Albert Barrre

Gabari, m. (popular), passer au ——, to lose a game.

Gabarit, m. (sailors’), body; breast; —— sans bossoirs, breast with thin bosoms.

J’aime pas bien son gabarit sans bossoirs. Elle a plutÔt l’air d’un moussaillon que d’autre chose.—Richepin, La Glu.

Gabelou, m. (common), a custom-house officer, or one of the “octroi.”

Bras Rouge est contrebandier ... il s’en vante au nez des gabelous.—E. Sue, Les MystÈres de Paris.

GÂcher (popular), serrÉ, to work hard, “to sweat;” —— du gros, to ease oneself.

Gadin, m. (popular), cork; shabby hat. Flancher au ——, to play a gambling kind of game with a cork and coins. Some halfpence being placed on the cork, the players aim in turns with a coin. A favourite game of Paris cads.

Gadouard, m. (popular), scavenger, a “rake-kennel.” From gadoue, street refuse or mud.

Gadoue, f. (familiar and popular), prostitute. Properly street mud or refuse.

File, mon fiston, roule ta gadoue, mon homme, Ça pue.—CatÉchisme Poissard.

The slang terms for the different varieties of prostitutes are, in familiar and popular language: “cocotte, demi-mondaine, horizontale, verticale, agenouillÉe, dÉhanchÉe impure, petite dame, lorette, camÉlia, boulevardiÈre, pÊche À quinze sous, belle petite, soupeuse, grue, lolo, biche, vieille garde (old prostitute), fille de trottoir, gueuse, maquillÉe, ningle, pÉlican, pailletÉe, laqueuse, chameau, membre de la caravane, demi-castor, passe-lacet, demoiselle du Pont-Neuf, matelas ambulant, boulonnaise (one who plies her trade in the Bois de Boulogne), crevette, trumeau, traÎneuse, fenÊtriÈre, trychine, cul crottÉ, omnibus, carcan À crinoline, pieuvre, pigeon voyageur, piqueuse de trains, marcheuse, morue, fleur de macadam, vache À lait, camelote, roulante, raccrocheuse, gÉnisse, almanach des trente-six mille adresses, chausson, hirondelle de goguenot, moelonneuse, mal peignÉe, persilleuse, lard, blanchisseuse en chemises, planche À boudin, galvaudeuse, poule, mouquette, poupÉe, fille de tourneur, fille de maison or À numÉro, boutonniÈre en pantalons, fille en carte or en brÈme, lÉsÉbombe, baleine, traÎnÉe, demoiselle du bitume, vessie, boule rouge (one who walks the Faubourg Montmartre), voirie, rivette, fille À parties, terriÈre, terreuse, femme de terrain, rempardeuse, grenier À coups de sabre, saucisse, peau, peau de chien, vÉsuvienne, autel de besoin, citÉ d’amour, mangeuse de viande crue, dessalÉe, punaise, polisseuse de mÂts de cocagne en chambre, pompe funÈbre, polisseuse de tuyaux de pipe, pontonniÈre, pont d’Avignon, veau, vache, blanc, feuille, lanterne, magneuse, lipÈte, chamÈgue, bourdon, pierreuse, marneuse, paillasse de corps de garde, paillasse À troufion, rouleuse, dossiÈre, fille de barriÈre, roulure, andre (old word), Jeanneton, taupe, limace, waggon, retapeuse, sommier de caserne, femme de cavoisi, prat, sauterelle, tapeuse de tal, magnÉe, torchon.” The bullies of unfortunates call them “marmite, fesse, ouvriÈre, Louis, ponife, galupe, laisÉe.” Thieves give them the appellations of “lutainpem, mÔme, ponante, calÈge, panuche, asticot, bourre de soie, panturne, rutiÈre, ronfle, goipeuse, casserole, magnuce, larguÈpe, larque, menesse, louille.” In the English slang they are termed: “anonyma, pretty horse-breaker, demi-rep, tartlet, mot, common Jack, bunter, trollop, bed-fagot, shake, poll, dollymop, blowen, bulker, gay woman, unfortunate, barrack-hack, dress lodger, bawdy basket, mauks, and quÆdam” (obsolete), &c.

Gaffe, m. and f. (thieves’), sentry; thief on the watch, or “crow;” prison warder, or “bloke.”

Les gaffes (gardiens) ont la vie dure. Ils tiennent sur leurs pattes comme des chats ... si je l’ai manquÉ, je ne me suis pas manquÉ, moi, je suis sÛr d’aller À la butte.—MÉmoires de Monsieur Claude.

Gaffe À gail, mounted police; —— de sorgue, night watchman; —— des machabÉes, cemetery watchman. Etre en ——, faire ——, to be on the watch, “to dick.”

Riboulet et moi, nous Étions restÉs en gaffe afin de donner l’Éveil en cas d’alerte.—Vidocq.

Grivier de ——, soldier of the watch. (Popular) Gaffe, f., joke; deceit; tongue, or “red rag.” Avaler sa ——, to die, “to snuff it.” See Pipe. Coup de ——, loud talking, “jawing.” Monter une ——, to play a trick; to deceive, “to bamboozle,” “to pull the leg.” (Familiar) Faire une ——, to take an inconsiderate step; to make an awkward mistake, “to put one’s foot in it.”

Gaffer (thieves’), to watch, “to dick;” to look, “to pipe;” —— la mirette, to keep a sharp look-out. Gaffe les pÉniches du gonse, look at that man’s shoes. Gaffer, to cause to stand; to stop.

Il fallait faire gaffer un roulant pour y planquer les paccins (il fallait faire stationner un fiacre pour y placer les paquets).—Vidocq.

Gaffeur, m. (thieves’), man on the watch.

Gaffier, m. (thieves’), pickpocket who operates at markets; warder in a prison or convict settlement, a “screw.”

Gaffiner (thieves’ and cads’), to look at, “to pipe.” Gaffine lago, la riflette t’exhibe, look there, the policeman is watching you, or, in other words, “pipe there, the bulky is dicking.”

Gafiler (thieves’), to listen attentively.

Gaga, m. (familiar), man who, through a life of debauchery, has become almost an imbecile.

Gagnie, f. (popular), buxom lady.

Gahisto, m. (thieves’), the devil, “ruffin,” or “darble.” From the Basque giztoa, bad, wicked, according to V. Hugo.

Gai, adj. (popular), Être ——, to be slightly tipsy, or “elevated.” See Pompette. Avoir la cuisse gaie is said of a woman of lax morality who is lavish of her favours.

Gail, galier, m. (thieves’), horse, “prad.” Vol au ——, horse stealing, or “prad napping.” Gaillard À trois brins, m. (sailors’), able sailor; old tar.

J’ai travaillÉ, mangÉ, gagnÉ mon pain

parmi

Des gaillards À trois brins qui me traitaient

en mousse.

Richepin, La Mer.

Gaillon, m. (popular and thieves’), horse, “prad, nag, or tit.”

Gailloterie, f. (popular), stable.

Gaimar (popular), gaily; willingly. Allons y ——, let us look alive; with a will!

Galapiat, galapian, galopiau, m. (popular), lazy fellow, or “bummer;” street boy.

Quelle rigolade pour les gamins! Et l’un de ces galapiats qui a peut-Être servi chez des saltimbanques, chipe un clairon et souffle dedans un air de foire.—Richepin, Le PavÉ.

Galbe, m. (familiar), elegance, dash. Etre truffÉ de ——, to be extremely elegant, dashing, or “tsing tsing.” Galbe, literally elegance in the curve of vases, pillars.

Galbeux, adj. (familiar), elegant, dashing, “tsing tsing.”

Galerie, f. (familiar), faire ——, to be one of a number of lookers-on. Parler pour la ——, to address to a person words meant in reality for the ears of others, or for the public.

Galette, f. (popular), money, “tin.” For synonyms see Quibus. Boulotter de la ——, to spend money. (Military school of Saint-Cyr) Promenade ——, general marching out. Sortie ——, general holiday.

Galeux, m. (popular), the master, or “boss.” Properly one who has the itch.

GalfÂtre, m. (popular), idiot; greedy fellow.

Certes il n’aimait pas les corbeaux, Ça lui crevait le coeur de porter ses six francs À ces galfÂtres-lÀ qui n’en avaient pas besoin pour se tenir le gosier frais.—Zola, L’Assommoir.

Galier, m. (thieves’), horse, or “prad.”

GaliÈre, f. (thieves’), mare.

Galifard, m. (popular), shoemaker, or “snob;” errand boy; (thieves’) one who is not yet an adept in the art of thieving.

Galifarde, f. (popular), shop-girl.

Galimard, m. (artists’), se touche! The expression is used in reference to a brother artist who extols his own self or own productions. For the following explanation I am indebted to Mr. G. D., a French artist well known to the English public:—“Galimard se touche, phrase que vous avez lue probablement dans tous les Rambuteau de Paris, a pris origine dans notre atelier Cogniet. Galimard, un artiste de quelque talent, mais qui se croyait un gÉnie, trouvant qu’on ne s’occupait pas assez de lui, Écrivit sur le salon des articles fort bien faits mais par trop sÉvÈres pour les confrÈres. Il avait mis au bas un pseudonyme quelconque. ArrivÉ au tour de sa fameuse LÉda, il ne tarissait pas d’Éloges sur cette peinture vraiment mÉdiocre. Bertall, que je connaissais fort bien, dÉcouvrit le pot aux roses. Galimard Était son propre panÉgyriste! J’arrive À l’atelier et je dis: ‘Galimard se fait jouir lui-mÊme, c’est lui l’auteur des articles en question.’ De lÀ, le fameux ‘Galimard se touche’ expression maintenant consacrÉe lorsqu’un artiste parle trop de lui-mÊme. Il faut ajouter que les mots furent Écrits dans tous les Rambuteau du Quartier du Temple puis, non seulement À Paris, mais par toute la France. L’empereur acheta la LÉda aprÈs une tentative criminelle de la part d’un malfaiteur et sur la toile et sur Galimard. On fit une enquÊte et l’on dÉcouvrit que le malfaiteur n’Était autre que ... Galimard. L’affaire en resta lÀ. La LÉda fut placÉe au MusÉe du Luxembourg, aprÈs cicatrisation des coups de poignard, bien entendu.”

Galiote, f. (thieves’), conspiracy of card-sharpers to swindle a player.

Galipoter (sailors’), to smear.

Galli-bÂton, m. (popular), general fight; great row, or “shindy.”

Galli-trac, m. (popular), poltroon, “cow’s babe.”

Galoche, f. (thieves’), chin; (popular) a game played with a cork and halfpence.

Galons, m. pl. (military), d’imbÉcile, long-service stripes. Arroser ses ——, to treat one’s comrades on being made a non-commissioned officer; to pay for one’s footing.

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

GalopÉ, adj. (popular), done hurriedly, carelessly.

Galoper (popular), to annoy; to make unwell. Ça me galope sur le systÈme, or sur le haricot, it troubles me; it makes me ill; —— une femme, to make hot love to a woman.

Galopin, m. (familiar), small glass of beer at cafÉs. Had formerly the signification of small measure of wine.

Galoubet, m. (theatrical), voice. Avoir du ——, to possess a good voice. Donner du ——, to sing.

En scÈne, les fÉes! Attaquons vivement le choeur d’entrÉe. Du galoubet et de l’ensemble!—P. Mahalin.

Galouser (thieves’), to sing, “to lip.”

Galtos, m. (sailors’), dish. Passer À ——, to eat. (Popular) Galtos, money, or “pieces.” See Quibus.

Galtron, m. (thieves’), foal.

Galuche, f. (thieves’), braid; lace.

GaluchÉ, adj. (thieves’), braided; laced. Combriot ——, laced hat.

Galuchet, m. (popular), the knave at cards.

Galupe, f. (thieves’ and popular), street-walker, “bunter.” See Gadoue.

Les galup’s qu’a des ducatons

Nous rincent la dent, nous les battons.

Richepin.

Galupier, m. (popular), man who keeps a “galupe.” See this word.

Galure, galurin (popular), hat, or “tile.” See Tubard.

Galvaudage, m. (popular), squandering of one’s money; pilfering.

Galvauder (popular), to squander one’s money. Se ——, to lead a disorderly life.

Galvaudeuse, f. (popular), lazy, disorderly woman; street-walker. See Gadoue.

Galvaudeux, m. (popular), lazy vagabond, or “raff;” disorderly fellow; bad workman.

Gambettes, f. pl. (popular), legs. From the old word gambe, leg. Jouer des ——, to run. See Patatrot.

Gambier, f. (popular), cutty pipe. From the name of the manufacturer.

Gambillard, m. (popular), active, restless man.

Gambiller (popular), to dance, “to shake a leg.” Is used by MoliÈre with the signification of to agitate the legs:—

Oui de le voir gambiller les jambes en haut devant tout le monde.—Monsieur de Pourceaugnac.

Gambilles, f. pl. (popular), legs, or “pins.”

Gambilleur, m. (familiar), political quack; (thieves’) dancer; —— de tourtouse, rope-dancer.

Gambilleuse, f. (popular), girl who makes it a practice of attending dancing halls.

Gambriade, f. (thieves’), dance.

Game, f. (thieves’), hydrophobia.

Gamelad (Breton cant), porringer.

Gameler (thieves’), to inform against one, “to blow the gaff.”

Gamelle, f. (sailors’), aux amours, mistress. (Popular and thieves’) Attacher une ——, to decamp, to run away. See Patatrot.

Gamme, f. (popular), thrashing, or “wallopping.” Faire chanter une ——, or monter une ——, to thrash, “to lead a dance.” See Voie. The expression is used by Scarron:—

Avec Dame Junon sa femme,

Qui souvent lui chante la game.

Ganache, f. (theatrical), jouer les pÈre ——, to perform in the character of a foolish old fellow. Properly ganache, an old fool, “a doddering old sheep’s head.”

Gance, f. (thieves’), a gang, or “mob.” The Slang Dictionary says “mob” signifies a thief’s immediate companions, as “our own mob.”

Gandille, f. (thieves’), sword, or “poker;” dagger, or “cheery;” knife, or “chive.”

Gandin, m. (familiar), dandy, or “masher.” Literally a frequenter of the “Boulevard de Gand,” now Boulevard des Italiens. For list of synonymous expressions see Gommeux. (Second-hand clothes-men’s) Gandin, fine words to attract purchasers. Monter un ——, to entice a purchaser in; to get a customer. (Thieves’) Gandin, a “job” in preparation, or quite prepared; —— d’altÈque, the insignia of any order. Hisser un ——, to deceive, “to kid,” or “to best.” See Jobarder.

Gandinerie, f., gandinisme, m. (familiar), the world of gandins, or “swelldom.”

Gandouse, f. (popular), mud, dirt.

Gannaliser (familiar), to embalm. From Gannal, name of a practitioner. The expression is little used.

Gant, m. (popular), moule de ——, box on the ear. Properly mould for a glove.

Ganter (cocottes’), 5½, to be close-fisted; —— 8½, to be open-handed.

GantiÈre, f. (familiar), disreputable establishment where the female assistants make a show of selling gloves or perfumery, but where they retail anything but those articles.

Gants de pied, m. pl. (military), wooden shoes.

GarÇon, m. (popular), À deux mains, slaughterer; —— de bidoche, butcher boy. (Thieves’) GarÇon, thief, “prig.” Un brave ——, an expert thief. Un —— de campagne, or de cambrouse, highwayman. Termed formerly in the English cant “bridle-cull.”

La cognade À gayet servait le trÈpe pour laisser abouler une roulotte farguÉe d’un ratichon, de Charlot et de son larbin, et d’un garÇon de cambrouse.—Vidocq. (The horse-police were keeping back the crowd in order to open a passage for a cart which contained a priest, the executioner, his assistant, and a highwayman.)

Gardanne, f. (familiar), odd piece of silk.

Garde, m. and f. (popular), national, lot of bacon rind. Gardes nationaux, beans. (Familiar) Descendre la ——, to die, “to kick the bucket.” See Pipe. Vieille ——, superannuated cocotte, or “played out tart.”

Il pouvait citer tel et tel, des noms, des gentilshommes de sang plus bleu que le sien, aujourd’hui collÉs lÉgitimement et trÈs satisfaits, et pas reniÉs du tout, avec de vraies roulures, avec des vieilles-gardes!—Richepin, La Glu.

Garde-manger, m. (popular), the behind. See Vasistas.

Garde-proye (thieves’), wardrobe.

Garder (familiar), se —— À carreau, to take precautions in view of future mishaps.

Gardien, m. (popular and thieves’), ange ——, man who undertakes to see drunkards home; rogue who offers to see a drunkard home, robs, and sometimes murders him.

GarÉ, adj. (popular), des voitures is said of a steady, prudent man, or of one who has renounced a disreputable way of living.

Gare-l’eau, m. (thieves’), chamber-pot, or “jerry.”

Gargagoitche, f. (thieves’ and cads’), face, or “mug.”

Gargariser (familiar and popular), se ——, to drink, “to wet one’s whistle.” For synonyms see Rincer. The expression is old.

Donnez ordre que buvons, je vous prie; et faictes tant que nous ayons de l’eau fraische pour me gargariser le palat.—Rabelais, Pantagruel.

Se —— le rossignolet, to drink, “to have a quencher.”

Gargarisme, m. (popular), a drink, a “drain,” or “quencher.” (Familiar) Faire des gargarismes, to trill when singing.

Gargarousse, f. (popular and thieves’), throat, or “gutterlane;” face, or “mug.” (Sailors’) Se suiver la ——, to eat; to drink, or “to splice the mainbrace.”

Gargoine, f. (popular and thieves’), throat, formerly “gargamelle;” mouth, or “potato-trap.” Termed formerly “potato-jaw,” according to a speech of the Duke of Clarence’s to Mrs. Schwellenberg:—

“Hold you your potato-jaw, my dear,” cried the Duke, patting her.—Supplementary English Glossary.

Se rincer la ——, to drink, “to smile, to see a man” (American).

Gargot, m. (familiar and popular), restaurant; cheap eating-house. Some of the restaurants in Paris have two departments, the cheap one on the ground floor, and a more respectable one higher up.

Gargouenne. See Gargoine.

Gargouillade, f. (popular), rumbling noise in the stomach.

Gargouille; gargouine; gargue, f. (popular), face; mouth. For list of synonyms see Plomb.

Gargousse, f. (sailors’), avec le coeur en ——, with sinking heart.

Un’ brise À fair’ plier l’pouce,

Rigi, rigo, riguingo,

Avec le coeur en gargousse,

Rigi, rigo, riguingo,

Ah! riguinguette.

J. Richepin, La Mer.

Gargousses de la canonniÈre (popular), turnips, cabbages, or beans.

Garibaldi, m. (familiar), red frock; sort of hat. (Thieves’) Coup de ——, blow given by butting at one’s stomach.

Garnaffe, f. (thieves’), farm.

Garnaffier, m. (thieves’), farmer, or “joskin.”

Garnir (popular), se —— le bocal, to eat, “to grub.” See Mastiquer.

Garnison, f. (popular), lice, “grey-backed uns.”

Garno, m. (popular), lodging-house, “dossing crib.”

Gas, m. (familiar and popular), for gars, boy; fellow. Grand ——, tall chap. Mauvais ——, ill-tempered fellow. (Roughs’) Gas de la grinche, thief. Faut pas frayer avec Ça, c’est un —— de la grinche, you must not keep company with the fellow, he is a thief. Un —— qui flanche, a hawker. (Thieves’) Fabriquer un —— À la flan, À la rencontre, or À la dure, to attack a man at night and rob him, “to jump a cove.”

Gaspard, m. (popular), cunning fellow, or “sharp file;” rat; cat, or “long-tailed beggar.” Concerning this expression there is a tale that runs thus: A boy, during his first very short voyage to sea, had become so entirely a seaman, that on his return he had forgotten the name for a cat, and pointing to Puss, asked his mother “what she called that ’ere long-tailed beggar?” Accordingly, sailors, when they hear a freshwater tar discoursing too largely on nautical matters, are very apt to say, “but how, mate, about that ’ere long-tailed beggar?”

GÂteau, m. (popular), feuilletÉ, shoe out at the sole. (Thieves’) Avoir du ——, to get one’s share of booty, “to stand in.”

GÂte-pÂte, m. (popular), redoubtable wrestler.

GÂter (popular), de l’eau, to void urine, “to lag.” Se —— la taille, to become pregnant, or “lumpy.”

GÂteuse, f. (familiar), long garment worn over clothes to protect them from the dust.

GÂtisme, m. (familiar), stupidity. Le —— littÉraire, decaying state of literature.

Gaucher, gauchier, m. (familiar), member of the Left whether in the AssemblÉe Nationale or Senate.

Gaudille, or gandille, f. (thieves’), sword, or “poker.”

Gaudineur, m. (popular), house decorator. Probably from gaudir, to be merry, house decorators having the reputation of being light-hearted.

Gaudissard, m. (familiar), commercial traveller, from the name of a character of Balzac’s; practical joker; jovial man.

Gaudrioler (familiar), equivalent to “dire des gaudrioles,” to make jests of a slightly licentious character.

Gaudrioleur, m. (familiar), one fond of gaudrioler (which see).

Gaufres, f. pl. (popular), faire des ——, is said of pock-marked persons who kiss one another. Moule À ——, pock-marked face, or “cribbage-faced.”

Gaule, f. (popular), d’omnicroche, omnibus conductor. Une gaule, properly a pole. (Thieves’) Gaules de schtard, bars of a cell window.

GaulÉ, m. (popular), cider.

Gaux, m. (thieves’), lice, “grey-backed uns;” —— picantis, lice in clothing. Basourdir les ——, to kill lice.

Gave, adj. and f. (popular and thieves’), drunken man, “lushington;” stomach.

Va encore À l’cave,

Du cidre il faut

Plein la gave,

Du cidre il faut

Plein l’gaviot.

Richepin.

Etre ——, to be intoxicated. See Pompette.

GavÉ, m. (thieves’), drunkard. Faire les gavÉs, to rob drunkards; to go “bug-hunting.” (Popular) GavÉ, term of contempt applied to rich people. From gaver, to glut.

Y a des gens qui va en sapins,

En omnibus et en tramways,

Tous ces gonc’s-lÀ, c’est des clampins,

Des richards, des muf’s, des gavÉs.

Richepin.

Gaveau, m. (thieves’), tortiller le ——, to kill one by strangulation.

GaviolÉ. See GavÉ.

Gaviot, m. (popular), throat; mouth. See Plomb. Figuratively stomach.

Gavot. See GavÉ.

Gavroche, m. (familiar), Paris street boy. Faire le ——, to talk or act as an impudent boy.

Gay, adj. (thieves’), ugly; queer, or “rum.”

Gaye. See Galiote.

Gayet, m. (thieves’), horse, or “prad.” Termed also “gail.” La cognade À ——, mounted police. Des gayets, rogues who prowl about the suburbs just outside the gates of Paris.

C’Étaient des rÔdeurs de barriÈre ... c’Étaient des gayets.—MÉmoires de Monsieur Claude.

Gaz, m. (popular), allumer son ——, to look attentively, “to stag.” Eteindre son ——, to sleep, “to doss;” to die, “to snuff it.” See Pipe. Prendre un coup de ——, to have a dram of spirits.

Gazette, f. (familiar), lire la ——, to eat nothing.

Gazier, m. (popular), humbug.

Gazon, m. (popular), wig, or “periwinkle;” hair, or “thatch.” N’avoir plus de —— sur la plate-bande, or sur le prÉ, to be bald. See Avoir. Se ratisser le ——, to comb one’s hair.

Gazonner (popular), se faire —— la plate-bande, to provide oneself with a wig.

Gazouiller (popular), to speak; to sing; to stink.

Oh! la la! Ça gazouille, dit ClÉmence en se bouchant le nez.—Zola.

GÉant, m. (thieves’), montagne de ——, gallows, “scrag,” “nobbing cheat,” or the obsolete expression “government sign-post.”

Geindre, m. (popular), journeyman baker. Properly to groan heavily.

Gendarme, m. (popular), red herring; mixture of white wine, gum, and water; one-sou cigar; pressing iron.

GÉnÉral, m. (popular), le —— macadam, the street, or “drag.”

GÊneur, m. (familiar), bore.

GÉnisse, f., woman of bad character. See Gadoue.

GÉniteur, m. (popular), father.

Genou, m. (familiar), bald pate.

Genre, m. (familiar), grand ——, pink of fashion. C’est tout À fait grand ——, it is quite “the” thing. Se donner du ——, to assume fashionable ways or manners in speech or dress; to look affected, to have “highfalutin airs.”

Genreux, adj. and m. (familiar), elegant; fashionable, “dasher,” “tsing tsing;” one who gives himself airs.

Gens, m. pl. (popular), Être de la sociÉtÉ des —— de lettres, to belong to a tribe of swindlers who extort money by threatening letters, “socketers.”

Gentilhomme sous-marin, m. (popular), prostitute’s bully, “ponce.” For synonyms see Poisson.

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

Les rupines et marquises leur fichent, les unes un georget, les autres une lime ou haut-de-tire, qu’ils entrolent au barbaudier de castu, ou À d’autres qui les veulent abloquir.—Le Jargon de l’Argot. (The ladies and wives give them, some a waistcoat, others a shirt, or a pair of breeches, which they take to the hospital overseer, or to others who are willing to buy them.)

Gerbable, m. (thieves’), prisoner who is sure to be convicted, who is “booked.”

Gerbe, m. (thieves’), trial, or “patter;” sentence. Planque de ——, assize court. Le carrÉ des petites gerbes, the police court.

GerbÉ, adj. (thieves’), sentenced, or “booked.”

On dit qu’il vient du bagne oÙ il Était gerbÉ À 24 longes (condamnÉ À 24 ans).—Vidocq.

Etre —— À viocque, to be sentenced to penal servitude for life, or “settled.”

Gerbement, m. (thieves’), trial; called also “sapement.”

La conversation roulait sur les camarades qui Étaient au prÉ, sur ceux qui Étaient en gerbement (jugement).—Vidocq.

Gerber (thieves’), to sentence.

Te voilÀ pris par la Cigogne, avec cinq vols qualifiÉs, trois assassinats, dont le plus rÉcent concerne deux riches bourgeois ... tu seras gerbÉ À la passe.—Balzac.

Gerberie, f. (thieves’), court of justice.

Gerbier, m. (thieves’), judge, or “beak;” barrister, or “mouthpiece.” Mec des gerbiers, executioner.

Gerbierres, f. pl. (thieves’), skeleton keys, or “screws.”

Gerce, f. (thieves’), wife, or “mollisher;” mattress; (popular) woman with unnatural passions. Un qui s’est fait poisser la ——, a Sodomist.

Germanie, f., aller en ——. See Aller.

Germiny, m. (familiar and popular), Sodomist. From the name of a nobleman who a few years ago was tried for an unnatural offence.

Germinyser (familiar and popular), se faire ——, to be a Sodomist.

Gernafle, f. (thieves’), farm.

Gernaflier, m. (thieves’), farmer, or “joskin.”

GÉrontocracie, f. (familiar), narrow-mindedness.

GÉsier, m. (popular), throat. Se laver le ——, to drink.

Gesseur, m. (popular), fussy man; eccentric man, a “rum un’.”

Gesseuse, f. (popular), prude; female who gives herself airs.

Gestes. See Accentuer.

Get, geti, m. (thieves’), reed, cane.

G—g, m. (popular), avoir du ——, to have good sense, “to know what’s o’clock,” “to be up to a trick or two.”

Gi, or gy (thieves’), yes, or “usher.”

Gibasses, f. pl. (popular), large skinny breasts.

Gibelotte de gouttiÈre, f. (popular), cat stew.

Giberne, f. (popular), the behind. See Vasistas.

Gibier, m. (popular), À commissaire, woman of disorderly or drunken habits; —— de Cayenne, incorrigible thief, or “gallows’ bird.”

Giboyer, m. (literary), journalist of the worst sort. From a play by Emile Augier.

Gibus, m. (familiar), hat, or “stove pipe.” See Tubard.

Gigolette, f. (popular), girl of the lower orders who leads a more than fast life, and is an assiduous frequenter of low dancing-halls.

Si tu veux Être ma gigolette,

Moi, je serai ton gigolo.

Parisian Song.

Gigolo, m. (popular), fast young man of the lower orders, a kind of “’Arry,” the associate of a gigolette (which see).

Gigot, m. (popular), large thick hand, “mutton fist.”

Gigue et jon! bacchanalian exclamation of sailors.

Largue l’Écoute! Bitte et bosse!

Largue l’Écoute! Gigue et jon!

Largue l’Écoute! on s’y fout des bosses.

Chez la mÈre Barbe-en-jonc.

Richepin, La Mer.

Gilboque, m. (thieves’ and cads’), billiards. Termed “spoof” in the English slang.

Gilet, m. (popular), s’emplir le ——, to eat or drink. Avoir le —— doublÉ de flanelle is said of one who has comforted himself with a plate of thick, hot soup. The English use the term “flannel” or “hot flannel” for a comforting drink of a hot mixture of gin and beer with nutmeg, sugar, &c. According to the Slang Dictionary there is an anecdote told of Goldsmith helping to drink a quart of “flannel” in a night-house, in company with George Parker, Ned Shuter, and a demure, grave-looking gentleman, who continually introduced the words “crap,” “stretch,” “scrag,” and “swing.” Upon the Doctor asking who this strange person might be, and being told his profession, he rushed from the place in a frenzy, exclaiming, “Good God! and have I been sitting all this while with a hangman?” Un —— À la mode, opulent breasts. (Familiar) Un —— en coeur, a dandy, or “masher.”

Amantha, que Corbois avait complÈtement perdue de vue, Était aux Bouffes et faisait la joie des gilets en coeur.—E. Monteil.

Gille, m. (popular), faire ——, to run away, “to slope,” “bolt.” See Patatrot. The expression is old.

Jupin leur fit prendre le saut.

Et contraignit de faire gille,

Le grand Typhon jusqu’en Sicile.

Scarron.

Faire —— dÉloge (obsolete), to decamp.

Gilmont, m. (thieves’), waistcoat, or “benjy.”

Gilquin, m. (popular), coup de ——, blow with the fist, a “bang,” or “biff” (Americanism).

Gimbler (sailors’), to moan. Le vent gimble, the wind moans, roars.

Bon! qu’il gimble tant qu’il voudra dans les agrÈs!

Nous en avons troussÉ bien d’autres au plus prÈs.

Ce n’est pas encore lui qui verra notre quille.

Souffle, souffle, mon vieux! souffle À goule Écarquille!

Richepin, La Mer.

Gin (thieves’), À son ——, see! behold! This expression has been reproduced in the spelling of my informant, an associate of thieves.

Gingin, m. (popular), good sense; behind. See Vasistas.

Ginginer (popular), to make one’s dress bulge out; to ogle; to flirt.

Ginglard, ginglet, or ginguet, m. (popular), thin sour wine.

Girafe, f. (popular), grande ——, petite ——, spiral flights of steps, in the Seine swimming baths, with a lower and upper landing serving as diving platforms.

Girofle, adj. (thieves’), pretty, “dimber.” Largue ——, pretty girl, or “dimbermort.”

Giroflerie, f. (thieves’), amiability.

Girofleter (popular), to smack one’s face, “to warm the wax of one’s ear.” Synonymous of “donner du sucre de giroflÉe.”

Girole (thieves’), expression of assent: so be it, “usher.”

Il y a deux menÉes de ronds en ma henne et deux ornies en mon gueulard, que j’ai ÉgraillÉes sur le trimar; bions les faire riffoder, veux-tu?—Girole, et bÉni soit le grand havre qui m’a fait rencontrer si chenÂtre occasion.—Le Jargon de l’Argot. (There are two dozen halfpence in my purse and two hens in my wallet, which I have caught on the road; we will cook them, if you like?—Certainly, and blessed be the Almighty who made me fall in with such a piece of good luck.)

Gironde, adj. and f. (thieves’), gentle; pretty, “dimber;” pretty woman or girl, “dimbermort.” Also a girl of bad character, a “bunter.”

Girondin, m. (thieves’), simple-minded fellow, “flat,” or “jay.” Le —— a donnÉ, “the jay has been flapped.”

Girondine, f. (thieves’), handsome young girl, or “dimbermort.”

GÎte, m. (popular), dans le ——, something of the best. An allusion to gÎte À la noix, savoury morsel of beef.

Gitre (thieves’), I have.

Gitre mouchaillÉ le babillard.—Le Jargon de l’Argot. (I have looked at the book.)

Giverner (popular), to prowl about at night.

Giverneur, m. (popular), one who prowls at night; (thieves’)—— de refroidis, one who drives a hearse.

Glace, f. and m. (familiar and popular), passer devant la ——, to enjoy gratis the favours of a prostitute at a brothel; to pay for the reckoning at a cafÉ. An allusion to the large looking-glass behind the counter. (Popular) Un ——, glass of wine. Sucer un ——, to drink a glass of wine.

GlacÉ, adj. (popular and thieves’), pendu, street lamps used till they were superseded by the present gas lamps. A few are still to be seen in some lanes of old Paris.

Les pendus glacÉs, ce sont ces gros rÉverbÈres À quatre faces de vitre verte carrÉes comme des glaces ... ce sont ces rÉverbÈres abolis qui pendent au bout d’une corde accrochÉe À un bras de potence.—Richepin, Le PavÉ.

GlaciÈre pendue, f. (thieves’). See GlacÉ.

Glacis, m. (popular), se passer un ——, to drink, “to take something damp,” or “to moisten one’s chaffer.” See Rincer.

Gladiateur, m. (military), shoe. An ironical allusion to the fleetness of the celebrated racer Gladiateur.

Glaire, f. (popular), pousser sa ——, to talk, “to jaw.” As-tu fini de pousser ta ——, don’t talk so much, which may be rendered by the Americanism, “don’t shoot off your mouth.”

Glaive, m. (freemasons’), carving-knife; (thieves’) guillotine. Passer sa bille au ——, to be guillotined. See FauchÉ.

Glaiver (thieves’), to guillotine.

Glao (Breton cant), rain..

Glaou (Breton cant), firebrands.

Glas, m. (popular), dull man with a dismal sort of conversation, “croaker.”

Glaviot, m. (popular), expectoration, or “gob.”

Glavioter (popular), to expectorate.

Glavioteur, m. (popular), man who expectorates.

Glier, glinet, m. (thieves’), devil, “ruffin.” From sanglier, a wild boar. Le —— t’entrolle en son pasclin, the devil take you to his abode!

Glissant, m. (thieves’), soap.

Glisser (popular), to die, “to stick one’s spoon in the wall,” “to kick the bucket,” or “to snuff it.” See Pipe.

Globe, m. (popular), head, or “nut,” see Tronche; stomach. S’Être fait arrondir le ——, to have become pregnant, or “lumpy.”

Glouglouter (popular), to drink, “to wet one’s whistle.” See Rincer.

Glousser (popular), to talk, “to jaw.”

Gluant, m. (cads’ and thieves’), penis; baby, “kinchin.”

ParaÎt que j’suis dab’l Ça m’esbloque.

Un p’tit salÉ, À moi l’salaud!

Ma rouchi’ doit batt’ la berloque.

Un gluant, Ça n’f’rait pas mon blot.

Richepin.

Gluau, m. (popular), expectoration. (Thieves’) Poser un ——, to arrest, “to smug.” See Piper. Gluau, properly a twig smeared over with bird-lime.

Glutouse, f. (thieves’), face, or “mug.”

Gnac, m. (popular), quarrel.

GnaffÉ, adj. (popular), clumsily done.

Gnafle, f. (popular), bad throw. AprÈs —— raffle, constant ill-luck.

Gniaff, m. (familiar), bad workman; writer or journalist of the worst description; (shoemakers’) working shoemaker.

Gniaffer (popular), to work clumsily.

Gniasse (cads’ and thieves’), mon ——, I, myself, “No. 1.” Ton ——, thou, thee. Son ——, he, him; I, myself. Un ——, a fellow, a “cove.” Un bon ——, a good fellow, a “brick.”

Gniff, adj. (popular), ce vin est ——, that wine is clear.

Gniol, gniole, gnolle, adj. (popular), silly; dull-witted. Es-tu assez ——! how silly, or what a “flat” you are!

On voulait nous mettre À la manque pour lui (nous le faire livrer), nous ne sommes pas des gnioles!—Balzac.

Gnognotte, f. (familiar and popular). The expression has passed into the language; thing of little worth, “no great scratch.”

Ce farceur de Mes-Bottes, vers la fin de l’ÉtÉ, avait eu le truc d’Épouser pour de vrai une dame, trÈs dÉcatie dÉjÀ, mais qui possÉdait de beaux restes; oh! une dame de la rue des Martyrs, pas de la gnognotte de barriÈre.—Zola, L’Assommoir.

Gnol-Chy (popular), abbreviation of Batignolles-Clichy.

Gnole, f. (popular), slap, “clout,” “wipe;” or, as the Americans have it, “biff.” Abbreviation of torgnole.

Gnon, m. (popular), blow, “clout,” “bang,” or “wipe;” bruise, or “mouse.”

Gnouf-gnouf, m. (theatrical), monthly dinner of the actors of the Palais Royal Theatre. When ceremonious, the members are called, “Gnouf-gnoufs d’Allemagne;” when bacchanalian, “Gnouf-gnoufs de Pologne.”

Go, parler en ——, is to use that syllable to disguise words.

Gobage, m. (popular), love.

Gobante, f. (popular), attractive woman. From gober, to like.

Gobbe, gobelot, m. (thieves’), chalice.

Gobelet, m. (thieves’), Être sous le ——, to be in prison, or “put away.”

Gobelin, m. (thieves’), thimble.

Gobelot. See Gobbe.

Gobe-mouches, m. (thieves’), spy, “nark,” or “nose.”

Gobe-prune, m. (thieves’), tailor. Termed also pique-poux, and in the English slang a “cabbage contractor,” “steel-bar driver,” “button catcher.”

Gober (familiar and popular), to like; to love; to please. Je te gobe, you please me; I like you. Gober la chÈvre, or —— son boeuf, to get angry, “to get one’s monkey up,” “to lose one’s shirt,” “to get into a scot.” Termed “to be in a swot” at Shrewsbury School. Se ——, to have a high opinion of oneself; to love oneself too much.

Non, non, pas de cabotins. Le vieux Bosc Était toujours gris; PrulliÈres se gobait trop.—Zola, Nana.

La ——, to be the victim; to have to pay for others; to be ruined; to believe a false assertion. Synonymous, in the latter sense, of the old expression, “gober le morceau.”

Mais je ne suis pas homme À gober le morceau.—MoliÈre, Ecole des Femmes.

Cent pas plus loin, le camelot a recommencÉ son truc, aprÈs avoir ri, avec son copain, des pantes qui la gobent!—Richepin. (A hundred steps further the sharper again tries his dodge, after laughing with his chum at the flats who take it in.)

Si nous Échouons, c’est moi qui la gobe, if we fail, I shall be made responsible.

Gobeson, m. (thieves’), drinking-glass, or “flicker;” cup; chalice.

Gobet, m. (popular), piece of beef, “a bit o’ bull.” Had formerly the signification of dainty bit.

Laisse-moi faire, nous en mangerons de bons gobets ensemble.—Hauteroche, Crispin MÉdecin.

Gobet, disorderly workman. Mauvais ——, scamp, or “bad egg.”

Gobette, f. (thieves’), drinking-glass, or “flicker.” Payer la ——, to stand treat.

Gobeur, m. (familiar), credulous man, “flat.”

Gobichonnade, f. (familiar and popular), gormandizing.

Gobichonner (familiar and popular), se ——, to regale oneself.

Il se sentit capable des plus grandes lÂchetÉs pour continuer À gobichonner.—Balzac.

Gobichonneur, m., gobichonneuse, f. (familiar and popular), gormandizer, “grand paunch.”

Gobilleur, m. (thieves’), juge d’instruction, a magistrate who instructs cases, and privately examines prisoners before trial.

Gobseck, m. (familiar), miser, “skinflint,” or “hunks.” One of the characters of Balzac’s ComÉdie Humaine.

Godaille, f. (popular), amusement; indulgence in eating and drinking.

On doit travailler, Ça ne fait pas un doute: seulement quand on se trouve avec des amis, la politesse passe avant tout. Un dÉsir de godaille les avait peu À peu chatouillÉs et engourdis tous les quatre.—Zola, L’Assommoir.

Godan, m. (popular), falsehood. ConnaÎtre le ——, to be wide-awake, not easily duped, “to know what’s o’clock.” Monter un —— À quelqu’un, to seek to deceive one, or “best” one.

Godancer (popular), to allow oneself to be duped, “to be done brown.”

Godard, m. (popular), a husband who has just become a father.

Goddam, or goddem, m. (popular), Englishman.

(EntraÎnant l’Anglais.) Maintenant, allons jouer des bibelots ... voilÀ un goddam qui va y aller d’autant.—P. Mahalin.

Godet, m. (popular), drinking glass. A common expression among the lower orders, and a very old one.

Godiche, adj. (familiar and popular), simple-minded, foolish.

Que tu es donc godiche, Toinon, de venir tous les matins comme Ça.—Gavarni.

Godiller (popular), to be merry; to be carnally excited.

Godilleur, m. (popular), man who is fond of the fair sex, a “molrower,” or “beard-splitter.”

Godillot, m. (popular), military shoe. From the name of the maker; (military) recruit, or “Johnny raw.”

Godiveau rance, m. (popular), stingy man.

Tu peux penser si je le traite de godiveau rance chaque fois qu’il me refuse un petit cadeau.—E. Monteil.

Goffeur, m. (thieves’), locksmith. From the Celtic goff, a smith.

Gogaille, f. (popular), banquet.

Gogo, m. (familiar), simple-minded man who invests his capital in swindling concerns, “gull;” man easily fleeced.

Quand les allumeurs de l’HÔtel des Ventes eurent jugÉ le gogo en complet entraÎnement, il y eut un arrÊt momentanÉ parmi les enchÈres intÉressÉes.—A. Sirven.

(Popular) Gogo, greenhorn, “flat.” The term, with this signification, is hardly slang. Villon uses it in his Ballade de Villon et de la Grosse Margot (15th century).

Riant, m’assiet le poing sur mon sommet, Gogo me dit, et me fiert le jambot.

Gogotte, adj. (popular), spiritless; weak; bad. From gogo. Avoir la vue ——, to have a weak sight. A corruption of cocotte, disease of the eyes.

Goguenau, gogueno, goguenot, m. (military), tin can holding one litre, used by soldiers to make coffee or soup; also howitzer; (military and popular) privy. Passer la jambe À Thomas ——, to empty the privy tub. Hirondelle de ——, low street-walker, or “draggle-tail.” See Gadoue.

Goguette, f. (popular), vocal society; wine-shop. Etre en ——, to be merrily inclined; to be enjoying oneself, the bottle being the chief factor in the source of enjoyment.

Goguetter (popular), to make merry. From the old word goguette, amusement.

Goguettier, m. (popular), member of a vocal society.

Goinfre, m. (thieves’), precentor. An allusion to his opening his mouth like that of a glutton.

Goiper (thieves’), to prowl at night for evil purposes, “quÆrens quem devoret.”

Goipeur, m. (thieves’), night thief.

Goipeuse, f. (thieves’), prostitute who prowls about the country. See Gadoue.

GoÎtreux, m. (familiar), silly fellow; man devoid of all intellectual power. Synonymous of crÉtin.

Goje (Breton cant), well; yes.

Golgother (familiar), to give oneself the airs of a martyr. The allusion is obvious.

Gomberger (thieves’), to reckon.

Gombeux, adj. (popular), nasty.

Gomme, f. (familiar), fashion; elegance, “swelldom.”La haute ——, the “pink” of fashion. Etre de la ——, to be a dandy, a “masher.” See Gommeux. The term formerly signified excellence, and was used specially in reference to wine.

Mais non pas d’un pareil trÉsor,

Que cette souveraine gomme.

Parnasse des Muses.

Gommeuse, f. (familiar), showily dressed girl or woman, a “dasher.”

Gommeux, adj. and m. (familiar), pretty; dandy.

C’Était elle qui, pour la premiÈre fois, recevant un de ses amants astiquÉ des pieds À la tÊte, empesÉ, cirÉ, frottÉ, tirÉ, semblant, en deux mots, trempÉ dans de la gomme arabique en dissolution, avait dit de lui: un gommeux! Le petit-crevÉ avait un successeur.—E. Monteil, Cornebois.

The different appellations corresponding to various periods are as follows:—Under Louis XIV., “mouchar, muguet, petit-maÎtre, talon-rouge.” After the revolution of 1793, “muscadin.” Under the government of the Directoire from ’95 to ’99, “incroyable, merveilleux.” Then from the Restoration come in succession, “mirliflor, ÉlÉgant, dandy, lion, fashionable, and gandin.” Under the Third Empire, “cocodÈs, crevÉ, petit-crevÉ, col-cassÉ.” From 1870 to the present day, “gommeux, luisant, poisseux, boudinÉ, pschutteux, exhumÉ, gratinÉ, faucheur, and finally bÉcarre.” The English have the terms “swell, gorger, masher,” and the old expression “flasher,” mentioned in the following quotation from the English Supplementary Glossary:—

They are reckoned the flashers of the place, yet everybody laughs at them for their airs, affectations, and tonish graces and impertinences.—Madame d’Arblay, Diary.

The Spectator termed a dandy a “Jack-pudding,” and Goldsmith calls him a “macaroni,” “The Italians,” he says, “are extremely fond of a dish they call macaroni, ... and as they consider this as the summum bonum of all good eating, so they figuratively call everything they think elegant and uncommon macaroni. Our young travellers, who generally catch the follies of the countries they visit, judged that the title of macaroni was very applicable to a clever fellow; and accordingly, to distinguish themselves as such, they instituted a club under this denomination, the members of which were supposed to be the standards of taste. The infection at St. James’s was soon caught in the City, and we have now macaronies of every denomination, from the Colonel of the Train’d-Bands down to the printer’s devil or errand-boy. They indeed make a most ridiculous figure, with hats of an inch in the brim, that do not cover, but lie upon the head; with about two pounds of fictitious hair, formed into what is called a club, hanging down their shoulders, as white as a baker’s sack; the end of the skirt of their coat reaching not down to the first button of their breeches.... Such a figure, essenced and perfumed, with a bunch of lace sticking out under its chin, puzzles the common passenger to determine the thing’s sex; and many have said, by your leave, madam, without intending to give offence.”

The Americans give the name of “dude” to one who apes the manners of swells. It may be this word originated from a comparison between the tight and light-coloured trousers sported by swells, and the stem of a pipe termed “dudeen” by the Irish. Compare the French expression “boudinÉ,” literally sausage-like, for a swell in tight clothing.

Gomorrhe, m. (familiar), un ÉmigrÉ de ——, Sodomite.

Gonce, gonse, gonze, m. (thieves’), man, or “cove.”

Goncesse, gonzesse, f. (thieves’), woman, “hay-bag, cooler, or shakester.”

Goncier, or gonce, m. (thieves’), man, or “cove.”

GondolÉ, adj. (thieves’ and popular), avoir l’air ——, to look ill. Un homme ——, high-shouldered man.

Gonfle-bougres, m. (thieves’), beans, the staple food of prisoners.

Gonfler. See Ballon. (Popular) Se ——, to be elated.

Mon vieux, c’que tu peux t’gonfler d’gagner des coupes Renaissance!—Le Cri du Peuple, 17 AoÛt, 1886.

Se —— le jabot, to look conceited.

Tu es un bon artiste, c’est vrai, mais, vrai aussi, tu te gonfles trop le jabot.—E. Monteil.

GonsalÉ, m. (thieves’), man, or “cove.” Si le —— fait de l’harmonarÉs, il faut le balancarguer dans la vassarÉs, if the man is not quiet, we’ll throw him into the water.

GonsarÈs, m. (thieves’), man. A form of gonse.

Gonse, m. (thieves’ and popular), man, or “cove.”

Gonse À Écailles, women’s bully, “ponce.” See Poisson.

Gonsier, or gadouille, m. (popular), an individual, “cove.”

Gonsse, m. (police and thieves’), fool, “flat.”

Vous Êtes un gonsse, monsieur, murmura le chef À l’agent porteur du bijou, qu’il lui arracha aussitÔt.—MÉmoires de Monsieur Claude.

Gonzesse. See Goncesse.

Gorge, f. (thieves’), a case for implements.

Gorgniat, m. (popular), dirty man, a “chatty” fellow.

Gose, m. (popular), throat, or “red lane.” Abbreviation of gosier.

Gosse, m. and f. (general), child, “kid.” Ah! l’affreux gosse! pialle-t’y! Asseyez-vous dessus! et qu’ Ça finisse! The horrible child! how he does squall! Sit upon him, and let there be an end of it. This seemingly uncharitable wish is often expressed in thought, if not in speech, in France, where many children are petted and spoilt into insufferable tyrants.

Arrive l’enfant de la maison qui pleure. Au lieu de lui dire: Ah! le joli enfant, mÊme quand il pleure, on croirait entendre la voix de la Patti.... Maintenant ce n’est plus Ça, l’on dit: Ah! l’affreux gosse! Pialles-t’y! ... en v’lÀ un qui crie! ... pour sÛr il a avalÉ la pratique À ThÉrÉsa!—Les Locutions Vicieuses.

Gosselin, m. (popular), a lad; a young man, or “covey” in English slang.

Gosseline, f. (popular and thieves’), young maiden. Fignole ——, pretty lass.

Gossemar, m. (popular), child, or “kid.” A form of gosse.

Gossier, m. See Gonce.

Got, m., for gau (thieves’), louse, or “gold-backed un.”

Goteur, m. (popular), whore-monger, “mutton-monger, molrower, beard-splitter, or rip.”

Gouache, f. (popular), face, physiognomy, or “mug.” See Tronche.

Goualante, gouasante, f. (thieves’), song; street hawker. Les goualantes avec leurs bagnioles, the hawkers with their hand-barrows.

Goualer (thieves’), to sing, “to “lip;” —— À la chienlit, to cry out thieves! In the slang of English thieves, “to give hot beef.”

Goualeur, m., goualeuse, f. (thieves’), singer, “chanter.”

Dis donc, la goualeuse, est-ce que tu ne vas pas nous goualer une de tes goualantes?—E. Sue, Les MystÈres de Paris.

Gouape, f. (popular), laziness; drunken and disorderly state; one who leads a lazy or dissolute life; a reprobate; thief, or “prig.” See Grinche.

Gouaper (popular), to lead a disorderly life; to prowl about lazily, “to mike;” to tramp.

Gouapeur, gouÊpeur (general), lazy man; vagabond; debauchee.

Sans paffes, sans lime, plein de crotte,

Aussi rupin qu’un plongeur,

Un soir un gouÊpeur en ribote

Tombe en frime avec un voleur.

Vidocq.

Michel says, “Je suis convaincu que la racine de ce mot est guÊpe, qui se dit guape en patois normand, et qui vient de wasp: pareil À l’insecte de ce nom, le gouÊpeur erre ÇÀ et lÀ, butinant pour vivre.” Gouapeur, ironical appellation given by lazy prisoners to those who work.

Gouapeuse, f. (general), dissolute woman fond of good cheer.

GouÊper (popular), to lead the life of a gouapeur (which see); also to lead a vagrant life.

J’ai comme un brouillard de souvenir d’avoir gouÊpÉ dans mon enfance avec un vieux chiffonnier qui m’assommait de coups de croc.—E. Sue.

GouÊpeur. See Gouapeur.

Gouffier (obsolete), to eat.

Gougnottage, m. (common). Rigaud says: “Honteuse cohabitation d’une femme avec une autre femme.”

Gougnotte, f. (common). See Gougnottage.

Gougnotter. See Gougnottage.

Gouille, f. (popular), envoyer À la ——, to summarily get rid of a bore; to send a bore to the deuce.

Gouillon, m. (popular), street boy, or street arab.

Goujon, m. (general), dupe, or “gull;” girl’s bully, or “Sunday man.” For synonyms see Poisson. Un —— d’hÔpital, a leech. Avaler le ——, to die, “to snuff it.” See Pipe. Ferrer le ——, to cause one to fall into a trap, to make one swallow the bait. LÂcher son ——, to vomit, “to cascade,” “to shoot the cat,” or “to cast up accounts.”

Goujonner (popular), to deceive, “to best,” “to do.” Literally to make one swallow the bait like a gudgeon.

Goule, f. (popular), throat, or “gutter lane;” mouth, or “rattle-trap.” Old form of gueule used in the expression, now obsolete, Faire pÉter la goule, to speak.

Goulot, m. (popular), mouth, or “rattle-trap;” throat, or “gutter lane.” Jouer du ——, to drink heavily, “to swill.” Se rincer le ——, to drink, “to wet one’s whistle.” See Rincer. Trouilloter du ——, to have an offensive breath.

Goulu, m. (thieves’), a stove; a well. Properly greedy, glutton.

Goupinage, m. (thieves’), work, “graft;” thieving, “faking.”

Goupine, f. (cads’ and thieves’), head, or “nut,” see Tronche; (popular) quaint dress.

GoupinÉ, adj. (popular), mal ——, badly dressed.

Goupiner (thieves’), to steal, “to nick.” See Grinchir.

En roulant de vergne en vergne

Pour apprendre À goupiner.

Vidocq.

Goupiner les poivriers, to rob drunkards; —— À la desserte, to steal plate from a dining-room in the following manner:—

D’autres bonjouriers ne se mettent en campagne qu’aux approches du dÎner: ceux-lÀ saisissent le moment oÙ l’argenterie vient d’Être posÉe sur la table. Ils entrent et en un clin d’oeil ils la font disparaÎtre.—Vidocq.

Goupiner, to do.

La largue est fine ... et que goupine-t-elle? Elle est Établie ... elle gÈre une maison.—Balzac.

Goupineur À la desserte, m. (thieves’). See Goupiner.

Goupline, f. (thieves’), pint.

Gour, m. (thieves’), jug;—— de pivois, jugful of wine.

Gourd, m. (thieves’), fraud; deceit; swindling; (Breton cant) good; well.

Gourdago (Breton cant), food.

Gourde, f. (popular), simpleton, “flat.”

GourdÉ, m. (popular), fool, “flat,” or “duffer.”

Gourdement (popular and thieves’), much, or, as the Irish say, “neddy;” very.

Ils piaussent dans les pioles, morfient et pictent si gourdement, que toutime en bourdonne.—Le Jargon de l’Argot. (They sleep in the taverns, eat and drink so much that everything resounds with it.)

Gourer, or gourrer (popular and thieves’), to deceive, “to kid;” to swindle, “to stick.” The word is old.

Pour gourrer les pauvres gens,

Qui leur babil veulent croire.

Parnasse des Muses.

Se ——, to be mistaken; to assume a jaunty, self-satisfied air.

C’est la raison pourquoi qu’ je m’ goure,

Mon gniasse est bath: j’ai un chouett’

moure.

Richepin.

Goureur, m. (thieves’), deceiver; cheat, or “cross-biter;”—— de la haute, swell mobsmen. Goureurs, rogues who assume a disguise to deceive the public, and who sell inferior articles at exorbitant prices. The sham sailor, with rings in his ears, who has just returned from a long cruise, and offers parrots or smuggled havannahs for sale, the false countryman, &c., are goureurs.

Goureuse, f. (thieves’), female deceiver or cheat.

Gourgandin, m. (familiar), a man too fond of cocottes. Vieux ——, old debauchee, old “rip.”

Gourgandinage, m. (popular), disreputable way of living.

Gourgandiner (popular), to lead a dissolute life. From gourgandine, a girl or woman of lax morals.

Gourganer (popular), to be in prison, eating “gourganes,” or beans.

Gourgaud, m. (military), recruit or “Johnny raw.”

Gourgoussage, m. (popular), grumbling.

Gourgousser (popular), to grumble.

Gourgousseur, m. (popular), grumbler, or “crib biter.”

Gourt (popular), À son ——, pleased. The word is old, Villon uses it:—

L’hostesse fut bien À son gourt,

Car, quand vint À compter l’escot,

Le seigneur ne dist oncques mot.

Gouspin, or goussepain, m. (popular), malicious urchin.

Il en tira le corps d’un chat: “Tiens dit le gosse

Au troquet, tiens, voici de quoi faire un lapin.”

Puis il prit son petit couteau de goussepain,

DÉpouilla le greffier, et lui fit sa toilette.

Richepin, La Chanson des Gueux.

Gouspiner (popular), to wander lazily about, “to mike.” From gouspin, a malicious urchin.

Gousse, f. (theatrical), la ——, monthly banquet of the actors of the Vaudeville Theatre. See Gosselin.

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

Gousset, m. (popular), armpit. Properly fob. Avoir le —— percÉ, to be penniless, “to be a quisby.” Repousser du ——, to emit a disagreeable odour of humanity.

GoÛt, m. (popular), faire passer, or faire perdre À quelqu’un le —— du pain, to kill one, “to cook one’s goose.”

Goutte, f. (popular), marchand de ——, retailer of spirits. (Familiar and popular) Goutte militaire, a certain disease termed in the English slang “French gout,” or “ladies’ fever.”

GouttiÈre, f. (familiar), lapin de ——, a cat, “long-tailed beggar.”

Gouvernement, m. (popular), mon ——, my wife, “my old woman,” or “my comfortable impudence.”

Goye, m. (popular), fool; dupe.

Graffagnade, f. (familiar), bad painting.

Graffigner (popular), to take; to seize, “to nab;” to scratch.

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

Graigaille, f. (popular), bread, “soft tommy, or bran.”

Graillon, m. (familiar), dirty slatternly woman. That is, one who emits an odour of kitchen grease.

Graillonneuse, f. (popular), woman who not being a washerwoman washes her linen at the public laundry.

Grain, m. (familiar and popular), avoir un ——, to be slightly crazy, “to be a little bit balmy in one’s crumpet.” Avoir un petit ——, to be slightly tipsy, or “elevated.” See Pompette. (Popular) Un ——, fifty-centime coin. Formerly a silver crown. LÉger de deux grains (obsolete), an expression applied formerly to eunuchs. Un catholique À gros —— (obsolete), the signification is given by the quotation:—

On appelle catholique À gros grain, un libertin, un homme peu dÉvot, qui ne va À l’Église que par maniÈre d’acquit.—Le Roux, Dict. Comique.

Graine, f. (familiar and popular), de bagne, thief’s offspring; (familiar) —— de chou colossal, grand promises made with the object of swindling credulous persons; —— giberne, soldier’s child; —— d’Épinards, epaulets of field-officers. Avoir la —— d’Épinards, to be a field-officer. De la —— d’andouilles is said of a number of small children in a group.

Graissage, m., or graisse, f. (popular), money, “dust.” That which serves “to grease the palm.” See Quibus.

Graisse, f. (popular and thieves’), money, or “pieces.” See Quibus. (Thieves’) Voler À la graisse (for grÈce), to cheat at a game. Also to obtain a loan of money on “brummagem” trinkets, or paste diamonds represented as genuine.

Voler À la graisse: se faire prÊter sur des lingots d’or et sur des diamants qui ne sont que du cuivre et du strass.—Vidocq.

Graisser (military), la marmite, as a new-comer, to treat one’s comrades, “to pay for one’s footing;” (general) —— la peau, to thrash, “to wallop.” See Voie. Graisser le train de derriÈre, to give a kick in the behind, “to toe one’s bum;” —— les bottes À quelqu’un, to help one; —— les Épaules À quelqu’un (obsolete), to thrash one.

Graisser les Épaules À quelqu’un, pour dire, le bÂtonner. Ce qui a fait dire aussi de l’huile de cotret, c’est-À-dire, des coups de bÂton.—Le Roux, Dict. Comique.

Graisser les roues, to drink, “to have something damp.” See Rincer. (Thieves’) Graisser, or gressier, to steal, “to nick.” See Grinchir.

Graisseur, m. (thieves’), card-sharper, or “magsman.”

Grand (police), chef, the PrÉfet de Police; (popular) —— bonnet, a bishop; —— carcan, tall, lanky girl. Also an opprobrious epithet; —— courbouillon, sea, or “briny;” —— lumignon, sun; —— singe, President of the Republic; (thieves’) —— coËre, formerly the king of mendicants; —— meudon, spy; detective, “nark;” —— trimar, highway, “high toby;” (military) —— montant tropical, riding breeches; (theatrical) —— trottoir, stock of classical plays.

Grande, adj. and f. (popular), boutique, prÉfecture de police; —— bleue, the sea, “briny,” or “herring pond;” —— fille, bottle. (Thieves’) Grande, pocket, or “cly,” “sky-rocket,” “brigh.” Termed also “profonde, fouillouse, louche, gueularde.”

Grand’ largue, adv. (sailors’), excellent; incomparable.

Grands, adj. (theatrical), jouer les —— coquets, to perform in the character of an accomplished, elegant man. (Cavalry school of Saumur) Les —— hommes, the corridors in the school buildings.

Granik (Breton cant), hunger.

Graoudgem, m. (thieves’), pork butcher, or “kiddier.” Faire un —— À la dure, to steal sausages.

GraphiquÉ, adj. (thieves’), filthy, or “chatty.”

Grappin, m. (popular), hand, or “flipper.” Mettre or poser le —— sur quelqu’un, to apprehend one, or “to smug” one. See Piper.

Grappiner (popular), to seize; to apprehend, or “to smug.” See Piper.

Gras, adj. and m. (popular), il y a ——, there is plenty of money to be got. Attraper un ——, to get a scolding, or “wigging.” (Thieves’ and cads’) Gras, privy.

Gras-double, or saucisson, m. (thieves’), sheet lead, or “moss.” Ratisser du ——, to steal lead off the roofs, termed by English thieves “flying the blue pigeon.” Porter du —— au moulin, to take stolen lead to a receiver’s, or “fence.”

Gras-doublier, m. (thieves’), plumber.

Grasse, f. (thieves’), strong box, or “peter.” Thus called by rogues because it contains “la graisse,” or the cash.

Gratin, m. (popular), thrashing. Refiler un ——, to box one’s ears. (Familiar) Gratin, tip-top of fashion; swelldom.

Le Paris extra-mondain ... le gratin, quoi!—P. Mahalin.

GratinÉ, m. (familiar), swell, “masher.” For synonymous expressions see Gommeux.

Gratis (popular), faire ——, to borrow, “to bite one’s ear,” or “to break shins;” to lend. (Thieves’) Etre —— malade, to be in prison, to be “put away.”

Graton, m. (popular), razor. From gratter, to scratch.

Gratouille, f. (popular), itch. From gratter, to scratch, to itch.

Gratouse, f. (thieves’), lace.

GratousÉ, adj. (thieves’), adorned with lace.

Gratte, f. (popular), itch; unlawful profits of shopmen on the sale of goods, something like the “fluff” or profits on short change by railway ticket-clerks; bonus allowed to shopmen; —— couenne, barber, “strap;” —— pavÉ, loiterer seeking for a living, one “on the mouch.”

GrattÉe, f. (popular), blows, “props.”

Gratte-papier, m. (familiar and popular), clerk, or “quill-driver;” (military) non-commissioned officer filling the functions of clerk.

Gratter (popular), to shave; to thrash, “to wallop.” See Voie. Gratter, to purloin portions of cloth, given for the making of apparel; to apprehend. See Piper. Gratter le papier, to write; to be a clerk, or “quill-driver;” —— la couenne, to shave. En ——, to perform on the dancing-rope. Les frÈres qui en grattent, rope-dancers. Gratter les pavÉs, to lead a life of poverty.

Grattoir, graton, m. (popular), razor. Passer au ——, to get shaved, or “scraped.”

Graveur sur cuir, m. (popular), shoemaker, “snob.”

GrÈce, f. (familiar), the tribe of card-sharpers. Tomber dans la ——, to become a card-sharper. Vol À la ——, card swindle. (Thieves’) GrÈce, or soulasse, swindler who offers one a high profit on the change of gold coins, for which he substitutes base coin when the bargain has been struck. A variety of the confidence trick. Vidocq thus describes the mode of operating of these gentry. A confederate forms an acquaintance with a farmer or country tradesman on a visit to town. While the new pair of friends are promenading, they are accosted by another confederate, who pretends to be a foreigner, and who exhibits gold coin which he wishes to exchange for silver. Subsequently the three adjourn to a wine-shop, where the pigeon, being entrusted with one of the coins, is requested to have it tested at a changer’s, when he finds it to be genuine. A bargain is soon struck, and, when the thieves have decamped, the victim finds that in exchange for sound silver coin he has received a case full of coppers or gunshot.

GrÉcer (thieves’), to swindle at cards. From “grec,” card-sharper.

Grecquerie, f. (familiar), tribe of card-sharpers.

GrÉer (naval), se ——, to dress oneself, “to rig oneself out.”

Greffer (popular), to be hungry, “to be bandied.” Je greffe, or je dÉclare, I am hungry. (Thieves’) Greffer, to steal an object by skilfully whisking it up, “to nip.”

Greffier, m. (popular and thieves’), cat, or “long-tailed beggar.” From griffe, claw.

C’est la dabuche Michelon

Qu’a pomaquÉ son greffier,

Qui jacte par la venterne

Qui le lui refilera,

Le dab Lustucru

Lui dit: “Dabuch’ Mich’lon,

Allez! votre greffier n’est pas pomaquÉ;

Il est dans le roulon,

Qui fait la chasse aux tretons,

Avec un bagaffre de fertange

Et un fauchon de satou.”

Popular song of C’est la mÈre Michel qui a perdu son chat, in thieves’ cant, quoted by F. Michel.

Greffique, f. (roughs’), the magistracy and lawyers.

Grefier (Breton cant), cat.

GrÊle, m. and f. (popular), master, or “boss;” master tailor.

Ils ne nous exploiteront plus en maÎtres, ces grÊles.—MacÉ.

(Thieves’) GrÊle, row or fight, “shindy.”

Il va y avoir de la grÊle, c’est un raille.—E. Sue.

(Popular) GrÊle, pockmarks. Ne pas s’Être assurÉ contre la ——, to be pockmarked, or “to be cribbage-faced.”

GrÊlesse, f. (popular), mistress of an establishment.

Grelot, m. (popular), voice.

C’est bien le son du grelot, si ce n’est pas la frimousse.—Balzac.

Grelot, tongue, or “red rag.” Il en a un ——! how he does jaw away. Faire pÉter son ——, to talk, “to wag the red rag.” Mettre une sourdine À son ——, to keep silent, “to be mum.” Mets une sourdine À ton ——, don’t talk so much, “don’t shoot off your mouth” (Americanism).

Grelu, or grenu, m. (thieves’), corn.

Greluchonner (popular), to be a “greluchon,” that is, the lover of a married woman, or of a girl kept by another; or one who lives at the expense of a woman. Voltaire has used the word greluchon with the first meaning.

Grenadier, m. (popular), louse, “grey” or “grey-backed un.”

Grenafe, grenasse, f. (thieves’), barn.

Grenier, m. (popular), À coups de poing, drunkard’s wife; —— À coups de sabre, soldier’s woman; —— À lentilles, pockmarked face, or “cribbage face;” —— À sel, head, “tibby,” or “canister.” See Tronche.

Grenoble. See Conduite.

Grenouillard, m. (popular), one fond of the water for the inside or outside. (Artists’) Faire ——, to paint in a bold, dashing style, after the manner of Delacroix.

Grenouille, f. (popular), woman. An insulting epithet; (military) cash-box. (General) Emporter la ——, to abscond with the cash-box. Manger la ——, to spend for ones own purposes the contents of the cash-box, or funds entrusted to one’s keeping. (Popular) Sirop de ——, water, “Adam’s ale.”

Grenouiller (popular), to drink water. Had formerly the signification of to frequent wine-shops.

GrenouillÈre, f. (general), swimming bath. La GrenouillÈre is the name of a well-known swimming establishment on the bank of the Seine at Chatou, a place much patronized by “mashers” and more than fast ladies.

Grenu, or grelu, m. (thieves’), corn.

Grenuche, f. (thieves’), oats.

Grenue, grenuse, f. (thieves’), flour.

GrÈs, m. (thieves’), horse, or “prad.” Termed also “gail.”

GrÉsillonner (popular), to ask for credit, “tick,” “jawbone,” or “day.”

Gressier (thieves’), to steal, “to nick.” See Grinchir.

GrÈve, f. (thieves’), hirondelle de ——, gendarme. Executions formerly took place at the Place de GrÈve in front of the HÔtel de Ville, hence the expression. Des anges de —— (obsolete), porters.

GrÉviste, m. (popular), workman on strike. From grÈve, strike.

Du reste, la bande de grÉvistes ... ne viendrait plus À cette heure; quelque obstacle avait dÛ l’arrÊter, des gendarmes peut Être.—Zola, Germinal.

GrÉzillon, m. (popular), pinch.

Gribis, gripie, grippis, grippe-fleur (thieves’), miller.

Il y avait en un certain tourniquet un gribis qui ne fichait rien que floutiÈre aux bons pauvres.—Le Jargon de l’Argot. (There used to be in a certain mill a miller who never gave anything to the worthy poor.)

Griblage, criblage, m. (thieves’), shout, shouting; (popular) complaint, grumbling.

Grie, m., grielle, f. adj. (thieves’), cold.

Griffard, griffon, m. (popular), cat. Griffe, claw.

Griffarde, f. (thieves’), pen.

Griffer (popular), to seize, “to collar;” to take; to purloin, “to prig.”

Griffeton, m. (popular), soldier, or “wobbler.” From grive, grivier, a soldier.

Griffleur, m. (thieves’), chief warder in a prison, “head screw.”

Griffon, m. (thieves’), writer.

Griffonnante, f. (thieves’), pen. Griffonner, to write a scrawl.

Griffonner (thieves’), to swear.

Griffonneur, m. (thieves’), one who swears; (popular) —— de babillards, journalist.

Grifler (thieves’), to take, “to grab.”

Grifon (Breton cant), dog.

Grignolet, m. (popular), bread, “soft tommy.”

Grignon, m. (thieves’), judge, “beak.” Probably from “grigner les dents,” to show one’s teeth threateningly, or from “grognon.”

GrillÉe, adj. (familiar), absinthe; absinthe with sugar. The sugar is held over the glass on a small grating (grille), until gradually melted by the liquid poured over it.

Griller (popular), quelqu’un, to lock up one, “to run in;” to deceive one (conjugally). En —— une, to smoke a pipe or cigarette. En —— une sÈche, to smoke a cigarette. Griller une bouffarde, to smoke a pipe.

Au gardien de la paix ... sa consigne lui dÉfend de boire et de fumer. Ni boire un verre, ni griller une bouffarde! VoilÀ la consigne.—MÉmoires de Monsieur Claude.

Grilleuse de blanc, f. (popular), ironer. From griller, to toast, to singe.

Grimer (popular), to arrest. See Piper. Se ——, to get drunk, or “screwed.” Properly to paint one’s face. For synonyms see Sculpter.

Grimoire, m. (thieves’), penal code; —— mouchique, judicial documents; act of indictment.

Grimoirier, m. (thieves’), clerk of arraigns.

Grimpant, adj. and m. (thieves’), chevalier ——, voleur au bonjour, donneur de bonjour, or bonjourier, thief who enters a house, pretending to be mistaken when discovered, and steals any property worth taking. (Popular) Un grimpant, trousers, “sit-upons, or kicks.” (Popular and thieves’) Les grimpants, staircase; steps, or “dancers.” (Military) Grand —— tropical, riding breeches.

Grimpe-chats, m. (popular), roof.

Grinchage (thieves’), for Grinchissage, which see.

Un journal racontait hier que T’Kindt Était, du reste, un vrai artiste en matiÈre de grinchage, appliquÉ au high-life.—Pierre VÉron, EvÉnement au 9 Novembre, 1878.

Grinche, m. and f. (thieves’), la ——, dancing. Un ——, a thief, or “prig.”

Le Grinche, terme d’argot signifiant voleur, a servi de titre À un journal Montagnard qui a fait paraÎtre deux numÉros au mois de juin, 1848.—G. Brunet, Dictionnaire de la Conversation et de la Lecture.

Un —— de cambrouse, a highwayman. In the old English cant, “bridle-cull.” Other varieties of the tribe of malefactors go by the appellations of “grinchisseur, pÈgre, chevalier de la grippe, fourline, escarpe, poisse, limousineur, charron, truqueur, locandier, vanternier, cambrioleur, caroubleur, solitaire, compagnon, deffardeur, pogne, tireur, voleur À la tire, doubleur, fil de soie, mion de boule, grinchisseur de bogues, friauche, tirebogue, AmÉricain, jardinier, ramastiqueur, enfant de minuit, philosophe, philibert, voleur au bonjour, bonjourier, philantrope, frÈre de la manicle, garÇon de campagne, garÇon de cambrouse, tiretaine, enfant de la matte, careur, chÊne affranchi, droguiste, &c.; the English brethren being denominated “prig, cracksman, crossman, sneaksman, moucher, hooker, flash cove, bug-hunter, cross-cove, buz-faker, stook-hauler, toy-getter, tooler, prop-nailer, area-sneak, palmer, dragsman, lob-sneak, bouncer, lully-prigger, thimble-twister, gun, conveyancer, dancer, pudding-snammer, beak-hunter, ziff, drummer, buttock-and-file, poll-thief, little snakesman, mill-ben, a cove on the cross, flashman, finder, gleaner, picker, tax-collector,” and formerly “a good fellow, a bridle-cull” (highwayman).

Grincher (thieves’), to rob. See Grinchir.

Quand ils vont dÉcarrer nous les empaumerons. Je grincherai le sinve. Il est avec une largue, il ne criblera pas.—E. Sue. (We’ll follow them when they come out. I’ll rob the cove. He is with a woman, he will not cry out.)

Grincheur, m. (thieves’), young thief, or “ziff.”

Grinchie, adj. (thieves’), camelotte ——, stolen goods, “swag.”

Grinchir (thieves’), to steal. Rabelais in his Pantagruel says of Panurge:—“Toutesfois il avoit soixante et trois maniÈres d’en trouver toujours À son besoing (de l’argent), dont la plus honorable et la plus commune estoit par faÇon de larrecin furtivement faict.” One may judge from what follows, and by the numerous varieties of “larrecin furtivement faict” described under the head of “grinchissage,” that the imitators of Panurge have not remained far behind in the art of filling their pockets at the expense of the public. Some of the many expressions to describe robbery pure and simple, or the different varieties, are:—“Mettre la pogne dessus, travailler, faire, dÉcrasser, rincer, entiffler, retirer l’artiche, savonner, doubler, barbotter, graisser, dÉgauchir, dÉgraisser, effaroucher, Évaporer, agripper, soulever, fourmiller, filer, acheter À la foire d’empoigne, pÉgrer, goupiner À la desserte, sauter, marner, cabasser, mettre de la paille dans ses souliers, faire le saut, secouer, gressier, faire le bobe, faire la bride, faire le morlingue, faire un poivrot, faire un coup d’Étal, faire un coup de radin, rincer une cambriolle, faire la soulasse sur le grand trimar, ramastiquer, fourlourer, faire le mouchoir, faire un coup de roulotte, faire grippe-cheville,” &c., &c. The English synonyms are as follows:—“To cop, to touch, to claim, to prig, to wolf, to snake, to pinch, to nibble, to clift, to collar, to nail, to grab, to jump, to nab, to hook, to nim, to fake, to crib, to ease, to convey, to buz, to be on the cross, to do the sneaking-budge, to nick, to fang,” &c., &c.

Grinchissage, m. (thieves’), thieving; theft, or “sneaking-budge.” The latter expression is used by Fielding.

Wild looked upon borrowing to be as good a way of taking as any, and, as he called it, the genteelest kind of sneaking-budge—Fielding, Jonathan Wild.

Le —— À domicile is practised by rogues known under the following denominations:—“Le bonjourier,” see this word; “le cambrioleur,” who operates in apartments; “le caroubleur,” who effects an entrance by means of skeleton keys; “le chevalier du pince-linge,” one who steals linen, “snow-gatherer;” “le dÉmÉnageur,” who takes possession of articles of furniture, descending the staircase backwards, so that on an emergency he may at once make a show of ascending, as if he were bringing in furniture; “le grinchisseur À la desserte,” thief who enters a dining-room just after dinner-time, and lays hands on the plate; “le gras-doublier,” who steals lead off the roofs, who “flies the blue pigeon;” “le matelassier,” a thief who pretends to repair and clean mattresses; “le vanternier,” who effects an entrance through a window, “dancer;” “le voleur À la location,” who pretends to be in quest of apartments to let; “le voleur au recensement,” who pretends to be an official employed in the census. Le grinchissage À la ballade, or À la trimballade, the thief makes some purchases, and finding he has not sufficient money, requests a clerk to accompany him home, entrusting the parcel to a pretended commissionnaire, a confederate. On the way the rogues suddenly vanish. Le —— À la broquille consists in substituting sham jewellery for the genuine article when offered for inspection by the tradesman. Le —— À la carre. See Carreur. Le —— À la cire, purloining a silver fork or spoon at a restaurant by making it adhere under the table by means of a piece of soft wax. After this preliminary operation the rogue leaves the place, generally after having been searched by the restaurant keeper; then an accomplice enters, takes his confederate’s place at the table, and obtains possession of the property. Le —— À la dÉtourne, the thief secretes goods in a shop while a confederate distracts the attention of the shopkeeper. The rogue who thus operates is termed in English cant a “palmer.” The thief is sometimes a female who has in her arms an infant, whose swaddling-clothes serve as a receptacle for the stolen property. Le ——, or vol À la glu, takes place in churches by means of a rod with birdlime at one end, plunged through the slit in the alms-box, termed tronc; the coins adhering to the extremity of the rod are thus fished out. Le ——, or vol À l’AmÉricaine, confidence-trick robbery. It is the old story of a traveller meeting with a countryman and managing to exchange the latter’s well-filled purse for a bag of leaden coins. Those who practise it are termed “AmÉricains,” or “magsmen.”

Il est aussi vieux que le monde. Il a ÉtÉ racontÉ mille fois!... Ce vol surannÉ rÉussit toujours! il rÉussira tant qu’il y aura des simples, jusqu’À la consommation des siÈcles.—MÉmoires de Monsieur Claude.

Le —— À la mÉlasse, the rogue has a tall hat, with the inside of the crown besmeared with treacle, which he suddenly places on the head of the tradesman, pushing it far down over his eyes, and thus making him temporarily helpless (Pierre Delcourt, Paris Voleur). Le —— À la quÊte, stealing part of the proceeds of a collection in a church when the plate is being passed round. Le ——, or vol À la reconnaissance, consists in picking the pockets of a passer-by while pretending to recognize him and greeting him as an old friend. Le ——, or vol À la tire, according to Monsieur Claude, formerly head of the detective department, this species of theft is the classical one in which the celebrated Cartouche, a kind of French Jack Sheppard, was an adept. It consists in picking waistcoat pockets by means of a pair of scissors or a double-bladed penknife. Le ——, or vol À l’Épate, is high-class swindling. It comprises “le brodage,” “le chantage,” “le nÉgoce,” and “le vol au cautionnement.” The first of these consists in the setting-up of a financial establishment and opening an account for unwary merchants, who are made to sign bills in exchange for the swindlers’ paper endorsed by them. When these bills become due they are returned dishonoured, so that the victimized merchants are responsible for the payment not only of their own notes of hand but those of the swindlers as well. “Le chantage” is extorting money by threat of exposure. The proceeds are termed in the English slang “socket-money.” For full explanation see Chanteur. “Le nÉgoce” is practised by English swindlers who represent themselves as being the agents of some well-known firm, and thus obtain goods from continental merchants in exchange for fictitious bills. “Le vol au cautionnement,” the rogues set up a sham financial establishment and advertise for a number of clerks to be employed by the firm on the condition of leaving a deposit as a guarantee. When a large staff of officials, or rather pigeons, have been found, the managers decamp with the deposit fund. Le ——, or vol À la roulotte or roulante, the thief jumps on the box of a vehicle temporarily left in the street by its owner and drives off at a gallop. Sometimes the horse alone is disposed of, the vehicle being left in some out-of-the-way place. The “roulottiers” also steal hawkers’ hand-barrows, or “shallows.” One of these rogues, when apprehended, confessed to having stolen thirty-three hand-barrows, fifty-three vans or carts, and as many horses. Sometimes the “roulottier” will rob property from cabs or carriages by climbing up behind and cutting the straps that secure the luggage on the roof. His English representative is termed a “dragsman,” according to Mr. James Greenwood. See The Seven Curses of London, p. 87. Le ——, or vol À l’esbrouffe, picking the pockets of a passer-by while hustling him as if by accident, termed “ramping.” Le ——, or vol À l’Étourneau, when a thief who has just stolen the contents of a till is making his escape, an accomplice who is keeping watch outside scampers off in the opposite direction, so as to baffle the puzzled tradesman, whose hesitation allows of the rogues gaining ground. Le ——, or vol À l’opium, robbery from a person who has been drugged. The scoundrels who practise it are generally Jewish money-lenders of the lowest class, who attract their victims to their abode under pretence of advancing money. A robber who first makes his victim insensible by drugs is termed in the English cant a “drummer.” Le —— au boulon, stealing from a shop by means of a rod or wire passed through a hole in the shutter, “hooking.” Le ——, or vol au cerf-volant, is practised by women, who strip little girls of their trinkets or ease them of their money or parcels. The little victims sometimes get their hair shorn off as well. Le ——, or vol au chatouillage, a couple of rogues pretend to recognize a friend in a man easing himself. They begin to tickle him in the ribs as if in play, meanwhile rifling the pockets of the helpless victim. Le ——, or vol au colis, the thief leaves a parcel in some coffee-house with the recommendation to the landlord not to give it up except on payment of say twenty francs. He then seeks a commissionnaire simple-minded enough to be willing to fetch the parcel and to pay the necessary sum, after which the swindler returns to the place and pockets the money left by the pigeon. Le ——, or vol au fric-frac, housebreaking, or “crib-cracking.” Le ——, or vol au gail or gayet, horse-stealing, or “prad-napping.” Le ——, or vol au grimpant, a young thief, or “little snakesman,” climbs on to the roof of a house and throws a rope-ladder to his accomplices below, who thus effect an entrance. When detected they pass themselves off for workmen engaged in some repairs. Le ——, or vol au parapluie, a shoplifter, or “sneaksman,” drops the stolen property in a half-open umbrella. Le ——, or vol au poivrier, consists in robbing drunkards who have come to grief. Rogues who practise it are in most cases apprehended, detectives being in the habit of impersonating drunkards asleep on benches late at night. Le —— au prix courant, or en pleine trÈpe, picking pockets or scarf-pins in a crowd, “cross-fanning.” Le ——, or vol au radin, the landlord of a wine-shop is requested to fetch a bottle of his best wine; while he is busy in the cellar the trap which gives access to it is closed by the rogues, and the counter, or “radin,” pushed on to it, thus imprisoning the victim, who clamours in vain while his till is being emptied. It also takes place in this way: the rogues pretend to quarrel, and one of them throws the other’s cap into a shop, thus providing him with an excuse for entering the place and robbing the till, or “pinching the bob or lob.” Le ——, or vol au raton, a little boy, a “raton,” or “anguille” (termed “tool or little snakesman” in the English cant), is employed in this kind of robbery, by burglars, to enter small apertures and to open doors for the others outside (Pierre Delcourt, Paris Voleur). Le ——, or vol au rigolo, appropriating the contents of a cash-box opened by means of a skeleton key.

Le Pince-Monseigneur perfectionnÉ, se porte aujourd’hui dans un Étui À cigares et dans un porte-monnaie ... les voleurs au rigolo ouvrent aujourd’hui toutes les caisses.—MÉmoires de Monsieur Claude.

Le ——, or vol au suif, variety of card-sharping swindle.

Il s’opÈre par un grec qui rÔde chez les marchands de vin, dans les cafÉs borgnes, pour dÉgotter, en bon suiffeur, une frimousse de pante ou de daim.—MÉmoires de Monsieur Claude.

Le ——, or vol au timbre, a tobacconist is asked for a large number of stamps, which the thief carefully encloses in an envelope. Suddenly, when about to pay for them, he finds he has forgotten his purse, returns the envelope containing the stamps to the tradesman and leaves to fetch the necessary sum. Needless to say, the envelope is empty. Le ——, or vol au tiroir, the thief enters a tobacconist’s or spirit shop, and asks for a cigar or glass of spirits. When the tradesman opens his till to give change, snuff is thrown into his eyes, thus making him helpless. This class of thieves is termed in the English cant “sneeze-lurkers.”

Grinchisseur, m. (thieves’), thief, or “prig,” see Grinche; —— de bogues, pickpocket who devotes his attention to watches, a “toy-getter,” or “tooler.”

Gringue, f. (popular), bread, or “soft tommy;” food, or “prog.”

Gripie, m. (thieves’), miller. See Gribis.

Grippe, f. (thieves’), chevalier de la ——, thief, or “prig.” See Grinche.

Grippe-cheville (thieves’), faire ——, to steal, “to claim.” See Grinchir.

Grippe-fleur, gripie, grippis, m. (thieves’), miller. Termed “Grindoff” in English slang.

Grippe-JÉsus, m. (thieves’), gendarme.

Parcequ’ils arrÊtent les innocents et qu’ils n’ont pas mÊme ÉpargnÉ JÉsus.—Nisard.

Grippemini, m. (obsolete), barrister, or “mouthpiece;” lawyer, “sublime rascal, or green bag;” extortioner. From grippeminaud, thief.

Gripper (thieves’), to apprehend, “to smug.” See Piper. Rabelais uses the term with the signification of to seize:—

Parmy eulx rÈgne la sexte essence, moyennant laquelle ils grippent tout, dÉvorent tout et conchient tout.

Gripperie, f. (popular), theft (obsolete).

Grippis, gripie, grippe-fleur, m. (thieves’), miller.

Gris, adj. and m. (thieves’), dear; wind; (popular) —— d’officier, slight intoxication; —— jusqu’À la troisiÈme capucine, completely drunk, or “slewed.” Capucine, a musket band.

Grisaille, f. (popular), sister of mercy. An allusion to the grey costume worn by sisters of mercy.

Grises, f. pl. (general), en faire voir de ——, to lead one a hard life.

Grisette. See Bifteck.

Grisotter (popular), se ——, to get slightly drunk, or “elevated.” See Sculpter.

Grispin, m. (thieves’), miller.

Grive, f. (thieves’), army; military patrol; warder. Cribler À la ——, to cry out thieves, “to whiddle beef.” Synonymous of “crier À la garde.” Harnais de ——, uniform. Tapis de ——, canteen.

Grivier, m. (thieves’), soldier, “swaddy, lobster, or red herring.” From “grivois,” formerly a soldier of foreign troops in the service of France. The word “grivois” itself seems to be a corruption of “gruyers,” used by Rabelais, and signifying Swiss soldiers, natives of GruyÈres, serving in the French army. Grivier de gaffe, sentry; —— de narquois, deserter. Literally a bantering soldier.

Grivoise, f. (obsolete), soldier’s wench, garrison town prostitute. Termed by the English military “barrack-hack.”

Grivoise, c’est À dire coureuse, putain, dÉbauchÉe, aventuriÈre, dame suivante de l’armÉe ou gibier de corps-de-garde, une garce À soldats.—Dictionnaire Comique.

Grobis, m. (familiar), faire du ——, to look big (obsolete).

Et en faisant du grobis leur donnait sa bÉnÉdiction.—Rabelais.

Grog au boeuf, m. (popular), broth.

Grogne, f. (obsolete), faire la ——, to grumble, to have “the tantrums.”

Faire la grogne, pour faire la moue, prendre la chÈvre, faire mauvais visage, bouder, gronder, Être de mauvaise humeur, dÉdaigner.—Dictionnaire Comique.

Grognon, m. (thieves’), one about to be executed. Properly one who grumbles, and very naturally so, at the unpleasant prospect. The English equivalent is “gallows-ripe.”

Groller (popular), to growl, to grumble. Properly to croak. From the word grolle, used by Rabelais with the signification of crow.

Gromiau, m. (popular), child, “kid.” Termed also “gosse, loupiau.”

Grondin, m. (thieves’), pig, “sow’s baby,” or “grunting cheat.”

Gros, adv. and adj. (popular), coucher —— (obsolete), to utter some enormity. GÂcher du ——, to ease oneself. See Mouscailler. Gros cul, prosperous rag-picker; —— lot, venereal disease; (familiar and popular) —— bonnet, influential man; high official, “big-wig;” —— numÉro, brothel, or “nanny-shop.” An establishment of that description has a number of large dimensions placed over the front door, and window panes whitewashed. (Thieves’) Artie de —— Guillaume, brown bread. The expression, “du gros Guillaume,” was formerly used by the Parisians.

On appelle du gros Guillaume, du pain destinÉ, dans les maisons de campagne, pour la nourriture des valets de cour.—Du gros Guillaume, mot Parisien, pour dire du pain bis, du gros pain de mÉnage, tel que le mangent les paysans.—Le Roux, Dict. Comique.

(Military) Gros bonnet, officer of high rank, “bloke;” —— frÈres, —— lolos, or —— talons, the cuirassiers; —— lÉgumes, field-officers. A play on the words “Épaulettes À graines d’Épinards,” the insignia of such officers. The word gros, considered as the masculine of “grosse,” synonymous of “enceinte,” was formerly used with the signification of impatient, longing, alluding to the uncontrollable desires which are sometimes manifested by women in a state of pregnancy. Thus people would express their eagerness by such ridiculous phrases as, “Je suis gros de vous voir, de boire avec vous, de le connaÎtre.”

Grosse, adj. f. (popular), caisse, the body, or “apple cart;” —— cavalerie, staff of scavengers, or “rake kennels,” an allusion to their big boots; —— culotte, drunkard. (Convicts’) Grosse cavalerie, scum of the hulks, desperate scoundrels; and, in theatrical language, supernumeraries of the ballet. (Tramcar conductors’) Aller voir les grosses tÊtes, to drive the first morning car to Bineau, this part of Paris being inhabited by substantial people.

Grossiot, m. (popular), person of good standing, a “swell.”

Grotte, f. (thieves’), the hulks. GerbÉ À la ——, sentenced to transportation, or “lagged.” Aller À la ——, to be transported, “to lump the lighter.”

Grouchy, m. (printers’), petit ——, one who is late; small job, the composition of which has been delayed. An allusion to the alleged tardiness of General Grouchy at Waterloo.

Grouiller (sailors’), attrape À ne pas ——, mind you do not move.

Attrape À ne pas grouiller, fit le vieux. ... Tu perdrais ton souffle À lui courir aprÈs.—Richepin, La Glu.

Grouillis-grouillot, m. (popular), swarm, crowd, or “scuff.”

Grouin, m. (popular), face, or “mug.” Properly snout. Se lÉcher le ——, to kiss one another. Donner un coup de —— (obsolete), to kiss.

Groule, groulasse, f. (popular), female apprentice; small servant; young “slavey,” or “marchioness.”

Groumer (popular), to grumble.

Grubler (thieves’), to grumble; to growl.

Vous grublez comme un guichemard.—Richepin. (You growl like a jailer.)

Grue, f. (familiar), more than fast girl; kept woman, or “demi-rep;” foolish, empty-headed girl or woman.

Gruerie, f. (familiar), stupidity.

Grun (Breton cant), chin.

GruyÈre, m. (popular), morceau de ——, pockmarked face, or “cribbage face.”

Guadeloupe, f. (popular), mouth, or “rattle-trap.” Charger pour la ——, to eat. See Mastiquer.

Guano, m. (popular), excrement, or “quaker.” An allusion to the guano of South America.

GuÉdouze, or guÉtouse, f. (thieves’), death.

Gueldre, f. (fishermens’), bait prepared with shrimps for the fishing of sardines.

Guelte, f. (shopmens’), percentage allowed on sales.

Guelter (shopmens’), to make a percentage on sales; to pay such percentage.

GuÉnaud, m. (thieves’), wizard.

GuÉnaude, f. (thieves’), witch.

Guenette, f. (thieves’), fear, “funk.”

Guenilles, f. pl. (familiar), trousser ses ——, to run away (obsolete), “to tip one’s rags a gallop.”

Guenon, f. (popular), mistress of an establishment, the master being “le singe.”

GuÉri, adj. (thieves’), set at liberty; free; the prison being termed “hÔpital,” and imprisonment “maladie.”

HÉlas! il est malade À Canelle (il est arrÊtÉ À Caen) ... il a une fiÈvre chaude (il est fortement compromis), et vous, il paraÎt que vous Êtes guÉri (libre)?—Vidocq.

GuÉrite, f. (popular), À calotins, confessional. GuÉrite is properly a sentry-box. Enfiler la —— (obsolete), to run away.

GuÊtrÉ, m. (military), trooper who, for some reason or other, has to make the day’s journey on foot.

Gueulard, m. (thieves’), bag; wallet.

Ils trollent ordinairement À leur cÔtÉ un gueulard avec une rouillarde pour mettre le pivois.—Le Jargon de l’Argot. (They generally carry by their side a wallet with a bottle to keep the wine in.)

(Popular) Un ——, a stove. Gueulard, properly a gormandizer.

Gueularde, f. (thieves’), pocket, “cly,” “sky-rocket,” or “brigh.” Termed also “fouillouse, louche, profonde, or grande.”

Gueulardise, f. (popular), dainty food.

Gueule, f. (popular), d’empeigne, palate which, by dint of constant application to the bottle, has become proof against the strongest liquors; loud voice; —— de raie, ugly phiz, or “knocker face;” —— de tourte, stupid-looking face. Bonne ——, grotesque face. Crever la —— À quelqu’un, to break one’s head.

Je te vas crever la gueule.—Alphonse Karr.

Faire la ——, to make a wry face. Faire sa ——, to give oneself disdainful airs; to look disgusted.

Dis donc, Marie bon-bec, ne fais pas ta gueule.—Zola.

Avoir de la ——, to be loud-mouthed. Il n’a que la ——, he is a humbug. Se chiquer la ——, to maul one another’s face. (Military) Roulement de la ——, beating to dinner. Se sculpter une —— de bois, to get drunk, or “screwed.” For synonyms see Sculpter.

GueulÉe, f. (popular), howling; meal. Chercher la ——, to be a parasite, or “quiller.”

GueulÉes, f. pl. (popular), objectionable talk, or “blue talk.”

Gueuler (popular), comme un Âne, to be loud-tongued; (thieves’) —— À la chienlit, to cry out thieves! or police! “to whiddle beef.”

Gueuleton, m. (familiar and popular), a feast, or “spread.”

Et les artistes se levÈrent pour serrer la main d’un frÈre qui offrait un gueuleton gÉnÉral.—E. Monteil.

Gueuletonner (familiar and popular), to feast.

Gueuse, f. (popular), mistress; prostitute, or “mot.” See Gadoue. Courir la ——, to be a whore-monger, or “molrower.”

Gueux, m. (popular), small pan full of charcoal used as a foot-warmer by market women, &c.

Une vieille femme ... est accroupie prÈs d’un gueux sur les cendres duquel une cafetiÈre ronronne.—P. Mahalin.

Gueux-gueux (obsolete), rascal; the expression being used in a friendly manner.

Guibe (popular), leg; —— À la manque, lame leg; —— de satou, wooden leg. Jouer des guibes, to dance; to run away, “to slope.” See Patatrot.

Guibole, or guibolle, f. (popular and thieves’), leg, “pin.”

Mais comment? Lui, si dÉmoli, si mal grÉÉ À c’t’heure, avec sa guibole boiteuse, et ses bras rouillÉs, et toutes les avaries de sa coque en retraite, comment pourrait-il saborder ce gaillard-lÀ, d’aplomb et trapu?—Richepin, La Glu.

Jouer des guiboles, to run; to dance.

Puis, le soir, on avait fichu un balthazar À tout casser, et jusqu’au jour on avait jouÉ des guiboles.—Zola, L’Assommoir.

Guibon. See Guibonne.

Guibonne, f. (popular and thieves’), leg; —— carrÉe, ham.

Guiche, m. and f. (popular and thieves’), duc de ——, jailer, or “jigger dubber.” From guichetier, jailer. Mec de la ——, prostitute’s bully, or “Sunday man.” Thus termed on account of his kiss-curls. For list of synonyms see Poisson. Des guiches, kiss-curls. Termed in the English slang, “aggerawators,” or “Newgate knockers.” Regarding the latter expression the Slang Dictionary says: “‘Newgate knocker,’ the term given to the lock of hair which costermongers and thieves usually twist back towards the ear. The shape is supposed to resemble the knocker on the prisoners’ door at Newgate—a resemblance that carries a rather unpleasant suggestion to the wearer. Sometimes termed a ‘cobbler’s knot,’ or ‘cow-lick.’” Trifouiller les guiches, to comb the hair. (Familiar) Chevalier de la ——, prostitute’s bully, or “pensioner.” For list of synonymous expressions see Poisson. Le bataillon de la ——, the world of bullies.

Un ——, a prostitute’s bully.

C’est ... un guiche, c’est-À-dire un jeune homme aux mains blanches, À l’accroche-coeur, l’Adonis des nymphes des musettes, quand ce n’est pas une tante!... La moitiÉ des crimes qui se commettent À Paris est conÇue par le cerveau des guiches, exÉcutÉe par les bras des chefs d’attaque et finie par des assommeurs.—Les MÉmoires de Monsieur Claude.

Guichemar, guichemard, guichemince, guichemuche, m. (thieves’ and popular), jailer, “jigger dubber.” For guichetier.

Guide, m. (thieves’), the prime-mover in a murder.

C’est toujours le pÉgriot, le guide ou le toucheur qui devient À priori le chef d’attaque responsable d’une affaire criminelle.—MÉmoires de Monsieur Claude.

Guignard, m. (popular), ill luck.

Guigne-À-gauche, m. (popular), squinting man, or one with “swivel eyes.” From guigner, to scan.

Guignol, m. (popular), small theatre.

Guignolant, adj. (popular), unlucky; annoying.

GuignonnÉ, adj. (popular), Être ——, to be unlucky at a game.

Guillotine sÈche, f. (familiar), transportation. To be transported is expressed in the language of English rogues by the term “lighting the lumper.”

Guimbard, m. (thieves’), the van that conveys prisoners to gaol. Called by English rogues “Black Maria.”

Guimbarde, f. (popular), door; voice; head; carriage; good-for-nothing woman. Properly Jew’s-harp.

Oui, une femme devait savoir se retourner, mais la sienne avait toujours ÉtÉ une guimbarde, un tas. Ce serait sa faute, s’ils crevaient sur la paille.—Zola, L’Assommoir.

Also clock.

Au moment juste oÙ douze plombes se sont dÉcrochÉes À la guimbarde de la tÔle.—Le PÈre DuchÊne, 1879.

Couper la —— À quelqu’un, to cut one short.

Guinal, m. (thieves’), usurer; Jew; “sheney, Ikey, or mouchey.” Termed also “youtre, frisÉ, pied-plat.” Le grand ——, Mont de PiÉtÉ, or government pawnbroking establishment. (Rag-pickers’) Guinal, wholesale rag-dealer.

Guinaliser (thieves’), to be a usurer; to pawn. It had formerly the signification of to circumcise.

Guinche, f. (popular), low dancing saloon in the suburbs, or low wine-shop.

A la porte de cette guinche, un municipal se dressait sur ses ergots de cuir.—Huysmans, Les Soeurs Vatard.

Guincher (popular), to dance. Se ——, to dress oneself hurriedly and badly.

Guincheur, m. (popular), frequenter of dancing saloons called “guinches.”

Guindal, m. (popular), glass. Siffler le ——, to drink, “to wet one’s whistle,” or “to moisten one’s chaffer.” See Rincer.

Guinguette, f. (obsolete), fast girl.

Il faudra que je m’en retourne À pied comme une guinguette qui vient de souper en ville.—Le Ballet des XXIV. heures.

Also low restaurant.

Guirlande, f. (thieves’), chain which secures two convicts together.

On appelle cette chaÎne guirlande, parceque, remontant du pied À la ceinture, oÙ elle est fixÉe, elle retombe en dÉcrivant un demi-cercle, dont l’autre extrÉmitÉ est rattachÉe À la ceinture du camarade de chaÎne.—M. Christophe.

Guitare, f. (familiar and popular), head, or “nut;” monotonous saying; well-worn platitude. Jouer de la ——, to be monotonous. Avoir une sauterelle dans la ——, to be cracked, “to have a tile loose,” or “a bee in one’s bonnet.” For the list of synonymous expressions see Avoir.

Gwammel (Breton cant), woman; mother.

Gwilloik (Breton cant), wolf.

Gy, or jaspin (thieves’), yes, or “usher.” Michel says: “J’estime que gy n’est autre chose que le j, premiÈre lettre d’ita, qui remplaÇait ce mot latin dans certains actes de procÉdure.”

Quoi, tu veux rentiffer? Gy?—Richepin. (What, you wish to go home? Yes?)