Richepin, Chanson des Gueux.

BenoÎton, m., benoÎtonne, f., people eccentric in their ways and style of dress. From a play of Sardou’s, La Famille BenoÎton.

BenoÎtonner, to live and dress after the style of the BenoÎtons (which see).

BenoÎtonnerie, f., style and ways of the BenoÎtons.

Beq, m. (engravers’), work.

BÉquet, m. (shoemakers’), patch of leather sewn on a boot; (wood engravers’) small block; (printers’) a composition of a few lines; paper prop placed under a forme.

BÉqueter (popular), to eat, “to peck,” or “to grub.”

BÉquillard, m. (popular), old man, old “codger;” (thieves’) executioner.

BÉquillarde, f. (thieves’), guillotine.

BÉquille, f. (thieves’), gallows, “scrag.” Properly crutch.

BÉquillÉ, m. (thieves’), hanged person, one who has “cut caper sauce.”

BÉquiller (popular), to hang; to eat, “to grub.”

BÉquilleur, m. (thieves’), executioner; man who eats.

Berce. Cheval qui se ——, horse which rocks from side to side when trotting, which “wobbles.”

Berdouillard (popular), man with a fat paunch, “forty guts.”

Berdouille, f. (popular), belly, “tripes.”

T’as bouffÉ des haricots que t’as la berdouille gonfle.—Richepin, Le PavÉ.

Berge, f., or longe (thieves’), year; one year’s imprisonment, “stretch.”

BergÈre, f. (popular), sweetheart, “poll;” last card in a pack.

BÉribono, bÉricain (thieves’), silly fellow easily deceived, a “flat,” a “go along.”

Berlauder (popular), to lounge about, “to mike;” to go the round of all the wine-shops in the neighbourhood.

Berline de commerce, f. (thieves’), tradesman’s clerk.

Berlu, m. (thieves’), blind, or “hoodman.” From avoir la berlue, to see double.

Berlue, f. (thieves’), blanket, “woolly.”

Bernard, m. (popular), aller voir ——, or aller voir comment se porte madame ——, to ease oneself, “to go to Mrs. Jones.”

Bernards, m. pl. (popular), posteriors, “cheeks.”

Berniquer (popular), to go away with the intention of not returning.

Berri, m. (popular), rag-picker’s basket.

Berry, m. (Ecole Polytechnique), fatigue tunic.

Bertelo, m. (thieves’), one-franc piece.

Bertrand, m. (familiar), a swindler who is swindled by his confederates, who acts as a cat’s-paw of other rogues.

BerzÉlius, m. (college), watch.

Besoin, m. (popular), autel de ——, house of ill-fame, or “nanny-shop.”

Besouille, f. (thieves’), belt. From bezzi, Italian, small coin kept in a belt.

Bessons, m. pl. (popular), the breasts, “dairies.” Properly twins.

Bestiasse, f. (popular), arrant fool; dullard, “buffle-head.”

BÊte, f. and adj. (thieves’), confederate in a swindle at billiards. See Bachotter. (Popular) —— À bon Dieu, harmless person (properly lady-bird); —— À cornes, fork; lithographic press; —— À deux fins, walking-stick; —— À pain, a man; also a man who keeps a woman; —— comme ses pieds, arrant fool; —— comme chou, extremely stupid; very easy; —— ÉpaulÉe, girl who has lost her maidenhead (this expression has passed into the language). Une —— rouge, an advanced Republican, a Radical. Thus termed by the Conservatives. Called also “dÉmoc-soc.”

BÊtises, f. pl. (popular), questionable, or “blue,” talk.

Bettander (thieves’), to beg, “to mump,” or “cadge.”

Betterave, f. (popular), drunkard’s nose, a nose with “grog blossoms,” or a “copper nose,” such as is possessed by an “admiral of the red.”

Beuglant, m. (familiar), low music hall; music hall.

Beugler (popular), to weep, “to nap one’s bib.”

Beugne, f. (popular), blow, “clout,” “bang,” or “wipe.”

Beurloquin, m. (popular), proprietor of boot warehouse of a very inferior sort.

Beurlot, m. (popular), shoemaker in a small way.

Beurre, m. (familiar), coin, “oof;” more or less lawful gains. Faire son ——, to make considerable profits. Mettre du —— dans ses Épinards, to add to one’s means. Y aller de son ——, to make a large outlay of money in some business. C’est un ——, it is excellent, “nobby.” Avoir l’assiette au Beurre. See Avoir. Au prix oÙ est le ——. See Au. Avoir du —— sur la tÊte. See Avoir.

Beurre demi-sel, m. (popular), girl or woman already tainted, in a fair way of becoming a prostitute.

Beurrier, m. (thieves’), banker, “rag-shop cove.”

BÉzef (popular), much. From the Arabic.

Biard (thieves’), side. Probably from biais.

Bibard, m. (popular), drunkard, or “mop;” debauchee, or “sad dog.”

Bibarder (popular), to grow old.

Bibarderie, f. (popular), old age.

Bibasse, birbasse, adj. and subst., f. (popular), old; old woman.

Moi j’suis birbass’, j’ai b’soin d’larton.

Richepin, Chanson des Gueux.

Bibasserie. See Bibarderie.

Bibassier, m. (popular), sulky grumbler; over-particular man; drunkard, “bubber,” or “lushington.”

Bibelot (familiar), any object; (soldiers’) belongings; knapsack or portmanteau; (printers’) sundry small jobs. Properly any small articles of artistic workmanship; knick-knacks.

Bibeloter (popular), to sell one’s belongings, one’s “traps;” —— une affaire, to do some piece of business. Se ——, to make oneself comfortable; to do something to one’s best advantage.

Bibeloteur, m. (familiar), a lover of knick-knacks; one who collects knick-knacks.

Bibelotier, m., printers’ man who works at sundry small jobs.

Bibi, m. (popular), term of endearment generally addressed to young boys; woman’s bonnet out of fashion. C’est pour ——, that’s for me, for “number one.” La Muse À ——, the title of a collection of poems by Gill, literally my own muse. A ——! (printers’) to Bedlam! abbreviation of BicÊtre, Paris depÔt for lunatics. (Thieves’) Bibi, skeleton key, or “betty;” (military) infantry soldier, “mud-crusher,” “wobbler,” or “beetle-crusher.”

Bibine, f., the name given by rag-pickers to a wine-shop, or “boozing-ken.”

Biboire, f., (schoolboys’), small leather or india-rubber cup.

Bibon, m. (popular), disreputable old man.

BicarrÉ, m. (college), fourth year pupil in the class for higher mathematics.

Biceps, m. (familiar), avoir du ——, to be strong. TÂter le ——, to try and insinuate oneself into a person’s good graces, “to suck up.”

Bich, kornik, or kubik (Breton), devil.

Biche, f. (familiar), term of endearment, “ducky!”; girl leading a gay life, or “pretty horse-breaker.”

Bicheganego (Breton), potatoes.

Bicher (popular), to kiss. (Rodfishers’) Ça biche, there’s a bite; and in popular language, all right.

Bicherie, f. (familiar), the world of “biches” or “cocottes.” Haute ——, the world of fashionable prostitutes.

C’est lÀ oÙ ... on voit dÉfiler avec un frou-frou de soie, la haute et la basse bicherie en quÊte d’une proie, quÆrens quem devoret.—FrÉbault, La Vie À Paris.

Bichon, m., term of endearment. Mon ——! darling. (Popular) Un ——, a Sodomist.

Bichonner coco (soldiers’), to groom one’s horse.

Bichons, m. pl. (popular), shoes with bows.

Bichot, m. (thieves’), bishop. Probably from the English.

Bidache, f. See Bidoche.

Bidard, m. (popular), lucky.

Bidet, m. (convicts’), string which is contrived so as to enable prisoners to send a letter, and receive the answer by the same means.

Bidoche, or barbaque, f. (popular), meat, “bull;” (military) piece of meat.

Bidon de zinc, m. (military), blockhead. Properly a can, flask.

Bidonner (popular), to drink freely, “to swig;” (sailors’) —— À la cambuse, to drink at the canteen, “to splice the mainbrace.”

Bie (Breton cant), beer; water.

Bien (popular), pansÉ, intoxicated, “screwed.” Mon ——, my husband, or “old man;” my wife, or “old woman.” Etre du dernier —— avec, to be on the most intimate terms with. Etre ——, to be tipsy, “screwed.” Etre en train de —— faire, to be eating. Un homme ——, une femme ——, means a person of the middle class; well-dressed people.

BiensÉant, m. (popular), the behind, or “tochas.” See Vasistas.

Bier (thieves’), to go.

Ils entrent dans le creux, doublent de la batouze, des limes, de l’artie et puis doucement happent le taillis et bient attendre ceux qui se portaient sur le grand trimar.—Le Jargon de l’Argot.

BiÈre, f. (popular), domino box.

Biffe, f. (popular), rag-pickers’ trade.

Biffer (popular), to ply the rag-pickers’ trade; to eat greedily, “to wolf.”

Biffeton, m. (thieves’), letter, “screeve,” or “stiff;” (popular) counter-mark at theatres. Donner sur le ——, to read an indictment; to give information as to the prisoner’s character.

Biffin, or bifin, m. (popular), rag-picker, or “bone-grubber;” a foot soldier, or “wobbler,” his knapsack being assimilated to a rag-picker’s basket.

Biffre, m. (popular), food, “grub.” Passer À ——, to eat. Passer À —— À train express, to bolt down one’s food, “to guzzle.”

Bifteck, m. (popular), À maquart, filthy, “chatty” individual (Maquart is the name of a knacker); —— de chamareuse, flat sausage (chamareuse, a working girl); —— de grisette, flat sausage. Faire du ——, to strike, “to clump;” to ride a hard trotting horse, which sometimes makes one’s breech raw.

BifteckifÈre, adj., that which procures one’s living, one’s “bread and cheese.”

BifurquÉ. At the colleges of the University students may, after the course of “troisiÈme,” take up science and mathematics instead of continuing the classics. This is called bifurcation.

Bigard, m. (thieves’), hole.

BigardÉ (thieves’), pierced.

Bige, bigeois, bigeot, m. (thieves’), blockhead, “go along;” dupe, or “gull.”

Bigorne, m. (thieves’), jaspiner or rouscailler ——, to talk cant, “to patter flash.”

Bigorneau, m. (popular), police officer, or “crusher;” marine, or “jolly.”

Bigorniau, m. (popular), native of Auvergne.

Bigornion, m. (popular), falsehood, “swack up.”

Bigoter (thieves’), to play the religious hypocrite.

Bigoteur, m. (thieves’), devout person.

Bigotter, (popular), to pray.

Bigrement (familiar), a forcible expression, extremely, “awfully.”

Bijou, m. (popular), broken victuals, or “manablins;” (freemasons’) badge; —— de loge, badge worn on the left side; —— de l’ordre, emblem.

Bijouter (thieves’), to steal jewels.

Bijouterie, f. (popular), money advanced on wages, “dead-horse.”

Bijoutier, m., bijoutiÈre, f. (popular), retailer of “arlequins” (which see); bijoutier sur le genou, en cuir, shoemaker, or “snob.”

Bilboquet, m. (popular), person with a large head; man who is made fun of; a laughing-stock; a litre bottle of wine. Bilboquet, properly cup and ball. (Printers’) sundry small jobs.

Billancer (thieves’), to serve one’s full term of imprisonment.

Billancher (popular), to pay, “to fork out,” “to shell out.”

Billard, m. (popular), dÉvisser son, to die, or “to kick the bucket.”

Bille, f. (thieves), money, or “pieces” (from billon); (popular) head, “tibby,” “block,” “nut,” “canister,” “chump,” “costard,” “attic,” &c.; —— À chÂtaigne, grotesque head (it is the practice in France to carve chestnuts into grotesque heads); —— de billard, bald pate, “bladder of lard;” —— de boeuf, chitterling.

Billemon, billemont, m. (thieves’), bank-note, “soft,” “rag,” or “flimsy.”

Billeoz (Breton), money.

Billeozi (Breton), to pay.

Biller (thieves’), to pay, “to dub.”

Billet, m. (popular), direct pour Charenton, absinthe taken neat. Prendre un —— de parterre, to fall, “to come a cropper.” Je vous en fous or fiche mon ——, I assure you it is a fact, “on my Davy,” “’pon my sivvy,” or “no flies.”

Billez (Breton), girl; peasant woman.

Bince, m. (thieves’), knife, “chive.”

Malheur aux pantres de province,

Souvent lardÉ d’un coup de bince,

Le micheton nu se sauvait.

Richepin, Gueux de Paris.

Binelle, f. (popular), bankruptcy.

Binellier, m. (popular), bankrupt, “brosier.”

Binellophe, f. (popular), fraudulent bankruptcy.

Binette, f. (familiar), face, “phiz;” —— À la dÉsastre, gloomy face. Prendre la —— À quelqu’un, to take one’s portrait. Quelle sale ——, what an ugly face! a regular “knocker face.” Une drÔle de ——, queer face.

BinÔmes, chums working together at the Ecole Polytechnique. It is customary for students to pair off for work.

Binwio (Breton), male organs of generation. Literally tools.

Bique, f. (popular), old horse; —— et bouque, hermaphrodite (equivalent to “chÈvre et bouc”).

Birbade, birbasse, birbe, birbette, birbon, m. and adj. (thieves’ and popular), old; old man; old woman.

Birbassier. See Bibassier.

Birbe (popular), old man, old “codger;” (thieves’) —— dab, grandfather.

Birbette, m. (popular), a very old man.

Biribi, m. (thieves’), short crowbar used by housebreakers, “James,” “the stick,” or “jemmy.” Termed also “pince monseigneur, rigolo, l’enfant, Jacques, sucre de pomme, dauphin.”

Birlibi, m. (thieves’), game played by swindling gamblers with walnut shells and dice.

Birmingham (familiar), rasoir de —— (superlative of rasoir), bore.

Bisard, m. (thieves’), bellows (from bise, wind).

Biscaye (thieves’), BicÊtre, a prison.

Biscayen (thieves’), madman, one who is “balmy.” (BicÊtre has a dÉpÔt for lunatics.)

Bischoff, m. drink prepared with white wine, lemon, and sugar.

Biscope, or viscope, f. (cads’), cap.

La viscope en arriÈre et la trombine au vent,

L’oeil marlou, il entra chez le zingue.

Richepin, Gueux de Paris.

Biser (familiar), to kiss.

Bismarck, couleur ——, brown colour; —— en colÈre, —— malade, are various shades of brown.

Bismarcker (gamesters’), to mark twice; to appropriate by fair or foul means. It is to be presumed this is an allusion to Bismarck’s alleged summary ways of getting possession of divers territories.

Bisquant, adj. (popular), provoking, annoying.

Bissard, m. (popular), brown bread.

BistournÉ, m. (popular), hunting horn.

Bistro, bistrot, m. (popular), landlord of wine-shop.

Bitte et bosse (sailors’), carousing exclamation.

Laisse arriver! voiles largues, et remplissez les boujarons, vous autres! Tout À la noce! Bitte et bosse!—Richepin, La Glu.

Bitter cuirassÉ, m. (familiar), mixture of bitters and curaÇoa.

Bitume, m. foot-pavement. Demoiselle du ——, street-walker. Faire le ——, to walk the street. Fouler, or polir le ——, to saunter on the boulevard.

Bitumer is said of women who walk the streets.

Biture, f. (familiar), excessive indulgence in food or drink, “scorf.”

Biturer (popular), se ——, to indulge in a “biture” (which see).

Blackboulage, m. (familiar), blackballing.

Blackbouler (familiar), to blackball. The expression has now a wider range, and is used specially in reference to unreturned candidates to Parliament. Un blackboulÉ du suffrage universel, an unreturned candidate.

Blafard (cads’), silver coin.

Blafarde (cads’), death.

Blague, f. Literally facility of speech, not of a very high order; talk; humbug; fib; chaff; joke. Avoir de la ——, to have a ready tongue. N’avoir que la ——, to be a facile utterer of empty words. Avoir la —— du mÉtier, to be an adept in showing off knowledge of things relating to one’s profession. Nous avons fait deux heures de ——, we talked together for two hours. Pas de ——! none of your nonsense; let us be serious. Pousser une ——, to cram up; to joke. Sans ——, I am not joking. Une bonne ——, a good joke; a good story. Une mauvaise ——, a bad, ill-natured joke; bad trick. Quelle ——, what humbug! what a story! Ne faire que des blagues is said of a literary man whose productions are of no importance. (Popular) Blague sous l’aisselle! no more humbugging! I am not joking! —— dans le coin! joking apart; seriously.

Blaguer (familiar), to chat; to talk; to joke; not to be in earnest; to draw the long-bow; to quiz, to chaff, to humbug one, “to pull the leg;” to make a jaunty show of courage. Tu blagues tout le temps, you talk all the time. Il avait l’air de blaguer mais il n’Était pas À la noce, he made a show of bravery, but he was far from being comfortable.

Blagues À tabac, f. (popular), withered bosoms.

Blagueur, blagueuse (familiar), humbug; story-teller; one who rails at, scoffer.

Blaichard (popular), clerk, or “quill-driver.”

Et les ouvriers en vidant À midi une bonne chopine, la trogne allumÉe, les regards souriants, se moquent des dÉjetÉs, des blaichards.—Richepin, Le PavÉ.

Blair, blaire, m. (popular), nose, “boko,” “smeller,” “snorter,” or “conk.” Se piquer le ——, to get tipsy. See Se sculpter.

Blaireau, m. (military), recruit, or “Johnny raw;” a broom; foolish young man who aspires to literary honours and who squanders his money in the company of journalistic Bohemians.

Blanc, m. (popular), street-walker; white wine; white brandy; one-franc piece. (Printers’) Jeter du ——, to interline. (Thieves’) N’Être pas ——, to have a misdeed on one’s conscience; to be liable to be “wanted.” (Military) Faire faire —— À quelqu’un de sa bourse, to draw freely on another’s purse; to live at another’s expense in a mean and paltry manner, “to spunge.” (Familiar) Blanc, one of the Legitimist party. The appellation used to be given in 1851 to Monarchists or Bonapartists.

Blanchemont, m. (thieves’), pivois de ——, white wine.

Blanches, f. pl. (printers’). The different varieties of type are: “blanches, grasses, maigres, allongÉes, noires, larges, ombrÉes, perlÉes, l’Anglaise, l’AmÉricaine, la grosse Normande.”

Blanchi, adj. (popular), mal ——, negro, or “darkey.”

Blanchir (journalists’), to make many breaks in one’s manuscript, much fresh-a-lining.

Blanchisseur, m. (popular), barrister; (literary) one who revises a manuscript, who gives it the proper literary form.

Blanchisseuse de tuyaux de pipe (popular), variety of prostitute. See Gadoue.

Blanc-partout, m. (popular), pastry-cook’s boy.

Plus gÉnÉralement connu sous le nom de gÂte-sauce, dÉsignÉ aussi sous le nom de blanc-partout, le patronnet est ce petit bout d’homme que l’on rencontre environ tous les cinq cents pas.—Richepin, Le PavÉ.

Blancs, m. pl. (familiar), d’Eu, partisans of the D’OrlÉans family; —— d’Espagne, Carlists.

Blanc-vilain, m. (popular), man whose functions consist in throwing poisoned meat to wandering dogs.

Blanquette, f. (thieves’), silver coin; silver plate.

Il tira de sa poche onze couverts d’argent et deux montres d’or qu’il posa sur le guÉridon. 400 balles tout cela, ce n’est pas cher, les bogues d’Orient et la blanquette, allons aboule du carle.—Vidocq, MÉmoires.

Blanquetter (thieves’), to silver.

Blanquettier (thieves’), silverer.

Blard, or blavard, m. (thieves’), shawl.

BlasÉ, e, adj. (thieves’), swollen. From the German blasen, to blow.

Blave, blavin, m. (thieves’), handkerchief, “muckinger” (from the old word blave, blue); necktie, “neckinger.”

Blavin, m. (thieves’), pocket-pistol, “pops.” An allusion to blavin, pocket-handkerchief.

Blaviniste, m. (thieves’), pickpocket who devotes his attention to handkerchiefs, “stook hauler.”

BlÉ, blÉ battu, m. (popular), money, “loaver.”

BlÈche, adj., middling; bad; ugly. Faire banque ——, not to get any pay. Faire ——, to make a “bad” at a game, such as the game of fives for instance.

Bleu, m. (military), recruit, or “Johnny raw;” new-comer at the cavalry school of Saumur; (thieves’) cloak; also name given to Republican soldiers by the Royalist rebels of Brittany in 1793. After 1815 the Monarchists gave the appellation to Bonapartists. (Popular) Petit ——, red wine. Avoir un coup d’——, to be slightly tipsy, “elevated.” See Pompette.

(Familiar) Bleu, adj. astounding; incredible; hard to stomach. En Être ——; en bailler tout ——; en rester tout ——, to be stupefied, much annoyed or disappointed, “to look blue;” to be suddenly in a great rage. (Theatrical) Etre ——, to be utterly worthless.

Bleue (familiar), elle est —— celle-lÀ; en voilÀ une de ——; je la trouve ——, refers to anything incredible, disappointing, annoying, hard to stomach. Une colÈre ——, violent rage.

BlÉzimarder (theatrical), to interrupt an actor.

Bloc, m., military cell, prison, “mill,” “Irish theatre,” “jigger.”

Blockaus, m. (military), shako.

Blond, m. (popular), beau ——, man who is neither fair nor handsome; (thieves’) the sun.

Blonde, f. (popular), bottle of white wine; sweetheart, or “jomer;” glass of ale at certain cafÉs, “brune” being the denomination for porter.

BloquÉ, adj. (printers’), Être —— À la banque, to receive no pay.

Bloquer (military), to imprison, confine; (popular) to sell, to forsake; (printers’) to replace temporarily one letter by another, to use a “turned sort.”

Bloquir (popular), to sell.

Blot, m. (popular and thieves’), price; affair; concern in anything; share, or “whack.” Ça fait mon ——, that suits me. Nib dans mes blots, that is not my affair; that does not suit me.

Bloumard, m., bloume, f. (popular), hat, “tile.”

Blouse, f. (familiar), the working classes. Mettre quelqu’un dans la ——, to imprison, or cause one to fall into a snare. Une blouse is properly a billiard pocket.

Blousier, m. (familiar), cad, “rank outsider.”

Bobe, m. (thieves’), watch, “tattler.” Faire le ——, to ease a drunkard of his watch, “to claim a canon’s red toy.”

BobÊchon, m. (popular), head, “nut.” Se monter le ——, to be enthusiastic.

Bobelins, m. pl. (popular), boots, “hock-dockies,” or “trotter-cases.” See Ripatons.

Bobinasse, f. (popular), head, “block.”

Bobine, f. (popular), face, “mug,” (old word bobe, grimace). Une sale ——, ugly face. Plus de fil sur la ——. See Avoir. Se ficher de la —— À quelqu’un, to laugh at one.

Bobino. See Bobe.

Bobonne, for bonne, nursery-maid; servant girl, or “slavey.”

Bobosse, f. (popular), humpback, “lord.”

Bobottier, m. (popular), one who complains apropos of nothing. From bobo, a slight ailment.

Boc, m. (popular), house of ill-fame, “nanny-shop.”

Bocal, m. (popular), lodgings, “crib;” stomach, “bread basket.” Se coller quelque chose dans le ——, to eat. Se rincer le ——, to drink, “to wet one’s whistle.” (Thieves’) Bocal, pane, glass.

Bocard, m. (popular), cafÉ; house of ill-fame, “nanny-shop;” —— pannÉ, small coffee-shop.

Bocari, m. (thieves’), the town of Beaucaire.

Boche, m. (popular), rake, “rip,” “molrower,” or “beard splitter.” TÊte de ——, an expression applied to a dull-witted person. Literally wooden head. Also a German.

Bocker (familiar), to drink bocks.

Bocotter, to grumble; to mutter. Literally to bleat like a bocquotte, goat.

Bocque, bogue, m. (thieves’), watch, “tattler.”

Bocson (common), house of ill-fame, “nanny-shop;” (thieves’) lodgings, “dossing-ken.”

Boeuf, m. (popular), king of playing cards; shoemaker’s workman, or journeyman tailor, who does rough jobs. Avoir son ——, to get angry, “to nab the rust.” Etre le ——, to work without profit. Se mettre dans le ——, to be reduced in circumstances, an allusion to boeuf bouilli, very plain fare. (Printers’) Boeuf, composition of a few lines done for an absentee. Boeuf, adj., extraordinary, “stunning;” enormous; synonymous of “chic” at the Ecole Saint-Cyr; (cads’) pleasant.

Boeufier, m. (popular), man of choleric disposition, one prone “to nab his rust.”

Boffete, f., box on the ear, “buck-horse.” From the old word buffet.

Bog, or bogue, f. (thieves’), watch; —— en jonc, —— d’orient, gold watch, “red ’un,” or “red toy;” —— en plÂtre, silver watch, “white ’un.”

Boguiste (thieves’), watch-maker.

Boire (printers’), de l’encre is said of one who on joining a party of boon companions finds all the liquor has been disposed of. He will then probably exclaim,

Est-ce que vous croyez que je vais boire de l’encre?—Boutmy.

(Familiar) —— dans la grande tasse, to be drowned; (actors’) —— du lait, to obtain applause; —— une goutte, to be hissed, “to be goosed.”

Bois, m. (cads’), pourri, tinder; (thieves’) —— tortu, vine. (Theatrical) Avoir du ——, or mettre du ——, to have friends distributed here and there among the spectators, whose applause excites the enthusiasm of the audience. Literally to put on fuel.

Boisseau, m. (popular), shako; tall hat, “chimney pot.” For synonyms see Tubard; litre wine bottle.

Boissonner (popular), to drink heavily, “to swill.”

Boissonneur (popular), assiduous frequenter of wine-shop, a “lushington.”

Boissonnier (popular), one who drinks heavily, a “lushington.”

BoÎte, f. (familiar and popular), mean house, lodging-house, or restaurant; trading establishment managed in an unbusiness-like manner; one’s employer’s establishment; workshop; crammer’s establishment; disorderly household; carriage, or “trap;” —— À cornes, hat or cap; —— À dominos, coffin, “cold meat box;” —— À gaz, stomach; —— À surprises, the head of a learned man; —— À violon, coffin; —— au sel, head, “tibby;” —— aux cailloux, prison, “stone-jug;” —— d’Échantillons, latrine tub; (thieves’) —— À Pandore, box containing soft wax for taking imprints of keyholes; (military) guard-room, “jigger;” —— aux rÉflexions, cells. Boulotter de la ——, coucher À la ——, to get frequently locked up. Grosse ——, prison. (Printers) BoÎte, printer’s shop, and more particularly one of the inferior sort.

“C’est une boÎte,” dit un vieux singe; “il y a toujours mÈche, mais hasard! au bout de la quinzaine, banque blÈche.”

Faire sa ——, to distribute into one’s case. Pilleur de ——, or fricoteur, one who takes on the sly type from fellow compositor’s case.

Boiter (popular), des calots, to squint, to be “boss-eyed;” (thieves’) —— des chasses, to squint, to be “squinny-eyed.”

BolÉro, m. (familiar), a kind of lady’s hat, Spanish fashion.

Bolivar, m. (popular), hat, “tile.”

Bombe, f. (popular), wine measure, about half a litre; (military) —— de vieux oint, bladder of lard. Gare la ——! look out for squalls!

BombÉ, m. (popular), hunchback, “lord.”

Bon, man to be relied on in any circumstance; one who is “game;” man wanted by the police. Etre le ——, to be arrested, or the right man. Vous Êtes —— vous! you amuse me! well, that’s good! (Printers’) Bon, proof which bears the author’s intimation, “bon À tirer,” for press. Avoir du ——, to have some composition not entered in one’s account, and reserved for the next. (Familiar) Bon jeune homme, candid young man, in other terms greenhorn; (popular) —— pour cadet is said of a dull paper, or of an unpleasant letter; —— sang de bon sang, mild oath elicited by astonishment or indignation. (Popular and familiar) Etre des bons, to be all right, safe. Nous arrivons À temps, nous sommes des bons. Le —— endroit, posteriors. Donner un coup de pied juste au —— endroit, to kick one’s behind, to “hoof one’s bum.” Arriver —— premier, to surpass all rivals, “to beat hollow.”

Bonbon, m. (popular), pimple.

BonbonniÈre, f. (popular), latrine tub; —— À filous, omnibus.

Bonde (thieves’), central prison.

Bon-Dieu (soldiers’), sword. (Popular) Il n’y a pas de ——, that is, il n’y a pas de —— qui puisse empÊcher cela. (Convicts’) Short diary of fatigue parties at the hulks.

Bondieusard, m. (familiar), bigot; dealer in articles used for worship in churches.

Bondieusardisme, f., bigotry.

Bondieuserie, f., article used for worship; dealing in such articles.

Bonhomme, m. (thieves’), saint. (Familiar and popular) Un ——, an individual, a “party.” Mon ——, my good fellow. Petit —— de chemin, see Aller.

Bonicard, m., bonicarde, f. (thieves’), old man, old woman.

Boniface, m. (popular), simple-minded man, “flat,” or “greenhorn.”

Bonifacement (popular), with simplicity.

Boniment, m. (familiar), puffing speech of quacks, of mountebanks, of shopmen, of street vendors, of three-card-trick sharpers, and generally clap-trap speech in recommendation or explanation of anything. Richepin, in his PavÉ, gives a good specimen of the “boniment” of a “maquilleur de brÈmes,” or three-card-trick sharper.

Accroupi, les doigts tripotant trois cartes au ras du sol, le pif en l’air, les yeux dansants, un voyou en chapeau melon glapit son boniment d’une voix À la fois traÎnante et volubile:.... C’est moi qui perds. Tant pire, mon p’tit pÈre! RasÉ, le banquier! Encore un tour, mon amour. V’lÀ le coeur, cochon de bonheur! C’est pour finir. Mon fond, qui se fond. TrÈfle qui gagne. Carreau, c’est le bagne. Coeur, du beurre, pour le voyeur. TrÈfle, c’est tabac! Tabac pour papa. Qui qu’en veut? Un peu, mon neveu! La v’lÀ. Le trÈfle gagne! Le coeur perd. Le carreau perd. Voyez la danse! Ca recommence. Je le mets lÀ. Il est ici, merci. Vous allez bien? Moi aussi. Elle passe. Elle dÉpasse. C’est moi qui trÉpasse, hÉlas!... Regardez bien! C’est le coup de chien. PassÉ! C’est assez! EnfoncÉ! Il y a vingt-cinque francs au jeu! &c.

Bonique, m. (thieves’), white-haired old man.

Bonir (thieves’), to talk; to say, “to patter;” —— au ratichon, to confess to a priest.

Bonisseur, m., one who makes a “boniment” (which see); (thieves’) barrister; —— de la bate, witness for the defence.

Bonjour, m. (thieves’), voleur au ——, bonjourier, or chevalier grimpant, thief who, at an early hour, enters a house or hotel, walks into a room, and appropriates any suitable article. If the person in bed wakes up, the rogue politely apologises for his pretended error. Other thieves of the same description commence operations at dinner-time. They enter a dining-room, and seize the silver plate laid out on the table. This is called “goupiner À la desserte.”

Bon motif, m. (familiar). Faire la cour À une fille pour le ——, to make love to a girl with honourable intentions.

Bonne, adj. (familiar), amusing, or the reverse. Elle est bien ——, what a good joke! what a joke! Elle est ——, celle-lÀ! well, it is too bad! what next? (Popular) Etre À la ——, to be loved. Etre de la ——, to be lucky. Avoir À la ——, to like. Bonne fortanche, female soothsayer; —— grÂce, cloth used by tailors as wrappers.

Bonnet, m., secret covenant among printers.

EspÈce de ligue offensive et dÉfensive que forment quelques compositeurs employÉs depuis longtemps dans une maison et qui ont tous, pour ainsi dire la tÊte sous le mÊme bonnet. Rien de moins fraternel que le bonnet. Il fait la pluie et le beau temps dans un atelier, distribue les mises en page et les travaux les plus avantageux À ceux qui en font partie.—E. Boutmy, Argot des Typographes.

(Thieves’) —— carrÉ, judge, or “cove with the jazey;” —— vert À perpÈte, one sentenced to penal servitude for life, or “lifer;” (popular) —— de coton, lumbering, weak man, or “sappy;” mean man, or “scurf;” —— de nuit sans coiffe, man of a melancholy disposition, or “croaker;” —— d’ÉvÊque, rump of a fowl, or “parson’s nose.” (Familiar) Bonnet, small box at theatres; —— jaune, twenty-franc coin; (military) —— de police, recruit, or “Johnny raw.”

Bonneteau, m., jeu de ——, card-sharping game; three-card trick.

Bonneteur, m., card-sharper, or “broadsman.”

Bonnichon, m. (popular), working girl’s cap.

Bono (popular), good, middling.

Bons, m. (military), la sonnerie des —— de tabac, (ironical) trumpet call for those confined to barracks.

BordÉ (cocottes’), Être ——, to have renounced the pleasures of love, “sua sponte,” or otherwise. Literally to be lying in bed with the bed-clothes tucked in.

BordÉe, f. (familiar and popular), unlawful absence. Tirer une ——, to absent oneself for some amusement of a questionable character; to go “on the booze.”

La paie de grande quinzaine emplissait le trottoir d’une bousculade de gouapeurs tirant une bordÉe.—Zola.

BordÉe de coups de poings, rapid delivery of blows, or “fibbing.”

Bordel, m. (popular), small faggot; tools; —— ambulant, hackney coach.

Bordelier (popular), libertine, “molrower,” or “mutton-monger.”

Borgne, m. (cads’), breech, or “blind cheek;” ace of cards; —— de coeur, ace of hearts, “pig’s eye.”

Borgner (cads’), to look.

Borgniat (popular), one-eyed man, “boss-eyed.”

Borne de vieux oint, f. (popular), bladder of lard.

Bos (Breton), well; well done!

Bosco, boscot, boscotte, stunted man or woman; hunchback.

Bosse, f. (familiar), excessive eating and drinking; excess of any kind. Se donner, se flanquer une ——, to get a good fill, “a tightener.” Se faire des bosses, to amuse oneself amazingly. Se donner, se flanquer une —— de rire, to split with laughter. Rouler sa ——, to go along. Tomber sur la ——, to attack, to “pitch into.”

Bosselard, m. (familiar), silk hat, “tile.”

Bosser (popular), to laugh; to amuse oneself.

Bossmar, m. (thieves’), hunchback, “lord.”

Bossoirs, m. pl. (sailors’), bosoms. Gabarit sans ——, thin breasts.

Botte, f. (popular), de neuf jours, or en gaÎtÉ, boot out at the sole. Jours, literally days, chinks. Du jus de ——, kicks. (Sailors’) Jus de —— premier brin, rum of the first quality.

Botter (popular), to suit. Ça me botte, that just suits me, just the thing for me. Botter, to kick one’s breech, or “to toe one’s bum,” “to root,” or “to land a kick.”

Bottier (popular), one who is fond of kicking.

Bouant, m. (cads’), pig, or “angel.” From boue, mud.

Boubane, f. (thieves’), wig, “periwinkle.”

Boubouar (Breton), ox; cattle in general.

Boubouerien (Breton), threshing machine.

Boubouille (popular), bad cookery.

Bouc, m. (popular), husband whose wife is unfaithful to him, a “cuckold.” Properly he-goat; (familiar) beard on chin, “goatee.”

Boucan, m., great uproar, “shindy.”

J’ai ma troupe, je distribue les rÔles, j’organise la claque.... J’Établis la contre-partie pour les interruptions et le boucan.—MacÉ.

(Popular) Donner un —— À quelqu’un, to give a blow or “clout” to one.

Boucanade, f. (thieves’), bribing or “greasing” a witness. Coquer la ——, to bribe. Literally to treat to drink. In Spain wine is inclosed in goatskins, hence the expression.

Boucaner (popular), to make a great uproar; to stink.

Boucaneur, m. (popular), one fond of women, who goes “molrowing,” or a “mutton-monger.”

BoucaniÈre, f. (popular), woman too fond of men.

Boucard, m. (thieves’), shop, “chovey.”

Boucardier, m. (thieves’), thief who breaks into shops.

Bouche-l’oeil, m. (prostitutes’), a five, ten, or twenty-franc piece.

Boucher (thieves’), surgeon, “nimgimmer;” (familiar) —— un trou, to pay part of debt; (popular) —— la lumiÈre, to give a kick in the breech, “to hoof one’s bum,” or “to land a kick.” LumiÈre, properly touch-hole.

Bouche-trou, m. The best scholars in all University colleges are allowed to compete at a yearly examination called “grand concours.” The “bouche-trou” is one who acts as a substitute for anyone who for some reason or other finds himself prevented from competing. (Literary) Literary production used as a makeshift; (theatrical) actor whose functions are to act as a substitute in a case of emergency.

Bouchon, m. (thieves’), purse, “skin,” or “poge;” (popular) a younger brother; bottle of wine with a waxed cork; quality, kind, “kidney.” Etre d’un bon ——, to be an amusing, good-humoured fellow, or a “brick.” S’asseoir sur le ——, to sit on the bare ground.

Bouclage, m. (thieves’), handcuffs, or “bracelets;” bonds; imprisonment.

BouclÉ (thieves’), imprisoned, or “slowed.”

Boucler (thieves’), to shut, “to dub;” to imprison. Bouclez la lourde! shut the door!

Boucle zoze, m. (thieves’), brown bread.

Bouder (literally to be sulky) is said of a player who does not call for fresh dominoes when he has the option of doing so; (popular) —— À l’ouvrage, to be lazy; —— au feu, to show fear; —— aux dominos, to be minus several teeth.

Boudin, m. (thieves’), bolt; stomach.

BoudinÉ, m. (familiar), swell, or “masher.” At the time the expression came into use, dandies sported tight or horsey-looking clothes, which imparted to the wearer some vague resemblance with a boudin, or large sausage. For list of synonymous expressions, see Gommeux.

Boudins, m. pl. (popular), fat fingers and hands.

Boueux, m. (popular), scavenger.

Bouffard, m. (popular), smoker.

Bouffarde, f. (popular), pipe, or “cutty.”

Bouffarder (popular), to smoke, to “blow a cloud.”

BouffardiÈre, f. (popular), an estaminet, that is, a cafÉ where smoking is allowed; chimney.

Bouffe, f. (popular), box on the ear, “buckhorse.”

Bouffe-la-Balle, m., gormandizer, or “stodger;” man with a fat, puffed-up, dumpling face.

Bouffer (military), la botte, to be bamboozled by a woman, in what circumstances it is needless to say. (Popular) Bouffer, to eat. Se —— le nez, to fight.

Bouffeter (popular), to chat.

Bouffeur, m. (popular), de blanc, prostitute’s bully, “pensioner;” —— de kilomÈtres, a nickname for the “Chasseurs de Vincennes,” a picked body of rifles who do duty as skirmishers and scouts, and who are noted for their agility.

Bouffiasse, m. (popular), man with fat, puffed-up cheeks.

Bougie, f. (popular), walking-stick; a blind man’s stick; —— grasse, candle.

Bougre, m. (popular), stalwart and plucky man, one who is “spry;” —— À poils, dauntless, resolute man. Bon ——, a good fellow, a “brick.” Mauvais ——, man of a snarling, evil-minded disposition. The word is used often with a disparaging sense, Bougre de cochon, you dirty pig; —— de serin, you ass. LittrÉ derives the word bougre from Bulgarus, Bulgarian. The heretic Albigeois, who shared the religious ideas of some of the Bulgarians, received the name of “bougres.”

Bougrement (popular), extremely. C’est —— difficile, it is awfully hard.

Boui, m. (popular), house of ill-fame, “nanny-shop.”

Bouiboui, bouisbouis, m. puppet; small theatre; low music-hall; gambling place.

Bouif, m. (popular), conceited “priggish” person; bad workman.

Bouillabaisse (popular), confused medley of things, people, or ideas. Properly a ProvenÇal dish made up of all kinds of fish boiled together, with spicy seasoning, garlic, &c.

Bouillante, f. (soldiers’), soup.

Bouillie, f. (popular), pour les chats, unsuccessful undertaking. Faire de la —— pour les chats, to do any useless thing.

Bouillon, m. (familiar and popular), rain; unsold numbers of a book or newspaper; financial or business losses; —— aveugle, thin broth; —— de canard, water; —— de veau, mild literature; —— d’onze heures, poison; drowning; —— gras, sulphuric acid (an allusion to a case of vitriol-throwing by a woman named Gras); —— pointu, bayonet thrust; clyster; —— qui chauffe, rain-cloud. Boire le ——, to die. (Fishermens’) Bouillon de harengs, shoal of herrings.

Bouillonner (popular), to suffer pecuniary losses consequent on the failure of an undertaking; to have a bad sale; to eat at a bouillon restaurant.

Bouillonneuse, f., female who prepares bouillon at restaurants.

Bouillote, f. (popular), vieille ——, old fool, “doddering old sheep’s head.”

Bouis, m. (thieves’), whip.

Bouiser, to whip, “to flush.”

Boulage, m. (popular), refusal; snub.

Boulange, f., for boulangerie.

Boulanger, m. (thieves’), charcoal dealer; the devil, “old scratch,” or “Ruffin.” Le —— qui met les damnÉs au four, the devil. Remercier son ——, to die.

Boulangers, m. pl. (military), formerly military convicts (an allusion to their light-coloured vestments).

Boule, f. (popular), head, “block.” Avoir la —— dÉtraquÉe, À l’envers, to be crazy, “wrong in the upper storey.” Boule de jardin, bald pate, “bladder of lard;” —— de Siam, grotesque head; —— de singe, ugly face. Bonne ——, queer face, “rum phiz.” Perdre la ——, to lose one’s head. Boule de neige, negro; —— rouge, gay girl of the Quartier de la Boule Rouge, Faubourg Montmartre. Yeux en —— de loto, goggle eyes. (Military) Boule de son, loaf, bread. (Thieves’) Boule, a fair; prison loaf; —— de son ÉtamÉ, white bread; —— jaune, pumpkin.

Bouleau, m. See BÛcherie.

Boule-Miche, m., abbreviation of Boulevard Saint-Michel.

Boulendos, m. (boule en dos), (popular), humpback, or “lord.”

Bouler (popular), to thrash, “to whop;” to beat at a game, to deceive, to take in. Envoyer ——, to send to the deuce (old word bouler, to roll along).

Boulet, m. (popular), bore; —— À cÔtes, À queue, melon; —— jaune, pumpkin.

Boulette, f. (popular), de poivrot, bunch of grapes (poivrot, slang term for drunkard).

Bouleur, m., bouleuse, f. (theatrical), actor or actress who takes the part of absentees in the performance.

Bouleux, m. (popular), skittle player.

Boulevarder, to be a frequenter of the Boulevards.

Boulevardier, m., one who frequents the Boulevards; journalist who is a frequenter of the Boulevard cafÉs. Esprit ——, kind of wit peculiar to the Boulevardiers.

BoulevardiÈre, f. (familiar), prostitute of a better class who walks the Boulevards.

Depuis cinq heures du soir la BoulevardiÈre va du grand HÔtel À BrÉbant avec la rÉgularitÉ implacable d’un balancier de pendule.—Paul Mahalin.

Boulin, m. (thieves’), hole. Caler des boulins aux lourdes, to bore holes in the doors.

Bouline, f. (swindlers’), collection of money, “break,” or “lead.”

Bouliner (thieves’), to bore holes in a wall or shutters; to steal by means of the above process.

Boulinguer (thieves’), to tear; to conduct an affair; to manage. Se ——, to know how to conduct oneself; to behave.

Bouloire, f. (popular), bowling-green.

Boulon, m. (thieves’), vol au ——, theft by means of a rod and hook passed through a hole in the shutters.

Boulonnaise (popular), girl of indifferent character who walks the Bois de Boulogne.

Boulots, m. (popular), round shaped beans.

Boulotter (thieves’), to assist a comrade; (popular) to be in good health; to be prosperous; to eat, “to grub;” —— de la galette, to spend money.

Et tout le monde se disperse, vivement, exceptÉ les trois compÈres et le mÔme, qui rentrent d’un pas tranquille dans Paris, pour y fricoter l’argent des imbÉciles, y boulotter la galette des sinves.—Richepin, Le PavÉ.

Eh! bien, ma vieille branche! comment va la place d’armes? Merci, Ça boulotte. Well, old cock, how are you? Thanks, I am all right.

Boum! a high-sounding, ringing word bawled out in a grave key by cafÉ waiters in order to emphasize their call for coffee to the attendant whose special duty it is to pour it out. Versez À l’as! Boum! This peculiar call was brought into fashion by a waiter of the CafÉ de la Rotonde at the Palais Royal, whose stentorian voice made the fortune of the establishment.

Bouquet, m. (cads’), gift, present.

Bouquine, f., beard grown on the chin, or “goatee.”

Bourbe, f. (popular), the hospital of “la MaternitÉ.”

Bourbon (popular), nose, “boko.” From nez À la Bourbon, the members of that dynasty being distinguished by prominent thick noses verging on the aquiline.

Bourdon, m. (thieves’), prostitute, “bunter;” (printers’) words left out by mistake in composing.

Bourdonniste, m. (printers’), one in the habit of making bourdons (which see).

Bourgeois, m. (thieves’), for bourg, a large village. Literally man of the middle class. The peasants give this appellation to the townspeople; a coachman to his “fare;” workmen and servants to their employer; workpeople to the master of a house; soldiers to civilians; artists and literary men use it contemptuously to denote a man with matter-of-fact, unartistic tastes, also a man outside their profession; the anarchists apply the epithet to one who does not share their views. (Popular) Mon ——, my husband, “my old man.” Eh! dites donc, ——, I say, governor. (Officers’) Se mettre en ——, to dress in plain clothes, in “mufti.” (Familiar) C’est bien ——, it is vulgar, devoid of taste.

Bourgeoisade, f., anything, whether it be deed or thought, which savours of the bourgeois’ ways; a vulgar platitude. The bourgeois, in the disparaging sense of the term of course, is a man of a singularly matter-of-fact, selfish disposition, and one incapable of being moved by higher motives than those of personal interest. His doings, his mode of life, all his surroundings bear the stamp of an unrefined idiosyncrasy. Though a staunch Conservative at heart, he is fond of indulging in a timid, mild opposition to Government, yet he even goes so far sometimes as to send to Parliament men whose views are at variance with his own, merely to give himself the pleasure of “teaching a lesson” to the “powers that be.” A man of Voltairian tendencies, yet he allows his wife and daughters to approach the perilous secrecy and the allurements of the confessional. When he happens to be a Republican, he rants furiously about equality, yet he protests that it is a shocking state of affairs which permits of his only son and spoilt child being made to serve in the ranks by the side of the workman or clodhopper. By no means a fire-eater, he is withal a bloodthirsty mortal and a loud-tongued Chauvinist, but as he has the greatest respect for the integrity of his person, and entertains a perfect horror of blows, he likes to see others carry out for him his pugnacious aspirations in a practical way.

Bourgeoise, f. (popular), the mistress of a house or establishment. Ma ——, my wife, “my old woman.”

Bourgeron, m. (popular), small glass of brandy; (soldiers’) a civilian. Properly a kind of short smock-frock.

Bourguignon (popular), the sun.

Bourlingue, m. (popular), dismissal, “the sack.”

Bourlinguer, to dismiss; to get on with difficulty in life. From a naval term.

Bourlingueur, m. (popular), master, “boss;” foreman.

Bourrasque, f. (thieves’), raid by the police.

Bourreau des crÂnes, m. (military), bully, fire-eater.

Bourre-boyaux, m. (popular), eating-house, “grubbing crib.”

Bourre-coquins, m. pl. (popular), beans. Beans form the staple food of convicts.

Bourre-de-soie, f. (cads’), kept girl, “poll.”

BourrÉe, f. (popular), hustling, “hunch.”

Bourrer (familiar), en —— une, to smoke a pipe, “to blow a cloud.”

Bourreur, m. (thieves’), de pÈgres, penal code; (printers’) —— de lignes, compositor of the body part of a composition, a task generally entrusted to unskilled compositors, unable to deal with more intricate work.

Bourriche, f. (popular), blockhead, “cabbage-head.” Properly hamper.

Bourrichon, m. (popular), head. See Tronche. Se monter, or se charpenter le ——, to entertain strong illusions, to be too sanguine.

Bourricot (popular), c’est ——, that comes to the same thing; it is all the same to me.

Bourrier, m. (popular), dirt, dung.

Bourrique, f. (popular), tourner en ——, to become stupid, or crazy. Faire tourner quelqu’un en ——, to make one crazy by dint of badgering or angering. Cet enfant est toujours À me tourmenter, il me fera tourner en ——, this naughty child will drive me mad. (Thieves’) Bourrique, informer, “nark;” also police officer.

Bourrique À Robespierre (popular), comme la ——, corresponds to the simile like blazes. Saoul comme la ——, awfully drunk.

Bourser (popular), se ——, to go to bed, to get into the “doss.”

Boursicoter (familiar), to speculate in a small way on the stocks.

Boursicoteur, f., boursicotier, m. (familiar), speculator in a small way.

BoursicotiÉrisme, m. (familiar), occupation of those who speculate on ’Change.

Boursillonner (popular), to “club” for expenses by each contributing a small sum.

Bouscaille, f. (thieves’), mud.

Bouscailleur, street-sweeper, scavenger.

Bouse, f. (popular), de vache, spinach.

Bousiller (popular), to work rapidly but carelessly and clumsily.

Bousilleur (popular), careless, clumsy workman.

Bousilleuse (popular), woman who is careless of her belongings, who is the reverse of thrifty.

Bousin, m. (popular), uproar, disturbance, row, “shindy,” drinking-shop, “lush-crib;” house of ill-fame, “flash drum.”

Bousineur (popular), an adept at creating a disturbance.

Bousingot, m. (popular) wine-shop, “lush-crib;” Republican or literary Bohemian in the earlier years of Louis Philippe.

Boussole, f. (familiar), head, brains. Perdre la ——, to lose one’s head, “to be at sea;” to become mad. (Popular) Boussole de refroidi, or de singe, a Dutch cheese.

Boustifaille, f. (familiar), provisions, food, “grub.”

Boustifailler, to eat plentifully.

Bout, m. (tailors’), flanquer son ——, to dismiss from one’s employment. (Military) Bout de cigare, short man; (popular) —— de cul, short person, or “forty foot;” —— d’homme, de femme, undersized person, or “hop o’ my thumb;” —— coupÉ, kind of cheap cigar with a clipped end.

Boutanche, f. (thieves’), shop, “chovey.” Courtaud de ——, shopman, a “knight of the yard.”

Bouteille, f. (popular), nose, “boko.” Avoir un coup de ——, to be tipsy. C’est la —— À l’encre is said of any mysterious, incomprehensible affair. (Printers’) Une —— À encre, a printing establishment, thus called on account of the difficulty of drawing up accurate accounts of authors’ corrections.

Bouterne, f. (popular), glazed case containing jewels exhibited as prizes for the winners at a game of dice. The game is played at fairs with eight dice, loaded of course.

Bouternier, m., bouterniÈre, f., proprietor of a bouterne (which see).

Boutique, f., used disparagingly to denote one’s employer’s office; newspaper offices; disorderly house of business; clique. Esprit de ——, synonymous of esprit de corps, but used disparagingly. Etre de la ——, to be one of, to belong to a political clique or administration of any description. Montrer toute sa ——, is said of a girl or woman who accidentally or otherwise exposes her person. Parler ——, to talk shop.

Boutiquer (popular), to do anything with reluctance; to do it badly.