Icicaille, icigo (thieves’), here.

Ienna (Breton cant), to deceive, impose upon.

Ierchem (roughs’), to ease oneself. A coarse word disguised. It is of “back slang” formation, with the termination em.

Iergue, parler en ——, to use the word as a suffix to other words.

Ignorantin (common), a “frÈre des Ecoles de la Doctrine chrÉtienne.” Thus called on account of their ignorance. They are lay brothers, and formerly had charge of what were termed in England ragged schools.

Igo (thieves’), here. La chamÈgue est ——, the woman is here.

Il (popular), y a de l’empile, or de l’empilage, there is some trickery, unfair play, cheating; —— y a de l’empile, la peau alors! je me dÉbine, they are cheating, to the deuce then! I’ll go; —— y a des arÊtes dans ce corps-lÀ, an euphemism to denote that a man makes his living off a prostitute’s earnings, alluding to the epithet “poisson” applied to such creatures; —— a plu sur sa mercerie is said of a woman with thin skinny breasts; —— tombera une roue de votre voiture is said of a person in too high spirits, to express an opinion that his mirth will soon receive a damper. (Theatrical) Il pleut! is used to denote that a play is a failure, that it is being hissed down, or “damned.”

Il est midi! (popular), an exclamation used to warn one who is talking in the presence of strangers or others to be prudent and guarded in his speech. It also means it’s of no use, it is all in vain.

Illico, m. (popular), grog prepared on the sly by patients in hospitals, an extemporized medicine made of sugar, spirits, and tincture of cinnamon.

ImbÉcile À deux roues, m. (popular), bicyclist.

Imbiber (popular), s’—— le jabot, to drink, “to wet one’s whistle.”

ImmobilitÉ, f. (painters’), mercenaire de l’——, model who makes a living by sitting to painters.

Impair, m. (familiar), faire un ——, to make a blunder, “to put one’s foot in it.” (Thieves’) Impair! look out! ——, acrÉ nous v’lÀ noblÉs, look out, be on your guard, we are recognized.

ImpÉratrice, f., for impÉriale, top of bus.

ImpÈre (popular), abbreviation of impÉriale, or top of bus.

ImpÉriale, f. (general), tuft of hair on the chin. Formerly termed “royale.” The word has passed into the language.

Importance (general), d’——, strongly, vigorously. J’te vas le moucher d’——, I’ll let him know a piece of my mind; I’ll snub him.

ImpÔt, m. (thieves’), autumn.

Impressionisme, m. (familiar), school of artists who paint nature according to the personal impression they receive. Some carry the process too far, perhaps, for if their retina conveys to them an impression that a horse, for instance, is indigo or ultramarine, they will reproduce the image in Oxford or Cambridge blue on the canvas. Needless to say, the result is sometimes startling.

Impressioniste, m., painter of the school called impressionisme (which see).

Impure, f. (familiar), kept woman, or “demi-rep.” For the list of synonyms see Gadoue.

Incommode, m. (thieves’), lantern, lamp-post. Properly inconvenient, thieves being lovers of darkness.

IncommodÉ, adj. (thieves’), Être ——, to be taken red-handed, to be “nabbed” in the act.

InconobrÉ, m. and adj. (thieves’), stranger; unknown.

Incroyable, m. (familiar), dandy under the Directoire at the end of the last century. The appellation was given to swells of that period on account of their favourite expression, “C’est incroyable!” pronounced c’est incoyable, according to their custom of leaving out the r, or giving it the sound of w. For synonyms see Gommeux.

Index (popular), travailler À l’——, to work at reduced wages.

Indicateur, m. (general), spy in the pay of the police, “nark.” Generally a street hawker, sometimes a thief.

Il y a deux genres d’indicateurs: les indicateurs sur place, tels que les marchands de chaÎnes de sÛretÉ et les marchands d’aiguilles, bimbelotiers d’occasion, faux aveugles, etc., et les indicateurs errants: marchands de balais, faux infirmes, musiciens ambulants: ... Il y avait, sous l’empire, des indicateurs jusque dans le haut commerce parisien.—MÉmoires de Monsieur Claude.

Indicatrice, f. (familiar), female spy in the employ of the police.

Indigent, m. (bus conductors’), outside passenger on a bus. Thus termed on account of the outside fare being half that inside. Indigent, properly pauper.

Inexpressibles, m. pl. (familiar), from the English, trousers.

Infanterie, f. (popular), entrer dans l’——, to become pregnant, or “lumpy.” Compare with the English expression “infantry,” a nursery term for children.

Infect, adj. (general), utterly bad. The expression is applied to anything. Ce cigare est ——, that cigar is rank. Ce livre est ——, that book is worthless. Un —— individu, a contemptible individual.

Infectados, m. (familiar), cheap cigar, “cabbage leaf.”

InfÉrieur, adj. (popular), cela m’est ——, that is all the same to me.

Infirme, m. (popular), clumsy fellow.

Ils sonnÈrent tant bien que mal ces infirmes, et les gens accoururent au tapage.—L. Cladel, OmpdraillÉs.

Ingrat, m. (thieves’), clumsy thief.

Ingurgiter son bilan (popular), to die, or “to snuff it.” See Pipe.

Inodore, adj. (familiar), soyez calme et ——, be cool; don’t get excited; be calm; be decorous, or, as the Americans say, “pull your jacket down.”

Inouisme, m. (familiar), ruisselant d’——, extraordinarily fine, good, dashing, “slap up, or tzing tzing.”

InsÉparables, m. pl. (familiar), cigars sold at fifteen centimes a couple.

Insinuant, m. (thieves’), apothecary; one who performs, or used to perform, the “clysterium donare” of MoliÈre.

Insinuante, f. (thieves’), syringe.

Insinuation, f. (thieves’), clyster.

InsolpÉ, m. and adj. (thieves’), insolent, “cheeky.”

Inspecteur des pavÉs, m. (popular), workman out of work, or “out of collar.”

Institutrice, f. (popular), female who keeps a brothel; the mistress of an “academy.”

Instruit, adj. (thieves’), Être ——, to be a skilful thief, a “gonnof.”

InsurgÉ de Romilly, m. (popular), lump of excrement, or “quaker.”

Interloquer (soldiers’), to talk. Je vais aller en —— avec le marchichef, I will talk about it to the quartermaster sergeant.

Interver, entraver (thieves’), to understand. Je n’entrave que le dail, I do not understand, I don’t “twig.” Interver dans les vannes, to allow oneself to be “stuffed up,” to be “bamboozled.”

Intime, m. (theatrical), man who is paid to applaud at a theatre. Termed also “romain.”

Intransigeant, m. (familiar), politician of extreme opinions who will not sacrifice an iota of his programme. The reverse of opportuniste.

Inutile, m. (thieves’), notary public.

Invalo, m. (popular), for invalide, pensioner of the “HÔtel des Invalides,” a home for old or disabled soldiers.

Invite, f. (popular), faire une —— À l’as is said of a woman who makes advances to a man.

Inviteuse, f. (general), waitress at certain cafÉs termed “caboulots.” Her duties, besides serving the customers, consist in getting herself treated by them to any amount of liquor; but, to prevent accidents, the drinks intended for the inviteuse are generally water or some mild alcoholic mixture. The inviteuse often plies also another trade—that of a semi-prostitute.

Iot fetis (Breton cant), porridge of buckwheat flour.

Ioulc’h (Breton cant), giddy girl.

Ioulc’ha (Breton cant), to play the giddy girl.

IpÉca, m. (military), le pÈre ——, the regimental surgeon.

Irlande, f. (thieves’), envoyer en ——, to send anything from prison.

IrrÉconciliable, m. (familiar), member of the opposition under Napoleon III.

Isgourde, f. (popular), ear, “wattle,” or “lug.”

Isolage, m. (thieves’), abandonment; leaving in the lurch.

Isoler (thieves’), to forsake.

Isoloir, m. (familiar), se mettre sur l’——, to forsake one’s friends.

Italian (Breton cant), rum.

Italique, f. (popular), avoir les jambes en ——, to be bandy-legged. Pincer son ——, to reel about.

Itou, adv. (popular), also. Moi ——, I too.

Itrer (thieves’), to have.

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

Ivoires, f. (popular), teeth, “ivories.” Faire un effet d’——, to show one’s teeth, “to flash one’s ivories.”

Izabel (Breton cant), brandy.