UlcÈre, m. (popular), faire dÉgorger son ——, to make oneself vomit.

Unch’ (popular), the first words of a mild form of swearing, nom d’un....

Bravo ... Nom d’unch! C’est presque aussi bien qu’À l’Ambigu.—Victor Hugo.

Un peu de courage À la poche (mountebanks’), a phrase used as an appeal to the generosity of the public when the sum required before the performance of any feat is not forthcoming. May be rendered by “tuppence more and up goes the donkey,” a vulgar street phrase, says the Slang Dictionary, for extracting as much money as possible before performing any task. The phrase had its origin with a travelling showman, the finale of whose performance was the hoisting of a donkey on a pole or ladder. (Familiar) Un de plus refers to an injured husband.

Uonik (Breton cant), the sun.

Urf, adj. (popular), excellent, first-class. C’est rien ——! excellent, “real jam.” Le monde ——, fine people.

Urge, m. The word is used by the ladies or “tartlets” of the Boulevards to qualify a man’s financial status. The scale ranges from the humble “un urge,” denoting a poor or very stingy man, to the superlative “dix urges.” A stingy man is also said to wear gloves of the size 6½, whilst a generous One sports the 8½.

Ainsi un gandin passe d’un air dÉgagÉ sur le boulevard, lorgnant les femmes qui font espalier À la porte des cafÉs. Trois urges! diront celles-ci en l’apercevant. Trois urges, c’est-À-dire: ce monsieur n’est pas gÉnÉreux, il gante dans les numÉros bas. Si, au contraire, elles disent: Six urges! ou huit urges! oh! alors, c’est un banquier mexicain qui passe lÀ, elles le savent, il leur en a donnÉ des preuves la veille ou l’avant-veille. L’Échelle n’a que dix Échelons; le premier urge s’emploie À propos des pignoufs; le dixiÈme urge seulement À propos des grands seigneurs.—Delvau.

Urine de lapin (popular), bad and weak brandy.

Urle, f. (thieves’), the room where prisoners have interviews with visitors.

Urne, f. (popular), head, or “tibby.” Avoir un dÉputÉ dans l’——, to be enceinte.

Urpino, adj. (popular), excellent, “fizzing;” elegant. For rupino, rupin. C’est —— aux pommes, it is the height of elegance.

Ursule, f. (familiar), old maid.

Usager (popular), is said of a man with genteel manners.

User (military), son matricule, to serve in the army. Le numÉro matricule is the soldier’s number. (Gamesters’) User le tapis, to play low; (familiar) —— sa salive, to argue uselessly. Ne pas avoir usÉ ses culottes sur les bancs, to be ignorant. (Thieves’) User la pierre ponce, to be a convict at a penal servitude settlement. From a simile. Pumice stone takes a long time to wear away.

Usine, f. (popular), place where one works.

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

Ustensile, m. (bullies’), mistress.

Ustensilier, m. (theatrical), one who has charge of the minor articles of the plant.

Ustoches, m. pl. (popular), scissors. Deformation of eustache, knife.

Ut! (printers’), your health! First word of a sentence formerly used by printers when drinking together, “Ut tibi prosit meri potio!” The Germans use the expression, “prosit!”

UtilitÉ, f. (theatrical), useful actor, an “all round” one.