Albert Barrre

C, m. (popular), Être un ——, to be an arrant fool. Euphemism for a coarse word of three letters with which the walls are often adorned; —— comme la lune, extremely stupid.

Ça (popular), Être ——, to be the right sort. C’est un peu ——, that’s excellent, “fizzing.” Avoir de ——, to be wealthy. (Familiar) Ça manque de panache, it lacks finish or dash. Elle a de ——, she has a full, well-developed figure.

Cab, m. (abbreviation of cabotin), contemptuous expression applied to actors; third-rate actor, or “surf.”

Cab, cabou (thieves’ and popular), dog, “tyke.” Le —— jaspine, the dog barks.

Cabande, f. (popular), candle, or “glim.” Estourbir la ——, to blow the candle out.

Cabas, m. (popular), old hat. Une mÈre ——, rapacious old woman. Properly, cabas, a woman’s bag.

Cabasser (popular), to chatter, to gabble; to delude, or “bamboozle;” to steal, “to prig.”

Cabasseur, m. (popular), scandal-monger; thief, “prig.” See Grinche.

Cabe, m. (students’), third year student at the Ecole Normale, a higher training school for professors, and one which holds the first rank among Colleges of the University of France; (popular) a dog. See Cabo.

Cabermon, m. (thieves’), wine-shop, “lush-crib.” A corruption of cabaret.

Cabestan, m. (thieves’), police inspector; police officer, “crusher,” “pig,” “copper,” or “reeler.”

Cabillot, m. (sailors’), soldier, “lobster.”

CÂble À rimouque, m. (fishermens’), tow-line.

Souque! attrape À carguer! Pare À l’amarre! Et souque!

C’est le coup des haleurs et du cÂble À rimouque.

La oula ouli oula oula tchalez!

Hardi! les haleurs, oh! les haleurs, halez!

Richepin, La Mer.

Cabo, m. (popular), dog, or “buffer.” Michel derives this from clabaud, a worthless dog, and L. Larchey from qui aboie, pronounced qu’aboie. Le —— du commissaire, the police magistrate’s secretary. See Chien. (Military) ElÈve ——, one who is getting qualified for the duties of a corporal.

Cabochon, m. (popular), blow, “prop,” or “bang.”

Cabonte, or camoufle, f. (military), candle.

Cabot, m. (common), third-rate actor, or “surf;” term of contempt applied to an actor. Abbreviation of cabotin. Also a dog.

Cabotinage, m. (familiar), life of hardships which most actors have to live before they acquire any reputation.

Cabotine (familiar), bad actress; strolling actress, or one who belongs to a troupe of “barn stormers.”

Cabotiner (familiar), to be a strolling actor; to mix with cabotins; to fall into their way of living, which is not exactly a “proper” one.

Caboulot, m. (familiar), small cafÉ where customers are waited upon by girls; small cafÉ where the spÉcialitÉ is the retailing of cherry brandy, absinthe, and sweet liquors; best sort of wine-shop.

Cabriolet, m., short rope or strap with a double loop affixed, made fast to a criminals wrists, the extremity being held by a police officer; small box for labels; woman’s bonnet.

Cabrion, m. (artists’), painter without talent, or “dauber;” practical joker. In the MystÈres de Paris of EugÈne Sue, Cabrion, a painter, nearly drives the doorkeeper Pipelet mad by his practical jokes.

Cachalot, m. (sailors’), old sailor, old “tar.” Properly spermaceti whale.

Cache-folie, m. (popular), drawers; false hair.

Cachemar, cachemince, m. (thieves’), cell, “clinch.” From cachot, black hole.

Cachemire, m. (popular), clout; —— d’osier, rag-picker’s wicker basket.

Voici les biffins qui passent, le crochet au poing et les pauvres lanternes sont recueillies dans le cachemire d’osier.—Richepin, Le PavÉ.

Cache-misÈre (familiar), coat buttoned up to the chin to conceal the absence of linen.

Cachemitte, f. (thieves’), cell, “clinch.”

Cachemuche. See Cachemar.

Cacher (popular), to eat, “to grub.”

Cachet, m. (thieves’ and cads’), de la RÉpublique, the mark of one’s heel on a person’s face, a kind of farewell indulged in by night ruffians, especially when the victim’s pockets do not yield a satisfactory harvest. (Familiar) Le ——, the fashion, “quite the thing.”

Et ce n’est pas lui qui porterait des gants vert-pomme si le cachet Était de les porter sang de boeuf.— P. Mahalin, Mesdames de Coeur Volant.

Cacique, m., head scholar in a division at the Ecole Normale.

Cadavre, m. (familiar and popular), body; a secret misdeed, “a skeleton in the locker;” tangible proof of anything. Grand ——, tall man. Se mettre quelquechose dans le ——, to eat. See Mastiquer.

Cadenne, f. (thieves’), chain fastened round the neck. La grande —— was formerly the name given to the gang of convicts which went from Paris to the hulks at Toulon.

Cadet, m. (thieves’), crowbar, or “Jemmy.” Termed also “l’enfant, Jacques, sucre de pommes, biribi, rigolo;” (popular) breech. Baiser ——, to be guilty of contemptible mean actions; to be a lickspittle. Baise ——! you be hanged! Bon pour —— is said of any worthless object or unpleasant letter.

Cadichon, m. (thieves’), watch, “Jerry,” or “red toy.”

Cador (thieves’), dog, “tyke;” —— du commissaire, secretary to the “commissaire de police,” a kind of police magistrate.

Cadouille, f. (sailors’), rattan.

EffarÉs de ne pas recevoir de coups de cadouille, ils s’Éloignent À reculons, et leurs prosternations ne s’arrÊtent plus.—Bonnetain, Au Tonkin.

Cadran, m. (popular), breech, or “bum;” —— lunaire, same meaning. See Vasistas.

Cadratin, m. (printers’), top hat, or “stove pipe;” (police) staff of detectives; (journalists’) apocryphal letter.

Cafard, m. (military), officer who makes himself unpleasant; a busybody.

Cafarde, f. (thieves’), moon, “parish lantern;” cup.

Cafarder (popular), to be a hypocrite, a “mawworm.”

CafÉ, m. C’est un peu fort de ——, it is really too bad, coming it too strong. Prendre son ——, to laugh at.

CafetiÈre, f. (thieves’ and cads’), head, “canister.” See Tronche.

Cafiot, m., weak coffee.

Cafouillade (boatmens’), bad rowing.

Cafouilleux, m. (popular), espÈce de ——! blockhead! “bally bounder!”

Cage, f. (popular), workshop with glass roof; prison, or “stone jug;” —— À chapons, monastery; —— À jacasses, nunnery; —— À poulets, dirty, narrow room, “a hole;” (printers’) workshop.

Cageton, m. (thieves’), may-bug.

Cagne, f. (popular), wretched horse, or “screw;” worthless dog; lazy person; police officer, or “bobby.”

Cagnotte, f. (familiar), money-box in which is deposited each player’s contribution to the expenses of a game. Faire une ——, to deposit in a money-box the winnings of players which are to be invested to the common advantage of the whole party.

Cagou, m. (thieves’), rogue who operates single-handed; expert thief, or “gonnof,” who takes charge of the education of the uninitiated after the manner of the old Jew Fagin (see Oliver Twist); a tutor such as is to be met with in a “buz napper’s academy,” or training school for thieves; in olden times a lieutenant of the “grand CoËre,” or king of rogues. The kingdom of the “grand CoËre” was divided into as many districts as there were “provinces” or counties in France, each superintended by a “cagou.” Says Le Jargon de l’Argot:—

Le cagou du pasquelin d’Anjou rÉsolut de se venger de lui et de lui jouer quelque tour chenÂtre.

Cahua, m. (French soldiers’ in Algeria), coffee. Pousse ——, brandy.

Caillasse, f. (popular), stones.

CaillÉ (thieves’), fish.

Caillou, m. (popular), grotesque face; head, or “block;” nose, or “boko;” —— dÉplumÉ, bald head, or “bladder of lard.” N’avoir plus de mousse sur le ——, to be bald, “to be stag-faced.”

Cailloux, m. pl. (popular), petits ——, diamonds.

CaÏman, m. (Ecole Normale school), usher.

Caisse, f. (popular), d’Épargne, mouth, or “rattle-trap;” (familiar) —— des reptiles, fund for the bribing of journalists; —— noire, secret funds at the disposal of the Home Secretary and Prefect of Police. Battre la ——, to puff up. Sauver la ——, to appropriate or abscond with the contents of the cash-box.

Caisson, m. (familiar), head, “nut.” Se faire sauter le ——, to blow one’s brains out.

Calabre, m. (thieves’), scurf.

Calain, m. (thieves’), vine-dresser.

Calancher (vagrants’), to die, “to croak.” See Pipe.

Calande (thieves’), walk, lounge.

Calandriner (popular), le sable, to live a wretched, poverty-stricken life.

Cale, f. (sailors’), se lester la ——, to eat and drink. See Mastiquer.

CalÉ, calÉe, adj., properly propped up; (popular) well off, “with plenty of the needful.”

Calebasse, f. (popular), head, or “cocoa-nut.” Grande ——, tall, thin, badly attired woman. Vendre la ——, to reveal a secret.

Calebasses, f. (popular), large soft breasts. Literally gourds.

CalÈge, f. (thieves’), kept woman.

Calence, f. (popular), dearth of work.

Caler (popular), to do; to do nothing; to be out of work, or “out of collar;” to strike work; —— l’École, to play the truant. Se ——, to eat. Se —— les amygdales, to eat, “to grub.” (Thieves’) Caler des boulins aux lourdes, to bore holes in doors.

Caleter (popular), to decamp, “to hook it.” See Patatrot.

Caleur (popular), lazy workman, or “shicer;” man out of work; butler; waiter (from the German kellner).

Calfater (sailors’), se —— le bec, to eat. Literally to caulk.

Caliborgne. See Calorgne.

Calicot, m. (familiar), draper’s assistant, or “counter jumper.”

Calicote, sweetheart, or “flame,” of a “knight of the yard.”

Californien (popular), rich, “worth a lot of tin.” See Monacos.

CÂlin, m., small tin fountain which the retailers of coco carry on their backs. Coco is a cooling draught made of liquorice, lemon, and water.

Calino, m. (familiar), ninny; one capable of the most enormous “bulls.”

Calinotade, f., sayings of a calino (which see).

Calinttes, f. (popular), breeches, or “hams,” or “sit-upons.”

Callot, m. (thieves’), scurvy.

Callots, m. pl. (old cant), variety of tramps.

Les callots sont ceux qui sont teigneux vÉritables ou contrefaits; les uns et les autres truchent tant aux entiffes que dans les vergnes.—Le Jargon de l’Argot.

Calme et inodore (familiar), Être ——, to assume a decorous appearance. Soyez ——, behave yourself with decorum; do not be flurried.

Calombe. See Cabande.

Caloquet, m. (thieves’), hat; crown. See Tubard.

Calorgne, adj. (popular), one-eyed, “boss-eyed,” or “seven-sided.”

Calot, m. (thieves’), thimble; walnut shell; eye. Properly large marble. Boiter des calots, to squint. Reluquer des calots, to gaze, “to stag.”

J’ai un chouett’ moure,

La bouch’ plus p’tit’ que les calots.

Richepin.

Calot, clothier’s shopman, or “counter-jumper;” over-particular, troublesome customer.

Calotin, m. (familiar), priest; one of the Clerical party.

Calotte, f. (familiar), clergy. Le rÉgiment de la ——, the company of the Jesuits.

CalottÉe, f. (rodfishers’), worm-box.

Calvigne, or clavigne, f. (thieves’), vine.

Calvin, or clavin, m. (thieves’), grapes.

Calypso, f. (popular), faire sa ——, to show off, to pose.

Cam, f. (thieves’), lampagne de ——, country, or “drum.”

Camarade, m. (popular), de pionce, bed-fellow; (military) regimental hair-dresser. (Familiar) Bon petit —— is said ironically of a colleague who does one an ill turn, or slanders one.

Camarde, f. (thieves’), death. Baiser la ——, to die. See Pipe.

Camarder (thieves’), to die.

Camarluche, m. (popular), comrade, “mate.”

Camaro, m. (popular), comrade, or “mate.”

Camboler (popular), to fall down.

Cambouis, m. (military), army service corps. Properly cart grease.

Cambriau, cambrieux, m. (popular), hat, or “tile.” See Tubard.

Cambriole, f. (thieves’), room, or “crib;” shop, or “swag.”

Gy, Marpaux, gy nous remouchons

Tes rouillardes et la criole

Qui parfume ta cambriole.

Richepin.

Cambriole de milord, sumptuous apartment. Rincer une ——, to plunder a room or shop.

Cambrioleur, m. (thieves’), thief who operates in apartments; —— À la flan, thief of that description who operates at random, or on “spec.”

Cambriot, m. (popular), hat, “tile.” See Tubard.

Cambroniser, euphemism for emmerder (which see).

Cambronne! euphemism for a low but energetic expression of refusal or contempt, which is said to have been the response of General Cambronne at Waterloo when called upon to surrender (see Les MisÉrables, by V. Hugo). Sterne says, in his Sentimental Journey, that “the French have three words which express all that can be desired—‘diable!’ ‘peste!’” The third he has not mentioned, but it seems pretty certain it must be the one spoken of above.

Cambrouse, f. (popular), a tawdrily-dressed servant girl; a semi-professional street-walker, “dolly mop;” (thieves’) country, suburbs.

Cambrouser (servants’), to get engaged as a maid-servant.

Cambrousien, m. (thieves’), peasant, or “joskin.”

Cambrousier, m. (thieves’), country thief.

Cambroux, m. (thieves’), servant; waiter.

Cambuse, f. (popular), house, or “crib;” sailors’ canteen; wine-shop.

CamÉlia, m., kept woman (La Dame aux CamÉlias, by A. Dumas fils).

Camelot, m. (popular), tradesman; thief; hawker of any articles.

Le camelot, c’est le Parisien pur sang ... c’est lui qui vend les questions, les jouets nouveaux, les drapeaux aux jours de fÊte, les immortelles aux jours de deuil, les verres noircis aux jours d’Éclipse ... des cartes transparentes sur le boulevard et des images pieuses sur la place du PanthÉon.—Richepin, Le PavÉ.

Camelote, f. (popular), prostitute of the lowest class, or “draggle-tail;” (thieves’) —— grinchie, stolen property. Etre pris la —— en pogne, or en pied, to be caught, “flagrante delicto,” with the stolen property in one’s possession. Laver la ——, to sell stolen property. Prendre la —— en pogne, to steal from a person’s hand.

Cameloter (popular), to sell; to cheapen; to beg; to tramp.

Camerluche or camarluche, m. (popular), comrade, or “mate.”

Camionner (popular), to conduct; to lead about.

Camisard, m. (military), soldier of the “Bataillon d’Afrique,” a corps composed of liberated military convicts, who, after having undergone their sentence, are not sent back to their respective regiments. They are incorporated in the Bataillon d’Afrique, a regiment doing duty in Algeria or in the colonies, where they complete their term of service; —— en bordÉe, same meaning.

Camisole, f. (popular), waistcoat, or “benjy.”

Camoufle, f. (thieves’), description of one’s personal appearance; dress; light or candle, “glim.” La —— s’estourbe, the light is going out.

Camouflement, m. (thieves’), disguise.

Camoufler (thieves’), to learn; to adulterate. Se ——, to disguise oneself.

Je me camoufle en pÉlican,

J’ai du pellard À la tignasse.

Vive la lampagne du cam!

Richepin.

Camouflet, m. (thieves’), candlestick.

Camp, m. (popular), ficher le ——, to decamp. Lever le ——, to strike work. Piquer une romance au ——, to sleep.

Campagne, f. (prostitutes’), aller À la ——, to be imprisoned in Saint-Lazare, a dÉpÔt for prostitutes found by the police without a registration card, or sent there for sanitary motives. (Thieves’) Barboteur de ——, night thief. GarÇons de ——, or escarpes, highwaymen or housebreakers who pretend to be pedlars.

Campe, f. (cads’), flight; camping.

Camper (cads’), to flee, “to brush.”

Camperoux. See Cambroux.

Camphre, m. (popular), brandy.

Camphrier, m. (popular), retailer of spirits; one who habitually gets drunk on spirits.

Campi (cads’), expletive. Tant pis ——! so much the worse!

Camplouse, f. (thieves’), country.

Camuse, f. (thieves’), carp; death; flat-nosed.

Can, m. (popular), abbreviation of canon, glass of wine. Prendre un —— sur le comp, to have a glass of wine at the bar.

Canage, m. (popular), death-throes.

Canaillade, f. (popular), offence against the law.

J’ai fait beaucoup de folies dans ma jeunesse; mais au cours d’une existence accidentÉe et dÉcousue, je n’ai pas À me reprocher une seule canaillade.—MacÉ.

Canaillon, m. (popular), vieux ——, old curmudgeon.

Canard, m. (familiar), newspaper; clarionet; (tramcar drivers’) horse. (Popular) Bouillon de ——, water. (Thieves’) Canard sans plumes, bull’s pizzle, or rattan used for convicts.

Canarder (popular), to take in, “to bamboozle;” to quiz, “to carry on.”

Canardier, m. (popular), journalist; vendor of newspapers; (journalists’) one who concocts “canards,” or false news; (printers’) newspaper compositor.

Canarie, m. (popular), simpleton, or “flat.”

Canasson, m. (popular), horse, or “gee;” old-fashioned woman’s bonnet. Vieux ——! old fellow! “old cock!”

Cancre, m. (fishermens’), jus de ——, landsman, or “land-lubber.” Cancre, properly poor devil.

Cancrelat, m. (popular), avoir un —— dans la boule, to be crazy. For other kindred expressions, see Avoir. Cancrelat, properly kakerlac, or American cockroach.

Cane, f. (thieves’), death.

Canelle, f. (thieves’), the town of Caen.

Caner (thieves’), la pÉgrenne, to starve. Caner, properly to shirk danger.

Caneson. See Canasson.

Caneton, m. (familiar), insignificant newspaper. Termed also “feuille de chou.”

Caneur, m. (popular), poltroon, or “cow babe.”

Caniche, m. (popular), general term for a dog. Properly poodle. Termed also “cabgie, cabot.” It also has the signification of spectacles, an allusion to the dog, generally a poodle, which acts as the blind man’s guide. (Thieves’) Caniche, a bale provided with handles, compared to a poodle’s ears.

Canne, f. (police and thieves’), surveillance exercised by the police on the movements of liberated convicts. Also a liberated convict who has a certain town assigned him as a place of residence, and which he is not at liberty to leave. Casser sa ——, to break bounds. Une vieille ——, or une ——, an old offender. (Literary) Canne, dismissal, the “sack.” Offrir une ——, to dismiss from one’s employment, “to give the sack.”

Canon, m. (popular), glass of wine drunk at the bar of a wine-shop. Grand ——, the fifth of a litre of wine, and petit ——, half that quantity. Viens prendre un —— su’ l’ zinc, mon vieux zig, I say, old fellow, come and have a glass at the bar. Se bourrer le ——, to eat to excess, “to scorf.”

Canonner (popular), to drink wine at a wine-shop; to be an habitual tippler.

Canonneur, m. (popular), tippler, a wine bibber.

Canonnier de la piÈce humide, m. (military), hospital orderly.

CanonniÈre, f. (popular), the behind, or “tochas.” See Vasistas. Charger la ——, to eat, “to grub.” Gargousses de la ——, vegetables.

Cant, m. (familiar), show of false virtue. From the English word.

Cantaloup, m. (popular), fool, “duffer,” or “cull.” Properly a kind of melon.

Ah ÇÀ! d’oÙ sort-il donc ce cantaloup.—Ricard.

Cantique, m. (freemasons’), bacchanalian song.

Canton, m. (thieves’), prison, or “stir.” For synonyms see Motte. Comte de ——, jailer, “dubsman,” or “jigger-dubber.”

Cantonade, f. (literary), Écrire À la ——, to write productions which are not read by the public. From a theatrical expression, Parler À la ——, to speak to an invisible person behind the scenes.

Cantonnier, m. (thieves’), prisoner, one in “quod.”

Canulant, adj. (familiar), tedious, tiresome, “boring.” From canule, a clyster-pipe.

Canularium, m. (Ecole Normale), ordeal which new pupils have to go through, such as passing a mock examination.

Canule, f. (popular), tedious man, bore. Canule, properly speaking, is a clyster-pipe.

Canuler (popular), to annoy, to bore.

Canuleur. See Canule.

Caoutchouc, m. (popular), clown. Properly india-rubber.

Cap, m. (thieves’), chief warder at the hulks. (Familiar) Doubler le ——, to go a roundabout way in order to avoid meeting a creditor, or passing before his door. Doubler le —— des tempÊtes, to clear safely the 1st or 15th of the month, when certain payments are due. Doubler le —— du terme, to be able to pay one’s rent when due. Doubler un ——, to be able to pay a note of hand when it falls due.

Capahut, f. (thieves’), voler À la ——, to murder an accomplice so as to get possession of his share of the booty.

Capahuter. See Capahut.

Cape, f. (thieves’), handwriting.

Capet, m. (popular), hat, or “tile.” See Tubard.

Capine, f. (thieves’), inkstand.

Capir (thieves’), to write, or “to screeve.”

Capiston, m. (military), captain; —— bÊcheur, an officer who acts as public prosecutor at courts-martial. Termed also “capitaine bÊcheur.”

Capitaine (thieves’), stock-jobber; financier; (military) —— bÊcheur, see Capiston; —— de la soupe, an officer who has never been under fire.

Capitainer (thieves’), to be a stock-jobber.

Capital, m. (popular), maidenhead. Villon, fifteenth century, terms it “ceincture.”

Capitole, m. (schoolboys’), formerly the black hole.

CapitonnÉe, adj. (popular), is said of a stout woman.

Capitonner (popular), se ——, to grow stout.

Capitulard, m. (familiar and popular), term of contempt applied during the war of 1870 to those who were in favour of surrender.

Caporal, m., tobacco of French manufacture.

Caporalisme, m. (familiar), pipe-clayism.

Capou, m. (popular), a scribe who writes letters for illiterate persons in return for a fee.

Capoul (familiar), bandeaux À la ——, or des Capouls, hair brushed low on forehead, fringe, or “toffs.” From the name of a celebrated tenor who some twenty years ago was a great favourite of the public, especially of the feminine portion of it.

Caprice, m., appellation given by ladies of the demi-monde to their lovers; —— sÉrieux, one who keeps a girl.

Capsule, f. (popular), hat with narrow rim; infantry shako. See Tubard.

Captif, m. (popular), abbreviation of ballon captif. Enlever le ——, to kick one in the hind quarters, “to root.”

Capucin, m. (sportsmen’s), hare.

Capucine, f. (familiar and popular), jusqu’À la troisiÈme ——, completely, “awfully.” Etre paf jusqu’À la troisiÈme ——, to be quite drunk, or “ploughed.” See Pompette. S’ennuyer ——, &c., to feel “awfully” dull.

Caquer (popular), to ease oneself. See Mouscailler.

Carabine, f. (popular), sweetheart of a “carabin,” or medical student; (military) whip.

CarabinÉ, adj. (popular), excessive, violent. Un mal de tÊte ——, a violent headache. Une plaisanterie carabinÉe, a spicy joke.

Carabiner (military), les cÔtes, to thrash. See Voie.

Carabinier, m. (popular), de la FacultÉ, chemist.

Carafe, f. (cads’), throat, or “gutter lane;” mouth, or “mug.” Fouetter de la ——, to have an offensive breath.

Carambolage, m. (popular), collision; general set-to; coition, or “chivalry.” Properly cannoning at billiards.

Caramboler (popular), to come into collision with anything; to strike two persons at one blow; to thrash a person or several persons. Also corresponds to the Latin futuere. The old poet Villon termed this “chevaulcher,” or “faire le bas mestier,” and Rabelais called it, “faire la bÊte À deux dos.” Properly “caramboler” signifies to make a cannon at billiards.

Carant, m. (thieves’), board; square piece of wood. A corruption of carrÉ, square.

Carante, f. (thieves’), table.

Carapata, m. (popular), pedestrian; bargee; (cavalry) recruit, or “Johnny raw.”

Carapater (popular), to run, “to brush.” Se ——, to run away, or “to slope.” Literally, courir À pattes. See Patatrot.

Caravane, f. (popular), travelling show, or “slang.” Des caravanes, love adventures. Termed also “cavalcades.”

Carbeluche, m. (thieves’), galicÉ, silk hat.

Carcagno, or carcagne, m. (thieves’), usurer.

Carcagnotter (thieves’), to be a usurer.

Carcan, m. (popular), worthless horse, or “screw;” opprobrious epithet; gaunt woman; —— À crinoline, street-walker. See Gadoue.

Carcasse, f. (thieves’), États de ——, loins. Carcasse, in popular language, body, or “bacon.” Je vais te dÉsosser la ——, I’ll break every bone in your body.

Carcassier, m. (theatrical), clever playwright.

Carder (popular), to claw one’s face. Properly to card.

Cardinale, f. (thieves’), moon, or “parish lantern.”

Cardinales, f. pl. (popular), menses.

Cardinaliser (familiar), se —— la figure, to blush, or to get flushed through drinking.

Care, f. (thieves’), place of concealment. Vol À la ——, see Careur.

CarÊme, m. (popular), amoureux de ——, timid or platonic lover. Literally a Lenten lover, one who is afraid of touching flesh.

Carer (thieves’), to conceal, to steal. See Careur. Se ——, to seek shelter.

Careur, or voleur À la care, m. (thieves’), thief who robs a money-changer under pretence of offering old coins for sale, “pincher.”

Carfouiller (popular), to thrust deeply.

Il dÉlibÉra ... pour savoir s’il lui carfouillerait le coeur avec son ÉpÉe ou s’il se bornerait À lui crever les yeux.—Figaro.

Carge (thieves’), pack.

Cargot, m. (military), canteen man.

Carguer (sailors’), ses voiles, to retire from the service. Properly to reef sails.

Caribener, or carer, to steal “À la care.” See Careur.

Caristade, f. (printers’), relief in money; charity.

Carle, m. (thieves’), money, “lour,” or “pieces.”

Carline, f. (thieves’), death.

Carme, m. (popular), large flat loaf; (thieves’) money, “pieces.” See Quibus. On lui a grinchi tout le —— de son morlingue, the contents of his purse have been stolen. Carme À l’estorgue, or À l’estoque, base coin, or “sheen.”

Carmer (thieves’), to pay, “to dub.”

Carnaval, m. (popular), ridiculously dressed person, “guy.”

Carne, f. (popular), worthless horse, or “screw;” opprobrious epithet applied to a woman, strumpet; woman of disreputable character, “bed-fagot,” or “shake.” Etre ——, to be lazy.

Carottage, m. (popular), chouse.

Carotte, f. (military), medical inspection; —— d’Épaisseur, great chouse. (Familiar) Tirer une —— de longueur, to concoct a far-fetched story for the purpose of obtaining something from one, as money, leave of absence, &c. (Theatrical) Avoir une —— dans le plomb, to sing out of tune, or with a cracked voice; (popular) to have an offensive breath. Avoir ses carottes cuites, to be dead. (Thieves’) Tirer la ——, to elicit secrets from one, “to pump” one.

Il s’agit de te faire arrÊter pour Être conduit au dÉpÔt oÙ tu tireras la carotte À un grinche que nous allons emballer ce soir.—Vidocq.

Carotter (familiar), l’existence, to live a wretched, poverty-stricken life; —— À la Bourse, to speculate in a small way at the Stock Exchange; (military) —— le service, to shirk one’s military duties.

Caroublage, m. (thieves’), picking of a lock.

Carouble, f. (thieves’), skeleton key, “betty,” or “twirl.”

Caroubleur, m. (thieves’), thief who uses a picklock, or “screwsman;” —— À la flan, thief of this description who operates at haphazard; —— au fric-frac, housebreaker, “panny-man,” “buster,” or “cracksman.”

Carquois, m. (popular), d’osier, rag-picker’s basket.

Carre, f. (thieves’), du paquelin, the Banque de France. Mettre À la ——, to conceal.

CarrÉ, m. (students’), second-year student in higher mathematics; (thieves’) room, or lodgings, “diggings;” —— des petites gerbes, police court; —— du rebectage, court of cassation, a tribunal which revises cases already tried, and which has power to quash a judgment.

Carreau, m. (popular), de vitre, monocular eyeglass. Aller au ——, see Aller. (Thieves’ and cads’) Carreau, eye, or “glazier;” —— brouillÉ, squinting eye, or “boss-eye;” —— À la manque, blind eye. Affranchir le ——, to open one’s eye.

Carreaux brouillÉs, m. pl. (popular), house of ill-fame, or “nanny-shop.” Such establishments which are under the surveillance of the police authorities have whitewashed window-panes and a number of vast dimensions over the street entrance.

CarrÉe, f. (popular), room, “crib.”

Carrefour, m. (popular), des ÉcrasÉs, a crossing of the Faubourg Montmartre, a dangerous one on account of the great traffic.

Carrer (popular and thieves’), se ——, to conceal oneself; to run away, “to brush;” —— de la dÉbine, to improve one’s circumstances.

Carreur, m. (thieves’), receiver of stolen goods, “fence.” Termed also “fourgue.”

Cartaude, f. (thieves’), printer’s shop.

CartaudÉ (thieves’), printed.

Cartauder (thieves’), to print.

Cartaudier (thieves’), printer.

Carte, f. (popular), femme en ——, street-walker whose name is down in the books of the police as a registered prostitute. Revoir la ——, to vomit, or “to cascade,” “to cast up accounts,” “to shoot the cat.” (Cardsharpers’) Maquiller la ——, to handle cards; to tamper with cards, or “to stock broads.”

Carton, m. (gamesters’), playing-card, or “broad.” Manier, tripoter, graisser, travailler, patiner le ——, to play cards. Maquiller le ——, to handle cards, to tamper with cards, or “to stock broads.”

Cartonnements, m. pl. (literary), manuscripts consigned to oblivion.

Cartonner (gamesters’), to play cards.

Cartonneur, m., one fond of cards.

Cartonnier, m. (popular), clumsy worker; card-player.

Cartouche, f. (military), avaler sa ——, to die, “to lose the number of one’s mess.” DÉchirer la ——, to eat. See Mastiquer.

CartouchiÈre À portÉes, f., pack of prepared cards which swindlers keep secreted under their waistcoat, “books of briefs.”

Caruche, f. (thieves’), prison, or “stir.” Comte de la ——, jailer, or “dubsman.” See Motte.

Carvel, m. (thieves’), boat. From the Italian caravella.

Cas, m. (popular), montrer son ——, to make an indecent exhibition of one’s person.

Casaquin, m. (popular), human body, or “apple cart.” Avoir quelquechose dans le ——, to be uneasy; ill at ease in body or mind. Tomber, sauter sur le —— À quelqu’un, to give one a beating, “to give one Jessie.” Grimper, tanner, travailler le ——, to belabour, “to tan.” See Voie.

Cascader (familiar), interpolating by an actor of matter not in the play; to lead a fast life.

Cascades, f. pl. (theatrical), fanciful improvisations; (familiar) eccentric proceedings; jokes. Faire des ——, to live a fast life.

Cascadeur (theatrical), actor who interpolates in his part; (familiar) man with no earnestness of purpose, and who consequently cannot be trusted; fast man.

Cascadeuse, f. (familiar), fast girl or woman.

Cascaret, m. (thieves’), two-franc coin.

Case, carrÉe, or piole, f. (thieves’), room; lodgings, “diggings,” or “hangs out;” (popular) house; any kind of lodgings, “crib.” Le patron de la ——, the head of any establishment, the landlord, the occupier of a house or apartment. (Familiar) N’avoir pas de case judiciaire À son dossier is said of one who has never been convicted of any offence against the law. The “dossier” is a record of a man’s social standing, containing details concerning his age, profession, morality, &c. Every Parisian, high and low, has his “dossier” at the PrÉfecture de Police.

Casimir, m. (popular), waistcoat, “benjy.”

Casin, m. (familiar), pool at billiards.

Casinette, f. (popular), habituÉe of the Casino Cadet, a place somewhat similar to the former Argyle Rooms.

Casoar, m., plume of shako, in the slang of the students of the Saint-Cyr military school, the French Sandhurst.

Casque, m. (popular), hat, “tile.” See Tubard. Casque À auvent, cap with a peak; —— À mÈche, cotton nightcap. Avoir du ——, to have a spirited, persuasive delivery; to speak with a quack’s coolness and facility. An allusion to Mangin, a celebrated quack in warrior’s attire, with a large helmet and plumes. This man, who was always attended by an assistant who went by the name of Vert-de-gris, made a fortune by selling pencils. Avoir le ——, to have a headache caused by potations; to have a fancy for a man. Avoir son ——, to be completely tipsy. See Pompette.

Casquer (popular), to pay, or “to fork out;” to fall blindly into a snare; to mistake.

Casquette, f. (familiar and popular), money lost at some game at a CafÉ. Une —— À trois ponts, a prostitute’s bully, or “ponce,” thus termed on account of the tall silk cap sported by that worthy. See Poisson. Etre ——, to be intoxicated. See Pompette. (Familiar) Etre ——, to have vulgar manners, to be a boor, “roly-poly.”

Casqueur, m. (theatrical), spectator who is not on the free list.

Cassant, m. (thieves’), walnut tree; (sailors’) biscuit.

Cassantes, f. pl. (thieves’), teeth, or “head-rails;” nuts; walnuts.

Casse, f. (popular), chippings of pastry sold cheap. Je t’en ——, that’s not for you.

Casse-gueule, m. (popular), suburban dancing-hall; strong spirits, or “kill devil.”

Cassement, m. (thieves’), de porte, housebreaking, “cracking a Crib.”

Casser, (thieves’), to eat, “to grub;” —— du sucre, or se mettre À table, to confess; —— du sucre, or —— du sucre À la rousse, to peach, “to blow the gaff;” —— la hane, to steal a purse, “to buz a skin;” —— sa canne, to sleep, or “to doss;” to be very ill; as a ticket-of-leave man, to break bounds; to die; —— sa ficelle, to escape from the convict settlement; (popular) —— un mot, to talk; —— du bec, to have an offensive breath; —— du grain, to do nothing of what is required; —— du sucre sur la tÊte de quelqu’un, to talk ill of one in his absence, to backbite; —— la croustille, to eat, “to grub;” —— la gueule À une nÉgresse, to drink a bottle of wine; —— la gueule À un enfant de choeur, to drink a bottle of wine (red-capped like a chorister); —— la marmite, to quarrel with one’s bread and cheese; —— le cou À un chat, to eat a rabbit stew; —— le cou À une nÉgresse, to discuss a bottle of wine; —— sa pipe, son cÂble, son crachoir, or son fouet, to die, “to kick the bucket,” “to croak.” See Pipe. Casser son oeuf, to have a miscarriage; —— son pif, to sleep, “to have a dose of balmy;” —— son lacet, to break off one’s connection with a mistress, “to bury a moll;” —— une roue de derriÈre, to spend part of a five-franc piece. Se la ——, to get away, to move off, “to hook it.” See Patatrot. N’avoir pas cassÉ la patte À coco, to be dull-witted, or “soft.” (Familiar) A tout ——, tremendous; awful. Une noce À tout ——, a rare jollification, “a flare-up,” or “break-down.” Un potin À tout ——, a tremendous row, or “shindy.”

Casserolage, m. (thieves’), informing against an accomplice.

Casserole, f. (thieves’), informer, or “buz-man;” spy, or “nark;” police officer, or “copper.” See Pot-À-tabac. Casserole, prostitute, or “bunter.” See Gadoue. Coup de ——, denunciation, or “busting.” Passer À ——, to be informed against. (Popular) Casserole, name given to the HÔpital du Midi. Passer À ——, see Passer.

Casseur, m. (thieves’), de portes, housebreaker, “buster,” or “screwsman;” —— de sucre À quatre sous, military convict of the Algerian “compagnies de discipline,” chiefly employed at stone-breaking. The “compagnies de discipline,” or punishment companies, consist of all the riff-raff of the army.

Cassine, f. (popular), properly small country-house; house where the master is strict; workshop in which the work is severe.

Cassolette, f. (popular), chamber utensil, or “jerry;” scavenger’s cart; mouth, or “gob.” Plomber de la ——, to have an offensive breath.

Cassure, f. (theatrical), jouer une ——, to perform in the character of a very old man.

Castagnettes, f. pl. (military), blows with the fist.

Caste, f. (old cant), de charrue, one-fourth of a crown.

Castor, or castorin, naval officer who shirks going out to sea, or one in the army who is averse to leaving the garrison.

Castorin, m. (popular), hat-maker.

Castoriser is said of an officer who shirks sea duty, or who likes to make a long stay in some pleasant garrison town.

Castroz, m. (popular), capon.

Castu, m. (thieves’), hospital. Barbeaudier de ——, hospital director.

Castue, m. (thieves’), prison, or “stir.” See Motte. Comte de ——, jailer, or “jigger-dubber.”

Cataplasme, m. (popular), au gras, spinach; —— de Venise, blow, “clout.”

Cataplasmier, m. (popular), hospital attendant.

Catapulteux, catapulteuse, adj. (popular), beautiful; marvellous. Une femme ——, a magnificent woman, a “blooming tart.”

Catiniser (popular), se ——, to be in a fair way of becoming a street-walker.

Cauchemardant (popular), tiresome, annoying, “boring.”

Cauchemarder (popular), to annoy, to bore. Se ——, to fret.

Cause, f. (familiar), grasse, case in a court of justice offering piquant details.

Causotter (familiar), to chat familiarly in a small circle.

Cavalcade, f. (popular), love intrigue. Avoir vu des cavalcades is said of a woman who has had many lovers.

Cavale, f. (popular), flight. Se payer une ——, to run away, or “to crush.” See Patatrot. (Thieves’) Tortiller une ——, to form a plan for escaping from prison.

Cavaler (thieves’ and cads’), quelqu’un, to annoy one, to “rile” him. Se ——, to make off, “to guy.” For list of synonyms see Patatrot. Se —— au rebectage, to pray for a new trial in the “Cour de Cassation.” This court may quash a judgment for the slightest flaw in the procedure, such as, for instance, the fact of a witness not lifting his right hand when taking the oath. Se —— cher au rebectage, to pray for a commutation of a sentence.

Cavalerie, f. (popular), grosse ——, man who works in the sewers, a “rake-kennel.” An allusion to his high boots.

CavÉ, m. (popular), dupe, or “gull;” cat’s-paw.

CavÉe, f. (thieves’), church.

Cayenne, m. (popular), suburban cemetery; suburban factory; workshop at a distance from Paris. Gibier de ——, scamp, jail-bird.

Cayenne-les-eaux, m. (thieves’), the Cayenne dÉpÔt for transported convicts.

CÉ, m. (thieves’), silver. Attaches de ——, silver buckles. Bogue de ——, silver watch, “white ’un.” Tout de ——, very well.

Cela me gÊne (theatrical), words used by actors to denote anything which interferes with the impression they seek to produce by certain tirades or by-play.

Celui (popular), avoir —— de ..., stands for avoir l’honneur de ..., to have the honour to ... .

Censure, f. (thieves’), passer la ——, to repeat a crime.

Centiballe, m. (popular), centime. Balle, a franc.

Central, m. (familiar), pupil of the “Ecole Centrale,” a public engineering school; telegraph office of the “Place de la Bourse.”

Centre, m. (thieves’), name, “monarch or monniker.” Also a meeting-place for malefactors. Un —— À l’estorgue, a false name, or “alias.” Un —— d’altÈque, a real name. Coquer son ——, to give one’s name. (Familiar) Le —— de gravitÉ, the behind, or “seat of honour.” See Vasistas. Perdre son ——, to be tipsy, “fuddled.”

CentrÉ, adj. (popular), is said of one who has failed in business, “gone to smash.”

Centrier, or centripÈte, m. (military), foot soldier, “beetle-crusher or wobbler;” (familiar) member of the “Centre” party (Conservative) of the House, under Louis Philippe. The House is now divided into “extrÊme gauche” (rabid radicals); “gauche” (advanced republicans); “centre-gauchers” (conservative republicans); “centre” (wavering members); “centre droit” (moderate conservatives); “droite” (monarchists and clericals); “extrÊme droite” (rabid monarchists and ultramontane clericals).

Centriot, m. (thieves’), nickname.

Cercle, m. (thieves’), silver coin. (Familiar) Pincer or rattraper au demi ——, to come upon one unawares, to catch, “to nab” him. From an expression used in fencing.

Cercueil, m. (students’), glass of beer. A dismal play on the word “biÈre,” which has both significations of beer and coffin.

Cerf, m. (popular), injured husband, or cuckold. Se dÉguiser en ——, to decamp; to run away; to be off in a “jiffy.” See Patatrot.

Cerf-volant, m. (thieves’), female thief who strips children at play in the public gardens or parks. A play on the words “cerf-volant,” kite, and “voler,” to steal.

Cerise, f. (popular), mason of the suburbs.

Cerises, f. pl. (military), monter en marchand de ——, to ride badly, with toes and elbows out, and all of a heap, like a man with a basket on his arm.

Cerisier, m. (popular), sorry horse. An allusion to the name given to small horses which used to carry cherries to market.

Cerneau, m. (literary), young girl. Properly fresh walnut.

Certificats, m. pl. (military), de bÊtise, long-service stripes.

C’est (printers’), À cause des mouches, sneering reply.

Eh! dis donc, compagnon, pourquoi n’es-tu pas venu À la boÎte ce matin? L’autre rÉpond par ce coq-À-l’Âne: C’est À cause des mouches.—Boutmy.

Cet (popular), aut’ chien, that feller!

Chabannais, m. (popular), noise; row; thrashing. Ficher un ——, to thrash, “to wallop.” See Voie.

Chabrol, m. (popular), mixture of broth and wine.

Chacal, m. (military), Zouave.

Chaffourer (popular), se ——, to claw one another.

Chafrioler (popular), se —— À quelque chose, to find pleasure in something.

Chahut, m. (familiar and popular), eccentric dance, not in favour in respectable society, and in which the dancers’ toes are as often on a level with the faces of their partners as on the ground; uproar, “shindy,” general quarrel. Faire du ——, to make a noise, a disturbance.

Chahuter (familiar and popular), to dance the chahut (which see); to upset; to shake; to rock about. Nous avons ÉtÉ rudement chahutÉs, we were dreadfully jolted. Ne chahute donc pas comme Ça, keep still, don’t fidget so.

Chahuteur, m. (popular), noisy, restless fellow; one who dances the chahut (which see).

Chahuteuse, f. (popular), habituÉe of low dancing-saloons. Also a girl leading a noisy, fast life.

Chaillot (popular), À ——! go to the deuce! À —— les gÊneurs! to the deuce with bores! Ahuri de ——, blockhead. Envoyer À ——, to get rid of one; to send one to the deuce.

ChaÎne, f. (popular), d’oignons, ten of cards.

ChaÎniste, m. (popular), maker of gold chains.

Chair, f. (cads’), dure! hit him hard! smash him! That is, Fais lui la chair dure! (Popular) Marchand de —— humaine, keeper of a brothel.

Chaises, f. pl. (popular), manquer de —— dans la salle À manger, to be minus several teeth. Noce de bÂtons de ——, grand jollification, or “flare-up.”

Chaleur! (popular), exclamation expressive of contempt, disbelief, disappointment, mock admiration, &c.

Chaloupe, f. (popular), woman with dress bulging out. (Students’) La —— orageuse, a furious sort of cancan. The cancan is an eccentric dance, and one of rather questionable character. See Chahut.

Chalouper (students’), to dance the above.

Chamailler (popular), des dents, to eat.

Chambard, m. (Ecole Polytechnique), act of smashing the furniture and destroying the effects of the newly-joined students.

Chambardement, m. (sailors’), overthrown; destruction.

Chambarder (sailors’), to hustle; to smash. At the Ecole Polytechnique, to smash, or create a disturbance.

Chamberlan, m. (popular), workman who works at home.

Chambert, m. (thieves’), one who talks too much; one who lets the cat out of the bag.

Chamberter (thieves’), to talk in an indiscreet manner.

Chambre, f. (thieves’), de sÛretÉ, the prison of La Conciergerie. La —— des pairs, that part of the dÉpÔt reserved for convicts sentenced to penal servitude for life.

Chambrer (swindlers’), to lose; to steal; to “claim.” See Grinchir.

Chambrillon, m., small servant; young “slavey.”

Chameau, m. (popular), cunning man who imposes on his friends; girl of lax morals; prostitute; —— a deux bosses, prostitute. Ce —— de ..., insulting expression applied to either sex.

Coupeau apprit de la patronne que Nana Était dÉbauchÉe par une autre ouvriÈre, ce petit chameau de LÉonie, qui venait de lÂcher les fleurs pour faire la noce.—Zola, L’Assommoir.

Chameliers, m. pl. (military), name formerly given to the old “guides.”

Champ, m. (familiar), champagne, “fiz,” or “boy;” (popular) —— d’oignons, cemetery; —— de navets, cemetery where executed criminals are interred.

Champoreau, m. (military), beverage concocted with coffee, milk, and some alcoholic liquor, but more generally a mixture of coffee and spirits. From the name of the inventor.

Le douro, je le gardais prÉcieusement, ayant grand soin de ne pas l’entamer. J’eusse prÉfÉrÉ jeÛner un long mois de champoreau et d’absinthe.—Hector France, Sous le Burnous.

ChanÇard, m. (familiar), lucky man.

Chancellerie, f. (popular), mettre en ——, to put one in “chancery.”

Chancre, m. (popular), man with a large appetite, a “grand paunch.”

Chand, chande (popular), abbreviation of marchand.

Chandelier, m. (popular), nose, “boko,” “snorter,” or “smeller.” For synonyms see Morviau.

Chandelle, f. (military), infantry musket; sentry. Etre conduit entre quatre chandelles, to be marched off to the guard-room by four men and a corporal. La —— brÛle, it is time to go home. Faire fondre une ——, to drink a bottle of wine. Glisser en ——, to slide with both feet close together.

Mon galopin file comme une flÈche. Quelle aisance! quelle grÂce mÊme! TantÔt les pieds joints, en chandelle: tantÔt accroupi, faisant la petite bonne femme.—Richepin, Le PavÉ.

Changer (popular), son poisson d’eau, or ses olives d’eau, to void urine, “to pump ship.” See Lascailler.

Changeur, m. (thieves’), clothier who provides thieves with a disguise; rogue who appropriates a new overcoat from the lobby of a house or club, and leaves his old one in exchange. Also thief who steals plate.

Chanoine, m., chanoinesse, f. (thieves’), person in good circumstances, one worth robbing; —— de Monte-À-regret, one sentenced to death; old offender.

Chantage, m. (familiar), extorting money by threats of disclosures concerning a guilty action real or supposed, “jobbery.”

Chanter (familiar), to pay money under threat of being exposed. Faire —— quelqu’un, to extort money from one under threat of exposure; to extort “socket money.” (Popular) Faire —— une gamme, to thrash one, “to lead a dance.” See Voie.

Chanteur, m. (thieves’), juge d’instruction, a magistrate who investigates a case before trial; (familiar) man who seeks to extort money by threatening people with exposure. There are different kinds of chanteurs. Vidocq terms “chanteurs” the journalists who prey on actors fearful of their criticism; those who demand enormous prices for letters containing family secrets; the writers of biographical notices who offer them at so much a line; those who entice people into immoral places and who exact hush-money. The celebrated murderer Lacenaire was one of this class. Chanteur de la Chapelle Sixtine, eunuch. MaÎtre ——, skilful chanteur (which see).

Chantier, m. (popular), embarrassment, “fix.”

Chaparder (military), to loot; to steal, “to prig.”

Chapelle, f. (familiar), clique. Termed also “petite chapelle;” (popular) wine-shop, or “lush-crib.” Faire ——, is said of a woman who lifts her dress to warm her limbs by the fire. FÊter des chapelles, to go the round of several wine-shops, with what result it is needless to say.

Chapelure, f. (popular), n’avoir plus de —— sur le jambonneau, to be bald, “to have a bladder of lard.” See Avoir.

Chapi, m. (popular), hat, or “tile.” See Tubard.

Chapiteau, m. (popular), head, or “block.” See Tronche.

Chapon, m. (popular), monk. Cage À chapons, monastery. Des chapons de Limousin, chestnuts.

Chapska, m. (popular), hat, or “tile.” See Tubard.

Char, m. (familiar), numÉrotÉ, cab.

Charcuter (popular), to amputate.

Charcutier (popular), clumsy workman; surgeon, “sawbones.”

Chardonneret, m. (thieves’), gendarme. An allusion to his red, white, and yellow uniform. Properly a goldfinch.

Charenton, m. (popular), absinthe. The dÉpÔt for lunatics being at Charenton, the allusion is obvious.

ChargÉ, adj. (popular), tipsy, “tight.” See Pompette. (Coachmen’s) Etre ——, to have a “fare.”

Charger (coachmen’s), to take up a “fare;” (prostitutes’) to find a client; (cavalry) —— en ville, to go to town.

Charier (thieves’), to try to get information, “to cross-kid.”

Charieur (thieves’), he who seeks to worm out some information.

Charlemagne, m. (military), sabre-bayonet.

Charlot, m. (popular and thieves’), the executioner. His official title is “Monsieur de Paris.” Soubrettes de ——, the executioner’s assistants, literally his lady’s maids. An allusion to “la toilette,” or cropping the convict’s hair and cutting off his shirt collar a few minutes before the execution. (Thieves’) Charlot, thief; —— bon drille, a good-natured thief. See Grinche.

Charmant, adj. (thieves’), scabby.

Charmante, f. (thieves’), itch.

Charmer (popular), les puces, to get drunk. See Sculpter.

Charogneux, adj. (familiar), roman ——, filthy novel.

Charon, charron, m. (thieves’). See Charrieur.

Charpenter (playwrights’), to write the scheme of a play.

Charpentier, m. (playwrights’), he who writes the scheme of a play.

CharretÉe, f. (popular), en avoir une ——, to be quite drunk, to be “slewed.” See Pompette.

Charriage, m. (thieves’), swindle; —— À l’AmÉricaine is a kind of confidence trick swindle. It requires two confederates, one called “leveur” or “jardinier,” whose functions are to exercise his allurements upon the intended victim without awakening his suspicions. When the latter is fairly hooked, the pair meet—by chance of course—with “l’AmÉricain,” a confederate who passes himself off for a native of America, and who offers to exchange a large sum of gold for a smaller amount of money. The pigeon gleefully accepts the proffered gift, and discovers later on that the alleged gold coins are nothing but base metal. This kind of swindle goes also by the names of “vol À l’AmÉricaine,” “vol au change.” Charriage À la mÉcanique, or vol au pÈre FranÇois, takes place thus: a robber throws a handkerchief round a person’s neck, and holds him fast half-strangled on his own back while a confederate rifles the victim’s pockets. Charriage au coffret: the thief, termed “AmÉricain,” leaves in charge of a barmaid a small box filled to all appearance with gold coin; he returns in the course of the day, but suddenly finding that he has lost the key of the box, he asks for a loan of money and disappears, leaving the box as security. It goes without saying that the alleged gold coins are nothing more than brand-new farthings. Charriage au pot, another kind of the confidence trick dodge. One confederate forms an acquaintance with a passer-by, and both meet with the other confederate styled “l’AmÉricain,” who offers to take them to a house of ill-fame and defray all expenses, but who, being fearful of getting robbed, deposits his money in a jug or other receptacle. On the way he suddenly alters his mind, and sends the victim for the sum, not without having exacted bail-money from him as a guarantee of his return, after which both scamps make off with the fool’s money. Swindlers of this description are termed “magsmen” in the English slang.

Charrier (thieves’), to swindle one out of his money by misleading statements. See Charriage.

Charrieur, m. (thieves’), thief who employs the mode termed charriage (which see); confederate who provides cardsharpers with pigeons; —— de ville, a robber who first makes his victims insensible by drugs, and then plunders them, a “drummer;” —— cambrousier, itinerant quack; clumsy thief.

Chartreuse, f. (popular), de vidangeur, small measure of wine.

Chartron, m. (theatrical), faire le ——, is said of actors who place themselves in a row in front of the footlights.

Chason, m. (thieves’), ring, “fawney.”

Chasse, f. (popular), aller À la —— au barbillon, to go a-fishing. Foutre une ——, to scold vehemently, “to haul over the coals.”

ChÂsse, f. (thieves’), eye, “glazier.” Balancer, boiter des chÂsses, to be one-eyed, “boss-eyed;” to squint. Se foutre l’apÔtre dans la ——, to be mistaken.

Chasse-brouillard (popular), a drop of spirits; a dram to keep the damp out, a “dewdrop.”

Chasse-coquin, m. (popular), gendarme; beadle, “bumble;” bad wine.

Chasselas, m. (popular), wine.

Chassemar, m. (popular), for chasseur.

Chasse-marÉe, m. (military), chasseurs d’Afrique, a body of light cavalry.

Chasse-noble, m. (thieves’), gendarme.

Chasser (popular), au plat, to be a parasite, a “quiller;” —— des reluits, to weep, “to nap a bib;” —— le brouillard, to have a morning dram of spirits, or a “dewdrop;” —— les mouches, to be dying. See Pipe. (Thieves’ and cads’) Chasser, to flee, “to guy.” See Patatrot.

Gn’a du pet, interrompt un second voyou qui survient, v’lÀ un sergot qui s’amÈne ... chassons!—Richepin.

D’occase, abbreviation of d’occasion, secondhand.

ChÂssis, m. (popular), eyes, or “peepers.” Fermer les ——, to sleep.

Chassue, f. (thieves’), needle. Chas, eye of a needle.

Chassure, f. (thieves’), wine.

Chasublard, m. (popular), priest, or “devil dodger.”

Vit-on un seul royaliste, un seul cagot, un seul chasublard, prendre les armes pour la dÉfense du trÔne et de l’autel?—G. Guillemot, Le Mot d’Ordre, Sept. 6, 1877.

Chat, m. (thieves’), turnkey, “dubsman;” (popular) slater, from his spending half his life on roofs like cats. Avoir un —— dans la gouttiÈre, to be hoarse.

ChÂtaigne, f. (popular), box on the ear, or “buck-horse.”

Chataud, chataude, adj. (popular), greedy.

ChÂteau, m. (popular), branlant, person or thing always in motion. (Thieves’) ChÂteau, prison; —— de l’ombre, convict settlement. Un ÉlÈve du ——, a prisoner.

ChÂteau-CampÊche (familiar and popular), derisive appellation for bad wine, of which the ruby colour is often due to an adjunction of logwood.

Chaton, m. (popular), nice fellow; Sodomist.

Chatouillage au roupillon, m. (thieves’). See Vol au poivrier.

Chatouiller (theatrical), le public, to indulge in drolleries calculated to excite mirth among an audience; (familiar) —— les cÔtes, to thrash, “to lick.”

Chatouilleur (familiar), man on ’Change who by divers contrivances entices the public into buying shares, a “buttoner;” (thieves’) a thief who tickles a person’s sides as if in play, and meanwhile picks his pockets.

Chatte, f. (popular), five-franc piece.

Chaud, adj. and m. (popular), cunning; greedy; wide awake, or “fly;” high-priced. Il l’a ——, he is wide awake about his own interests. Etre ——, to look with watchful eye. (Familiar) Un ——, an enthusiast; energetic man. Il fera ——, never, “when the devil is blind.” Quand vous me reverrez il fera ——, you will never see me again. Etre —— de la pince, to be fond of women, to be a “beard-splitter.” (Artists’) Faire ——, to employ very warm tints after the style of Rembrandt and all other colourists. (Popular and thieves’) Chaud! quick! on!

Chaud, chaud! pour le mangeur, il faut le dÉsosser.—E. Sue.

Chaudron, m. (familiar), bad piano. Taper sur le ——, to play on the piano.

Chaudronner (popular), to buy secondhand articles and sell them as new.

Chaudronnier, m. (popular), secondhand-clothes man; (military) cuirassier, an allusion to his breastplate.

Chaufaillon (popular), stoker.

Chauffe-la-couche (familiar), man who loves well his comfort; henpecked husband, or “stangey.”

Chauffer (popular), le four, to drink heavily, “to guzzle.” See Rincer. (Familiar) Chauffer un artiste, une piÈce, to applaud so as to excite the enthusiasm of an audience; —— une affaire, to push briskly an undertaking; —— une place, to be canvassing for a post. Ça va chauffer, there will be a hot fight. Chauffer des enchÈres, to encourage bidding at an auction.

Chauffeur, m. (popular), man who instills life into conversation or in a company; formerly, under the Directoire, one of a gang of brigands who extorted money from people by burning the feet of the victims.

Chaumir (thieves’), to lose.

Chaussette (thieves’), ring fastened as a distinctive badge to the leg of a convict who has been chained up for any length of time to another convict, a punishment termed “double chaÎne.”

Chaussettes, f. pl. (military), gloves; —— russes, wrapper for the feet made of pieces of cloth; (popular) —— de deux paroisses, odd socks.

Chausson, m. (popular), old prostitute. Putain comme ——, regular whore. (Ballet girls’) Faire son ——, to put on and arrange one’s pumps.

“Laissez-moi donc, je suis en retard. J’ai encore mon mastic et mon chausson À faire.” Autrement, pour ceux qui ne sont pas de la boutique, “il me reste encore À m’habiller, À me chausser et À me faire ma tÊte.”—Mahalin.

Chaussonner (popular), to kick.

Chauviniste, m., synonymous of “chauvin,” one with narrow-minded, exaggerated sentiments of patriotism, a “Jingo.”

Chef, m. (military), abbreviation of marÉchal-des-logis chef, quartermaster-sergeant in the cavalry. (Popular) Chef de cuisine, foreman in a brewery; (thieves’) —— d’attaque, head of a gang.

Chelinguer (popular), to stink. Termed also “plomber, trouilloter, casser, danser, repousser, fouetter, vÉzouiller, vÉziner.”

CheminÉe, f. (popular), hat, “chimney pot.”

Chemise, f. (popular), Être dans la —— de quelqu’un, to be constantly with one, to be “thick as hops” with one. (Thieves’) Chemise de conseiller, stolen linen.

Chemises, f. pl. (popular), compter ses ——, to vomit, or “to cascade.” An allusion to the bending posture of a man who is troubled with the ailment.

ChenÂtre, adj. (thieves’), good, excellent, “nobby.”

Ils ont de quoi faire un chenÂtre banquet avec des rouillardes pleines de pivois et du plus chenÂtre qu’on puisse trouver.—Le Jargon de l’Argot.

ChÊne, m. (thieves’), man, or “cove;” —— affranchi, thief, or “flash cove.” For synonyms see Grinche. Faire suer un ——, to kill a man, “to give a cove his gruel.”

Chenillon, m. (popular), ugly girl.

Chenique, or chnic, m. (popular), brandy, “French cream.”

Cheniqueur, m. (popular), drinker of brandy.

Chenoc, adj. (thieves’), bad; good-for-nothing old fellow.

Chenu, adj. (thieves’), excellent, “nobby.” Properly old, whitened by age; —— pivois, excellent wine; —— reluit, good morning; —— sorgue, good night.

Chenument (popular), very well; very good.

Cher (thieves’), se cavaler ——, to decamp quickly, to “guy.” See Patatrot.

ChÉrance, f. (thieves’), Être en ——, to be intoxicated, or “canon.”

Cherche (popular), nothing, or “love.” Etre dix À ——, to be ten to love at billiards.

Chercher (popular), la gueulÉe, to be a parasite, a “quiller.” (Familiar and popular) Chercher des poux À la tÊte de quelqu’un, to find fault with one on futile pretexts; to try and fasten on a quarrel.

ChÉrez! (thieves’), courage! cheer up! never say die! Villon, 15th century, has “chÈre lye,” a joyous countenance.

Chetard, m. (thieves’), prison, or “stir.” See Motte.

ChÉtif, m. (popular), mason’s boy.

Cheulard, m. (popular), gormandizer, “grand-paunch.”

Cheval, m. (popular and thieves’), de retour, old offender; returned or escaped convict sent back to the convict settlement. Termed also “trique, canne.”

Me voilÀ donc cheval de retour, on me remet À Toulon, cette fois avec les bonnets verts.—V. Hugo.

(Military) Cheval de l’adjudant, camp bed of cell; (familiar) —— qui la connaÎt dans les coins, a clever horse. Literally skilful at turning the corners. (Popular) Faire son —— de corbillard, to put on a jaunty look; to give oneself conceited airs; to bluster, or, as the Americans say, “to be on the tall grass.”

Chevalier, m. (popular), de la courte lance, hospital assistant; —— de la grippe, thief, or “prig.” See Grinche. Chevalier de la manchette, Sodomist; —— de la pÉdale, one who works a card-printing machine; —— de l’aune, shopman, or “knight of the yard;” —— de salon, de tapis vert, gamester; —— du bidet, women’s bully, or “pensioner.” See Poisson. Chevalier du crochet, rag-picker, or “bone-grubber;” —— du lansquenet, gambling cheat who has recourse to the card-sharping trick denominated “le pont” (which see); —— du lustre, “claqueur,” that is, one who is paid for applauding at theatres; —— du printemps, or de l’ordre du printemps, silly fellow who flowers his button-hole to make it appear that he has the decoration of the “LÉgion d’Honneur;” —— grimpant, see Voleur au bonjour.

Chevau-lÉger, m. (familiar), ultra-Conservative of the Legitimist and Clerical party. The chevau-lÉgers were formerly a corps of household cavalry.

Chevaux, m. pl. (popular), À doubles semelles, legs. Compare the English expression, “to ride Shank’s mare, or pony.”

Chevelu, adj. (familiar), art ——, littÉrateur ——, poÈte ——, art, literary man, poet of the “École romantique,” of which the chief in literature was Victor Hugo.

Cheveu, m. (familiar), difficulty; trouble; hindrance; hitch. VoilÀ le ——, ay, there’s the rub. J’ai un ——, I have some trouble on my mind, reason for uneasiness. Il y a un —— dans son bonheur, there is some trouble that mars his happiness. (Popular) Avoir un —— pour un homme, to fancy a man. (Theatrical) Cheveu, unintentional jumbling of words by transposition of syllables. This kind of mistake when intentional Rabelais termed “Équivoquer.”

En l’aultre deux ou trois miroirs ardents dont il faisait enrager aulcunes fois les hommes et les femmes et leur faisait perdre contenance À l’ecclise. Car il disait qu’il n’y avait qu’une antistrophe entre femme folle À la messe et femme molle À la fesse.—Rabelais, Pantagruel.

See also Œuvres de Rabelais (Garnier’s edition), Pantagruel, page 159.

Cheveux, m. (familiar and popular), avoir mal aux ——, to have a headache caused by overnight potations. Faire des —— gris À quelqu’un, to trouble one, to give anxiety to one. Se faire des —— blancs, to fret; to feel annoyed at being made to wait a long time. Trouver des —— À tout, to find fault with everything. (Military) Passer la main dans les ——, to cut one’s hair.

Chevillard, m. (popular), butcher in a small way.

Chevilles, f. (popular), fried potatoes. Termed “greasers” at the R. M. Academy.

ChÉvinette, f. (popular), darling.

ChÈvre, f. (popular), gober sa ——, to get angry, to bristle up, “to lose one’s shirt,” “to get one’s monkey up.”

Chevron, m. (thieves’), fresh offence against the law. Properly military stripe.

ChevronnÉ, m. (thieves’), old offender, an old “jail-bird.”

Chevrotin, adj. (popular), irritable, “cranky,” “touchy.”

Chiade, f. (schoolboys’), hustling, pushing.

Chialler (thieves’), to squall; to weep.

Bon, tu chial’! ah! c’est pas palas.—Richepin.

Chiarder (schoolboys’), to work, “to sweat.”

Chiasse, f. (popular), avoir la ——, to suffer from diarrhoea, or “jerry-go-nimble.”

Chibis, m. (thieves’), faire ——, to escape from prison; to decamp, “to guy.” See Patatrot.

J’ai fait chibis. J’avais la frousse

Des prÉfectanciers de Pantin.

A Pantin, mince de potin!

On y connaÎt ma gargarousse.

Richepin, Chanson des Gueux.

Chic, m. (English slang), “tzing tzing,” or “slap up.” The word has almost ceased to be slang, but we thought it would not be out of place in a work of this kind. (Familiar) Chic, finish; elegance; dash; spirit. Une femme qui a du ——, une robe qui a du ——, a stylish woman or dress. Cet acteur joue avec ——, this actor plays in a spirited manner. Ça manque de ——, it wants dash, is commonplace. Pourri de ——, most elegant, “nobby.” Chic, knack; originality; manner. Il a le ——, he has the knack. Il a un —— tout particulier, he has a manner quite his own. Il a le —— militaire, he has a soldier-like appearance. Peindre de ——, faire de ——, Écrire de ——, to paint or write with imaginative power, but without much regard for accuracy.

Vous croyez peut-Être que j’invente, que je brode d’imagination et que je fais de chic cette seconde vie.—Richepin.

Chic, chique, adj., excellent, “fizzing;” dashing, stylish. Un pÉkin ——, well-dressed, rich man. Un homme ——, a man of fashion, a well-dressed one, a well-to-do man. Un —— homme, a good, excellent man.

Chican, m. (thieves’), hammer.

Chicandard. See Chicard.

Chicander (popular), to dance the “Chicard step.” See Chicard.

Chicane, f. (thieves’), grinchir À la ——, stealing the purse or watch of a person while standing in front of him, but with the back turned towards him—a feat which requires no ordinary dexterity.

Chicard, m. (popular), buffoon character of the carnival, in fashion from 1830 to 1850. The first who impersonated it was a leather-seller, who invented a new eccentric step, considered to be exceedingly “chic;” hence probably his nickname of Chicard. His “get-up” consisted of a helmet with high plume, jackboots, a flannel frock, and large cavalry gloves. Pas ——, step invented by M. Chicard.

Chicard, chicancardo, chicandard, adj., superlative of “chic,” “tip-top,” “out and out,” “slap up,” “tzing tzing.”

Chicarder, to dance the Chicard step. See Chicard.

Chic et contre, warning which mountebanks address to one another.

Chiche! (popular), an exclamation expressive of defiance.

Chickstrac, m. (military), refuse, dung, excrement. CorvÉe de ——, fatigue duty for sweeping away the refuse, and especially for emptying cesspools.

Chicmann, m. (popular), tailor. A great many tailors in Paris bear Germanic names; hence the termination of the word.

ChicorÉe, f. (popular), c’est fort de ——, it is really too bad! Ficher de la ——, to reprimand, “to give a wigging.” Faire sa ——, is said of a person with affected or “high-falutin” airs. Ne fais donc pas ta ——, don’t give yourself such airs, “come off the tall grass,” as the Americans have it.

ChiÉ, adj. (popular), tout ——, “as like as two peas.”

Chie-dans-l’eau, m. (military), sailor.

Chien, m. and adj. (popular), noyÉ, sugar soaked in coffee. (Journalists’) Un —— perdu, short newspaper paragraph. (Schoolboys’) Un —— de cour, school usher, or “bum brusher.” (Military) Un —— de compagnie, a sergeant major. Un —— de rÉgiment, adjutant. (Familiar and popular) Le —— du commissaire, police magistrate’s secretary. The commissaire is a police functionary and petty magistrate. He examines privately cases brought before him, sends prisoners for trial, or dismisses them at once, settles then and there disputes between coachmen and their fares, sometimes between husbands and wives, makes perquisitions. He possesses to a certain extent discretionary powers. Avoir du ——, to possess dash, go, “gameness.” Il faut avoir du —— dans le ventre pour rÉsister, one must have wonderful staying powers to resist. Avoir un —— pour un homme, to be infatuated with a man. Faire le ——, is said of a servant who follows with a basket in the wake of her mistress going to market. Rester en —— de faience, to remain immovable, like a block. Se regarder en —— de faience, to look at one another without uttering a word. Piquer un ——, to take a nap. Dormir en —— de fusil, to sleep with the body doubled up. Une coiffure À la ——, mode of wearing the hair loose on the forehead. (Military) Un officier ——, a martinet.

Chiendent, m., arracher le ——. See Arracher.

Chier (popular), coarse word; —— dans la vanette, to be too free and easy; —— de petites crottes, to earn little money; to live in poverty; —— des carottes, to be costive; —— des chasses, to weep, “to nap a bib;” —— du poivre, to fail in keeping one’s promise; to abscond; to vanish when one’s services or help are most needed; —— sur l’oeil, to laugh at one; —— sur, to show great contempt for; to abandon. Ne pas —— de grosses crottes, to have had a bad dinner, or no dinner at all. Vous me faites ——, you bore me. Un gueuleton À —— partout, a grand feast. Une mine À —— dessus, a repulsive countenance. (Printers’) Chier dans le cassetin aux apostrophes, to cease to be a printer.

Chieur, m. (popular), d’encre, clerk, or “quill-driver.”

Chiffarde, f. (thieves’), summons; pipe.

Chiffe, f. (popular), rag-picking; tongue, “red rag.”

Chifferlinde, f. (popular), boire une ——, to drink a dram of spirits.

Chifferton, m. (popular), rag-picker, “bone-grubber,” or “tot-picker.”

Chiffon, m. (popular), handkerchief, “snottinger;” —— rouge, tongue, “red rag.” Balancer le —— rouge, to talk, “to wag the red rag.”

Chiffonnage, m. (popular), plunder of a rag-picker.

Chiffonnier, m. (thieves’), pickpocket who devotes his attention to handkerchiefs, “stook-hauler;” man of disorderly habits. (Literary). Chiffonnier de la double colline, bad poet.

Chiffornion, m. (popular), silk handkerchief, or silk “wipe.”

Chiffortin, m. (popular), rag-picker, “bone-grubber,” or “tot-picker.”

Chignard, m. (popular), inveterate grumbler, “rusty guts.”

Chigner (popular), to weep, “to nap a bib.”

Chimique, f. (popular), lucifer match.

Chinage. See Chine. Vol au ——, selling plated trinkets for the genuine article.

Chincilla (popular), grey, or “pepper and salt” hair.

Chine. Aller À la ——, to ply the trade of chineur (which see).

Chiner (military), to slander one; to ridicule one; (popular) to work; to go in quest of good bargains; to buy furniture at sales and resell it; to follow the pursuit of an old clothes man; to hawk; to go about the country buying heads of hair from peasant girls.

Chineur, or margoulin, m. (thieves’), one who goes about the country buying heads of hair of peasant girls. (Military) Chineur, slanderer; (popular) rabbit-skin man; marine store dealer; worker; hawker of cheap stuffs or silk handkerchiefs.

En argot, chineur signifie travailleur, et vient du verbe chiner.... Mais ce mot se spÉcialise pour dÉsigner particuliÈrement une race de travailleurs sui generis....

Elle campe en deux tribus À Paris. L’une habite le pÂtÉ de maisons qui se hÉrisse entre la place Maubert et le petit bras de la Seine, et notamment rue des Anglais. L’autre niche en haut de MÉnilmontant, et a donnÉ autrefois son nom À la rue de la Chine....

Les chineurs sont, d’ailleurs, des colons et non des Parisiens de naissance. Chaque gÉnÉration vient ici chercher fortune, et s’en retourne ensuite au pays.—Richepin, Le PavÉ.

Chinois, m. (popular), an individual, a “bloke,” a “cove;” proprietor of coffee-house; (familiar) term of friendship; (military) term of contempt applied to civilians, hence probably the expression “pÉkin,” civilian.

Chinoiserie, f. (familiar), quaint joke; intricate and quaint procedure or contrivance.

Chipe, f. (popular), prigging. From chiper, to purloin.

Chipette, f. (popular), trifle; nothing; Lesbian woman, that is, one with unnatural passions.

Chipie, f. (familiar). Literally girl or woman with a testy temper, a “brim.” Faire sa ——, to put on an air of supreme disdain or disgust.

Chipoteuse, f. (popular), capricious woman.

Chiquandar. See Chicard.

Chique. See Chic.

Chique, f. Properly quid of tobacco. (Popular) Avoir sa ——, to be in a bad humour, “to be crusty,” or “cranky.” Avoir une ——, to be drunk, or “screwed.” See Pompette. Ça te coupe la ——, that’s disappointing for you, that “cuts you up.” Coller sa ——, to bend one’s head. Couper la —— À quinze pas, to stink. Poser sa ——, to die; to be still. Pose ta —— et fais le mort! be still! shut up! hold your row! (Thieves’) Chique, church.

ChiquÉ (artists’), smartly executed. Also said of artistic work done quickly without previously studying nature. (Popular) Bien ——, well dressed.

Chiquement, with chic (which see).

Chiquer (familiar), to do anything in a superior manner; to do artistic work with more brilliancy than accuracy; (popular) to thrash, “to wallop,” see Voie; to eat, “to grub,” see Mastiquer. Se ——, to fight, “to drop into one another.”

Chiquer contre or battre À niort (thieves’), to deny one’s guilt.

Chiqueur, m. (popular), glutton, “stodger;” (artists’) an artist who paints with smartness, or one who draws or paints without studying nature.

Chirurgien, m. (popular), en vieux, cobbler.

Chnic. See Chenique.

Chocaillon, m. (popular), female rag-picker; female drunkard, or “lushington.”

Chocnoso, chocnosof, chocnosogue, koscnoff, excellent, remarkable, brilliant, “crushing,” “nobby,” “tip-top,” “fizzing.”

Chocotte, f. (rag-pickers’), marrow bone; (thieves’) tooth.

CholÉra, m. (popular), zinc or zinc-worker; bad meat.

Cholet, m. (popular), white bread of superior quality.

Cholette, f. (thieves’), half a litre. Double ——, a litre.

Choper (popular), to steal, “to prig.” See Grinchir. Old word choper, to touch anything, to make it fall. Se laisser ——, to allow oneself to be caught, to be “nabbed.”

Chopin, m. (thieves’), theft; stolen object; blow. Faire un ——, to commit a theft.

Chose, adj. (familiar and popular), ill at ease; sad; embarrassed. Il prit un air ——, he looked sad or embarrassed. Je me sens tout ——, I feel ill at ease; queer.

Chou! (thieves’ and cads’), a warning cry to intimate that the police or people are coming up. Termed also “Acresto!”

Choucarde, f. (military), wheelbarrow.

Chouchouter (familiar), to fondle, “to firkytoodle;” to spoil one. From chouchou, darling.

Chou colossal, m. (familiar), a scheme for swindling the public by fabulous accounts of future profits.

Choucroute, f. (popular), tÊte or mangeur de ——, a German.

Choucrouter (popular), to eat sauerkraut; to speak German.

Choucrouteur, choucroutmann, m., German.

Chouette, chouettard, chouettaud, adj., good; fine; perfect, “chummy,” “real jam,” “true marmalade.” C’est rien ——, that’s first-class! Quel —— temps, what splendid weather! Un —— rÉgiment, a crack regiment. (Disparagingly) Nous sommes ——, we are in a fine pickle.

Chouette, f. and adj. (thieves’), Être ——, to be caught. Faire une ——, to play at billiards against two other players.

Chouettement (popular), finely; perfectly.

Chouez (Breton), house; —— doue, church.

Choufflic (popular), bad workman. In the German schuflick, cobbler.

Chouffliquer (popular), to work in a clumsy manner.

Chouffliqueur, m. (popular), bad workman; (military) shoemaker, “snob.”

Choufretez (Breton), lucifer matches.

Chouia (military), gently. From the Arabic.

Chouil (Breton), work; insect.

Chouila (Breton cant), to work; to beget many children.

Chouista (Breton), to work with a will.

Choumaque (popular), shoemaker. From the German.

Chourin, for surin (thieves’), knife, “chive.”

Si j’ai pas l’rond, mon surin bouge.

Moi, c’est dans le sang qu’ j’aurais truquÉ.

Mais quand on fait suer, pomaquÉ!

Mieux vaut bouffer du blanc qu’ du rouge.

Richepin, Chanson des Gueux.

Chouriner, for suriner (thieves’), to knife, “to chive.”

Chourineur, m., for surineur (thieves’), one who uses the knife; knacker. “Le Chourineur” is one of the characters of EugÈne Sue’s MystÈres de Paris.

C’housa (Breton), to eat.

C’housach (Breton), food.

ChrÉtien, adj. (popular), mixed with water, “baptized.”

ChrÉtien, m. (popular), viande de ——, human flesh.

Chrysalide, f. (popular), old coquette.

Chtibes, f. pl. (popular), boots, “hock-dockies.”

Chybre, m. (popular), see Flageolet; (artists’) member of the Institut de France.

Chyle, m. (familiar), se refaire le ——, to have a good meal, a “tightener.”

Cibiche, f. (popular), cigarette.

Cible, f. (popular), À coups de pieds, breech. See Vasistas.

Ciboule, f. (popular), head, or “block.” See Tronche.

Cidre ÉlÉgant, m. (familiar), champagne, “fiz,” or “boy.”

Ciel, m. (fishermens’), le —— plumant ses poules, clouds.

Les nuages, c’Était le ciel plumant ses poules,

Et la foudre en Éclats, Michel cassant ses oeufs.

Il appelait le vent du sud cornemuseux,

Celui du nord cornard, de l’ouest brise À grenouille,

Celui de suroit l’brouf, celui de terre andouille.

Richepin, La Mer.

Cierge, m. (thieves’), police officer, or “reeler.” For synonyms see Pot-À-tabac.

Cig, m., cigale, or sigue, f. (thieves’), gold coin, or “yellow boy.”

Cigale, f. (popular), female street singer. Properly grasshopper; also cigar.

Cigogne, f. (thieves’), the “PrÉfecture de Police” in Paris; the Palais de Justice; court of justice. Le dab de la ——, the public prosecutor; the prefect of police.

Je monte À la cigogne.

On me gerbe À la grotte,

Au tap, et pour douze ans.

Vidocq.

Cigue, f. (thieves’), abbreviation of cigale, twenty-franc piece.

Cimaise (painters’), faire sa —— sur quelqu’un, to show up one’s own good qualities, whether real or imaginary, at the expense of another’s failings, in other words, to preach for one’s own chapel.

Ciment, m. (freemasons’), mustard.

Cingler (thieves’), se —— le blair, to get drunk, or “canon.”

Cinq-À-sept, m., a kind of tea party from five o’clock to seven in the fashionable world.

Cinq-centimadas, m. (ironical), one-sou cigar.

CintiÈme, m. (popular), high cap generally worn by women’s bullies, or “pensioners.”

Cintrer (popular), to hold; (thieves’) —— en pogne, to seize hold of; to apprehend, or “to smug.” See Piper.

Cipal, m. (popular), abbreviation of garde-municipal. The “garde municipale” is a picked body of old soldiers who furnish guards and perform police functions at theatres, official ceremonies, police courts, &c. It consists of infantry and cavalry, and is in the pay of the Paris municipal authorities, most of the men having been non-commissioned officers in the army.

Cirage, m. (popular), praise, “soft sawder,” “butter.”

Cire, f., voleur À la ——, rogue who steals a silver fork or spoon at a restaurant, and makes it adhere under the table by means of a piece of soft wax. When charged with the theft, he puts on an air of injured innocence, and asks to be searched; then leaves with ample apologies from the master of the restaurant. Soon after a confederate enters, taking his friend’s former seat at the table, and pocketing the booty.

CirÉ, m. (popular), negro. From cirer, to black shoes. Termed also “boÎte À cirage, bamboula, boule de neige, bille de pot au feu.”

Cirer (popular), to praise; to flatter, “to butter.”

Cireux, m. (popular), one with inflamed eyelids.

Ciseaux, m. pl. (literary), travailler À coups de ——, to compile.

CitÉ, f. (popular), d’amour, gay girl, “bed-fagot.”

Je l’ai traitÉe comme elle le mÉritait. Je l’ai appelÉe feignante, citÉ d’amour, chenille, machine À plaisir.—MacÉ.

Citron, m. (theatrical), squeaky note; (thieves’ and cads’) the head, “nut,” or “chump.” Termed also “tronche, sorbonne, poire, cafetiÈre, trognon, citrouille.”

Citrouille, f., citrouillard, m. (military), dragoon; (thieves’) head, “nut,” or “tibby.”

Civade, f. (thieves’), oats.

Civard, m. (popular), pasture.

Cive, f. (popular), grass.

Clairs, m. pl. (thieves’), eyes, or “glaziers.” See Mirettes. Souffler ses ——, to sleep, to “doss,” or to have a “dose of the balmy.”

ClairtÉ, f. (popular), light; beauty.

Clampiner (popular), to idle about; to lounge about lazily, “to mike.”

Clapoter (popular), to eat, “to grub.” See Mastiquer.

ClaquÉ, m. and adj. (popular), dead, dead man. La boÎte aux claquÉs, the Morgue, or Paris dead-house. Le jardin des claquÉs, the cemetery.

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

Claquedents, m. (popular), house of ill-fame, “nanny-shop;” gaming-house, or “punting-shop;” low eating-house.

Claquefaim, m. (popular), starving man.

Claquepatins, m. (popular), miserable slipshod person.

The early French poet Villon uses the word “cliquepatin” with the same signification.

Claquer (familiar), to die, “to croak;” to eat; to sell; —— ses meubles, to sell one’s furniture; —— du bec, to be very hungry without any means of satisfying one’s craving for food.

Claques, f. pl. (familiar and popular), une figure À ——, face with an impudent expression that invites punishment.

Clarinette, f. (military), de cinq pieds, musket, formerly “Brown Bess.”

Classe, f. (popular), un —— dirigeant, said ironically of one of the upper classes.

Clavin, m. (thieves’), nail; grapes.

Clavine, f. (thieves’), vine.

Claviner (thieves’), to nail; to gather grapes.

Clavineur, m. (thieves’), vine-dresser.

Clavinier, m. (thieves’), nail-maker.

Clef, f. (familiar), À la ——. See A la. Perdre sa ——, to suffer from colic, or “botts.” (Military) La —— du champ de manoeuvre, imaginary object which recruits are requested by practical jokers to go and ask of the sergeant.

Cliabeau, m., expression used by the prisoners of Saint-Lazare, doctor.

Cliche, f. (popular), diarrhoea, or “jerry-go-nimble.”

ClichÉ, m. (familiar), commonplace sentence ready made; commonplace metaphor; well-worn platitude. (Printers’) Tirer son ——, to be always repeating the same thing.

Client, m. (thieves’), victim, or intended victim.

Cligner (military), des oeillets, to squint, to be “boss-eyed.”

Clignots, m. pl. (popular), eyes, “peepers.” Baver des ——, to weep, “to nap a bib.” See Mirettes.

Clipet, m. (thieves’), voice.

Clique, f. (popular), scamp, or “bad egg;” diarrhoea, or “jerry-go-nimble.” (Military) La ——, the squad of drummers and buglers.

Exempts de service, ils exercent gÉnÉralement une profession quelconque (barbier, tailleur, ajusteur de guÊtres, etc.) qui leur rapporte quelques bÉnÉfices. Ayant ainsi plus de temps et plus d’argent À dÉpenser que leurs camarades, ils ont une rÉputation, assez bien justifiÉe d’ailleurs, de bambocheurs; de lÀ, ce nom de clique qu’on leur donne.—La Langue Verte du Troupier.

Cliquettes, f. pl. (popular), ears, or “wattles.”

Clodoche, m. (familiar), description of professional comic dancer with extraordinarily supple legs, such as the Girards brothers, of Alhambra celebrity.

Cloporte, m. (familiar), door-keeper. Properly woodlouse. A pun on the words clÔt porte.

Clou, m. (military), guard-room; cells, “jigger;” bayonet. Coller au ——, to imprison, “to roost.” (Popular) Clou, bad workman; pawnshop. Mettre au ——, to pawn, to put “in lug.” Clou de girofle, decayed black tooth. (Theatrical and literary) Le —— d’une piÈce, d’un roman, the chief point of interest in a play or novel, literally a nail on which the whole fabric hangs.

Clouer (popular), to imprison, “to run in;” to pawn, “to blue, to spout, to lumber.”

Clous, m. pl. (popular), tools. (Printers’) Petits ——, type. Lever les petits ——, to compose. (Military) Clous, foot-soldiers, or “mud-crushers.”

Coaguler (familiar), se ——, to get drunk. See Sculpter.

CÔbier, m., heap of salt in salt-marshes.

Cocanges, f. pl. (thieves’), walnut-shells. Jeu de ——, game of swindlers at fairs.

Cocangeur, m. (thieves’), swindler. See Cocanges.

Cocantin, m. (popular), business agent acting as a medium between a debtor and a creditor.

Cocarde, f. (popular), head. Avoir sa ——, to be tipsy. Taper sur la ——, is said of wine which gets into the head.

Cocarder (popular), se ——, to get tipsy. See Sculpter.

Tout se passait trÈs gentiment, on Était gai, il ne fallait pas maintenant se cocarder cochonnement, si l’on voulait respecter les dames.—Zola, L’Assommoir.

Cocardier, m. (military), military man passionately fond of his profession.

Cocasserie, f. (familiar), strange or grotesque saying, writing, or deed.

Coche, f. (popular), fat, red-faced woman.

Cochon, m. (popular), de bonheur! (ironical) no luck! Ça n’est pas trop ——, that’s not so bad. C’est pas —— du tout, that’s very nice. Mon pauvre ——, je ne te dis que Ça! my poor fellow, you are in for it! Etre ——, to be lewd. Se conduire comme un ——, to behave in a mean, despicable way. Soigner son ——, is said of one who lives too well. Un costume ——, a suggestive dress.

Cochonne, f. (popular), lewd girl. (Ironically) Elle n’est pas jolie, mais elle est si cochonne!

Cochonnement, adv. (popular), in a disgusting manner.

Cochonnerie, f. (popular), any article of food having pork for a basis.

Cochonneries, f. pl. (popular), indecent talk or actions.

Coco, m. (military), horse. La botte À ——, trumpet call for stables, (literally) La botte de foin À coco. (Popular) Coco, brandy; head. See Tronche. Avoir le —— dÉplumÉ, to be bald, or to have a “bladder of lard.” For synonymous expressions, see Avoir. Avoir le —— fÊlÉ, to be cracked, “to be a little bit balmy in one’s crumpet.” For synonyms see Avoir. Colle-toi Ça dans le ——, or passe-toi Ça par le ——, eat that or drink that. DÉvisser le ——, to strangle. Monter le ——, to excite. Se monter le ——, to get excited; to be too sanguine. Il a graissÉ la patte À ——, is said of a man who has bungled over some affair. (Familiar) Coco Épileptique, champagne wine, “fiz,” or “boy.”

CocodÈte, f. (familiar), stylish woman always dressed according to the latest fashion, a “dasher.”

Cocons, m. pl., stands for co-conscrits, first-term students at the Ecole Polytechnique.

Cocotte, f. (popular), term of endearment to horses. Allons, hue ——! pull up, my beauty! (Familiar and popular) Cocotte, a more than fast girl or woman, a “pretty horse-breaker,” see Gadoue; (theatrical) addition made by singers to an original theme.

Cocotterie, f. (familiar), the world of the cocottes. See Cocotte.

Cocovieilles, f. pl., name given by fashionable young ladies of the aristocracy to their old-fashioned elders, who return the compliment by dubbing them “cocosottes.”

Cocufieur, m. (popular), one who cuckoos, that is, one who lays himself open to being called to account by an injured husband as the co-respondent in the divorce court.

Coenne, or couenne, f. (thieves’), de lard, brush. (Familiar and popular) Couenne, stupid man, dunce.

CoËre, m. (thieves’), le grand ——, formerly the king of rogues.

Coeur, m. (popular), jeter du —— sur le carreau, to vomit. A pun on the words “hearts” and “diamonds” of cards on the one hand, avoir mal au ——, to feel sick, and “carreau,” flooring, on the other. Valet de ——, lover.

Coeur d’artichaut, m. (popular), man or woman with an inflammable heart.

Coffier (thieves’), abbreviation of escoffier, to kill, “to cook one’s gruel.”

Coffin, m., peculiar kind of desk at the Ecole Polytechnique. From the inventor’s name, General CoffiniÈres.

Cognac, m. (thieves’), gendarme or police officer, “crusher,” “copper,” or “reeler.” See Pot-À-tabac.

Cognade, f., or cogne (thieves’), gendarmerie.

Cognard, m., or cogne, gendarme and gendarmerie; police officer, “copper.”

Cogne, m. and f. (thieves’), la ——, the police. Un ——, a police officer, or “reeler.” See Pot-À-tabac. Also brandy. Un noir de trois ronds sans ——, a three-halfpenny cup of coffee without brandy.

Coiffer (popular), to slap; to deceive one’s husband. Se —— de quelqu’un, to take a fancy to one.

Coin, m. (popular), c’est un —— sans i, he is a fool.

Coire (thieves’), farm; chief.

Je rencontrai des camarades qui avaient aussi fait leur temps ou cassÉ leur ficelle. Leur coire me proposa d’Être des leurs, on faisait la grande soulasse sur le trimar.—V. Hugo.

Col, m. (familiar), cassÉ, dandy, or “masher.” Se pousser du ——, to assume an air of self-importance or conceit, “to look gumptious;” to praise oneself up. An allusion to the motion of one’s hand under the chin when about to make an important statement.

Colas, colabre, or colin, m. (thieves’), neck, or “scrag.” Faire suer le ——, to strangle. RafraÎchir le ——, to guillotine. RafraÎchir means to trim in the expression, “RafraÎchir les cheveux.”

Colback, m. (military), raw recruit, or “Johnny raw.” An allusion to his unkempt hair, similar to a busby or bearskin cap.

Colin. See Colas.

Collabo, m. (literary), abbreviation of collaborateur.

Collage, m. (familiar), living as husband and wife in an unmarried state.

Un —— d’argent, the action of a woman who lives with a man as his wife from mercenary motives.

C’Était selon la manie de ce corrupteur de mineures, le sceau avec lequel il cimentait ce que Madame Cornette appelait, en terme du mÉtier, ses collages d’argent!—MÉmoires de Monsieur Claude.

Collant, m. (familiar), is said of one not easily got rid of; (military) drawers.

Collarde, m. (thieves’), prisoner, one “doing time.”

Colle, f. (students’), weekly or other periodical oral examinations to prepare for a final examination, or to make up the marks which pass one at the end of the year.

CollÈge, m. (thieves’), prison, or “stir.” See Motte. Un ami de ——, a prison chum. Les collÈges de Pantin, the Paris prisons.

CollÉgien, m. (thieves’), prisoner.

Coller (students’), to stop one’s leave; to orally examine at periodical examinations. Se faire ——, to get plucked or “ploughed” at an examination. (Popular) Coller, to place; to put; to give; to throw; —— au bloc, to imprison, “to run in;” —— des chÂtaignes, to thrash, “to wallop.” See Voie. Se —— dans le pieu, to go to bed. Se —— une biture, to get drunk, or “screwed.” See Sculpter. Colle-toi lÀ, place yourself there. Colle-toi Ça dans le fusil, eat or drink that. Colle-toi Ça dans la coloquinte, bear that in mind. (Military) Coller au bloc, to send to the guard-room. Collez-moi ce clampin-lÀ au bloc, take that lazy bones to the guard-room. (Familiar and popular) Se ——, to live as man and wife, to live “a tally.” Se faire ——, to be nonplussed. S’en —— par le bec, to eat to excess, “to scorf.” S’en —— pour, to go to the expense of. Je m’en suis collÉ pour dix francs, I spent ten francs over it.

Colletiner (thieves’), to collar, to apprehend, “to smug.” See Piper.

Colleur, m. (students’), professor whose functions are to orally examine at certain periods students at private or public establishments; man who gets quickly intimate or “thick” with one, who “cottons on to one.”

Collier, or coulant, m. (thieves’), cravat, or “neckinger.”

Collignon, m. (popular), cabby. An allusion to a coachman of that name who murdered his fare. The cry, “OhÉ, Collignon!” is about the worst insult one can offer a Paris coachman, and he is not slow to resent it.

Colombe, f. (players’), queen of cards.

ColombÉ, adj. (thieves’), known.

Colon, m. (soldiers’), colonel. Petit ——, lieutenant-colonel.

Colonne, f. (military), chapeau en ——, see Bataille. (Popular) N’avoir pas chiÉ la ——, to be devoid of any talent, not to be able to set the Thames on fire. DÉmolir la ——, to void urine, “to lag.”

Coloquinte, f. (popular and thieves’), head. Avoir une araignÉe dans la ——, to be cracked, or “to have a bee in one’s bonnet.” Charlot va jouer À la boule avec ta ——, Jack Ketch will play skittles with your canister.

Coltiger (thieves’), to arrest; to seize, to “smug.”

Coltin, m. (popular), strength. Properly shoulder-strap.

Coltiner (popular), to ply the trade of a porter; to draw a hand-cart by means of a shoulder-strap.

Coltineur, m. (popular), man who draws a hand-cart with a shoulder-strap.

Coltineuse (popular), female who does rough work.

Comberge, combergeante, f. (thieves’), confession.

Comberger (thieves’), to reckon up; to confess.

Combergo (thieves’), confessional.

Comblance, f. (thieves’), par ——, into the bargain.

Comble, combre, combriau, combrieu, m. (thieves’), hat, “tile.” See Tubard.

Combrie, f. (thieves’), one-franc piece.

Combrier, m. (thieves’), hat-maker.

Combrieu. See Comble.

Combrousier, m. (thieves’), peasant, or “clod.”

Combustible, m. (popular), du ——! exclamation used to urge one on, On! go it!

Come, m. (thieves’), formerly a guard on board the galleys.

ComÉdie, f. (popular), envoyer À la ——, to dismiss a workman for want of work to give him. Etre À la ——, to be out of work, “out of collar.”

Comestaux, m. pl. (popular), for comestibles, articles of food, “toke.”

ComÈte, f. (popular), vagrant, tramp. Filer la ——, or la sorgue, to sleep in the open air, or “to skipper it.”

Comiques, m. pl. (theatrical), jouer les —— habillÉs, to represent a comic character in modern costume.

Commander (thieves’), À cuire, to send to the scaffold.

Commandite, f. (printers’), association of workmen who join together for the performance of any work.

Comme if (popular), ironical for comme il faut, genteel. T’as rien l’air ——! What a swell you look, oh crikey!

Commissaire, m. (popular), pint or pitcher of wine. An allusion to the black robe which police magistrates wore formerly. Le cabot du ——, the police magistrate’s secretary. See Chien.

Commode, f. (thieves’), chimney. (Popular) Une —— À deux ressorts, a vehicle, or “trap.”

Communard or communeux, m., one of the insurgents of 1871.

CommuniquÉ, m. (familiar), official communication to newspapers.

Comp. See Can.

Compas, m. (popular), ouvrir le ——, to walk. Allonger le ——, to walk briskly. Fermer le ——, to stop walking.

Complet, adj. (popular), Être ——, to be quite drunk, or “slewed.” (Familiar) Etre ——, to be perfectly ridiculous.

Comprendre (thieves’), la ——, to steal, “to claim.” See Grinchir.

Compte (popular), avoir son ——, to be tipsy, or “screwed;” to die, “to snuff it.” Son —— est bon, he is in for it.

Compter (musicians’), des payses, to sleep; (popular) —— ses chemises, to vomit, “to cast up accounts.”

Comte, m. (thieves’), de caruche, or de canton, jailor, or “jigger dubber;” —— de castu, hospital superintendent; —— de gigot-fin, one who likes to live well.

Comtois, adj. (thieves’), battre ——, to dissemble; to play the fool.

Conasse, or connasse, f. (prostitutes’), a stupid or modest woman.

Elles vantent leur savoir-faire, elles reprochent À leurs camarades leur impÉritie, et leur donnent le nom de conasse, expression par laquelle elles dÉsignent ordinairement une femme honnÊte.—Parent-Duchatelet, De la Prostitution.

CondÉ, m. (thieves’), mayor; demi ——, alderman; grand ——, prefect; —— franc, corrupt magistrate.

Condice, f. (thieves’), cage in which convicts are confined on their passage to the convict settlements.

Condition, f. (thieves’), house, “diggings,” or “hangs out.” Faire une ——, to break into a house, “to crack a crib.” Filer une ——, to watch a house in view of an intended burglary. (Popular) Acheter une ——, to lead a new mode of life, to turn over a new leaf.

Conduite, f. (popular), faire la ——, to drive away and thrash. Faire la —— de Grenoble, to put one out of doors.

Cone, f. (thieves’), death.

Confirmer (popular), to box one’s ears, “to warm the wax of one’s ears.”

Confiture, f. (popular), excrement.

Confiturier, m. (popular), scavenger, “rake-kennel.”

Confortable, m. (popular), glass of beer.

ConfrÈre, m. (popular), de la lune, injured husband.

Coni, adj. (thieves’), dead.

Coniller (popular), to seek to escape. Conil, rabbit.

Conir (thieves’), to conceal; to kill; “to cook one’s gruel.” See Refroidir.

Connais (popular), je la ——, no news for me; do you see any green in my eye? you don’t take an old bird with chaff.

Connaissance, f. (popular), ma ——, my mistress, or sweetheart, my “young woman.”

ConnaÎtre (popular), le journal, to be well informed; to know beforehand the menu of a dinner; —— le numÉro, to possess experience; —— le numÉro de quelqu’un, to be acquainted with one’s secrets, one’s habits. La —— dans les coins, to be knowing, to know what’s o’clock. An allusion to a horse clever at turning the corners in the riding school.

Regardez-le partir, le gavroche qui la connaÎt dans les coins.—Richepin.

Connerie, f. (popular), foolish action or thing. From an obscene word which has the slang signification of fool.

Conobler (thieves’), to recognize.

Conobrer (thieves’), to know.

Conscience, f. (printers’), homme de ——, typographer paid by the day or by the hour.

Conscrar, conscrit, m., first-term student at the “Ecole Normale,” a higher training-school for university professors.

Conservatoire, m. (popular), pawnshop. ElÈve du —— de la Villette, wretched singer. La Villette is the reverse of a fashionable quarter.

Conserves, f. (theatrical), old plays. Also fragments of human flesh which have been thrown into the sewers or river by murderers, and which, when found, are taken to the “Morgue,” or Paris dead-house.

Je viens de prÉparer pour lui les conserves (les morceaux de chair humaine), l’os de l’Égout Jacob et la cuisse des Saints-PÈres (l’os retrouvÉ dans l’Égout de la Rue Jacob et la cuisse repÊchÉe au pont des Saints-PÈres).—MacÉ, Mon Premier Crime.

Consigne, f. (military), À gros grains, imprisonment in the cells.

Consolation, f. (popular), brandy; swindling game played by card-sharpers, by means of a green cloth chalked into small numbered spaces, and dice.

Console, f. (thieves’), game played by card-sharpers or “broadsmen” at races and fairs.

Consoler (popular), son cafÉ, to add brandy to one’s coffee.

Conter (military). Conte cela au perruquier des Zouaves, I do not believe you, “tell that to the Marines.” Le perruquier des Zouaves is an imaginary individual.

Contre, m. (popular), playing for drink at a cafÉ.

Contre-allumeur, m. (thieves’), spy employed by thieves to baffle the police spies.

Contrebasse, f. (popular), breech. Sauter sur la ——, to kick one’s behind, “to toe one’s bum,” “to root,” or “to land a kick.”

Contre-coup, m. (popular), de la boÎte, foreman, or “boss.”

Contreficher (popular), s’en ——, to care not a straw, not a “hang.”

Contre-marque, f. (popular), du PÈre-Lachaise, St. Helena medal. Those who wear the medal are old, and le PÈre-Lachaise is a cemetery in Paris.

ContrÔle, m. (thieves’), formerly the mark on the shoulder of convicts who had been branded.

ContrÔler (popular), to kick one in the face.

Convalescence, f. (thieves’), surveillance of the police on the movements of ticket-of-leave men.

Cop, f. (printers’), for “copie,” manuscript.

Copaille, f. (cads’), Sodomist. Termed also “tante, coquine.”

Cope, f. (popular), overcharge for an article; action of “shaving a customer.” The Slang Dictionary says that in England, when the master sees an opportunity of doing this, he strokes his chin as a signal to his assistant who is serving the customer.

Copeau, m. (popular), artisan in woodwork (properly copeaux, shavings); spittle, or “gob.” Arracher son ——. See Arracher. Lever son ——, to talk, “to jaw.”

Copeaux, m. pl. (thieves’), housebreaking, “screwing or cracking a crib.” An allusion to the splinters resulting from breaking a door.

Copie, f. (printers’), de chapelle, copy of a work given as a present to the typographers. (Figuratively) Faire de la ——, to backbite. Pisser de la ——, to be a prolific writer. Pisseur de ——, a prolific writer; one who writes lengthy, diffuse newspaper articles.

Coquage, m. (thieves’), informing against one, or “blowing the gaff.”

Coquard, m. (thieves’), eye, or “glazier.” S’en tamponner le ——, not to care a fig. See Mirette.

Coquardeau, m. (popular), henpecked husband, or “stangey;” man easily duped, or “gulpy.”

Coquer (thieves’), to watch one’s movements; to inform against one, “to blow the gaff.”

Quand on en aura refroidi quatre ou cinq dans les prÉaux les autres tourneront leur langue deux fois avant de coquer la pÈgre.—E. Sue.

Also to give; to put; —— la camoufle, to hand the candle, “to dub the glim;” —— la loffitude, to give absolution; —— le poivre, to poison, “hocus;” —— le taf, to frighten; —— le rifle, to set fire to.

Coqueur, m. (thieves’), informer who warns the police of intended thefts. He may be at liberty or in prison; in the latter case he goes by the appellation of “coqueur mouton” or “musicien.” The “mouton” variety is an inmate of a prison and informs against his fellow-prisoners; the “musicien” betrays his accomplices. Coqueur de bille, man who furnishes funds.

Coqueuse, female variety of the “coqueur.”

Coquillard (popular), eye. S’en tamponner le ——, not to care a straw, “not to care a hang.”

Coquillards, m. pl. (tramps’), tramps who in olden times pretended to be pilgrims.

Coquillards sont les pÉlerins de Saint-Jacques, la plus grande partie sont vÉritables et en viennent; mais il y en a aussi qui truchent sur le coquillard.—Le Jargon de l’Argot.

Coquillon, m. (popular), louse; pilgrim.

Coquin, m. (thieves’), informer, “nark,” or “nose.”

Coquine, f. (cads’), Sodomist.

Corbeau, m. (popular), lay brother of “la doctrine chrÉtienne,” usually styled “frÈres ignorantins.” The brotherhood had formerly charge of the ragged schools, and were conspicuous by their gross ignorance; priest, or “devil dodger;” undertaker’s man.

Corbeille, f. (familiar), enclosure or ring at the Bourse where official stockbrokers transact business.

Corbillard, m. (popular), À deux roues, dismal man, or “croaker;” —— À noeuds, dirty and dissolute woman, or “draggle-tail;” —— des loucherbem, cart which collects tainted meat at butcher’s stalls. Loucherbem is equivalent to boucher.

Voici passer au galop le corbillard des loucherbem, l’immonde voiture qui vient ramasser dans les boucheries la viande gÂtÉe.—Richepin, Le PavÉ.

Corbuche, f. (thieves’), ulcer; —— lophe, false ulcer.

Corde, f. (literary), avoir la ——, to find true expression for accurately describing sentiments or passions. (Popular) Dormir À la ——, is said of poor people who sleep in certain lodgings with their heads on an outstretched rope as a pillow. This corresponds to the English “twopenny rope.”

Corder (popular), to agree, to get on “swimmingly” together.

Cordon, m. (popular), s’il vous plaÎt! or donnez-vous la peine d’entrer! large knot worn in the rear of ladies’ dresses.

Cordonnier, m. (popular), bec-figue de ——, goose.

Cornage, m. (thieves’), bad smell.

Cornant, m., cornante, f. (thieves’ and tramps’), ox and cow, or “mooer.”

Cornard, m. (students’), faire ——, to hold a council in a corner.

Corne, f. (popular), stomach.

Cornemuseux, m. (codfishers’), the south wind.

Corner (thieves’), to breathe heavily; to stink. La crie corne, the meat smells.

Cornet, m. (popular), throat, “gutter-lane.” Colle-toi Ça dans l’——, swallow that! N’avoir rien dans le ——, to be fasting, “to be bandied,” “to cry cupboard.” Cornet d’Épices, Capuchin.

Il se voulut convertir; il bia trouver un chenÂtre cornet d’Épice, et rouscailla À sÉziÈre qu’il voulait quitter la religion prÉtendue pour attrimer la catholique.—Le Jargon de l’Argot.

Corniche, f. (popular), hat, or “tile,” see Tubard; (students’) the military school of Saint-Cyr.

Cornicherie, f. (popular), nonsense; foolish action.

Cornichon, m. (students’), candidate preparing for the Ecole Militaire de Saint-Cyr. Literally greenhorn.

CorniÈre, f. (thieves’), cow-shed.

Cornificetur, m. (popular), injured husband.

Corps de pompe, m., staff of the Saint-Cyr school, and that of the school of cavalry of Saumur. Saint-Cyr is the French Sandhurst. Saumur is a training-school where the best riders and most vicious horses in the French army are sent.

Correcteur, m. (thieves’), prisoner who plays the spy, or “nark.”

Correspondance, f. (popular), a snack taken at a wine-shop while waiting for an omnibus “correspondance.”

Corridor, m. (familiar), throat. Se rincer le ——, to drink, “to wet one’s whistle.” See Rincer.

CorsÉ, adj. (common), properly is said of wine with full body. Un repas ——, a plentiful meal, or a “tightener.”

Corserie, f. (familiar), a set of Corsican detectives in the service of Napoleon III. According to Monsieur Claude, formerly head of the detective force under the Empire, the chief members of this secret bodyguard were Alessandri and Griscelli. Claude mentions in his memoirs the murder of a detective who had formed a plot for the assassination of Napoleon in a mysterious house at Auteuil, where the emperor met his mistresses, and to which he often used to repair disguised as a lacquey, and riding behind his own carriage. Griscelli stabbed his fellow-detective in the back on mere suspicion, and found on the body of the dead man papers which gave evidence of the plot. In reference to the mysterious house, Monsieur Claude says:—

L’empereur s’enflamma si bien pour cette nouvelle Ninon que l’impÉratrice en prit ombrage. La duchesse alors .... loua ma petite maison d’Auteuil que le gÉnÉral Fleury avait choisie pour servir de rendez-vous clandestin aux amours de son maÎtre.—MÉmoires de Monsieur Claude.

Corset, m. (popular), pas de ——! sweet sixteen!

CorvÉe, f. (prostitutes’), aller À la ——, to walk the street, une —— being literally an arduous, disagreeable work.

Corvette, f. (thieves’), a kind of low, rascally Alexis.

Cosaque, m. (familiar), stove.

Cosser (thieves’), to take; —— la hane, to take a purse, “to buz a skin.”

Costel, m. (popular), prostitute’s bully, “ponce.” See Poisson.

Costume, m. (theatrical), faire un ——, to applaud an actor directly he makes his appearance on the stage.

Cote, f. (lawyers’), stolen goods or money; (sporting) the betting. FrÈre de la ——, stockbroker’s clerk. Play on CÔte, which see. La —— G., purloining of articles of small value by notaries’ clerks when making an inventory. Literally, la cote j’ai.

CÔte, f. (thieves’), de boeuf, sword. FrÈre de la ——, see Bande noire. (Familiar) Etre À la ——, to be in needy circumstances, “hard up.” (Sailors’) Vieux frÈre la ——, old chum, mate.

CÔtÉ, m. (theatrical), cour, right-hand side scenes; —— jardin, left-hand side scenes. (Familiar) CÔtÉ des caissiers, the station of the “Chemin de fer du Nord,” at which absconding cashiers sometimes take train.

CÔtelard, m. (popular), melon.

CÔtelette, f. (popular), de menuisier, de perruquier, or de vache, piece of Brie cheese. (Theatrical) Avoir sa ——, to obtain applause. Emporteur À la ——, see Emporteur.

CÔte-nature, f. (familiar), for cÔtelette au naturel, grilled chop.

Coterie, f. (popular), chum. Eh! dis donc, la ——! I say, old chum! Coterie, association of workmen; company. Vous savez, la p’tite ——, you know, chums!

CÔtes, f. pl. (popular), avoir les —— en long, to be lazy, to be a “bummer.” Literally to have the ribs lengthwise, which would make one lazy at turning about. Travailler les —— À quelqu’un, to thrash one, to give one a “hiding.” See Voie.

CÔtier, m. (popular), extra horse harnessed to an omnibus when going up hill; also his driver.

CÔtiÈre, f. (gambling cheats’), a pocket wherein spare cards are secreted.

Aussi se promit-il de faire agir avec plus d’adresse, plus d’acharnement, les rois, les atouts et les as qu’il tenait en rÉserve dans sa cÔtiÈre.—MÉmoires de Monsieur Claude.

Cotillon, m. (popular), crottÉ, prostitute, “draggle-tail.”

Il Était coureur ... il adorait le cotillon, et c’est pour moi un cotillon crottÉ qui a causÉ sa perte.—MacÉ, Mon Premier Crime.

Faire danser le ——, to thrash one’s wife.

Coton, m. (popular), bread or food (allusion to the cotton-wick of lamp); quarrel; street-fight; difficulty. Il y aura du ——, there will be a fight; there will be much difficulty. Le courant est rapide, il y aura du ——, the stream is swift, we shall have to pull with a will.

Cotret, m. (popular), jus de ——, thrashing with a stick, or “larruping;” might be rendered by “stirrup oil.” Des cotrets, legs. (Thieves’) Cotret, convict at the hulks; returned transport, or “lag.”

Cotte, f. (popular), blue canvas working trousers.

Cou, m. (popular), avoir le front dans le ——, to be bald, or to have “a bladder of lard.” See Avoir.

Couac, m. (popular), priest, or “devil-dodger.”

Couche (popular), À quelle heure qu’on te ——? a hint to one to make himself scarce.

Coucher (popular), À la corde, to sleep in certain low lodging-houses with the head resting on a rope stretched across the room, a “twopenny rope;” —— dans le lit aux pois verts, to sleep in the fields. Se —— bredouille, to go to bed without any supper. Se —— en chapon, to go to bed with a full belly.

Coucou, m. (popular), watch.

Coude, m. (popular), lÂcher le ——, to leave one, generally when requested to do so. LÂche moi le ——, be off, leave me alone. Prendre sa permission sous son ——, to do without permission.

Couenne, f. (popular), skin, or “buff;” fool, or “duffer;” —— de lard, brush. Gratter, rÂcler, or ratisser la ——, to shave. Gratter la —— À quelqu’un, to flatter one, to give him “soft sawder;” to thrash one. Est-il ——! what an ass!

Couennes, f. pl. (popular), flabby cheeks.

CouillÉ, m. (popular), fool, blockhead, “cabbage-head.”

Couilles, f. pl. (popular), avoir des —— au cul, to be energetic, manly, “to have spunk.”

Couillon, m. (popular), poltroon; foolish with the sense of abashed, crestfallen. Il resta tout ——, he looked foolish. The word is used also in a friendly or jocular manner.

Couillonnade, f. (popular), ridiculous affair; nonsense.

Couillonner (popular), to show cowardice; to shirk danger.

Couillonnerie, f. (popular), cowardice; nonsensical affair; take in.

Couiner (popular), to whimper; to hesitate.

Coulage, m., coule, f. (familiar), waste; small purloining by servants, clerks, &c.

Coulant, m. (thieves’), milk.

Coulante, f. (thieves’), lettuce. (Cads’) La ——, the river Seine.

Coule, f. (popular), Être À la ——, to have mastered the routine of some business, to be acquainted with all the ins and outs; to be comfortable; to be clever at evading difficulties; to be insinuating; to connive at. Mettre quelqu’un À la ——, to instruct one in, to make one master of the routine of some business.

Couler (popular), en ——, to lie, “to cram one up.” La —— douce, to live comfortably. Se la —— douce, to take it easy.

Couleur, f. (popular), lie; box on the ear, or “buck-horse.” Monter la ——, to deceive, “to bamboozle.” Etre À la ——, to do things well.

Couleuvre, f. (popular), pregnant or “lumpy” woman.

Coulisse, f. (familiar), the set of coulissiers. See this word.

Coulissier, m. (familiar), unofficial jobber at the Bourse or Stock Exchange. As an adjective it has the meaning of connected with the back scenes, as in the phrase, Des intrigues coulissiÈres, back-scene intrigues.

Couloir, m. (popular), mouth, or “rattle-trap;” throat, or “peck alley.”

Coup, m. (popular), secret process; knack; dodge. Il a le ——, he has the knack, he is a dab at. Il a un ——, he has a process of his own. Un —— d’arrosoir, a drink. Se flanquer un —— d’arrosoir, to get tipsy, or “screwed.” Un —— de bouteille, intoxication. Avoir son —— de bouteille, to be intoxicated, “to be boozy.” See Pompette. Coup de chancellerie, action of getting a man’s head “into chancery,” that is, to get an opponent’s head firmly under one’s arm, where it can be pommelled with immense power, and without any possibility of immediate extrication. Un —— de chien, a tussle; difficulty. Un —— d’encensoir, a blow on the nose. Un —— de feu, a slight intoxication. Un —— de feu de sociÉtÉ, complete intoxication. Un —— de figure, hearty meal, or “tightener.” Un —— de fourchette, digging two fingers into an opponent’s eyes. Un —— de gaz, a glass of wine. Un —— de gilquin, a slap. Un —— de pied de jument or de VÉnus, a venereal disease. Un —— de Raguse, action of leaving one in the lurch; an allusion to Marshal Marmont, Duc de Raguse, who betrayed Napoleon. Un —— de tampon, a blow, or “bang;” hard shove (tampon, buffer). Un —— de temps, an accident; hitch. Un —— de torchon, a fight; revolution. Le —— du lapin, finishing blow or crowning misfortune, the straw that breaks the camel’s back; treacherous way of gripping in a fight.

Coup fÉroce que se donnent de temps en temps les ouvriers dans leurs battures. Il consiste À saisir son adversaire, d’une main par les testicules, de l’autre par la gorge, et À tirer dans les deux sens: celui qui est saisi et tirÉ ainsi n’a pas mÊme le temps de recommander son Âme À Dieu.—Delvau.

Coup du mÉdecin, glass of wine drunk after one has taken soup. Un —— dur, unpleasantness, unforeseen impediment. Attraper un —— de sirop, to get tipsy. Avoir son —— de chasselas, de feu, de picton, or de soleil, to be half drunk, “elevated.” See Pompette. Avoir son —— de rifle, to be tipsy, “screwed.” Donner le —— de pouce, to give short weight; to strangle. Faire le ——, or monter le —— À quelqu’un, to deceive, to take in, “to bamboozle” one. Se donner un —— de tampon, or de torchon, to fight. Se monter le ——, to be too sanguine, to form illusions. Valoir le ——, to be worth the trouble of doing or robbing. Voir le ——, to foresee an event; to see the dodge. Le —— de, action of doing anything. Le —— du canot, going out rowing. Coup de bleu, draught of wine. Avoir son —— de bleu, to be intoxicated, or “screwed.” Pomper un —— de bleu, to drink.

(Thieves’) Coup À l’esbrouffe sur un pantre. See Faire. Un —— d’acrÉ, extreme unction. Le —— d’Anatole, or du pÈre FranÇois. See Charriage À la mÉcanique. Un —— de bas, treacherous blow. Le —— de bonnet, the three-card trick dodge. Coup de cachet, stabbing, then drawing the knife to and fro in the wound. Un —— de casserole, informing against one, “blowing the gaff.” Le —— de manche, calling at people’s houses in order to beg. Un —— de radin, purloining the contents of a shop-till, generally a wine-shop, “lob-sneaking.” Un —— de roulotte, robbery of luggage or other property from vehicles. Un —— de vague, a robbery; action of robbing at random without any certainty as to the profits to be gained thereby. (Military) Coup de manchette, certain dexterous cut of the sword on the wrist which puts one hors de combat. (Familiar) Un —— de pied, borrowing money, or “breaking shins.” English thieves call it “biting the ear.” Un —— de pistolet, some noisy or scandalous proceeding calculated to attract attention. Le —— de fion, finishing touch. Se donner un —— de fion, to get oneself tidy, ship-shape.

C’est lÀ qu’on se donne le coup de fion. On ressangle les chevaux, on arrange les paquetages et les turbans, on Époussette ses bottes, on retrousse ses moustaches et on drape majestueusement les plis de son burnous.—H. France, L’Homme qui tue.

(Servants’) Le —— du tablier, giving notice.

Coupaillon, m. (tailors’), unskilful cutter.

Coup de traversin, m. (popular), se foutre un ——, to sleep.

Coup de trottinet, m. (thieves’ and cads’), kick. Filer un —— dans l’oignon, to kick one’s behind, or “to toe one’s bum,” “to root,” or “to land a kick.”

Coupe, f. (thieves’), poverty. (Popular) Tirer sa ——, to swim.

CoupÉ, adj. (printers’), to be without money.

Coupe-ficelle, m. (military), artillery artificer.

Coupe-file, m., card delivered to functionaries, which enables them to cross a procession in a crowd.

Coupe-lard, m. (popular), knife.

Couper (popular), to fall into a snare; to accept as correct an assertion which is not so; to believe the statement of more or less likely facts; —— dans le pont, or —— dans le ceinturon, to swallow a fib, to fall into a snare.

Vidocq dit comme Ça qu’il vient du prÉ, qu’il voudrait trouver des amis pour goupiner. Les autres coupent dans le pont (donnent dans le panneau).—Vidocq.

Couper la chique, to disappoint; to abash; —— la gueule À quinze pas, to stink; —— la musette, or le sifflet, to cut the throat; —— le trottoir, to place one in the necessity of leaving the pavement by walking as if there were no one in the way, or when walking behind a person to get suddenly in front of him; (military) —— l’alfa, or la verte, to drink absinthe. Ne pas y ——, not to escape; not to avoid; to disbelieve. Vous n’y couperez pas, you will not escape punishment. Je n’y coupe pas, I don’t take that in. (Coachmens’) Couper sa mÈche, to die. See Pipe. (Gambling cheats’) Couper dans le pont, to cut a pack of cards prepared in such a manner as to turn up the card required by sharpers. The cards are bent in a peculiar way, and in such a manner that the hand of the player who cuts must naturally follow the bend, and separate the pack at the desired point. This cheating trick is used in England as well as France, and is termed in English slang the “bridge.”

Coupe-sifflet, m. (thieves’), knife, “chive.” Termed also “lingre, vingt-deux, surin.”

Courant, m. (thieves’), dodge. ConnaÎtre le ——, to be up to a dodge.

Courasson, m. (familiar), one whose bump of amativeness is well developed, in other terms, one too fond of the fair sex. Vieux ——, old debauchee, old “rip.”

Courbe, f. (thieves’), shoulder; —— de marne, shoulder of mutton.

Les marquises des cagous ont soin d’allumer le riffe et faire riffoder la criolle; les uns fichent une courbe de morne, d’autres un morceau de cornant, d’autres une Échine de baccon, les autres des ornies et des ornichons.—Le Jargon de l’Argot.

Coureur, m. (thieves’), d’aveugles, a wretch who robs blind men of the half-pence given them by charitable people.

Courir (popular), quelqu’un, to bore one. Se la ——, to run, to run away, “to slope.” For synonyms see Patatrot.

Courrier, m. (thieves’), de la prÉfecture, prison van, or “black Maria.”

Court-À-pattes, m. (military), foot artilleryman.

Courtaud, m. (thieves’), shopman, or “counter jumper.”

Court-bouillon, m. (thieves’), le grand ——, the sea, “briny,” or “herring pond.” Termed by English sailors “Davy’s locker.” Court-bouillon properly is water with different kinds of herbs in which fish is boiled.

Courtier, m. (thieves’), À la mode. See Bande noire. (Familiar) Courtier marron, kind of unofficial stockjobber, an outsider, or “kerbstone broker.”

Cousin, m. (thieves’), cardsharper, or “broadsman;” —— de MoÏse, husband of a dissolute woman.

Cousine, f. (popular), Sodomist; —— de vendange, dissolute girl fond of the wine-shop.

Cousse, f. (thieves’), de castu, hospital attendant.

Couteau, m. (military), grand ——, cavalry sword.

CoÛter (popular), cela coÛte une peur et une envie de courir, nothing.

Couturasse, f. (popular), sempstress; pock-marked or “cribbage-faced” woman.

Couvent, m. (popular), laÏque, brothel, or “nanny-shop.”

Le 49 est un lupanar. Ce couvent laÏque est connu dans le Quartier Latin sous la dÉnomination de: La Botte de Paille.—MacÉ, Mon Premier Crime.

Couvercle, m. (popular), hat, or “tile.” See Tubard.

Couvert, m. (thieves’), silver fork and spoon from which the initials have been obliterated, or which have been “christened.”

Couverte, f. (military), battre la ——, to sleep. Faire passer À la ——, to toss one in a blanket.

Couverture, f. (theatrical), noise made purposely at a theatre to prevent the public from noticing something wrong in the delivery of actors.

Nous appelons couverture le bruit que nous faisons dans la salle pour couvrir un impair, un pataquÈs, une faute de franÇais.—P. Mahalin.

Couvrante, f. (popular), cap, or “tile.” See Tubard.

Couvre-amour, m. (military), shako.

Couvreur, m. (freemasons’), doorkeeper.

Couvrir (freemasons’), le temple, to shut the door.

Couyon. See Couillon.

Couyonnade, f. See Couillonnade.

Couyonnerie, f. See Couillonnerie.

Crabosser (popular), to crush in a hat.

Crac. See Cric.

Cracher (popular), to speak out; —— des piÈces de dix sous, to be dry, thirsty; —— dans le sac, to be guillotined, to die; —— ses doublures, to be consumptive. Ne pas —— sur quelquechose, not to object to a thing, to value it, “not to sneeze at.” (Musicians’) Cracher son embouchure, to die. See Pipe.

Crachoir, m. (popular and thieves’), mouth, or “bone-box.” See Plomb. (General) Jouer du ——, to speak, “to rap,” “to patter.” Abuser du ——, is said of a very talkative person who engrosses all the conversation.

Crampe, f. (popular), tirer sa ——, to flee, “to crush.” See Patatrot. Tirer sa —— avec la veuve, to be guillotined.

Cramper (popular), se ——, to run away. See Patatrot.

Crampon, m. (familiar), bore; one not easily got rid of.

Cramponne toi Gugusse! (popular, ironical), prepare to be astounded.

Cramponner (familiar), to force one’s company on a person; to bore.

Cramser (popular), to die.

Cran, m. (popular), avoir son ——, to be angry. Faire un ——, to make a note of something; an allusion to the custom which bakers have of reckoning the number of loaves furnished by cutting notches in a piece of wood. LÂcher d’un ——, to leave one suddenly.

CrÂne, adj. (popular), fine.

CrÂnement (popular), superlatively. Je suis —— content, I am superlatively happy.

CrÂner (popular), to be impudent, threatening. Si tu crÂnes, je te ramasse, none of your cheek, else I’ll give you a thrashing.

Crapaud, m. (thieves’), padlock; (military) diminutive man; purse in which soldiers store up their savings; —— serpenteux, spiral rocket. (Popular) Crapaud, child, “kid.”

Crapoussin, m. (popular), small man; child, or “kid.”

Crapulos, crapulados, m. (familiar and popular), one-sou cigar.

Craquelin, m. (popular), liar. From craque, fib.

Crasse, f. (familiar), mean or stingy action. Baron de la ——, see Baron.

Cravache, f. (sporting), Être À la ——, to be at a whip’s distance.

Cravate, f. (popular), de chanvre, noose, or “hempen cravat;” —— de couleur, rainbow; —— verte, women’s bully, “ponce.” See Poisson.

Crayon, m., stockbroker’s clerk. The allusion is obvious.

CrÉature, f. (familiar), strumpet.

CrÈche, f. (cads’), faire une tournÉe À la ——, or À la chapelle, is said of a meeting of Sodomists.

Credo, m. (thieves’), the gallows.

CrÊpage, m. (popular), a fight; a tussle. Un —— de chignons, tussle between two females, in which they seize one another by the hair and freely use their nails.

CrÊper (popular), le chignon, or le toupet, to thrash, “to wallop.” See Voie. Se —— le chignon, le toupet, to have a set to.

CrÉpin, m. (popular), shoemaker, or “snob.”

CrÉpine, f. (thieves’), purse, “skin,” or “poge.”

CrÈs (thieves’), quickly.

CrespiniÈre (old cant), much.

Creuse, f. (popular), throat, “gutter lane.”

Creux, m. (thieves’), house; lodgings, “diggings,” “ken,” or “crib.” (Popular) Bon ——, good voice. Fichu ——, weak voice.

Crevaison, f. (popular), death. Faire sa ——, to die. Crever, to die, is said of animals. See Pipe.

Crevant, adj. (swells’), boring to death; very amusing.

Que si vous les interrogez sur le bal de la nuit, ils vous rÉpondront invariablement, C’Était crevant, parole d’honneur.—Mahalin.

Crevard (popular), stillborn child.

CrevÉ (popular), dead. (Familiar) Petit ——, swell, or “masher.” See Gommeux.

CrÈve-faim, m. (popular), man who volunteers as a soldier.

Crever (popular), to dismiss from one’s employment; to wound; to kill; —— la sorbonne, to break one’s head.

Crever la piÈce de dix sous is said of the practices of Sodomists; —— la paillasse, to kill.

The above quotation is from a “complainte” on the murder of the Archbishop of Paris, Monseigneur Sibour, in the church Sainte-GeneviÈve, by a priest named Verger. A complainte is a kind of carol, or dirge, which has for a theme the account of a murder or execution. (Familiar) Crever l’oeil au diable, to succeed in spite of envious people. Tu t’en ferais ——, expressive of ironical refusal. It may be translated by, “don’t you wish you may get it?” Se ——, to eat to excess, “to scorf.”

Crever À (printers’), to stop composing at such and such a line.

Crevette, f. (popular), prostitute, “mot.”

Criblage, criblement, m. (thieves’), outcry, uproar.

Cribler (thieves’), to cry out; —— À la grive, to give a warning call; to call out “shoe-leather!” to call out “police! thieves!“ “to give hot beef.”

Cribleur, m. (thieves’), de frusques, clothier; —— de lance, water-carrier; —— de malades, man whose functions are to call prisoners to a room where they may speak to visitors; —— de verdouze, a fruiterer.

Cric, or cricque, m. (popular), brandy, called “French cream” in English slang. Faire ——, to run away, “to guy.” See Patatrot.

Cric! (military), call given by a soldier about to spin a yarn to an auditory, who reply by a “crac!” thus showing they are still awake. After the preliminary cric! crac! has been bawled out, the auditory repeat all together as an introduction to the yarn: Cuiller À pot! Sous-pieds de guÊtres! Pour l’enfant À naÎtre! On pendra la crÉmaillÈre! Chez la meilleure cantiniÈre! &c., &c.

Cric-croc! (thieves’), your health!

Crie, or crigne, f. (thieves’), meat, “carnish.”

Crin, m. (familiar), Être comme un ——, to be irritable or irritated, to be “cranky,” or “chumpish.”

Crinoline, f. (players’), queen of cards.

Criolle, f. (thieves’), meat, “carnish.” Morfiler de la ——, to eat meat.

Criollier, m. (thieves’), butcher.

Crique, m. and f. (popular), brandy; an ejaculation. Je veux bien que la —— me croque si je bois une goutte en plus de quatre litres par jour! may I be “jiggered” if I drink more than four litres a day!

Criquer (popular), se ——, to run away, “to slope.” See Patatrot.

Cris de merluche, m. pl. (popular), frightful howling; loud complaints.

Cristalliser (students’), to idle about in a sunny place.

Croc, abbreviation of escroc, swindler.

Croche, f. (thieves’), hand, “famble,” or “daddle.”

Crocher (thieves’), to ring; to pick a lock, “to screw.” (Popular) Se ——, to fight.

Crocodile, m. (familiar), creditor, or dun; usurer; foreign student at the military school of Saint-Cyr.

Crocque, m. (popular), sou.

Crocs, m. pl. (popular), teeth, “grinders.”

Croire (familiar), que c’est arrivÉ, to believe too implicitly that a thing exists; to have too good an opinion of oneself.

Croisant, m. (popular), waistcoat, or “benjy.”

Croissant, m. (popular), loger rue du ——, to be an injured husband. An allusion to the horns.

Croix, f. (popular), six-franc piece. An allusion to the cross which certain coins formerly bore. According to EugÈne Sue the old clothes men in the Temple used the following denominations for coins: pistoles, ten francs; croix, six francs; la demi-croix, three francs; le point, one franc; le demi-point, half-a-franc; le rond, half-penny. Croix de Dieu, alphabet, on account of the cross at the beginning.

CrÔme, or croume, m. (thieves’ and tramps’), credit, “jawbone,” or “day.”

Cromper (thieves’), to save; to run away, “to guy.” See Patatrot. Cromper sa sorbonne, to save one’s head.

Crompir, potato. From the German grundbirne.

CrÔne, f. (thieves’), wooden platter.

CrÔnÉe, f. (thieves’), platter full.

Croquaillon, m. (popular), bad sketch.

Croque. See Crique.

Croquemitaines, m. pl. (military), soldiers who are sent to the punishment companies in Africa for having wilfully maimed themselves in order to escape military service.

Croqueneau, m. (popular), new shoe; —— verneau, patent leather shoe.

Croquet (popular), irritable man.

Crosse, f. (thieves’), receiver of stolen goods, or “fence;” public prosecutor.

Crosser (thieves’), to receive stolen goods; to strike the hour.

Crosseur, m. (thieves’), bell-ringer.

Crossin. See Crosse.

Crotal, m., student of the Ecole Polytechnique holding the rank of sergeant.

Crottard, m. (popular), foot pavement.

Crotte d’Ermite, f. (thieves’), baked pear.

Crottin, m. (military), sergent de ——, non-commissioned officer at the cavalry school of Saumur. Thus termed because he is often in the stables.

Croumier (horse-dealers’), broker or agent of questionable honesty, or one who is “wanted” by the police.

Croupionner (popular), to twist one’s loins about so as to cause one’s dress to bulge out.

Croupir (popular), dans le battant is said of undigested food, which inconveniences one.

Croustille, f. (popular), casser un brin de ——, to have a snack.

Croustiller (popular), to eat, “to grub.” See Mastiquer.

CroÛte, f. (popular), s’embÊter comme une —— de pain derriÈre une malle, to feel desperately dull.

CroÛteum, m. (familiar), collection of “croÛtes,” or worthless pictures.

CroÛton, m. (artists’), painter devoid of any talent.

CroÛtonner (artists’), to paint worthless pictures, daubs.

Croyez (popular), Ça et buvez de l’eau, expression used to deride credulous people. Literally believe that and drink water.

Cru (artists’), faire ——, see Faire.

Crucifier (familiar), to grant one the decoration of the Legion of Honour. The expression is meant to be jocular.

Crucifix, or crucifix À ressort, m. (thieves’), pistol, “barking iron.”

Cube, m., student of the third year in higher mathematics (mathÉmatiques spÉciales); (familiar) a regular idiot.

CucurbitacÉ, m. (familiar), a dunce.

Cueillir (popular), le persil is said of a prostitute walking the streets.

Cuiller, f. (popular), hand, or “daddle.”

Cuir, m. (popular), de brouette, wood. Escarpin en —— de brouette, wooden shoe. Gants en —— de poule, ladies’ gloves made of fine skin. Tanner le ——, to thrash, “to tan one’s hide.”

CuirassÉ, m. (popular), urinals.

Cuirasser (popular), to make “cuirs,” that is, in conversation carrying on the wrong letter, or one which does not form part of a word, to the next word, as, for instance, Donnez moi z’en, je vais t’y m’amuser.

Cuirassier, m. (popular), one who frequently indulges in “cuirs.” See Cuirasser.

Cuire (popular), se faire ——, to be arrested. See Piper.

Cuisine, f. (thieves’), the PrÉfecture de Police; (literary) —— de journal, all that concerns the details and routine arrangement of the matter for a newspaper. (Popular) Faire sa —— À l’alcool, to indulge often in brandy drinking.

Cuisiner (literary), to do, to concoct some inferior literary or artistic work.

Cuisinier, m. (thieves’), spy, or “nark;” detective; barrister; (literary) newspaper secretary.

Cuisse, f. (familiar), avoir la —— gaie is said of a woman who is too fond of men.

Cuit, adj. (thieves’), sentenced, condemned, or “booked;” done for.

Cuite, f. (popular), intoxication. Se flanquer une ——, to get drunk, or “screwed.”

Cul, m. (popular), stupid fellow, or “duffer;” —— d’Âne, blockhead; —— de plomb, slow man, or “bummer;” clerk, or “quill-driver;” woman who awaits clients at a cafÉ; —— goudronnÉ, sailor, or “tar;” —— levÉ, game of ÉcartÉ at which two players are in league to swindle the third; —— rouge, soldier with red pants, or “cherry bum;” —— terreux, peasant, clodhopper. Montrer son ——, to become a bankrupt, or “brosier.”

Culasses, f. pl. (military), revue des —— mobiles, monthly medical inspection. Culasse, properly the breech of a gun.

Culbutant, m., or culbute, f. (thieves’), breeches, or “hams.” Termed also “fusil À deux coups, grimpants.” Esbigner le chopin dans sa culbute, to conceal stolen property in one’s breeches.

Culbute, f. (thieves’), breeches. (Popular) La ——, the circus.

CulerÉe, f. (printers’), composing stick which is filled up.

Culotte, m. (popular and familiar), money losses at cards; excess in anything, especially in drink. Grosse ——, regular drunkard. Donner dans la —— rouge is said of a woman who is too fond of soldiers’ attentions, of one who has an attack of “scarlet fever.” Se flanquer une ——, to sustain a loss at a game of cards; to get intoxicated. (Students’) Empoigner une ——, to lose at a game, and to have in consequence to stand all round. (Artists’) Faire ——, exaggeration of Faire chaud (which see).

CulottÉ, adj. (popular), hardened; soiled; seedy; red, &c. Etre ——, to have a seedy appearance. Un nez ——, a red nose.

Culotter (popular), se ——, to get tipsy; to have a worn-out, seedy appearance. Se —— de la tÊte aux pieds, to get completely tipsy.

Cumulard, m. (familiar), official who holds several posts at the same time.

Cupidon, m. (thieves’), rag-picker, or “bone-grubber.” An ironical allusion to his hook and basket.

Cure-dents (familiar), venir en ——, to come to an evening party without having been invited to the dinner that precedes it. Termed also “venir en pastilles de Vichy.”

Curette, f. (military), cavalry sword. Manier la ——, to do sword exercise.

Curieux, m. (thieves’), magistrate, “beak,” or “queer cuffin.” Also juge d’instruction, a magistrate who investigates cases before they are sent up for trial. Grand ——, chief judge of the assize court.

Cyclope, m. (popular), behind, or “blind cheek.”

Cylindre, m. (popular), top hat, or “stove-pipe;” see Tubard; body, or “apple cart.” Tu t’en ferais pÉter le ——, is expressive of ironical refusal; “don’t you wish you may get it.”

Cymbale, f. (thieves’), moon, or “parish lantern;” (popular) escutcheon placed over the door of the house of a notary.