Livre d
’architecture, _ledger of a lodge_. (Sharpers’) Livre, _one hundred francs_.
LOA VIHAN (Breton cant), _coffee_.
LOCANDIER, _m._ (thieves’). Called also “voleur au bonjour,” _thief who visits apartments in the morning, and who when caught pretends to have entered the wrong rooms by mistake_. See GRINCHE.
LOCHE, _f._ (popular), mou comme une ----, _slow_, _phlegmatic_, “lazybones.” (Thieves’) Loche, _ear_, or “wattle.” Properly _loach or groundling_.
LOCHER (thieves’), _to listen_; (popular) _to totter_, “to be groggy.”
LOCOMOTIVE, _f._ (popular), _great smoker_.
LOF, LOFF, LOFFARD, LOFFE, _m._ (popular), _fool_, or “bounder.” “Lof” is the anagram of “fol.”
A lui le coq,... pour inventer des emblèmes ... quand j’y pense, fallait-il que je fusse loff pour donner dans un godan pareil!--_Mémoires de Vidocq._
LOFFAT, _m._ (popular), _apprentice_.
LOFFIAT, _m._ (popular), _blockhead_, or “cabbage-head.”
LOFFITUDE, _f._ (thieves’), _stupidity_; _nonsense_. Bonisseur de loffitudes, _nonsense-monger_. Solliceur de loffitudes, _journalist_.
LOGE INFERNALE, _f._ (theatrical), _box occupied by young men of fashion_.
LOGER RUE DU CROISSANT (familiar and popular), _is said of an injured husband_, or “buckface.” An allusion to the horns of the moon.
LOGIS DU MOUTROT, _m._ (thieves’), _police court_.
LOIR, _m._ (thieves’), _prison_, “stir, or Bastile.” See MOTTE.
LOKARD (Breton cant), _peasant_.
LOKO (Breton cant), _brandy_.
LOLO, _m._ (thieves’), _chief_, or “dimber damber;” (popular) _cocotte_, or “mot.” See GADOUE. Fifi ----, _large iron cylinder in which the contents of cesspools are carried away by the scavengers_. (Military) Gros lolos, _cuirassiers_.
LOMBARD, _m._ (popular), _commissionnaire of the “Mont de Piété,” or government pawning establishment_.
LONCEGUÉ, _m._ (thieves’ and cads’), _man_, “cove;” _master of a house_, “boss.” The word gonce disguised.
LONCEGUEM, _f._ (thieves’ and cads’), _woman_, or “hay-bag;” _mistress of a house_.
LONG, _m. and adj._ (popular), _simpleton_, _greenhorn_. Etes-vous logé et nourri? Oui, le ---- du mur. _Do you get board and lodging? Yes, at my own expense._ (Thieves’) Long, _stupid_; _blockhead_, or “go along.” Abbreviation of long à comprendre.
LONGCHAMPS, _m._, _a long corridor of w.c.’s at the Ecole Polytechnique_; (popular) _a procession_.
LONGE, _f._ (thieves’), _year_, or “stretch.” Tirer une ----, _to do one_ “stretch” _in prison_.
LONGÉ, _adj._ (popular), _old_.
LONGIN, or SAINT-LONGIN, _m._ (popular), _sluggard_.
LONGINE, or SAINTE-LONGINE, _f._ (popular), _sluggish woman_.
LONGUETTE DE TRÈFLE, _f._ (thieves’), _roll of tobacco_, or “twist of fogus.”
LOPHE, _adj._ (thieves’), _false_; _counterfeit_, “flash.” Un fafiot ----, _a forged bank-note_, or “queer screen.”
LOPIN, _m._ (popular), _spittle_, or “gob.”
LOQUE, _m._ (thieves’), parler en ----, _mode of disguising words_. The word is preceded by the letter “l,” and the syllable preceded by the first letter of the word is added. Thus “fou” becomes “loufoque.”
LOQUES, _f. pl._ (thieves’), _pieces of copper_.
LORCEFÉ, _f._ (thieves’), _old prison of “La Force.”_ La ---- des largues, _the prison of Saint-Lazare, where prostitutes and unfaithful wives are confined_.
Eh bien! si je te la fourrais à la lorcefé des largues (Saint-Lazare) pour un an, le temps de ton gerbement.--=BALZAC.=
LORDANT. See LOURDIER.
LORET, _m._ (popular), _lover of a_ lorette.
LORETTE, _f._ (familiar), _more than fast girl_, or “mot,” _named after the Quartier Notre Dame de Lorette, the Paris Pimlico_. See GADOUE.
LORGNE, or LORGNE-BÉ, _m._ (thieves’), _one-eyed man_. In English slang “a seven-sided animal;” _the ace of cards_, or “pig’s eye.”
LORGNETTE, _f._ (thieves’), _keyhole_, this natural receptacle for a key being considered by thieves as an aperture convenient only for making investigations from the outside of a door. Etui à ----, _coffin_, or “cold-meat box.” Eteindre ses deux lorgnettes, _to close one’s eyes_.
LORQUET, _m._ (popular), _sou_.
LOT, _m._ (popular), _venereal disease_.
LOU, or LOUP, _m._ (popular), faire un ----, _to spoil a piece of work_.
LOUANEK (Breton cant), _brandy_.
LOUAVE, _m._ (thieves’), _drunkard_. Être ----, _to be drunk_, “to be canon.” Faire un ----, _to rob a drunkard_. Rogues who devote their energies to this kind of thieving are termed “bug-hunters.”
LOUBAC, _m._ (popular), _apprentice_.
LOUBION, _m._ (thieves’), _bonnet or hat_. See TUBARD.
LOUBIONNIER, _m._ (thieves’), _hat or bonnet maker_.
LOUCHE, _f._ (thieves’), _hand_, or “duke.” La ----, _the police_, or “reelers.” La ---- le renifle, _the police are tracing him_, _he is getting a_ “roasting.”
LOUCHÉE, _f._ (thieves’), _spoonful_. From louche, _a soup ladle_.
LOUCHER (popular), de la bouche, _to have a constrained, insincere smile_; ---- de l’épaule, _to be a humpback_, or a “lord;” ---- de la jambe, _to be lame_. Faire ---- un homme, _to inspire a man with carnal desire_.
LOUCHERBEM, _m._ (popular and thieves’), the word boucher disguised, see Lem; BUTCHER. Corbillard des ----, see CORBILLARD.
LOUCHON, _m._, LOUCHONNE, _f._ (popular), _person who squints_, _one with_ “swivel-eyes.”
LOUFFER (popular and thieves’), _to foist_, “to fizzle.” Si tu louffes encore sans dire fion je te passe à travers, _if you_ “fizzle” _again without apologizing I’ll thrash you_.
LOUFFIAT, _m._ (popular), _low cad_. Termed in the English slang a “rank outsider.”
LOUFOQUE, _adj. and m._ (popular and thieves’), _mad_, or “cracked, balmy, or one off his chump.” The word fou disguised by means of the syllable loque. See LOQUE.
Si nos doch’ étaient moins vieilles, On les ferait plaiser, Mais les pauv’ loufoques balaient Les gras d’nos laisées.
=RICHEPIN.=
LOUILLE, _f._ (thieves’), _prostitute_, or “bunter.” See GADOUE.
LOUIS, _f. and m._ (bullies’), une ----, _a bully’s mistress_, _a prostitute_. Abbreviation of Louis XV., women in brothels often powdering and dressing their hair Louis XV. fashion. See GADOUE.
J’couch’ que’qu’fois sous des voitures; Mais on attrap’ du cambouis. J’veux pas ch’linguer la peinture Quand j’suc’ la pomme à ma Louis.
=RICHEPIN.=
(Popular) Un ---- d’or, _lump of excrement_, or “quaker.”
LOUISETTE, _f._ _old appellation of the guillotine_.
LOUIZA (Breton cant), WATER.
LOUP, _m._ (popular), _mistake_; _debt_; _creditor_, or “dun;” _misfit, or piece of work which has been spoilt_; (printers’) _lack of type_; _debt_; _creditor_. Faire un ----, _is to buy on credit_.
Le jour de la banque, le créancier ou “loup” vient quelquefois guetter son débiteur (nous allions dire sa proie) à la sortie de l’atelier pour réclamer ce qui lui est dû. Quand la réclamation a lieu à l’atelier, ce qui est devenu très rare, les compositeurs donnent à leur camarade et au créancier une “roulance” accompagnée des cris: au loup! au loup!--=BOUTMY.=
LOUPATE, _m._ (popular), the word “pou” disguised, _a louse_, or “grey-backed ’un.”
LOUP-CERVIER, _m._ (familiar), _stockjobber_.
LOUPE, _f._, _laziness_, “loafing.” Camp de la ----, _vagabonds’ meeting-place_. Chevalier de la ----, _a lazy rambler or gad-about who goes about pleasure seeking_. (Thieves’) Un enfant de la ----, _a variety of the vagabond tribe_.
Les Enfants de la loupe et les Filendèches habitaient de préférence l’extérieur des carrières, leurs fours à briques ou à plâtre.--_Mémoires de Monsieur Claude._
LOUPER (popular), _to idle about pleasure seeking_.
LOUPEUR (popular), _lazy workman_, _or one who is_ “Mondayish.”
LOUPIAT, _m._ (popular), _lazy_, or “Mondayish,” _workman_; _vagrant_, or “pikey.”
LOUPIAU, or LOUPIOT, _m._ (popular), _child_, or “kid.”
LOUPION, _m._ (popular), _hat_, “tile.” See TUBARD.
LOURDE, or LOURDIÈRE, _f._ (thieves’), _door_, “jigger.” Bâcler la ----, _to shut the door_, “to dub the jigger.”
LOURDEAU, _m._ (thieves’), _devil_, “ruffin,” or “darble.”
LOURDIER, _m._ (popular), _door-keeper_.
LOUSSE, _f._ (thieves’), _country gendarme or corps of gendarmerie_.
LOUSSÉS, _m. pl._ (cads’), dix ----, _fifty centimes_. The word sous disguised.
LOUSTAUD, _m._ (thieves’), _prison_, or “stir.” See MOTTE. Envoyer à ----, _to send to the deuce_, “to pot.”
LOUTER (popular). See FAIRE UN LOU.
LOUVETEAU, _m._ (freemasons’), _son of a freemason_.
LOUVETIER, _m._ (printers’), _man in debt_.
Ce terme est pris en mauvaise part, car le typo auquel on l’applique est considéré comme faisant trop bon marché de sa dignité.--=BOUTMY.=
LUBRE, _adj._ (thieves’), _dismal_. Lubre comme un guichemard, _as dismal as a turnkey_.
LUC, _m._ (popular), messire ----, _breech_, or “tochas.” “Luc” is the anagram of “cul.” See VASISTAS.
LUCARNE, _f._ (popular), _woman’s bonnet_.
Autrefois on assimilait le capuchon des moines à une fenêtre, d’où le proverbe: défiez-vous des gens qui ne voient le jour que par une fenêtre de drap.--=MICHEL.=
LUCARNE, _monocular eye-glass_. Crever sa ----, _to break one’s eye-glass_.
LUCQUES, _m. pl._ (thieves’), _documents_. Porte ----, _pocket-book_, “dee,” or “dummy.”
LUCRÈCE, _f._ (popular), faire sa ----, _to put on a virtuous look_.
LUCTRÈME, _m._ (thieves’), _skeleton key_, “screw,” “Jack in the box,” or “twirl.” Filer le ----, _to open a door by means of a skeleton-key_, “to screw.”
LUGNA (Breton cant), _to look_.
LUIRE, _m._ (old cant), _brain_.
LUIS, or LUISANT, _m._ (thieves’), _day_.
Je rouscaille tous les luisans au grand haure de l’oraison.--_Le Jargon de l’Argot._ (_I pray daily the great God of prayer._)
LUISANT, _m._, see LUIS; (familiar) _dandy_, “masher.”
Voici d’abord le pschutt, le vlan, les luisants, comme nous les nommons aujourd’hui.--=P. MAHALIN.=
For synonymous terms see GOMMEUX.
LUISANTE, or LUISARDE, _f._ (thieves’), _moon_, or “parish lantern;” _window_, or “jump.”
LUISARD, or LUYSARD, _m._ (thieves’), _sun_. Luysard estampille six plombes, _it is six o’clock by the sun_.
LUISARDE, _f._ (thieves’), _moon_, “parish lantern, or oliver.”
LUMIGNON, _m._ (thieves’), le grand ----, _sun_. Properly lumignon is _a lantern_.
LUMINARISTE, _m._ (theatrical), _lamp-lighter_.
LUNCHER (familiar), _to have lunch_. From the English.
LUNE, _f._ (thieves’), one franc; ---- à douze quartiers, _the wheel on which criminals were broken_. (Familiar and popular) Lune, _the behind_. See VASISTAS. Lune, _large full face_. Amant de la ----, _man with amatory intentions who frequently goes out on nocturnal, but fruitless_ “caterwauling” _expeditions_. Voir la ----, _is said of a maiden who is made a woman_.
La petite a beau avoir de la dentelle, elle n’en verra pas moins la lune par le même trou que les autres.--=ZOLA=, _L’Assommoir_.
LUNÉ, _adj._ (popular), bien ----, _in a good humour_, _well disposed_.
LUNETTE, _f._ (popular), d’approche, _guillotine_. Passer en ----, _to take in_, “to do;” _to harm_. Etre passé en ----, _to fail in business_. Les lunettes, _posteriors_, or “cheeks.” (Popular) Lunettes, _small fry_. Je vais à la chasse aux ----, _I am going to fish for small fry_.
LUQUE, _f._ (thieves’ and mendicants’), _certificate_; _false certificate, or false begging petition_, “fakement;” _passport_; _picture_. Je sais bien aquiger les luques, _I know well how to forge a certificate, or to make up pictures_. Porte ----, _pocket-book_, or “dummy.” It seems probable that the term “une luque,” a picture, is derived from Saint-Luc, who formed the subject of the pictures used formerly by mendicants to ingratiate themselves with monks and nuns, as mentioned by _Le Jargon de l’Argot_.
LUQUET, _m._ (thieves’ and mendicants’), _forged certificate_, _or false begging petition_, “fakement.”
LURON, _m._ (thieves’), avaler le ----, _to partake of communion_. The term was probably, in the origin, “le rond,” corrupted into its present form (Michel).
LUSIGNANTE, _f._ (popular), _mistress_, or “moll.”
LUSQUIN, _m._ (thieves’), _charcoal_.
LUSQUINES, _f. pl._ (thieves’), _ashes_.
LUSTRE, _m._ (thieves’), _judge_, or “beak.” (Theatrical) Chevaliers du ----, _men who are paid to applaud at a theatre_. Termed also “romains.” The staff of romains is termed “claque.”
LUSTRER (thieves’), _to try a prisoner_, _to have him in for_ “patter.”
LUTAINPEM, _f._ (thieves’ and cads’), _prostitute_, or “bunter.” See GADOUE. The term is nothing more than the word “putain” distorted by means of the syllable “lem.” See LEM.
LYCÉE, _m._ (thieves’), _prison_, “stir, or Bastile.” For synonyms see MOTTE.
LYCÉEN, _m._ (thieves’), _prisoner_. Termed also “élève du château.”
LYONNAISE, _f._ (popular), _silk_, “floss.” Etre à la ----, _to wear a silk dress_.
M
MABILLARDE, _f._ (popular), _girl leading a dissolute life, an habituée of the Bal Mabille_. Called also “grue mabillarde.”
MABILLIEN, _m._, MABILLIENNE, _f._ (popular), _male and female habitués of the Bal Mabille_, a place much frequented by pleasure-seeking foreigners.
Les mabilliennes de 1863 se subdivisent en plusieurs catégories: la dinde, la solitaire, la grue.--_Les Mémoires du Bal Mabille._
MABOUL, _adj._ (general), _one_ “cracked,” _or one with_ “a screw loose.” From the Arab.
C’est-y que t’es maboul? dit l’chef.--J’suis pas maboul, que je réponds. --=G. COURTELINE.=
MAC, _m._ (popular), abbreviation of “maquereau,” _girl’s bully_, or “Sunday man.” For synonyms see POISSON. The term also applies to any man living at a woman’s expense.
MACA, _f._ (popular), _mistress of a bawdy-house_. Termed also “Mère Maca” or “macquecée.” Maca suiffée, _a rich proprietress of a house of ill-fame_. Maca, _the Paris Morgue or dead-house_. From machabée.
MACABÉE, _m._ (common). See MACHABÉE.
MACACHE (military), _no_; ---- bono, _no good_.
Allons, les deux rosses, debout!...--Pourquoi donc faire faut-y qu’on se lève?--Pour aller, reprit l’adjudant, casser la glace des abreuvoirs. Là dessus, assez causé: debout!...--Debout à trois heures du matin? Ah! macache.--=G. COURTELINE.=
MACADAM, _m._ (familiar and popular), faire le ----, _to walk to and fro on the pavement as a prostitute_. Fleur de ----, _street-walker_. See GADOUE. Le général ----, _the public_. (Popular) Macadam, _sweet white wine of inferior quality_.
Chez nous c’est sous le noir et bas plafond d’un bouge que les voyous blafards, couleur tête de veau, font la vendange. Ils ont pour vin doux et nouveau le liquide appelé macadam, une boue jaunâtre fade.--=RICHEPIN=, _Le Pavé_.
MACAIRE, _m._ (familiar and popular), un Robert ----, _a swindler_, _one of_ the “swell mob.” Robert Macaire is a character in a play called _L’Auberge des Adrets_.
MACAIRISME, _m._ (familiar), _any act referring to swindling operations_.
MACARON, _m._ (popular), huissier, _kind of attorney_; (thieves’) _informer, one who_ “blows the gaff,” a “snitcher.”
Cet homme qui criait si fort contre ceux que les gens de sa sorte nomment des macarons s’est un des premiers mis à table.--=VIDOCQ.= (_That very man who complained so much of those whom such people term traitors has been one of the first to inform._)
MACARONNAGE, _m._ (thieves’), _informing against_, “blowing the gaff.”
MACARONNER (thieves’), _to inform against_, “to blow the gaff,” or “to turn snitch.” Se ----, _to run away_, “to guy.” See PATATROT.
MACCHOUX, _m._ (popular), _prostitute’s bully_, or “Sunday man.” See POISSON.
MACÉDOINE, _f._ (engine drivers’), _fuel_.
MACHABÉ, _adj._ (popular), _drunk_. J’ai trop picté, je suis à moitié ----, _I have been drinking too much, I am half drunk_
MACHABÉE, _m._ (popular), _gay girls’ bully_, or “ponce”; see POISSON; _Jew_, “mouchey, Ikey, or sheney;” _body of a drowned person_.
Je ne vois d’autre origine à cette expression que la lecture du chap. xii. du deuxième livre des Machabées, qui a encore lieu aux messes des morts; ou plutôt c’est de là que sera venue la danse macabre, dont l’argot a conservé le souvenir.--=MICHEL.=
Case des machabées, _cemetery_. Le clou des machabées, the “_Morgue” or Paris dead-house_. Mannequin à machabées, _hearse_. (Thieves’) Machabée, _traitor_, or “snitcher.” Literally _a corpse_, the informer in a prison, when detected, being generally murdered by those he has betrayed by means of the punishment termed “accolade,” which consists in crushing him against a wall.
MACHABER (popular), _to die_, “to kick the bucket.” See PIPE. Machaber quelqu’un, _to drown one_. Se ----, _to drink_. Je me suis machabé d’un litre, _I have treated myself to a litre bottle of wine_.
MACHICOT, _m._ (popular), _bad, mean player, or one who plays a_ “tinpot game.” In the _Contes d’Eutrapel_, a French officer at the siege of Chatillon is ridiculously spoken of as Captain Tin-pot--Capitaine du Pot d’Etain. Tin-pot as generally used means worthless.
MACHIN, _m._ (general), _expression used when one cannot recollect the name of a person_, “thingumbob, or what’s name.”
MACHINE, _f._ (literary, artists’, theatrical), _production_.
Cela m’est bien égal! Il n’est pas le seul à me dévisager. Je lui chanterai sa “machine” et il me laissera tranquille.--=J. SERMET=, _Une Cabotine_.
Grande ----, _drama_. Molière uses the word to describe an important affair or undertaking:--
J’ai des ressors tout prêts pour diverses machines.--_L’Etourdi._
(Popular) Machine à moulures, _breech_, or “bum,” see VASISTAS; ---- à lisserpem, _urinal_; lisserpem being the word pisser disguised.
MÂCHOIRE, _f._ (familiar and popular), _blockhead_. (Literary) Vieille ----, _dull, old-fashioned writer_; _ignorant man_.
L’on arrivait par la filière d’épithètes qui suivent: ci-devant, faux toupet, aile de pigeon, perruque, étrusque, mâchoire, ganache, au dernier degré de décrépitude, à l’épithète la plus infamante, académicien et membre de l’Institut.--=TH. GAUTIER.=
MACMAHON, _m._ (dragoons’), _head of a Medusa at top of helmet_.
MACMAHONNAT, _m._, _period of Marshal MacMahon’s sway as President of the Republic_. Everybody recollects the famous “J’y suis, j’y reste!” of the Marshal, and Gambetta’s reply, “Il faut se soumettre ou se démettre.”
MAÇON, _m._ (popular), _four-pound loaf_; (freemasons’) ---- de pratique, _mason_; ---- de théorie, _freemason_; (familiar) _disparaging epithet applied to any clumsy worker_.
MACQUE, MACQUET. See MAC.
MACQUECÉE. See MACA.
MACROTAGE, or MAQUEREAUTAGE, _m._ (familiar and popular), _living at a woman’s expense_; used also figuratively to denote agency in some fishy business.
MACROTER (familiar and popular), _to live at a woman’s expense_, ---- une affaire, _to be the agent in some fishy business_.
MACROTIN, _m._ (familiar and popular), _one living at a woman’s expense_, “pensioner” _with an unmentionable prefix_, _young bully_, _young_ “ponce.” See POISSON.
MACULATURE, _f._ (printers’), attraper une ----, _to get drunk_, _to get_ “tight.” See SCULPTER.
MADAME (popular), Milord quépète, _lazy woman, who likes to lie in bed_; ---- Tiremonde (expression used by Rabelais), or Tire-pousse, _midwife_; (shopmen’s) ---- Canivet, _a female customer who cannot make up her mind, and leaves without purchasing anything, after having made the unfortunate shopman display all his goods_.
MADELEINE, _f._ (card-sharpers’), faire suer la ----, _to cheat_, or “bite,” _with great difficulty_.
MADELEN (Breton cant), _salt_.
MADEMOISELLE MANETTE, _f._ (popular), _portmanteau_, or “peter.”
MADRICE, _f._ (thieves’), _cunning_. Il a de la ----, _he is cunning_, or “is fly to wot’s wot.”
MADRIN, MADRINE, _adj._ (thieves’), _cunning_, “leary, or fly to wot’s wot.”
MADROUILLAGE, _m._ (thieves’), _bungle_.
MA FIOLE (thieves’), _me_; _myself_, “my nibs.” Est-ce que tu te fiches de ----? _are you laughing at me?_
MAGASIN, _m._ (military), _military school_, “shop” at the R. M. Academy; (popular) ---- de blanc, or de fesses, _brothel_.
MAGISTRAT’MUCHE, _f._ (thieves’), _magistracy_. Un pant’ de la ----, _a magistrate_, a “beak.” Termed “queer cuffin” in old cant.
MAGNANIÈRE, _f._ (thieves’), de ----, _in order that_. Il fagaut dévider la retentissante de ---- à ne pas faire de l’harmonarès, _we must break the bell so as not to make any noise_.
MAGNÉE, _f._ (thieves’), _prostitute_, or “bunter.” See GADOUE.
MAGNES, _f. pl._ (popular), _affectation_, “high-falutin” _airs_. Faire des ----, _to make ceremonies_. As-tu fini tes ----? _none of your airs!_ “stop bouncing!” _I don’t take that in!_ From manières.
MAGNETTE, _f._ (thieves’), _name_, or “monarch;” ---- blague, _false name_. Il fagaut la ---- blague de magnanière que tu ne sois paga, _you must take a false name lest you should be caught_.
MAGNEUSE, MAGNUCE, MANIEUSE, _f._ (popular). Michel says: “Fille de joie, femme qui se déprave avec des individus de son sexe ... quelque allusion malveillante, et sans doute calomnieuse, à une communauté religieuse. Je veux parler des Magneuses, qui devaient ce nom à leur fondatrice.”
MAGUER (popular), se ----, _to hurry_.
MAIGRE, m. (thieves’), du ----! _silence!_ “mum your dubber.” Also _take care what you say_, or “plant the whids.”
En vain se démanche-t-il à faire le signe qui doit le sauver, du maigre! du maigre! crie-t-il à tue-tête.--=VIDOCQ.=
MAILLARD, _m._ (popular), fermer ----, _to sleep_, “to have a dose of balmy.” Fermeture ----, _sleep_, “balmy.” Etre terrassé par ----, _to be extremely sleepy_. In the above expressions an allusion is made to Maillard, the inventor of a peculiar kind of shutters.
MAILLOCHER (bullies’), _is said of a bully who watches a prostitute to see she does not secrete any part of her earnings, which are the aforesaid_ “pensioner’s” _perquisites_.
MAIN, _f._ (thieves’), jouer à la ---- chaude, _to be guillotined_. An allusion to the posture of one playing hot cockles. See FAUCHÉ. (Popular) Acheter à la ----, _to buy for cash_. (Familiar) Une ---- pleine pour un honnête homme, _a strong, fresh, comely country lass_. (Players’) Une ----, _a set of tricks at baccarat or lansquenet_.
MAINS COURANTES, _f. pl._ (popular), _feet_, or “everlasting shoes;” _shoes_, or “trotter-cases.” Se faire une paire de ---- à la mode, _to run swiftly_. See PATATROT.
MAISON, _f._ (familiar and popular), à parties, _a gaming-house in appearance, but in reality a brothel_.
Un grand salon est ouvert à tous les amateurs; on risque galamment quelques louis ... et entre deux parties on passe à une autre variété d’exercice dans une chambre ad hoc. Quelques-unes de ces maisons, connues sous le nom de “maisons à parties,” sont le suprême du genre.--=LÉO TAXIL.=
Maison de société, or à gros numéro, _brothel_, “flash-drum, academy, buttocking-shop, or nanny-shop.” Fille de ----, _prostitute at a brothel_. Maîtresse de ----, _mistress of a brothel_. Maison de passe, _house of accommodation_.
Un grand nombre de maisons de passe sont sous la coupe de la police. Ce sont des maisons tolérées par l’administration, à qui elles rendent de fréquents services en dénonçant les prostituées inscrites qui viennent s’y cacher.--=DOCTEUR JEANNEL.=
(Military) Maison de campagne, _cells_, “mill, or Irish theatre.” Aller à la ---- de campagne, _to be imprisoned_, or “shopped.”
MAÎTRE D’ÉCOLE, _m._ (horsebreakers’), _well-trained horse harnessed with a young horse which is being broken in_.
MAÎTRESSE, _f._ (popular), de maison, _mistress of a brothel_; ---- de piano, _old or ugly woman who acts as a kind of factotum to cocottes_.
MAJOR, _m._ (familiar), de table d’hôte, _elderly man with a military appearance, who acts as a protector to low gaming-house proprietors_; (Ecole Polytechnique) _first on the list_; ---- de queue, _last on the list_.
MAL (popular), blanchi, _negro_, “darky, or snowball.” Un ---- à gauche, _a clumsy fellow_. Une ---- peignée, _a dissolute girl_. (Thieves’) Mal sucré, _perjured witness_. (Military) Avoir ---- aux pieds, _to wear canvas gaiters_. (Familiar) Avoir ---- aux cheveux, _to have a headache caused by prolonged potations_, especially when one is “stale drunk,” which generally occurs after the “jolly dog” has taken too many hairs of the other dog. (Theatrical) Avoir ---- au genou, _to be pregnant_.
MALADE, _m. and adj._ (thieves’), _in prison_, “put away.” When the prisoner leaves the “hôpital,” or _prison_, he is pronounced “guéri,” or _free_; (popular) ---- du pouce, _idle_, or “Mondayish;” _stingy_, or “clunch fist.” With a bad thumb, of course, it is difficult to “fork out, to down with the dust, to sport the rhino, to tip the brads, or even to stump the pewter.”
MALADIE, _f._ (familiar and popular), de neuf mois, _pregnancy_, or “white swelling.” The allusion is obvious. (Popular) Maladie! _an ejaculation of disgust which may be rendered by_ “rot!” (Thieves’) Maladie, _imprisonment_, the convict being an inmate of “l’hôpital,” or _prison_.
MALADROITS, _m. pl._ (cavalry), sonnerie des ----, _trumpet call for infantry drill_.
MALAISÉE, _f._ (popular), faire danser la ---- à quelqu’un, _to thrash one_, “to lead one a dance.” For synonyms see VOIE.
MALANDREUX, _adj._ (popular), _ill_, “seedy, or hipped;” _ill at ease_.
MALAPATTE, _m._ (popular), _clumsy man_, “cripple.” Literally mal à la patte.
MALASTIQUÉ, _m._ (military), _dirty_; _slovenly_.
MALDINE, _f._ (popular), “_pension bourgeoise,” or boarding house_; _boarding school_. Literally a place where one does not get a good dinner.
MALFRAT, _m._ (popular), _scamp_, “bad egg.”
MALHEUR! (popular), _an ejaculation of disgust_, “rot!” “hang it all!”
Malheur!... Tiens, vous prenez du vent’e Ah! bon, chaleur! J’comprends l’tableau!
=GILL.=
MALINGRER (thieves’), _to suffer_. From malingre, which formerly had the signification of _ill_, and now means _weakly_.
MALINGREUX, _adj._ (popular), _weak_. In olden times _a variety of mendicants_.
Malingreux sont ceux qui ont des maux ou plaies, dont la plupart ne sont qu’en apparence; ils truchent sur l’entiffe.--_Le Jargon de l’Argot._
MALLE, _f._ (popular), faire sa ----, _to die_, “to kick the bucket, to snuff it, to stick one’s spoon in the wall.” See PIPE. (Military) Malle, _lock-up_, or “mill.”
En voilà assez, faut en finir: tout le peloton couchera à la malle ce soir.--=G. COURTELINE.=
MALOUSE, _f._ (thieves’), _box_, or “peter.”
MAL PENSANTS (clericals’), les journaux ----, _anti-clerical newspapers_.
Les journaux “mal pensants” ne manquent jamais de relater ces esclandres. Aussi, pour que la quantité ne puisse en être connue, l’archevêque a autorisé les prêtres du diocèse à ne pas porter la tonsure.--=LÉO TAXIL.=
MAL-RASÉS, _m. pl_. (military), _sappers_; thus called on account of their long beards.
MALTAIS, _m._ (popular), _low eating-house_, a “grub ken.”
MALTAISE, or MALTÈSE, _f._ (old cant), _gold coin_. According to V. Hugo, the coin was used on board the convict galleys of Malta. Hence the expression.
MALTOUSE, or MALTOUZE, _f._ (thieves’), _smuggling_. Pastiquer la ----, _to smuggle_.
MALTOUSIER, _m._ (thieves’), _smuggler_.
MALVAS, _m._ (popular), _scamp_. From the Provençal.
MALZINGUE, _m._ (thieves’), _landlord of wine-shop_; _wine-shop_.
Allons, venez casser un grain de raisin.--Nous entrâmes chez le malzingue le plus voisin.--=VIDOCQ.= (_Come and have a glass of wine.--We entered the first wine-shop we came to._)
MAN (Breton cant), _to kiss_.
MANCHE, _m. and f._ (popular). Déposer ses bouts de ----, _to die_, “to kick the bucket.” For synonyms see PIPE. (Mountebanks’) Faire la ----, _to make a collection of money_, or “break.”
La fille du barde fait la manche. Elle promène sa sébille de fer-blanc devant les spectateurs.--=HENRI MONNIER.=
From la buona mancia of the Italians, says Michel, which has the signification of _a gratuity_ allowed a workman or guide, and “present” asked by a prostitute. (Familiar and popular) Le ----, _the master_. Jambes en manches de veste, _bandy legs_. (Thieves’) Faire la ----, _to beg_.
M’est avis que vous avez manqué le bon, l’autre sorgue. Quoi, le birbe qui avait l’air de faire la manche dans les garnaffes et les pipés.--=VIDOCQ.= (_My opinion is that you missed the right man the other night. Why, the old fellow who pretended to be begging in the farms and mansions_.)
MANCHETTE, _f._ (military), coup de ----, _a certain clever sword cut on the wrist_.
Une ... deux ... parez celui-là, c’est le coup de flanc. Ah! ah! pas assez malin. Voilà le coup de manchette! Pif! paf! ça y est.--=H. FRANCE=, _L’Homme qui tue_.
MANCHEUR, _m._ (popular), _street tumbler_; thus called on account of his living on the proceeds of “la manche,” or collection.
MANCHON, _m._ (popular), _large head of hair_. Avoir des vers dans son ----, _to have bald patches on one’s head_.
MANDARIN, _m._ (literary), _imaginary person who serves as a butt for attacks_. Tuer le ----, _to be guilty, by thought, of a bad action_. An allusion to the joke about a question as to one’s willingness to kill a wealthy man at a distance by merely pressing a knob, and afterwards inheriting his money.
MANDIBULES, _f. pl._ (popular), jouer des ----, _to eat_, “to grub.” See MASTIQUER.
MANDOLE, _f._ (popular), _smack in the face_. Jeter une ----, _to give a smack in the face_, “to fetch a wipe in the mug,” or, as the Americans have it, “to give a biff in the jaw.”
MANDOLET, _m._ (thieves’), _pistol_, “barking-iron, or pop.”
MANEGO (Breton cant), _handcuffs_, or “darbies.”
MANETTE, _f._ (popular), Mademoiselle ----, _a portmanteau_, or “peter.”
MANGEOIRE, _f._ (popular), _eating-house_, “grubbing-crib.”
MANGER (theatrical), du sucre, _to be applauded_; (military) ---- le mot d’ordre, or la consigne, _to forget the watchword_; (popular) ---- de la misère, or du bœuf, _to be in poverty_, _to be a_ “quisby;” ---- de la prison, _to be in prison_, _in_ “quod;” ---- du fromage, or du bœuf, _to go to a comrade’s funeral_. An allusion to the repast, or “wake,” as the Irish term it, after the funeral; ---- de la merde, _to be in a state of abject poverty, entailing all kinds of humiliations_; ---- du drap, or du mérinos, _to play billiards_, or “spoof;” ---- le bon Dieu, _to partake of communion_.
Et c’est du propre d’aller manger le bon Dieu en guignant les hommes.--=ZOLA.=
Manger le pain hardi (obsolete), _to act as servant_; ---- le poulet, _to share unlawful profits_; ---- le pissenlit par la racine, _to be dead and buried_; ---- du pain rouge, _to make one’s living by murder and robbery_; ---- la soupe avec un grand sabre, _to be the possessor of a very large mouth_, like a slit made by a sword-cut; ---- le nez à quelqu’un, _to thrash one terribly_, “to knock one into a cocked hat.” Je vais te ---- le nez, _a cannibal-like offer often made by a Paris rough to his adversary as a preliminary to a set-to_. Manger une soupe aux herbes, _to sleep in the fields_. Se ---- le nez, _to fight_. (Thieves’) Manger, _to inform against_, “to blow the gaff,” or “to turn snitch.”
Je vois bien qu’il y a parmi nous une canaille qui a mangé; fais-moi conduire devant le quart d’œil, je mangerai aussi.--=VIDOCQ.=
Manger le morceau, _to inform against_, “to turn snitch.”
Mais t’es avertie, ne mange pas le morceau, sinon gare à toi!--=VIDOCQ.=
Manger sur l’orgue, _to inform against_, “to blow the gaff.” Orgue has here the signification of person, as in “mon orgue,” _I_, _myself_, “son orgue,” _he_, _himself_; ---- sur quelqu’un, _to inform against_.
Le coqueur libre est obligé de passer son existence dans les orgies les plus ignobles; en relations constantes avec les voleurs de profession, dont il est l’ami, il s’associe à leurs projets. Pour lui tout est bon: vol, escroquerie, incendie, assassinat même! Qu’est-ce que cela lui fait? Pourvu qu’il puisse “manger” (dénoncer) sur quelqu’un et qu’il en tire un bénéfice.--_Mémoires de Canler._
Manger sur son nière, _to inform against an accomplice_, “to turn snitch against a pal;” ---- du collège, _to be in prison, to be_ “put away;” (familiar and popular) ---- la grenouille, _to appropriate the contents of a cash-box or funds entrusted to one’s care_.
MANGEUR, _m._ (general), de blanc, _women’s bully_, “ponce, pensioner, petticoat’s pensioner, Sunday-man.” See POISSON for synonyms.
Le paillasson était il y a trente ans le “mangeur de blanc;” on le désignait en 1788 sous le nom “d’homme à qualité” et quelques années auparavant c’était un “greluchon.”--=MICHEL.=
Mangeur de bon Dieu, _bigot_, “prayer-monger;” ---- de choucroute, _German_; ---- de nez, _quarrelsome, savage man_. Paris roughs, before a set-to, generally inform their adversary of the necessity of disfiguring him by the savage words, “Il faut que je te mange le nez.” Mangeur de frimes, _humbug_, _impostor_; ---- de pommes, _a native of Normandy, the great orchard of France_; ---- de prunes, _tailor_, or “snip.” Termed also “pique-prunes, pique-poux.” (Thieves’) Mangeur, _informer_; ---- de galette, _informer in the pay of the police_, “nark;” (convicts’) ---- de fer, _convict_; (military) ---- d’avoine, _thief_; _thievish fellow_.
MANGEUSE DE VIANDE CRUE, _f._ (popular), _prostitute_. For synonyms see GADOUE.
MANICLE, _f._ (thieves’), frère de la ----, _thief_, or “prig.” See GRINCHE.
MANIÈRES, _f. pl._ (popular), as-tu fini tes ----? _don’t be so stuck-up; none of your airs! don’t put it on so!_ “come off the tall grass” (Americanism), or “stop bouncing.”
MANIVAL, _m._ (thieves’), _charcoal dealer_.
MANNEAU (thieves’), _I_, _me_ (obsolete), now termed “mézigue, mézigo, mézière, mon gniasse.”
MANNEQUIN, _m._ (popular), _insignificant, contemptible man_, or “snot.” The term may also be applied to a woman; ---- à refroidis, or de machabées, _hearse_.
MANNEZINGUE, _m._ (popular), _landlord of wine-shop_. Termed also “mastroc, mastroquet.”
Pas seulement une goutte de cric à mettre dans ma demi-tasse. La Martinet en a acheté, elle, pour quinze sous chez le mannezingue. --=P. MAHALIN.=
MANNEZINGUEUR, _m._ (popular), _habitué of wine-shops_.
MANON, _f._ (popular), _mistress_; _sweetheart_, or “young woman.”
MANQUANT-SORTI, _m._ (popular), _one who cannot understand a joke_.
MANQUE, _f._ (popular and thieves’), _treachery_.
Gaffré était comme la plupart des agents de police, sauf la manque (perfidie), bon enfant, mais un peu licheur, c’est à dire gourmand comme une chouette.--=VIDOCQ.=
A la ----, _to the left_, from the Italian alla manca; _damaged_; _ill_; _bad_. Etre à la ----, _to betray_; _to leave one in the lurch_; _to be short of cash_; _to be absent_. Affaire à la ----, _bad piece of business_. Gonse à la ----, _man not to be relied upon, who will leave one in the lurch_; _traitor_, or “snitcher.” Fafiots, or fafelard à la ----, _forged bank-notes_, or “queer soft.” (Popular) Un canotier à la ----, _awkward rowing man_. Termed also “cafouilleux.”
Ecumeurs de calicot!--Ohé! les canotiers à la manque!--Viens que je te fasse avaler ta gaffe! --=E. MONTEIL.=
Une balle à la ----, _face of a one-eyed man_.
MANQUER LE TRAIN, _to lose one’s opportunities in life, and consequently to be the reverse of prosperous_.
A débute par un beau livre; B à vingt-cinq ans, expose un beau tableau.... Les mille obstacles de la bohème leur barrent le chemin... Ils resteront intelligents, mais ... ils ont manqué le train.--=TONY RÉVILLON.=
MANQUESSE, _f._ (thieves’), _bad character given to a prisoner on trial_. Raffiler la ----, _to give a bad character_.
MANUSCRIT BELGE, _m._ (printers’), _printed copy to be composed_. According to Eugène Boutmy the origin of the expression is to be found in the practice which existed formerly of entrusting Belgian compositors in Paris with printed copy only, and not manuscript, on account of their ignorance of the language.
MAPPEMONDE, _f._ (popular), _bosoms_, “Charlies, or dairies.” Termed also “avant-scènes, œufs sur le plat, avant-postes,” &c.
MAQUA, _f._ (familiar and popular), obsolete, _mistress of a brothel_.
MAQUART, _m._ (popular), bidoche, or bifteck de ----, _horseflesh_. From the name of a knacker.
MAQUE. See MAC.
MAQUECÉE, _f._ (popular), _mistress of a brothel_. Called also “abbesse.”
MAQUEREAUTAGE. See MACROTAGE.
MAQUEREAUTIN. See MACROTIN.
MAQUI, _m._ (popular and thieves’), _paint for the face, or complexion powder_, “slap, or splash.” Mettre du ----, _to paint one’s face_. (Card-sharpers’) Mettre du ----, _to prepare cards for cheating_, “to stock broads.”
MAQUIGNON, _m._ (popular), _kind of Jack of all trades, not honest ones_. Properly _horse-dealer_; ---- à bidoche, _woman’s bully_, or “pensioner.” See POISSON.
MAQUIGNONNAGE, _m._ (familiar and popular), _cheating on the quality of goods_; _making a living on the earnings of prostitutes_.
Maquignonnage, pour maquerellage, métier des maquereaux et des maquerelles, qui font négoce de filles de débauche.--=CHOLIÈRES.=
MAQUIGNONNAGE, _swindling operation_. Properly _horse-dealing_.
MAQUILLAGE, _m._ (popular and thieves’), _work_, or “elbow-grease;” _the act of doing anything_, “faking;” (card-sharpers’) _card playing_, _tampering with cards_, or “stocking of broads;” (familiar) _the act of painting one’s face_.
Elles font une prodigieuse dépense de comestiques et de parfumeries. Presque toutes se fardent les joues et les lèvres avec une naïveté grossière. Quelques-unes se noircissent les sourcils et le bord des paupières avec le charbon d’une allumette à demi-brûlée. C’est ce qu’on appelle le “maquillage.”--=LÉO TAXIL.=
MAQUILLÉE, _f._ (familiar), _harlot_, or “mot.” _Literally one with painted face_.
MAQUILLER (thieves’), _to do_, “to fake;” ---- des caroubles, _to manufacture false keys_; ---- les brèmes, _to tamper with cards_, “to stock broads;” _to play cards_; _to cheat at cards_; ---- le papelard, _to write_, “to screeve;” ---- son truc, _to prepare a dodge_; ---- un suage, _to make preparations for a murder_. From faire suer, _to murder_; ---- une cambriole, _to strip a room_, “to do a crib.” The word “maquiller” has as many different meanings as the corresponding term “to fake.” (Popular) Maquiller, _to do_; _to manage_; _to work_; ---- le vitriol, _to adulterate brandy_.
Vieille drogue, tu as changé de litre!... Tu sais, ce n’est pas avec moi qu’il faut maquiller ton vitriol.--=ZOLA=, _L’Assommoir_.
MAQUILLEUR, _m._, MAQUILLEUSE, _f._ (thieves’), _card-player_; _card-sharper_, or “broadsman.”
MARAILLE, _f._ (thieves’), _people_; _world_.
MARANT, _adj._ (popular), _laughable_. Etre ----, _to be ridiculous_.
MARAUDER (coachmen’s), _to take up fares when not allowed to do so by the regulations_; _refers also to a_ “cabby” _who has no licence_.
MARAUDEUR, _m._ (familiar), “cabby” _who plies his trade without a licence_.
MARBRE, _m._ (journalists’), _MS. about to be composed_.
MARCANDIER, _m._, MARCANDIÈRE, _f._ (thieves’), _tradespeople_; also _a variety of the mendicant tribe_, “cadger.”
Marcandiers sont ceux qui bient avec une grande hane à leur costé, avec un assez chenastre frusquin, et un rabas sur les courbes, feignant d’avoir trouvé des sabrieux sur le trimard qui leur ont osté leur michon toutime.--_Le Jargon de l’Argot._ (_Marcandiers are those who journey with a great purse by their side, with a pretty good coat, and a cloak on their shoulders, pretending they have met with robbers on the road who have stolen all their money._)
MARCASSIN, _m._ (popular), _signboard painter’s assistant_. Properly _a young wild boar_.
MARCHAND, _m._ (familiar), de soupe, _head of a boarding-school_; (popular) ---- de larton, _baker_, “crumb and crust man, master of the rolls, or crummy.” Termed also “marchand de bricheton, or lartonnier;” ---- d’eau chaude, “limonadier,” _or proprietor of a café_; ---- d’eau de javelle, _wine-shop landlord_; ---- de cerises, _clumsy horseman_, one who rides as if he had a basket on his arm; ---- de morts subites, _surgeon or quack_, “crocus;” ---- de sommeil, _lodging-house keeper_, “boss of a dossing crib;” ---- de patience, _man who, having secured a place in the long train of people waiting at the door of a theatre before the doors are opened, and known as_ “la queue,” _allows another to take it for a consideration_.
Si l’attente est longue ... les places seront plus chères; et comme je l’ai entendu dire un jour à l’un de ces curieux gagne-petit: V’la le monde qui s’agace, chouette! Y aura gras pour les marchands de patience!--=RICHEPIN=, _Le Pavé_.
(Thieves’) Marchand de tirelaine, _night thief_; ---- de lacets, formerly _a gendarme_.
Le gendarme a différents noms en argot: quand il poursuit le voleur, c’est un marchand de lacets; quand il l’escorte, c’est une hirondelle de la Grève; quand il le mène à l’échafaud, c’est le hussard de la guillotine.--=BALZAC.=
Un ---- de babillards, _a bookseller, or an_ “et cetera.” (Military) Marchand de morts subites, _professional duellist_, a “fire-eater;” ---- de puces, _official who has charge of the garrison bedding_. The allusion is obvious; (convicts’) ---- de cirage, _captain of a ship_.
Est-ce que le marchand de cirage (elles appelaient ainsi le commandant), nous faisait peur?--=HUMBERT=, _Mon Bagne_.
(Journalists’) Marchands de lignes, _authors who write for the sake of gain more than to acquire literary reputation_.
Je crois fermement que le jour où n’auraient plus accès à l’Académie certains hommes éminents qui ne font point de livres, elle tomberait, de bonne heure, au niveau de cette corporation de “marchands de lignes” qu’on nomme la Société des Gens de lettres.--=A. DUBRUJEAUD.=
(Military) Un ---- de marrons, _officer who looks ill at ease in mufti_.
MARCHANDE, _f._ (popular), aux gosses, _seller of toys_; ---- de chair humaine, _mistress of a brothel_.
MARCHE, _m._ (military), à terre, _foot-soldier_, “wobbler, beetle-crusher, mud-crusher, or grabby;” ---- de flanc, _repose_; _sleep_; ---- des zouaves, _soldiers who go to medical inspection are said to execute the aforesaid march_; ---- oblique individuelle, _the rallying of soldiers confined to barracks going up to roll call_.
MARCHÉ DES PIEDS HUMIDES, _m._ (familiar), _la petite Bourse, or meeting of speculators after the Exchange has been closed_. Takes place on the Boulevards.
MARCHEF, _m._ (military), abbreviation of maréchal-des-logis chef, _quartermaster sergeant_.
MARCHER (popular), dans les souliers d’un mort, _to inherit a man’s property_; ---- plan plan, _to walk slowly_; ---- sur une affaire, _to make a mull of some business_. (Printers’) Marcher, _to be of another’s opinion_. Qu’en pensez-vous? Je marche. _What do you think of it? I am of your opinion._ (Thieves’) Marcher dessus, _to prepare a robbery_, or “lay a plant.”
MARCHES DU PALAIS, _f. pl._ (popular), _wrinkles on forehead_.
MARCHEUSE, _f._ (theatrical), _walking female supernumerary in a ballet_.
La marcheuse est ou un rat d’une grande beauté que sa mère, fausse ou vraie, a vendue le jour où elle n’a pu devenir ni premier, ni second, ni troisième sujet de la danse.--=BALZAC.=
L’emploi des “marcheuses” n’existe pas dans le ballet, en Russie. Le personnel féminin est entièrement composé de sujets qui dansent ou miment, selon les exigences de la situation.--=A. BIGUET=, _Le Radical_, 18 Nov., 1886.
(Popular) Marcheuse, _variety of prostitute_. See GADOUE.
Leurs fonctions les plus ordinaires sont de rester à la porte, d’indiquer la maison, d’accompagner, de surveiller et de donner la main aux jeunes. On les désigne dans le public sous le nom de marcheuses.--=LÉO TAXIL.=
MARCHIS. See MARCHEF.
MARDI S’IL FAIT CHAUD (popular), _never_ (obsolete), _at Doomsday_, “when the devil is blind.”
MARE, or MARIOLLE, _adj._ (popular and thieves’), _clever_, _sharp_, _cunning_, “leary,” _or one who is_ “fly to wot’s wot.”
MARÉCAGEUX, _adj._ (popular), œil ----, _eye with languid expression_, _with a killing glance_.
MARGAUDER (familiar), _to run down a person or thing_.
MARGOULETTE, _f._ (popular), rincer la ---- à quelqu’un, _to treat one to drink_. Débrider la ----, _to eat_, “to put one’s nose in the manger.” See MASTIQUER. Déboîter la ---- à quelqu’un, _to damage one’s countenance_. Mettre la ---- en compote, _superlative of above_.
MARGOULIN, _m._ (commercial travellers’), _retailer_.
Margoulinage (commercial travellers’), _retailing_.
MARGOULINER (commercial travellers’), _to retail_.
MARGOULIS, _m._ (popular), _scandal_.
MARGUERITES, _f. pl._ (popular), or ---- de cimetière, _white hairs in the beard_.
MARGUILLIER DE BOURRACHE, _m._ (thieves’), _juryman_. This expression is connected with “fièvre chaude,” or _accusation_, borage tea being given to patients in cases of fever.
MARGUINCHON, _f._ (popular), _dissolute girl_, a “regular bitch.”
MARIAGE, _m._ (popular), à l’Anglaise, _marriage of a couple who, directly after the ceremony, separate and live apart_; ---- d’Afrique, or ---- à la détrempe, _cohabitation of a couple living as man and wife_, _of a pair who live_ “tally.” From “peindre à la détrempe,” _to paint in distemper_. Compare the English expression, “wife in water-colours,” or mistress.
MARIANNE, _f._ (popular), la ----, _the Republic_. (Thieves’) Marianne, _guillotine_. See VOYANTE.
MARIASSE, _m._ (popular), _scamp_, “bad egg.”
MARIDA, _f._ (cads’ and thieves’), _married woman_.
MARIE-JE-M’EMBÊTE (popular), faire sa ----, _to make many ceremonies_; _to allow oneself to be begged repeatedly_.
MARIE-MANGE-MON-PRÊT, _f._ (military), _mistress_. Literally _Mary spends my pay_.
MARIN, _m._ (popular), d’eau douce, _one who sports a river-boat_; ---- de la Vierge Marie, _river or canal bargee_.
MARINGOTTE, _f._ (popular), _mountebank’s show-waggon_, or “slang.”
MARIOL, MARIOLLE, _adj. and m._ (popular and thieves’), _cunning_, “downy, or fly to wot’s wot.”
MARIOLISME, _m._ (popular and thieves’), _cunning_.
MARIOLLE, _m. and adj._ (popular and thieves’), _cunning, knowing man_, _a deep or artful one_, “one who has been put up to the hour of day, who is fly to wot’s wot.” Termed also a “file,” originally a term for a pickpocket, when _to file_ was to cheat and to rob.
C’est d’nature, on a ça dans l’sang: J’suis paillasson! c’est pas d’ma faute, Je m’fais pas plus marioll’ qu’un aut’e: Mon pèr’ l’était; l’Emp’reur autant!
=GILL=, _La Muse à Bibi_.
MARIONNETTE, _f._ (popular), _soldier_, or “grabby.”
MARI ROBIN (Breton cant), _gendarmes_.
MARLOU, _m. and adj._ (general), _prostitute’s bully_, “ponce, or pensioner.” See POISSON.
Les marlous qui soutiennent les filles en carte, les insoumises du trottoir et les femmes des maisons de bas étage, ne se contentent pas de rançonner ces malheureuses qu’ils appellent leur marmite, leur dabe; ils détroussent sans cesse les passants et assassinent pour s’entretenir la main.--=LÉO TAXIL.=
MARLOU, _cunning_, “downy.”
La viscope en arrière et la trombine au vent L’œil marlou, il entra chez le zingue.
=RICHEPIN.=
(Thieves’) Le -- de Charlotte, _the executioner_, nicknamed Charlot.
MARLOUPATTE, or MARLOUPIN, _m._ (popular), _prostitute’s bully_, or “petticoat’s pensioner.”
Ce marloupatte pâle et mince Se nommait simplement Navet; Mais il vivait ainsi qu’un prince ... Il aimait les femmes qu’on rince.
=RICHEPIN.=
MARLOUPIN, _m._ (popular and thieves’), _prostitute’s male associate_, “pensioner, petticoat’s pensioner, Sunday man, prosser, or ponce.” See POISSON.
Quand on paie en monnai’ d’singe Nous aut’ marloupins, Les sal’s michetons qu’a pas d’linge, On les pass’ chez paings.
=RICHEPIN.=
MARLOUSIER. See MARLOUPIN.
MARMIER, _m._ (thieves’), _shepherd_.
MARMITE, _f._ (bullies’), _mistress of a bully_. Literally _flesh-pot_. The allusion is obvious, as the bully lives on the earnings of his associate.
Un souteneur sans sa marmite (sa maîtresse) est un ouvrier sans travail, ... pour lui tout est là: fortune, bonheur, amour, si ce n’est pas profaner ce dernier mot que de lui donner une acception quelconque à l’égard du souteneur.--_Mémoires de Canler._
Marmite de terre, _prostitute who does not pay her bully_; ---- de cuivre, _one who brings in a good income_; ---- de fer, _one who only brings in a moderate one_. (Military) La ---- est en deuil, _the fare is scanty at present, that is, the flesh-pot is empty_.
MARMITON DE DOMANGE, _m._ (popular), _scavenger employed in emptying cesspools_, or “gold-finder.” Domange was a great contractor in the employ of the city authorities.
MARMOT, _m._ (thieves’), nourrir un ----, _to make preparations for a robbery_, “to lay a plant.” Literally _to feed, to nurse a child_.
MARMOTTIER, _m._ (popular), _a native of Savoy_. Literally _one who goes about exhibiting a marmot_.
MARMOUSE, _f._ (thieves’), _beard_.
MARMOUSET, _m._ (thieves’), _flesh-pot_. Le ---- riffode, _the pot is boiling_.
MARMOUSIN, _m._ (popular), _child_, or “kid.”
MARMYON, _m._ (thieves’), _flesh-pot_, and figuratively _purse_.
MARNE, _f._ (popular), faire la ----, _is said of prostitutes who prowl about the river-side_.
MARNER (popular), _to steal_, or “to nick.” See GRINCHIR. Marner, _to work hard_, “to sweat.”
MARNEUR, _m._ (popular), _strong, active labourer_.
MARNEUSE, _f._ (popular), _prostitute of the lowest class who plies her trade by the river-side_. See GADOUE.
MARON, or MARRON, _adj._ (thieves’), _caught in the act_.
Non, il n’est pas possible, disait l’un; pour prendre ainsi “marons” les voleurs, il faut qu’il s’entende avec eux.--=VIDOCQ.=
MARON, or MURON, _salt_.
MARONNER (thieves’), _to fail_. Une affaire maronnée, _fruitless attempt at robbery_.
Il y a du renaud à l’affaire de la chique, elle est maronnée, le dabe est revenu.--=VIDOCQ.= (_There is some trouble about the job at the church, it has failed, father is returned._)
MAROT, _adj._ (popular), _cunning_; “up to snuff, one who knows wot’s wot, one who has been put up to the hour of day, one who knows what’s o’clock, leary.”
MAROTTIER, _m._ (thieves’), _hawker_, or “barrow-man;” _pedlar travelling about the country selling stuffs, neckerchiefs, &c., to country people_. Termed, in the English cant, a “dudder” or “dudsman.” “In selling a waistcoat-piece,” says the _Slang Dictionary_, “which cost him perhaps five shillings, for thirty shillings or two pounds, he would show great fear of the revenue officer, and beg the purchasing clodhopper to kneel down in a puddle of water, crook his arm, and swear that it might never become straight if he told an exciseman, or even his own wife. The term and practice are nearly obsolete. In Liverpool, however, and at the East-end of London, men dressed up as sailors, with pretended silk handkerchiefs and cigars, ‘only just smuggled from the Indies,’ are still to be plentifully found.”
MARPAUT, or MARPEAU, _m._ (old cant), _man_; _master of a house_ (obsolete).
Pour n’offenser point le marpaut, Afin qu’il ne face deffaut De foncer à l’appointement.
_Le Pasquil de la rencontre des Cocus._
The word was formerly used by the Parisians with the signification of _fool_, _greenhorn_, _loafer_.
Marpaud. Mot de Paris, pour sot, niais, nigaut, badaud.--=LE ROUX=, _Dict. Comique_.
Again, Cotgrave renders it as _an ill-favoured scrub, a little ugly, or swarthy wretch_; _also a lickorous or saucy fellow_; _one that catches at whatever dainties come in his way_. Michel makes the remark that morpion (_crab-louse_, a popular injurious term) must be derived from marpaut.
MARQUANT, _m._ (thieves’), _man_; _master_; _chief of a gang_, or “dimber damber;” _women’s bully_, or “Sunday man,” see POISSON; _drunkard, or one who gets_ “canon.”
MARQUE, _f._ (familiar), horizontale de grande ----, _very fashionable cocotte_. Horizontale de petite ----, _the ordinary sort of cocottes_.
Décidément je ne sais quelle ardeur guerrière a soufflé sur nos horizontales de grande marque et de petite marque, mais depuis un mois nous avons à enregistrer un nouveau combat singulier dont elles sont les héroïnes.--_Le Figaro_, Oct., 1886.
(Thieves’) Marque, _girl_, or “titter;” _woman_, “laced mutton, hay-bag, cooler, shakester;” _prostitute_, or “bunter;” _month_, or “moon.” Il a été messiadien à six marques pour pégrasse, _he has been sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for theft_. Six marques, _six months_, or “half a stretch.” Une ---- de cé, _a thief’s wife_. Termed, in old cant, “autem-mort;” autem, _a church_, and mort, _woman_. Marque franche, or marquise, _a thief’s female associate_, or “mollisher.” Concerning this expression, Michel says:--
On trouve dans l’ancienne germania espagnole “marca, marquida et marquisa” avec le sens de “femme publique.”--_Dict. d’Argot._
Quart de ----, _week_. Tirer six marques, _to be imprisoned for six months_, “to do half a stretch, or a sixer.”
MARQUÉ, _m. and adj._ (thieves’), _month_, “moon.” From the Italian marchese. Concerning this word, Michel says:--
Il ne saurait être douteux que ce nom ne soit venu à cette division de l’année, de l’infirmité périodique qu’ont les “marques” ou femmes, “lors que la Lune, pour tenir sa diette et vaquer à ses purifications menstruelles, fait marquer les logis féminins par son fourrier, lequel pour escusson n’a que son impression rouge.”--_Dict. d’Argot._
(Popular) Etre ----, _to have a black eye_, or “mouse.” (Printers’) Marqué à la fesse, _tiresome, over-particular man_.
MARQUE-MAL, _m._ (printers’), _one who receives the folios from the printing machine_; (popular) _an ugly man_, _one with a_ “knocker face.”
MARQUER (popular), à la fourchette _is said of a restaurant or coffee-house keeper who adds imaginary items to a bill_; ---- le coup, _to clink glasses when drinking_. Bien ----, _to show a good appearance_, marquer mal being the reverse. Ne plus ----, _is said of a woman who is past her prime_; that is, who no longer has her menses. (Thieves’) Marquer, _to have the appearance of a man in good circumstances_.
MARQUIN, _m._ (thieves’), _hat or cap_, “tile.” See TUBARD.
MARQUIS D’ARGENTCOURT, _m._ (popular), or de la Bourse Plate, _needy and vain-glorious man_.
MARQUISE, _f._ (familiar), _kind of mulled white claret_; (thieves’) _wife_, or “raclan.”
Nouzailles pairons notre proie, A ta marquise d’un baiser, A toi d’un coup d’arpion au proye.
=RICHEPIN.=
MARRAINE, _f._ (thieves’), _female witness_.
MARRE, _f._ (popular), _amusement_. Etre à la ----, _to be joyously inclined_; _to amuse oneself_. J’en ai pris une ----, _I have enjoyed myself_.
MARRER (popular), se ----, _to amuse oneself_; _to be amused_. Pensez si je me marre? Mince! _Don’t I get amused, just!_
MARRON, or MARON, _adj._ (popular), sculpté, _grotesque, ugly face_, or “knocker-head.” Cocher ----, “cabby” _without a licence_. Etre ----, _to be taken in_, “bamboozled.” (Military) Marron, _report of an officer who goes the rounds_; (printers’) _clandestine print_; also _compositor working on his own account at a printer’s, who furnishes him with the necessary plant for a consideration_. (Thieves’) Paumer or pommer ----, _to catch in the act_, _red-handed_.
On la crible à la grive, Je m’la donne et m’esquive, Elle est pommée marron.
=VIDOCQ.=
(Thieves’) Etre servi ----, _to be caught in the act_.
Que je sois servie marron au premier messière que je grinchirai si je lui en ouvre simplement la bouche.--=VIDOCQ.=
MARRONNER, or MARONNER (thieves’), un grinchissage, _to make an unsuccessful attempt at a robbery through lack of skill or due precautions_. Maronner, _to suspect_.
Je maronne que la roulotte de Pantin trime dans le sabri.--=V. HUGO=, _Les Misérables_. (_I suspect that the Paris mail-coach is going through the wood._)
MARSEILLAISE, _f._ (popular), _short pipe_, or “cutty,” called “dudeen” by the Irish. Avoir une ---- dans le kiosque, _to be_ “cracked.” For synonyms see AVOIR.
Enfin, pour sûr la politique lui aura tourné la tête! Il a une Marseillaise dans le kiosque.--_Baumaine et Blondelet._
MARSOUIN, _m._ (popular), _smuggler_; (military) _marine_, or “jolly.” Literally _porpoise_.
MARTIN, _m._ (popular), fournir ----, _to wear furs_. “Martin” is the equivalent of “Bruin.” Le mal Saint-Martin had formerly the signification of _intoxication_. An allusion to the sale of wine at fairs held on Saint Martin’s day.
MARTINET, _m._ (thieves’), _punishment irons used at the penal servitude settlements_. Properly _a cat-o’-nine tails_.
MARTINGALIER, _m._ (gamblers’), _gamester who imagines he is master of an infallible process for winning_.
C’est un martingalier. C’est un des abstracteurs de quintessence moderne, qui s’imaginent avoir trouvé la marche infaillible pour faire sauter les banques.--=RICHEPIN.=
MARTYR, _m._ (military), _corporal_. Termed also “chien de l’escouade.”
MASCOTTE, _f._, _gambler’s fetish_.
MASQUER EN ALEZAN (horsedealers’), _to paint a horse so as to deceive purchasers_. Termed also “maquiller un gayet.” Among other dishonest practices, horsedealers play improper tricks with an animal to make him look lively: they “fig” him, the “fig” being a piece of wet ginger placed under a horse’s tail for the purpose of making him appear lively, and enhance his price.
MASSAGE, _m._ (popular), _work_, “graft,” or “elbow grease.”
MASSE, _f._ (military), avoir la ---- complète, _to possess a well-filled purse_. La ---- noire, _mysterious cash-box, supposed, by suspicious soldiers, to enclose the proceeds of unlawful profits made at the expense of the aforesaid by non-commissioned officers entrusted with the victualling or clothing department_. (Thieves’ and cads’) Masse, _work_, “graft,” or “elbow grease.”
MASSER (popular and thieves’), _to work_, “to graft.”
Tu sais, j’dis ça à ton copain, Pa’c’que j’vois qu’ c’est un gonc’ qui boude, Mais entre nous, mon vieux lapin, J’ai jamais massé qu’à l’ver l’coude.
=RICHEPIN.=
MASSEUR, _m._ (popular), _active workman_.
MASTAR AU GRAS-DOUBLE, _f._ (thieves’), faire la ----, or la faire au mastar, _to steal lead off roofs_, “to fly the blue pigeon.”
MASTARÉ, _adj._ (thieves’), _leaden_.
MASTAROUFLEUR, _m._ (thieves’), _one who steals lead_, a “bluey cracker.”
MASTIC, _m._ (freemasons’), _bread or meat_; (popular) _deceit_. Péter sur le ----, _to forsake work_. (Thieves’) Mastic, _man_, or “cove;” (printers’) _long, entangled speech_; (theatrical) _painting and otherwise making-up one’s face_. Faire son ----, _to paint one’s face_, “to stick slap on.”
C’est l’ensemble de ces travaux de badigeon qui constitue le mastic. Un mastic consciencieux exige près d’une heure de peine.--=P. MAHALIN.=
MASTIQUER (popular), _to cobble_; (familiar and popular) _to eat_, “to grub,” “to yam.” It seems this latter term is connected with the word _yam_, the English name of the large edible tuber _Dioscorea_, a corruption of the name used in the West Indies at the time of the discovery, _iniama_ or _inhame_. With regard to the expression the _Slang Dictionary_ says:--“This word is used by the lowest class all over the world; by the Wapping sailor, West Indian negro, or Chinese coolie. When the fort called the ‘Dutch Folly,’ near Canton, was in course of erection by the Hollanders, under the pretence of being intended for an hospital, the Chinese observed a box containing muskets among the alleged hospital stores. ‘Hy-aw!’ exclaimed John Chinaman, ‘how can sick man yam gun?’ The Dutch were surprised and massacred the same night.” The synonyms for the term _to eat_, in the various kinds of French slang, are the following: “Tortiller du bec, becqueter, béquiller, chiquer, bouffer, boulotter, taper sur les vivres, pitancher, passer à la tortore, tortorer, se l’envoyer, casser la croustille, briffer, brouter, se caler, se calfater le bec, mettre de l’huile dans la lampe, se coller quelque chose dans le fanal, dans le fusil, or dans le tube, chamailler des dents, jouer des badigoinces, jouer des dominos, déchirer la cartouche, gobichonner, engouler, engueuler, friturer, gonfler, morfiaillier, cacher, se mettre quelque chose dans le cadavre, se lester la cale, se graisser les balots, se caresser l’Angoulême, friper, effacer, travailler pour M. Domange, clapoter, débrider la margoulette, croustiller, charger pour la Guadeloupe, travailler pour Jules, se faire le jabot, jouer des osanores.”
MASTIQUEUR, _m._ (popular), _cobbler_.
MASTROC, MASTRO, or MASTROQUET, _m._ (popular), _landlord of wine-shop_. Termed also “bistrot, troquet, mannezingue, empoisonneur.”
Tout récemment, j’étais à la Bourbe, allé voir Une fille, de qui chez un mastroc, un soir, J’avais fait connaissance.
=GILL.=
MATA, _m._ (printers’), abbreviation of matador, _swaggerer_, one who “bulldozes,” as the Americans say.
MATADOR, _m._ (popular), faire son ----, _to give oneself airs_; _to swagger_, _to look_ “botty.” From the Spanish matador, _bull-killer_.
MATAGOT, _m._ (obsolete), _funny eccentric individual who amuses people by his antics_. Rabelais used it with the signification of _monkey_, _monk_:--
Ci n’entrez pas, hypocrites, bigots, Vieux matagots, mariteux, boursoflé.
_Gargantua._
MATATANE, _f._ (military), _guard-room_; _cells_, “mill, jigger, or Irish theatre.”
MATELAS, _m._ (popular), ambulant, _street-walker_, or “bed-fagot.” See GADOUE.
MATELASSER (popular), se ----, _is said of a woman who makes up for nature’s niggardliness by padding her bodice_.
MATELOT, _m._ (sailors’), _chum_, _mate_.
MATELOTE, _f._ (sailors’), trimer à la ----, _to be a sailor_.
Et de Nantes jusqu’à Bordeaux, Trime à la matelote, N’ayant qu’un tricot sur le dos, Et pour fond de culotte Le drap d’sa peau.
=RICHEPIN=, _La Mer_.
MATELUCHE, _m._ (sailors’), _bad sailor_.
MATÉRIAUX, _m. pl._ (freemasons’), _food_.
MATÉRIELLE, _f._ (gamesters’), _one’s bread and cheese_.
Et alors, quelques malheureux pontes ... se sont livres au terrible travail qui consiste à gagner avec des cartes le pain quotidien, ce que les joueurs appellent la matérielle.--=BELOT=, _La Bouche de Madame X_.
MATERNELLE, _f._ (students’), _mother_, “mater.”
MATHURIN, _m._ (sailors’), _sailor_, “salt, or Jack tar.” Termed also “otter;” _wooden man-o’-war_. Parler ----, _to speak the slang of sailors_.
Je ne suis pas de ces vieux frères premier brin Qui devant qu’être nés parlaient jà mathurin, Au ventre de leur mère apprenant ce langage, Roulant à son roulis, tanguant à son tangage.
=RICHEPIN.=
(Thieves’) Les mathurins, _dice_, or “ivories.” (Popular) Mathurins plats, _dominoes_.
Ces objets doivent leur nom d’argot à leur ressemblance avec le costume des Trinitaires, vulgairement appelés Mathurins, qui chez nous portaient une soutane de serge blanche, sur laquelle, quand ils sortaient, ils jetaient un manteau noir.--=MICHEL.=
MATIGNON, _m._ (thieves’), _messenger_.
MATOIS, or MATOUAS, _m._ (thieves’), _morning_.
Le condé de Nanterre et un quart d’œil, suivis d’un trèpe de cuisiniers sont aboulés ce matois à la taule.--=VIDOCQ.= (_The mayor of Nanterre and a commissaire de police, followed by a body of police, came this morning to the house._)
MATOU, _m._ (popular), _man who is fond of the petticoat_. Bon ----, _libertine_, “rattle-cap,” or “molrower.” Literally _a good tomcat_.
MATRAQUE, _m._ (soldiers’ in Africa), _bludgeon_.
Nous avions brûlé le pays. Vous dire pourquoi, j’en serais bien en peine: une poule volée à un colon influent, un coup de matraque appliqué par un Bédouin ruiné sur la tête d’un Juif voleur ... et pif, paf, boum, coups de fusils, obus.--=HECTOR FRANCE=, _Sous le Burnous_.
MATRICULER (military), _to steal_; said ironically, as “le numéro matricule,” borne by a soldier’s effects, is the only proof of ownership. Se faire ----, _to get punished_, “to be shopped.”
MÂTS, _m. pl._ (thieves’), les deux ----, _the guillotine_. See VOYANTE.
MATTE, _f._ (thieves’), enfant de la ----, _thief_, a “family-man.” For synonyms see GRINCHE. Michel says matte is derived from the Italian mattia, _folly_; so that “enfants de la matte” signifies literally _children of folly_.
MATURBES, _m. pl._ (thieves’), _dice_, or “ivories.” Jouer des ----, _to eat_, “to grub.”
MAUBE, _f._ (popular), Place ----, for _Place Maubert_, a low quarter of Paris.
MAUGRÉE, _m._ (thieves’), _governor of a prison_. From maugréer, _to grumble_.
MAURICAUD, _m._ (thieves’), _cash-box_, “peter.”
Il faut tomber sur ce mauricaud, et selon moi ce n’est pas la chose du monde la plus facile.--=VIDOCQ.= (_We must find the cash-box, and in my opinion it is not the easiest thing in the world._)
MAUVAISE (general), elle est ----! _bad joke!_ _bad trick!_ “sawdust and treacle!” _none of that!_ “draw it mild!”
MAUVE, _f._ (popular), _umbrella of a reddish colour_, _a kind of_ “gingham.”
MAUVIETTE, _f._ (popular), _ribbon of a decoration in the button-hole_.
MAYEUX, _m._ (popular), _humpback_, or “lord.” Name given to a caricatured individual, a humpback, who appears in many of the coloured caricatures of 1830. Mayeux is a form of the old name Mahieu (Mathieu).
MAZAGRAN, _m._ (general), _coffee served up in a glass at cafés, or mixture of coffee and water_.
MAZARO, or LAZARO, _m._ (military), CELLS, “jigger,” Irish theatre, or mill.
MAZE, _f._ (thieves’), abbreviation of _Mazas, a central prison in Paris_. Tirer un congé à la ----, _to serve a term of imprisonment in Mazas_.
MAZETTE, _f._ (military), _recruit_, or “Johnny raw;” _man_, or “cove.”
MEC, or MEG, _m._ (thieves’), _master_; _chief_, “dimber damber.”
Bravo, mec! faisons lui son affaire et renquillons à la taule, je cane la pégrenne.--=VIDOCQ.= (_Bravo, chief, let us do for him, and let us return home, I am dying of hunger._)
(Popular and thieves’) Mec, _women’s bully_, or “ponce.” See POISSON. Un ---- à la redresse, _good, straightforward man_. Le ---- des mecs, _the Almighty_.
Voyons, daronne ... il ne faut pas jeter à ses paturons le bien que le mec des mecs nous envoie.--=VIDOCQ.= (_Come, mother, we must not throw at our feet the good things which the Almighty sends us._)
Mec à la colle forte, _desperate malefactor_; ---- à sonnettes, _rich man_, “rag-splawger;” ---- de la guiche, _women’s bully_, or “ponce,” see POISSON; ---- des gerbiers, _executioner_; ---- de la rousse, _prefect of police_; (popular) ---- à la roue, _one who is conversant with the routine of a trade_.
MÉCANICIEN, _m._ (popular), _executioner’s assistant_.
MÉCANIQUE, _f._ (popular), _guillotine_. Charrier à la ----, see CHARRIER.
MÉCANISER (thieves’), _to guillotine_; (popular) _to annoy_.
Coupeau voulut le rattraper. Plus souvent qu’il se laissât mécaniser par un paletot.--=ZOLA.=
MÉCHANT, _adj._ (familiar and popular), n’être pas ----, _to be inferior_, _of little value_, “tame, no great scratch.” Un livre pas ----, _a_ “tame” _book_. Une plaisanterie pas méchante, _a dull joke_. Un caloquet pas ----, _a plain bonnet_.
MÈCHE (popular), il y a ----, _it is possible_. Il n’y a pas----, _it is impossible_. This expression has passed into the language. Et ----! _and the rest!_ Combien avez-vous payé, dix francs?--Et mèche! _How much did you pay, twenty francs?--Yes, and something over._ (Thieves’) Etre de ----, _to go halves_.
On vous obéira. J’ai trop envie d’être de mèche.--=VIDOCQ.= (_You shall be obeyed. I have too great a desire to go halves._)
Also _to be in confederacy_.
M’est avis que tu es de mèche avec les rupins pour nous emblêmer.--=VIDOCQ.= (_My opinion is that you are in confederacy with the swells to deceive us._)
Six plombes et ----, _half-past six_. (Printers’) Mèche, _work_. Chercher ----, _to seek for employment_.
MÉCHI, _m._ (thieves’), _misfortune_. From the old French “meschief,” _mischief_.
MÉCHILLON, _m._ (thieves’), _quarter of an hour_.
MECQ, _m._ (popular), _prostitute’s bully_. See POISSON.
MECQUE, _f._ (thieves’), _man_, or “cove;” _victim_.
MÉDAILLARD, _m._ (artists’), _artist who has obtained a medal at the Exhibition_.
MÉDAILLE, _f._ (popular), _silver five-franc coin_; also called ---- de Saint-Hubert; ---- d’or, _twenty-franc piece_; ---- en chocolat, _the Saint-Helena medal_. Called also “médaille de commissionnaire,” or “contre-marque du Père-Lachaise.”
MÉDAILLON, _m._ (popular), _breech_, see VASISTAS; ---- de flac, _cul-de-sac, or blind alley_.
MÉDECIN, _m._ (thieves’), _counsel_, or “mouth-piece.” It is natural that thieves should follow the advice of a doctor when on the point of entering the “hôpital,” or _prison_, where they will stay as “malades,” or _prisoners_, and whence they will come out “guéris,” or _free_.
MÉDECINE, _f._ (thieves’), _defence by a counsel_; _advice_. Une ---- flambante, _a piece of good advice_.
Collez-moi cinquante balles et je vous coque une médecine flambante.--=VIDOCQ.= (_Tip me fifty francs, and I’ll give you a piece of good advice._)
(Popular) Médecine, _dull, tiresome person_.
MÉFIANT, _m._ (military), _foot soldier_, “beetle-crusher, or grabby.”
MEG, _m._ (thieves’), _chief_. Le ---- des megs, _God_.
Il y a un mot qui reparaît dans toutes les langues du continent avec une sorte de puissance et d’autorité mystérieuse. C’est le mot _magnus_; l’Ecosse en fait son _mac_ qui désigne le chef du clan ... l’argot en ait le _meck_ et plus tard le _meg_, c’est à dire Dieu. --=V. HUGO=, _Les Misérables_.
MÉGARD, _m._ (thieves’), _head of a gang of thieves_, or “dimber damber.”
MÉGO, _m._ (popular), _balance in favour of credit_.
MÉGOT, _m._ (popular), _end of cigarette_.
Près des théâtres, dans les gares, Entre les arpions des sergots, C’est moi que j’cueille les bouts d’cigares, Les culots d’pipe et les mégots.
=RICHEPIN.=
MÉGOTTIER, _m._ (popular), _one whose trade is to collect cigar or cigarette ends_, a “hard up.”
MÉLASSE, _f._ (popular), tomber dans la ----, _to be in great trouble_, or “hobble;” _to be ruined_, or “to go a mucker.”
MÉLASSON, _m._ (popular), _clumsy, awkward man_, “a cripple;” _dunce_, or “flat.”
MÊLÉ, _m._ (popular), _mixture of anisette, cassis, or absinthe, with brandy_.
MELET, _m._, MELETTE, _f._, _adj._, (thieves’), _small_.
MÉLO, _m._ (familiar and popular), _abbreviation of mélodrame_.
Le bon gros mélo a fait son temps.--_Paris Journal._
MELON, _m._ (cadets’ of the military school of Saint-Cyr), _a first-term student_. Called “snooker” at the R. M. Academy, and “John” at the R. M. College of Sandhurst. (General) Un ----, _a dunce_, or “flat.” Termed “thick” at Winchester School.
MEMBRE DE LA CARAVANE, _m._ (popular), _prostitute_, or “mot.” See GADOUE. Euphemism for “chameau.”
MEMBRER (military), _to drill_; _to work_.
Poussant éternellement devant eux une brouette qu’ils avaient soin de laisser éternellement vide, s’arrêtant pour contempler ... les camarades qui membraient. --=G. COURTELINE.=
MÉNAGE À LA COLLE, _m._ (familiar), _cohabitation of an unmarried couple_, the lady being termed “wife in water-colours.”
MENDIANT, _m._ (familiar), à la carte, _a begging impostor who pretends to have been sent by a person whose visiting card he exhibits_; ---- à la lettre, _begging-letter impostor_; ---- au tabac, _beggar who pretends to pick up cigar ends_.
MENDIGOT, MENDIGO, or MENDIGOTEUR (popular), _a variety of the brotherhood of beggars that visits country houses and collects at the same time information for burglars_; a “putter up.” La faire au mendigo, _to pretend to be begging_.
MENDIGOTER (popular), _to beg_.
MENÉE, _f._ (thieves’), _dozen_. Une ---- d’ornichons, _a dozen chickens_.
MENER (military), pisser quelqu’un, _to compel one to fight a duel_. (Popular) On ne le mène pas pisser, _he has a will of his own_, _one can’t do as one likes with him_. N’en pas ---- large, _to be ill at ease, or crestfallen_, “glum.”
Puis une fois la fumée dissipée, on verra une vingtaine d’assistants sur l’flanc, foudrayés du coup en n’en m’nant pas large.--=TRUBLOT=, _Cri du Peuple_.
(Thieves’) Mener en bateau, _to deceive_, “to stick.”
Ces patriarches, pères et fils de voleurs, ne restent pas moins fidèles à leur abominable lignée. Ils n’instruisent la préfecture que pour la mener en bateau.--_Mémoires de Monsieur Claude._
Mener en bateau un pante pour le refaire, _to deceive a man in order to rob him_, “to bamboozle a jay and flap him.”
MENESSE, _f._ (thieves’ and cads’), _prostitute_, or “bunter,” see GADOUE; _mistress_, or “doxy.”
MENÊTRE, _f._ (thieves’), _soup_.
MENEUSE, _f._ (popular), _woman who entices a passer-by to some back alley, where he is robbed, and sometimes murdered, by accomplices_. Also _woman whose calling is to take charge of babies, and take them to some country place, where they are left to the care of a wet nurse_.
MENGIN, or MANGIN, _m._ (familiar), _political or literary charlatan_. From the name of a celebrated quack, a familiar figure of crossways and squares in Paris under the Third Empire. He was attired in showy costume of the Middle Ages, and sported a glistening helmet topped by enormous plumes. He sold pencils, drew people’s caricatures at a moment’s notice, and was attended by an assistant known under the name of Vert-de-gris.
MÉNILMONTE, or MÉNILMUCHE (popular), _Ménilmontant, formerly one of the suburbs of Paris_. According to Zola, the word is curiously used in connection with the so-called sign of the cross of drunkards:--
Coupeau se leva pour faire le signe de croix des pochards. Sur la tête il prononça Montpernasse, à l’épaule droite Ménilmonte, à l’épaule gauche la Courtille, au milieu du ventre Bagnolet, et dans le creux de l’estomac trois fois Lapin sauté.--_L’Assommoir._
MENOUILLE, _f._ (popular), _money, or change_.
MENTEUSE, _f._ (thieves’), _tongue_, or “prating cheat.” Termed also “le chiffon rouge, la battante, la diligence de Rome, rouscaillante.”
MENU. See CONNAÎTRE.
MENUISIER. See CÔTELETTE.
MENUISIÈRE, _f._ (popular), _long coat_.
MÉQUARD, or MÉGARD, _m._ (thieves’), _head of a gang_, or “dimber damber.” From mec, _master_, _chief_.
MÉQUER (thieves’), _to command_. From meq, meg, _chief_, _head of gang_, or “dimber damber.”
MERCADET, _m._ (familiar), _man who sets on foot bubble companies, swindling agencies, and other fishy concerns_. A character of Balzac.
MERCANDIER, _m._ (popular), _butcher who retails only meat of inferior quality_.
MERCANTI, _m._, _name given by the army in Africa to traders, generally thievish Jews_.
Cependant les mercantis, débitants d’absinthe empoisonnée et de vins frelatés, escrocs, banqueroutiers, repris de justice, marchands de tout acabit.--=HECTOR FRANCE=, _Sous le Burnous_.
MERDAILLON, _m._ (popular), _contemptible man_, or “snot.”
MERDE, _f._ (thieves’), de pie, _fifty-centime piece_. (Popular) Faire sa ----, _to give oneself airs_, _to look_ “botty.” Des écrase ----, _fashionable boots, as now worn, with large low heels_. Termed also “bottines à la mouget.”
MERDEUX, _m._ (popular), _scavenger employed to empty cesspools_, “gold-finder;” _despicable mean fellow_, “snot.”
MÈRE, _f._ (popular), abbesse, _mistress of a brothel_; ---- de petite fille, _bottle of wine_; ---- d’occase, _procuress who plays the part of a young prostitute’s mother, or a beggar who goes about with hired children_; ---- aux anges, _woman who gives shelter to forsaken children, and hires them out to mendicants_; (thieves’) ---- au bleu, _guillotine_. See VOYANTE. (Corporations’) Mère, _innkeeper, where_ “compagnons,” _or skilled artisans of a corporation, hold their meetings_. The compagnons used to individually visit all the towns of France, working at each place, and the long journey was termed “tour de France.”
MÉRINOS, _m._ (popular), _man with an offensive breath_. Manger du ----, _to play billiards_, or “spoof.”
MERLANDER (popular), _to dress the hair_. From merlan, popular expression for _hairdresser_.
MERLIFICHE, _m._ (thieves’), _mountebank_, _showman_. Probably from “merlificque,” used by Villon with the signification of _marvellous_.
MERLIN, _m._ (popular), _leg_, “pin.” Un coup de passif dans le ----, _a kick on the shin_.
MERLOU. See MARLOU.
MERLOUSIER, MERLOUSIÈRE, _adj._ (thieves’), _cunning_. La dabuche est merlousière, _the lady is cunning_.
MERLUCHE, _f._ (popular), pousser des cris de ----, _to squall_; _to scold vehemently_.
MERRIFLAUTÉ, _adj._ (thieves’), _warmly clad_.
MÉRUCHÉ, _f._, MÉRUCHON, _m._ (thieves’), _stove_, _frying-pan_.
MÉRUCHÉE, _f._ (thieves’), _stoveful_.
MERVEILLEUX, _m._ (familiar), _dandy of 1833_. See GOMMEUX.
A l’avant-scène se prélassait un jeune merveilleux agitant avec nonchalance un binocle d’or émaillé.--=TH. GAUTIER.=
The _Slang Dictionary_ includes the word “dandy” among slang expressions. It says: “Dandy, _a fop, or fashionable nondescript_. This word, in the sense of a fop, is of modern origin. Egan says it was first used in 1820, and Bee in 1816. Johnson does not mention it, although it is to be found in all late dictionaries. Dandies wore stays, studied a feminine style, and tried to undo their manhood by all manner of affectations which were not actually immoral. Lord Petersham headed them. At the present day dandies of this stamp have almost entirely disappeared, but the new school of muscular Christians is not altogether faultless. The feminine of dandy was dandizette, but the term only lived for a short season.”
MÉSIGO, MÉZIÈRE, MÉZIGUE, (thieves’), _I_, _me_, “dis child,” as the negroes say; ---- roulait le trimard, _I was tramping along the road_.
MESSE, _f._ (popular), être à la ----, _to be late_. Nous avons été à la ---- de cinq minutes, _we were five minutes late_. (Thieves’) La ---- du diable, _examination of a prisoner by a magistrate, or trial_, an ordeal the unpleasant nature of which is eloquently expressed by the words. Termed by English rogues “cross kidment.”
MESSIADIEN, _adj. and m._ (thieves’), _convicted_, _sentenced_, “booked.” The epithet is applied to one who has been compelled to attend “la messe du diable,” with unpleasant consequences to himself. Il est ---- à six bergarès plombes, _he is in for six years’ prison_, “put away” for “six stretches;” ---- pour pégrasse, _convicted for stealing_, “in for a vamp.” Il fagaut ta magnette blague de maniagnère que tu n’es paga les pindesse dans le dintesse pour pégrasse, autrement tu es messiadien et tu laveragas tes pieds d’agnet dans le grand pré, which signifies, in the thieves’ jargon of the day, _You must take an alias, so that you may escape the clutches of the police; if not, you will be convicted and transported_.
MESSIER, or MESSIÈRE, _m._ (thieves’), _man_; _inhabitant_. A form of mézière, _a fool_. Les messiers de cambrouse, _the country folk_, or “clods.”
MESSIÈRE, _m._ (thieves’), _man_; _victim_; ---- de la haute, _well-to-do man_, “nib cove, or gentry cove;” ---- franc, _citizen_; _individual_, or “cove.”
MESSIRE LUC, _m._ (familiar), _breech_, or “Nancy.” See VASISTAS.
MESURE, _f._ (popular), prendre la ---- des côtes, _to thrash_, “to wollop.”
MÉTHODE CHEVÉ, _f._ (familiar and popular), _playing billiards in an out-of-the-way fashion--with two cues, for instance, or by pushing the balls with the hand_.
MÉTIER, _m._ (artists’), _skill in execution_; _clever touch_. Avoir un ---- d’enfer, _to paint with great manual skill_.
MÈTRE, _m._ (familiar and popular), chevalier du ----, _shopman_, “counter-jumper, or knight of the yard.”
METTEUX, _m._ (printers’), _metteur en pages, or maker-up_.
METTRE (general), au clou, _to pawn_, “to put in lug,” or “to pop up the spout.” An allusion to the spout up which the brokers send the ticketed articles until such time as they shall be redeemed. The spout runs from the ground-floor to the wareroom at the top of the house. English thieves term pawning one’s clothes, “to sweat one’s duds.” Le ----, is explained by the following:--
Mot libre, pour chevaucher, faire le déduit, se divertir avec une femme. Ce mot est équivoque et malicieux, car une personne laisse-t-elle tomber son busque ou son gant? On dit, Mademoiselle, voulez-vous que je vous le mette? --=LE ROUX=, _Dict. Comique_.
Termed, in the language of the Paris roughs, “mettre en prison.” Mets ça dans ta poche et ton mouchoir par dessus, _said of a blow or repartee, and equivalent to, take that and think over it, or digest it, or let it be a warning to you_, “put that in your pipe and smoke it.” Mettre à l’ombre, or dedans, _to imprison_, “to give the clinch.” See PIPER. Mettre à l’ombre signifies also _to kill_, “to cook one’s goose;” ---- du pain dans le sac de quelqu’un, _to beat one, or to kill him_; ---- dans le mille, _to be successful_, _to have a piece of good luck_, or “regular crow;” _to hit the right nail on the head_.
D’abord en passant, faut y’ régler son affaire à mon aminche eul’ zig Gramont d’ l’Intransigeant, qu’a mis dans l’mille en disant qu’ eul’ Théâtre de Paris sera naturaliste ou qu’i ne sera pas.--=TRUBLOT=, _Cri du Peuple_.
Mettre quelqu’un dedans, _to deceive_, _to cheat one_, _to outwit_, “to take a rise out of a person.”
A metaphor from fly-fishing, the silly fish rising to be caught by an artificial fly.--_Slang Dictionary._
Le ---- à quelqu’un, _to deceive one_, “to bamboozle” _one_.
Du reste, c’est un flanche, vous voulez me le mettre ... je la connais.--=V. HUGO.=
(Popular) Mettre la tête à la fenêtre, _to be guillotined_. See FAUCHÉ. Mettre une pousse, _to strike_, _to thrash_, “to wallop;” ---- à pied, _to dismiss from one’s employment temporarily or permanently_; ---- quelqu’un dans la pommade, _to beat one at a game_; ---- en bringue, _to smash_; ---- des gants sur ses salsifis, _to put gloves on_; ---- la table pour les asticots, _to become food for the worms_. See PIPE. Mettre sous presse, _to pawn_, _to put_ “in lug.” Se ---- sur les fonts de baptême, _to get involved in some difficulty_, _to be in a fix_, _in a_ “hole.” (Theatrical) Se ---- en rang d’oignons _is said of actors who place themselves in a line in front of the foot-lights_. Formerly mettre en rang d’oignons meant _to admit one into a company on an equal standing with the others_. (Thieves’) Mettre en dedans, _to break open a door_, “to strike a jigger;” ---- la pogne dessus, _to steal_, “to nim.” From the old English nim, _to take_, says the _Slang Dictionary_. Motherwell, the Scotch poet, thought the old word nim (_to snatch or pick up_) was derived from nam, nam, the tiny words or cries of an infant when eating anything which pleases its little palate. A negro proverb has the word:--
Buckra man nam crab, Crab nam buckra man.
Or, in the buckra man’s language,
White man eat (for steal) the crab, And then crab eat the white man.
Shakespeare evidently had the word nim in his head when he portrayed Nym. Mettre une gamelle, _to escape from prison_. Se ---- à table, _to inform against one_, “to blow the gaff,” “to nick.” See GRINCHIR.
En v’là un malheur si la daronne et les frangines allaient se mettre à table.--=VIDOCQ.= (_That’s a misfortune if the mother and the sisters inform._)
(Popular and thieves’) Se ---- en bombe, _to escape from prison_.
Mon magistrat, ... nous nous sommes tirés pour faire la noce. Nous sommes en bombe! Nous n’avons plus de braise et nous venons nous rendre.--_Un Flâneur._
Mettre sur la planche au pain, _to put a prisoner on his trial_, “in for patter;” (military) ---- le chien au cran de repos, _to sleep_; ---- le moine, _to fasten a cord to a sleeping man’s big toe, and to teaze him by occasionally jerking it_; ---- les tripes au soleil, _to kill_.
A force d’entendre des phrases comme celles-ci: crever la paillasse, mettre les tripes au soleil, taillader les côtes, brûler les gueules, ouvrir la panse, je m’y étais habitué et j’avais fini par les trouver toutes naturelles.--=H. FRANCE=, _L’Homme qui Tue_.
(Bullies’) Mettre un chamègue à l’alignement, _to send a woman out to walk the streets as a prostitute_.
MEUBLE, _m._ (popular), _sorry-looking person_.
MEUBLER (familiar), _to pad_.
MEUDON, _m._ (thieves’), grand ----, _police_, _the_ “reelers.”
MEULAN. See ARTIE.
MEULARD, _m._ (thieves’), _calf_. In old English cant “lowing cheat.”
MEULES DE MOULIN, _f. pl._ (popular), _teeth_, or “grinders.”
MEUNIER, _m._ (thieves’), _receiver_, or “fence.” Porter au moulin _is to take stolen property to the receiver_, “to fence the swag.”
MEURT-DE-FAIM, _m._ (popular), _penny loaf_.
MÉZIÈRE, _adj., pron., and m._ (thieves’), _simple-minded_, _gullible_. Etre ----, _to be a_ “cull or flat.” The word, says Michel, derives its origin from the confidence-trick swindle, when one of the confederates who acts the part of a foreigner, and who pretends to speak bad French, addresses the pigeon as “mézière” instead of “monsieur.”
Moi vouloir te faire de la peine! plutôt être gerbé à vioque (jugé à vie); faut être bien mézière (nigaud) pour le supposer.--=VIDOCQ.=
Mézière, _I_, _me_, _myself_. Le havre protège ----, _God protect me_. Un ----, _a_ “flat,” _name given by thieves to their victims_.
Depuis que nous nous sommes remis à escarper les mézières, il ne nous en est pas tombé sous la poigne un aussi chouette que celui-ci.--=VIDOCQ.= (_Since we began again to kill the flats, we haven’t had in our claws a single one as rich as that one._)
MÉZIGUE, MÉZIGO (thieves’), _I_, _myself_.
Auquel cas, c’ serait pas long; mézigue sait c’ qu’y lui rest’rait à faire.--=TRUBLOT=, _Le Cri du Peuple_.
MIB, or MIBRE, _m._ (street boys’), _thing in which one excels_; _triumph_. C’est mon ----, _that’s just what I am a dab at_. C’est ton ----, _you’ll never do that_; _that beat’s you hollow_.
MICHAUD, _m._ (thieves’), _head_, or “tibby, nob, or knowledge box.” Faire son ----, _to sleep_, “to doss.”
MICHE, _f._ (popular and thieves’), _lace_, or “driz.” An allusion to the holes in a loaf of white bread. Miche, or ---- de profonde, _money_. The term in this case exactly corresponds to the English “loaver.”
MICHÉ, _m._ (general), _client of a prostitute_. Literally _one who has_ “michon,” _or money_, _who_ “forks out.”
Les filles isolées, soit en carte, soit insoumises ... ont, par contre, le désagrément d’éprouver souvent certains déboires. Le client n’est pas toujours un “miché” consciencieux.--=LÉO TAXIL.=
Faire un ----, _to find a client_, or “flat.” Un ---- de carton, _client who does not pay well, or who does not pay at all_. Un ---- sérieux, _one who pays_.
Les femmes appellent “michés sérieux” les clients qui “montent” et “flanelles” ceux qui se contentent de “peloter” et de payer un petit verre.--=LÉO TAXIL.=
Concerning the language of such women Léo Taxil says:--“On a prétendu que toutes les prostituées de Paris avaient un argot ou un jargon qui leur était particulier ... ceci n’est pas exact ... nous avons vu qu’elles désignent le client sous le nom de ‘miché,’ le visiteur qui ne monte pas sous celui de ‘flanelle.’ Pour elles, les inspecteurs des mœurs sont des ‘rails,’ un commissaire de police un ‘flique,’ une jolie fille une ‘gironde’ ou une ‘chouette,’ une fille laide un ‘roubiou,’ etc. Ce sont là des expressions qui font partie du langage des souteneurs qui, eux, possèdent un véritable argot; elles en retiennent quelques mots et les mêlent à leur conversation. Quant aux prostituées qui s’entendent avec les voleurs et qui n’ont recours au libertinage que pour cacher leur réelle industrie, il n’est pas étonnant qu’elles aient adopté le jargon de leurs suppôts; mais on ne peut pas dire que ce langage soit celui des prostituées.” (Popular) Miché, _fool_. From Michel. It is to be remarked, after Montaigne, that many names of men have been taken to signify the word fool; such are Grand Colas, Jean-Jean, and formerly Gautier, Blaise. (Photographers’) Miché, _client_. (Familiar and popular) Un vieux ----, _an old beau_.
Tel, au printemps, un vieux miché Parade en galante toilette.
=GILL.=
MICHEL, _m._ (fishermen’s), cassant ses œufs, _thunder_. (Military) Ça fait la rue ----, _it’s the same for everybody_.
Eh bien, si j’y coups pas, v’là tout, j’coucherai à la boîte comme les camarades, et ça fera la rue Michel. --=G. COURTELINE.=
MICHELET, _m._ (popular), faire le ----, _to feel about in a crowd of women_, not exactly with righteous intentions.
MICHET, MICHÉ, or MICHETON, _m._ (popular), _client of a prostitute_.
Elles tournent la tête et jetant sur ce type, Par dessus leur épaule, un regard curieux, Songent: oh! si c’était un miché sérieux!
=GILL.=
MICHON, _m._ (thieves’), _money_ which procures a miche, or a _loaf_, “loaver.” See QUIBUS.
C’est ce qui me fait ambier hors de cette vergne; car si je n’eusse eu du michon je fusse côni de faim.--_Le Jargon de l’Argot._
Foncer du ----, _to give money_, “to grease the palm.”
MIDI! (popular), _too late!_ Il est ----, _a warning to one to be on his guard_; _I don’t take that in!_ “not for Joe!” Il est ---- sonné, _it’s not for you_; _it is impossible_.
Faut pas te figurer comme ça qu’ t’as l’droit de t’coller un bouc ... quand tu seras de la classe, comme me v’là, ça s’pourra; mais jusque-là c’est midi sonné.--=G. COURTELINE.=
MIE, _f._ (popular), de pain, _louse_, or “grey-backed ’un;” (printers’) _thing of little value_, or “not worth a curse.” Compositeur ---- de pain, _an unskilled compositor_, _or clumsy_ “donkey.”
MIEL! (popular), _euphemism for a coarser word_, “go to pot!” “you be hanged!” C’est un ----, _is expressive of satisfaction, or is used ironically_. Of a good thing they say: “C’est un miel!” On entering a close, stuffy place: “C’est un miel!” Of a desperate street fight: “C’est un miel!” “a rare spree!” “what a lark!” (=DELVAU=).
MIELLÉ! _adj._ (popular), du sort, _happy_; _fortunate in life_.
Il n’était pas plus miellé du sort, il n’avait pas la vie plus en belle.--=RICHEPIN=, _La Glu_.
MIGNARD, _m._ (popular), _term of endearment_; _child_, or “kid.”
MIGNON, _m._ (thieves’), _mistress_, or “mollisher.”
J’avais bonheur, argent, amour tranquille, les jours se suive mais ne se ressemble pas. Mon mignon connaissait l’anglais, l’allemand, très bien le français, l’auvergna et l’argot.--_From a thief’s letter, quoted by L. Larchey._
(Popular and thieves’) Mignon de port (obsolete), _porter_. Mignon had formerly the signification of _foolish_, _ignorant_.
MIGNOTER (popular), _to fondle_, “to forkytoodle.”
MIKEL, _m._ (mountebanks’), _dupe_, or “gulpin.”
MILIEU, _m._ (popular), _breech_, or “Nancy.”
MILLARDS, _m. pl._ (old cant), _in olden times a variety of the cadger tribe_.
Millards sont ceux qui trollent sur leur andosse de gros gueulards; ils truchent plus aux champs qu’aux vergnes, et sont haïs des autres argotiers, parce qu’ils morfient ce qu’ils ont tout seuls.--_Le Jargon de l’Argot._ (_The “millards” are those who carry a large bag on their back; they beg in the country in preference to the towns, and are hated by their brethren because they eat all alone what they get._)
MILLE, _m. and f._ (familiar), mettre dans le ----, _to meet with a piece of good luck_, or “regular crow;” _to_ _be successful_. One often sees at fairs a kind of machine for testing physical strength. A pad is struck with the fist, and a needle marks the extent of the effort, “le mille” being the maximum. (Thieves’) Mille, _woman_, or “burrick” (obsolete).
MILLE-LANGUES, _m._ (popular), _talkative person_; _tatler_.
MILLE-PERTUIS, _m._ (thieves’), _watering pot_ (obsolete).
MILLERIE, _f._ (thieves’), _lottery_. Thus termed on account of the thousands which every holder of a ticket hopes will be his.
MILLET, MILLOT, _m._ (popular), _1,000 franc bank-note_. From mille.
MILLIARDAIRE, _m._ (familiar), _very rich man_, _one who rolls on gold_.
C’est de cette époque que date aujourd’hui sa fortune car il est aujourd’hui milliardaire.--=A. SIRVEN.=
MILLOUR, _m._ (thieves’), _rich man_, “rag splawger” (obsolete). From the English _my lord_.
MILORD, _m._ (familiar and popular), _rich man_; ---- l’Arsouille, _nickname of Lord Seymour_. See ARSOUILLE.
Les Folies-Belleville ... où Milord l’Arsouille engueulait les malins, cassait la vaisselle et boxait les garçons.--=P. MAHALIN.=
MINCE, _m. and adv._ (thieves’), _note-paper_; _bank-note_, or “soft.” (Popular) The word has many significations: it means, _of course_; _certainly_; _much_.
Dois-tu comme Walder, Et comme la muscade, Te donner mince d’air Après ton escapade?
=RAMINAGROBIS.=
Mince! _no_; _certainly not_. It is sometimes expressive of disappointment or contempt. Tu n’as plus d’argent? ah! ---- alors, _you have no money? hang it all then!_ Il a ---- la barbe, _he is completely drunk_. Pensez si je me marre, ah! ----! _don’t I get amused, just!_ Aux plus rupins il disait ----, _even to the strongest he said_, “you be hanged! “Mince de potin! _a fine row!_ ---- de crampon! _an awful bore!_ ---- que j’en ai de l’argent! _haven’t I money? of course I have!_ Ah! ---- alors! _to the deuce, then!_ Mince de chic, _glass of beer_. The ejaculation mince! in some cases may find an equivalent in the English word rather! an exclamation strongly affirmative. It is also used as an euphemism for an obscene word.
Et moi sauciss’, j’su quand j’turbine. Mais, bon sang! la danse s’débine Dans l’coulant d’air qui boit ma sueur. Eux aut’s, c’est pompé par leur linge. Minc’ qu’ils doiv’ emboucanner l’singe. Vrai, c’est pas l’linge qui fait l’bonheur.
=RICHEPIN.=
MINE, _f._ (popular), à poivre, _low brandy shop_.
Lui était un bon, un chouette, un d’attaque. Ah! zut! le singe pouvait se fouiller, il ne retournait pas à la boîte, il avait la flemme. Et il proposait aux deux camarades d’aller au _Petit bonhomme qui tousse_, une mine à poivre de la barrière Saint-Denis, où l’on buvait du chien tout pur.--=ZOLA=, _L’Assommoir_.
Une ---- à chier dessus, _ugly face_, “knocker face.”
Qu’est-ce qu’il vient nous em ... ieller, celui-là, avec sa mine à chier dessus.--=RIGAUD.=
MINERVE, _f._ (printers’), _small printing machine worked with the foot_.
MINERVISTE, _m._ (printers’), _one who works the_ Minerve (which see).
MINEUR, _m._ (thieves’), _Manceau, or native of Le Mans_.
MINIK (Breton cant), _small_.
MINISTRE (military), _sumpter mule_; (peasants’) _ass_, “moke,” _or mule_.
MINOIS, _m._ (thieves’), _nose_, or “conk” (obsolete).
MINOTAURE, _m._ (familiar), _deceived husband_, “stag face.” The expression is Balzac’s.
Je serais le dernier de M. Paul de Kock; minotaure, comme dit M. de Balzac.--=TH. GAUTIER.=
MINOTAURISER QUELQU’UN (familiar), _to seduce one’s wife_. An allusion to the horns of the Minotaur.
Quand une femme est inconséquente, le mari, serait, selon moi, minotaurisé--=BALZAC.=
MINSON (Breton cant), _bad_; _badly_.
MINSONER (Breton cant), _mean_.
MINTZINGUE, _m._ (popular), _landlord of wine-shop_.
Mais sapristi, jugez d’mon embargo, Depuis ce temps elle est toujours pompette, Et chez l’mintzingue ell’ croque le magot.
_Almanach Chantant_, 1869.
MINUIT, _m._ (thieves’), _negro_. Termed also, in different kinds of slang, “Bamboula, boule de neige, boîte à cirage, bille de pot-au-feu, mal blanchi,” and in the English slang, “snowball, Sambo, bit o’ ebony, blacky.” Enfant de ---- meant formerly _thief_. Enfants de la messe de minuit, says Cotgrave, “_quiresters of midnights masse; night-walking rakehells, or such as haunt these nightly rites, not for any devotion, but only to rob, abuse, or play the knaves with others_.”
MINZINGUE, or MINZINGO, _m._ (popular), _landlord of tavern_. Termed also manzinguin, mindzingue.
La philosophie, vil mindzingue, quand ça ne servirait qu’à trouver ton vin bon.--=GRÉVIN.=
MION, _m._ (thieves’), child, or “kid;” ---- de gonesse, _stripling_; ---- de boule, _thief_, “prig.” See GRINCHE.
MIPE, _m._ (thieves’), faire un ---- à quelqu’un, _to outdrink one_.
MIRADOU, _m._ (thieves’), _mirror_.
MIRANCU, _m._ (obsolete), _apothecary_.
Respect au capitaine Mirancu! Qu’il aille se coucher ailleurs, car s’il s’avisoit de jouer de la seringue, nous n’avons pas de canesons pour l’en empêcher.--_L’Apothicaire empoisonné_, 1671.
Mirancu, a play on the words mire en cul, which may be better explained in Béralde’s words, in Molière’s _Le Malade Imaginaire_:--
Allez, monsieur; on voit bien que vous n’avez pas accoutumé de parler à des visages.
MIRECOURT, _m._ (thieves’), _violin_. The town of Mirecourt is celebrated for its manufactures of stringed instruments. Rigaud says that it is thus termed from a play on the words mire court, _look on from a short distance_, the head of the performer being bent over the instrument, thus bringing his eyes close to it.
MIRE-LAID, _m._ (popular), _mirror_. An expression which cannot be gratifying to those too fond of admiring their own countenances in the glass.
MIRETTES, _f. pl._ (popular and thieves’), _eyes_, “peepers, ogles, top-lights, or day-lights.” Fielding uses the latter slang term:--
Good woman! I do not use to be so treated. If the lady says such another word to me, damn me, I will darken her day-lights.--=FIELDING=, _Amelia_.
In old cant eyes were termed “glaziers.”
Toure out with your glaziers, I swear by the ruffin, That we are assaulted by a queer cuffin.
=BROOME=, _A Jovial Crew_.
Which means _look out with all your eyes, I swear by the devil a magistrate is coming_. Mirettes en caoutchouc, or en caouche, _telescope_; ---- glacées, or en glacis, _spectacles_, or “gig-lamps.” Sans ----, _blind_, or “hoodman.”
MIREUR, _m._ (popular), _one who looks on intently_; _spy_; _person employed in the immense underground store cellars of the Halles to inspect provisions by candle-light_.
Deux cents becs de gaz éclairent ces caves gigantesques, où l’on rencontre diverses industries spéciales.... Les “mireurs,” qui passent à la chandelle une délicate révision des sujets. Les “préparateurs de fromages” qui font “jaunir” le chester, “pleurer” le gruyère, “couler” le brie ou “piquer” le roquefort.--=E. FRÉBAULT.=
MIRLIFLORE, _m._ (familiar), _a dandy of the beginning of the present century_. For synonyms see GOMMEUX. The term has now passed into the language with the signification of _silly conceited dandy or fop_.
Nos mirliflors Vaudroient-ils cet homme à ressorts?
_Chansons de Collé._
Concerning the derivation of this word Littré makes the following remarks: “Il y avait dans l’ancien français _mirlifique_, altération de _mirifique_; on peut penser que mirliflore est une altération analogue où _flor_ ou _fleur_ remplace fique: qui est comme une fleur merveilleuse. Francisque Michel y voit une altération de _mille-fleurs_, dénomination prise des bouquets dont se paraient les élégants du temps passé.” It is more probable, however, that the term is connected with _eau de mille-fleurs_, an elixir of all flowers, a mixed perfume, and this origin seems to be borne out by the circumstance that after the Revolution of 1793 dandies received the name of “muscadins,” from _musc_, or musk, their favourite perfume. Workmen sometimes call a dandy “un puant.” See this word.
MIRLITON, _m._ (popular), _nose_, or “smeller.” For synonyms see MORVIAU. Also _voice_. Avoir le ---- bouché, _to have a bad cold in the head_. Jouer du ----, _to talk_, “to jaw;” _to blow one’s nose_. Mirliton properly signifies a kind of reed-pipe.
MIROBOLAMMENT (familiar and popular), _marvellously_, “stunningly.”
MIROBOLANT, _adj._ (familiar and popular), _excellent_, “slap-up, or scrumptious;” _marvellous_, “crushing.”
Eh! c’est la bande! c’est la fameuse, la superbe, l’invincible, à jamais triomphante, séduisante et mirobolante bande du Jura.--_Bande du Jura._ _Madame de Gasparin._
“Mirobolant” is a corruption of admirable. Another instance of this kind of slang formation is “abalobé,” from abalourdi.
MIROIR, _m._ (card-sharpers’), _a rapid glance cast on the stock of a game of piquet, or on the first cards dealt at the game of baccarat_. A tricky “dodge” which enables the cheat to gain a knowledge of his opponent’s hand. (Popular) Un ---- à putains, synonymous of bellâtre, _a handsome but vulgar man_, one likely to find favour with the frail sisterhood. Rigaud says: “Miroir à putains, joli visage d’homme à la manière des têtes exposées à la vitrine des coiffeurs.” The phrase is old.
Dis-lui qu’un miroir à putain Pour dompter le Pays Latin Est un fort mauvais personnage.
=SCARRON.=
Fielding thus expatiates on the readiness of women to look with more favour on a handsome face than on an intellectual one:--
How we must lament that disposition in these lovely creatures which leads them to prefer in their favour those individuals of the other sex who do not seem intended by nature as so great a masterpiece!... If this be true, how melancholy must be the consideration that any single beau, especially if he have but half a yard of ribbon in his hat, shall weigh heavier in the scale of female affection than twenty Sir Isaac Newtons!--_Mr. Jonathan Wild the Great._
MIRQUIN, _m._ (thieves’), _woman’s cap_.
MIRZALES, _f. pl._ (thieves’), _earrings_.
MISE, _f._ (prostitutes’), faire sa ----, _to pay a prostitute her fee_, or “present.” (Popular) Mise à pied, _temporary or permanent dismissal from one’s employment, the_ “sack.”
MISE-BAS, _f._ (popular) _strike of work_; (servants’) _cast-off clothes which servants consider as their perquisites_.
MISER (gamesters’), _to stake_.
Et si je gagne ce soir cinq à six mille francs au lansquenet, qu’est-ce que soixante-dix mille francs de perte pour avoir de quoi miser?--=BALZAC.=
MISÉRABLE, _m._ (popular), _one halfpenny glass of spirits_, “un monsieur” being one that will cost four sous, and “un poisson” five sous.
MISLOQUE, or MISLOCQ, _f._ (thieves’), _theatre_; _play_. Flancher, or jouer la ----, _to act_.
Ah! ce que je veux faire, je veux jouer la mislocq.--=VIDOCQ.=
MISLOQUIER, _m._, MISLOQUIÈRE, _f._ (thieves’), _actor_, “cackling cove,” or “mug faker,” and _actress_.
MISSISSIPI, _m._ (popular), au ----, _very far away_.
MISTENFLÛTE, _f._ (popular), _thingumbob_.
MISTICHE (thieves’), un ----, _half a “setier,” or small measure of wine_. Une ----, _half an hour_.
MISTICK, _m._ (thieves’), _foreign thief_.
MISTIGRIS, or MISTI, _m._ (popular), _knave of clubs_; _apprentice to a house decorator_.
MISTON (thieves’). See ALLUMER. (Popular) Mon ----, _my boy_, “my bloater.”
MISTOUF, or MISTOUFFLE, _f._ (popular), _practical joke_; _scurvy trick_. Faire une ---- à quelqu’un, _to pain, to annoy one_.
Vous lui aurez fait quelque mistouf, vous l’aurez menacée de quelque punition, et alors.--=A. CIM=, _Institution de Demoiselles_.
Coup de ----, _scurvy trick brewing_. Faire des mistouffles, _to teaze_, “to spur,” _to annoy one_. (Thieves’) Mistouffle à la saignante, _trap laid for the purpose of murdering one_.
Voilà trop longtemps ... que le vieux me la fait au porte-monnaie. Il me faut son sac. Mais ... pas de mistouffle à la saignante, je n’aime pas ça. Du barbotage tant qu’on voudra.--_Mémoires de Monsieur Claude._
MISTRON, _m._ (popular), _a game of cards called_ “trente et un.”
MISTRONNEUR, _m._ (popular), _amateur of_ “mistron” (which see).
MITAINE, _f._ (thieves’), grinchisseuse à la ----, _female thief who causes some property, lace generally, to fall from a shop counter, and by certain motions of her foot conveys it to her shoe, where it remains secreted_.
MITARD, _m._ (police), _unruly prisoner confined in a punishment cell_.
MITE-AU-LOGIS, _f._ (popular), _disease of the eyes_. A play on the words mite and mythologie.
MITEUX, _adj._ (familiar and popular), _is said of one poorly clad, of a wretched-looking person_.
Quand nous arrivâmes à la posada, on ne voulut pas nous recevoir, l’aubergiste nous trouvant, comme disait La Martinière mon compagnon de route, trop “miteux.” --=HECTOR FRANCE=, _A travers l’Espagne_.
MITRAILLE, _f._ (general), _pence_, _coppers_. The expression is old. This term seems to be derived from the word “mite,” copper coin worth four “oboles,” used in Flanders.
MITRAILLEUSE, _f._ (popular), étouffer une ----, _to drink a glass of wine_. Synonymous of “boire un canon.”
MITRE, _f._ (thieves’), _prison_, or “stir. See MOTTE. Meant formerly _itch_, the word being derived from the name of a certain ointment termed “mithridate.”
MOBILIER, _m._ (thieves’), _teeth_, or “ivories.” Literally _furniture_.
MOBLOT, _m._ (familiar), _used for Mobile in 1870_. “La garde mobile” at the beginning of the war formed the reserve corps.
MOCASSIN, _m._ (popular), _shoe_. See RIPATON.
MOC-AUX-BEAUX (thieves’), _quarter of La Place Maubert_.
MOCHE, or MOUCHE, _adj._ (popular and thieves’), _bad_.
MODE, _f._ (swindlers’), concierge à la ----, _a doorkeeper who is an accomplice of a gang of swindlers termed_ BANDE NOIRE (which see).
La “bande noire” était--et est encore, car le dixième à peine des membres sont arrêtés--une formidable association, ayant pour spécialité d’exploiter le commerce des vins de Paris, de la Bourgogne et du Bordelais.... Pour chaque affaire, le courtier recevait dix francs. Le concierge, désigné sous le nom bizarre de concierge à la mode, n’était pas moins bien rétribué. Il touchait dix francs également.--_Le Voltaire_, 6 Août, 1886.
MODÈLE, _m._ (familiar), _grandfather or grandmother_.
MODERNE, _m._ (familiar), _young man of the “period,”_ in opposition to antique, _old-fashioned_.
MODILLON, _f._ (modistes’), _a second year apprentice at a modiste’s_.
MODISTE, _m._ (literary), formerly _a journalist who sought more to pander to the tastes of the day than to acquire any literary reputation_.
MOELLEUX, _m._ (popular), _cotton_, which is soft.
MOELONNEUSE, _f._ (popular), _prostitute who frequents builders’ yards_. See GADOUE.
MOIGNONS, _m. pl._ (popular), _thick clumsy ankles_. The _Slang Dictionary_ says a girl with thick ankles is called a “Mullingar heifer” by the Irish. A story goes that a traveller passing through Mullingar was so struck with this local peculiarity in the women, that he determined to accost the next one he met. “May I ask,” said he, “if you wear hay in your shoes?” “Faith, an’ I do,” said the girl, “and what then?” “Because,” said the traveller, “that accounts for the calves of your legs coming down to feed on it.”
MOINE, _m._ (familiar), _earthen jar filled with hot water, which does duty for a warming pan_; (printers’) _spot on a forme which has not been touched by the roller, and which in consequence forms a blank on the printed leaf_. Termed “friar” by English printers. (Popular) Mettre le ----, _to fasten a string to a sleeping man’s big toe_. By jerking the string now and then the sleeper’s slumbers are disturbed and great amusement afforded to the authors of the contrivance. This sort of practical joking seems to be in favour in barrack-rooms. Donner, or bailler le ----, was synonymous of mettre le ----, and, used as a proverbial expression, meant _to bear ill luck_.
MOINE-LAI, _m._ (popular), _old military pensioner who has become an imbecile_.
MOINETTE, _f._ (thieves’), _nun_, moine being a _monk_.
MOÏSE, _m._ (familiar and popular), _man deceived by his wife_. The term is old, for, says Le Roux, “Moïse, mot satirique, qui signifie cocu, homme à qui on a planté des cornes.”
MOITIÉ, _f._ (popular), tu n’es pas la ---- d’une bête, _you are no fool_.
Oui, t’es pas la moitié d’une bête. Là-dessus aboule tes quatre ronds.--=G. COURTELINE.=
MOLANCHE, _f._ (thieves’), _wool_. From mol, _soft_.
MOLARD, _m._ (familiar and popular), _expectoration_, or “gob.”
MOLARDER (familiar and popular), _to expectorate_.
MOLIÈRE, _m._ (theatrical), _scenery which may be used for the performance of any play of Molière_.
MOLLE, _adj._ (popular and thieves’), être ----, _to be penniless_, alluding to an empty pocket, which is flabby; “to be hard up.”
MOLLET, _m._ (popular). M. Charles Nisard, in his _Parisianismes Populaires_, says of the word, “Gras de la partie postérieure de la jambe” (the proper meaning), and he adds, “Partie molle de diverses autres choses.”
Vous ne cachez pas tous vos mollets dans vos bas: c’est comme la barque d’Anières, ça n’sart plus qu’à passer l’iau.--_Le Déjeuner de la Rapée._
Following the adage, “Le latin dans les mots brave l’honnêteté,” M. Nisard gives the following explanation of the above:--“Hæc sunt verba cujusdam petulantis mulierculæ ad quemdam jam senescentem virum, convalescentem e morbo, et carnale opus adhuc penes se esse male jactantem. In eo enim Thrasone mulieroso pars ista corporis quam proprie vocant ‘Mollet,’ non solum in tibialibus ejus inclusa erat, sed et in bracis, ubi, mutata ex toto forma, nil valebat nisi, scaphæ Asnieriæ instar, ‘à passer l’eau,’ id est, ad meiendum. Sed, animadvertas, oro, sensum locutionis ‘passer l’eau’ æquivocum; hic enim unda transitur, illic eadem transit.”
MOLLUSQUE, _m._ (familiar), _narrow-minded man_; _routine-loving man_; huître being a common term for a _fool_.
MOMAQUE, _m._ (thieves’), _child_, or “kid.”
MOMARD, or MOMIGNARD, _m._ (popular), _child_, or “kid.”
MÔME, _m. and f._ (popular and thieves’), _child_, or “kid.”
Ces mômes corrompus, ces avortons flétris, Cette écume d’égoût c’est la levure immonde, De ce grand pain vivant qui s’appelle Paris, Et qui sert de brioche au monde.
=RICHEPIN.=
Môme noir, _student at a priest’s seminary_. Thus termed on account of their clerical attire. Called also by thieves, “Canneur du mec des mecs,” _afraid of God_. Une ----, _young woman_, “titter.”
Va, la môme, et n’fais pas four.
=RICHEPIN.=
Une ----, or mômeresse, _mistress_, “blowen.” C’est ma ----, elle est ronflante ce soir, _It is my girl, she has money to-night_. Un ---- d’altèque, _handsome young man_. Taper un ----, _to commit a theft_; _to commit infanticide_.
Car elle est en prison pour un môme qu’elle a tapé.--_From a thief’s letter, quoted by L. Larchey._
Madame Tire-mômes, _midwife_. Termed in the seventeenth century, “madame du guichet, or portière du petit guichet.” (Convicts’) Môme bastaud, _convict who is a Sodomist, a kind of male prostitute_.
MÔMEUSE, _f._ See MÔMIÈRE.
MOMICHARDE, _f._ (popular), _little girl_.
Envoie les petites ... qu’elles aboulent, les momichardes!--=LOUISE MICHEL.=
MÔMIÈRE, _f._ (thieves’), _midwife_. Termed also “Madame Tire-mômes, Madame Tire-monde, or tâte-minette.”
MOMIGNARD, _m._ (popular and thieves’), _child_, or “kid;” _baby_; ---- d’altèque, _a fine child_.
Frangine d’altèque, je mets l’arguemine à la barbue, pour te bonnir que ma largue aboule de mômir un momignard d’altèque.--=VIDOCQ.= (_My good sister, I take the pen to say that my wife has just given birth to a fine child._)
MOMIGNARDAGE À L’ANGLAISE, _m._ (popular), _miscarriage_.
MOMIGNARDE, _f._ (popular and thieves’), _little girl_; _young girl_, “titter.”
Mes momignardes ... allons, c’est dit, on rebâtira le sinve. Il faut espérer que la daronne du grand Aure nous protégera.--=VIDOCQ.= (_My little girls ... come, it’s settled, the fool shall be killed. Let us hope the Holy Virgin will protect us._)
MÔMIR (popular and thieves’), _to be delivered of a child_, “to be in the straw.” The _Slang Dictionary_ says: “Married ladies are said to be in the straw at their accouchement.” The phrase is a coarse metaphor, and has reference to farmyard animals in a similar condition. It may have originally been suggested to the inquiring mind by the Nativity. Mômir pour l’aff, _to have a miscarriage_. Termed also “casser son œuf, décarrer de crac.”
MONACOS, _m. pl._ (familiar and popular), _money_. See QUIBUS.
Je vais te prouver à toi et à ta grue, ... que je suis encore bonne pour gagner des monacos. Et allez-y! --=HECTOR FRANCE=, _Marie Queue-de-Vache_.
Avoir des ----, _to be wealthy_. Termed also “être foncé, être sacquard, or douillard; avoir le sac, de l’os, des sous, du foin dans ses bottes, de quoi, des pépettes, or de la thune; être californien.” The English synonyms being “to be worth a plum, to be well ballasted, to be a rag-splawger, to have lots of tin, to have feathered one’s nest, to be warm, to be comfortable.” Abouler les ----, _to pay_, “to fork out, to shell out, to down with the dust, to post the pony, to stump the pewter, to tip the brads.”
MONANT, _m._, MONANTE, _f._ (thieves’), _friend_.
MONARQUE, _m._ (popular), _five-franc piece_. Termed also “roue de derrière,” the nearly corresponding coin, a crown piece, being called in English slang a “hind coach wheel.” (Prostitutes’) Monarque, _money_. Faire son ----, _to have found clients_.
MONDE, _m._ (popular), renversé, _guillotine_. See VOYANTE. Il y a du ---- au balcon _is said of a woman with large breasts_, _of one with opulent_ “Charlies.” (Familiar) Demi ----, _world of cocottes_, _kept women_.
Dans ce qu’on appelle le demi-monde il y a nombre de filles en carte, véritables chevaliers d’industrie de la jeunesse et de l’amour qui, bien en règle avec la préfecture, mènent joyeuse vie pendant quinze ans et éludent constamment la police correctionnelle.--=LÉO TAXIL.=
(Showmen’s) Du ----, _public who enter the show_. There may be a large concourse of people outside, but no “monde.”
MONFIER (thieves’), _to kiss_.
MON GNIASSE (popular and thieves’), _me_, “my nibs.”
MON LINGE EST LAVÉ (popular), _I give in_, “I throw up the sponge.”
MONNAIE, _f._ (popular), plus que ça de ----! _what luck!_
MON ŒIL! (popular), _expressive of refusal or disbelief_, “don’t you wish you may get it?” or “do you see any green in my eye?” See NÈFLES.
MONÔME, _m._ (students’), _yearly procession in single file through certain streets of Paris of candidates to the government schools_.
MONORGUE (thieves’), _I_, _myself_.
MONSEIGNEUR, _m._ (thieves’), or pince ----, _short crowbar with which housebreakers force open doors or safes_. Termed “Jemmy, James, or the stick.”
Ils font sauter gâches et serrures ... avec une espèce de pied de biche en fer qu’ils appellent cadet, monseigneur, ou plume.--=CANLER.=
MONSEIGNEURISER (thieves’), _to force open a door_, “to strike a jigger.”
MONSIEUR, _m._ (artists’), le ----, _the principal figure in a picture_. (Popular) Un ----, _a twopenny glass of brandy_; _a five-sous glass of wine from the bottle at a wine retailer’s_; ---- Vautour, or Père Vautour, _the landlord_; also _an usurer_.
Vous accorder un nouveau délai pour le capital? ... mais depuis trois ans ... vous n’avez pas seulement pu rattraper les intérêts.--Ah! père Vautour, ça court si vite vos intérêts!--=GAVARNI.=
Monsieur à tubard, _a well-dressed man_, _one who sports a silk hat_; ---- bambou, _a stick_, a gentleman whose services are sometimes put in requisition by drunken workmen as an irresistible argument to meet the remonstrances of an unfortunate better half, as in the case of Martine and Sganarelle in Molière’s _Le Médecin malgré lui_; ---- Lebon, _a good sort of man, that is, one who readily treats others to drink_; ---- de Pètesec, _stuck-up man, with dry, sharp manner_; ---- hardi, _the wind_; ---- Raidillon, or Pointu, _proud, stuck-up man_; (thieves’) ---- de l’Affure, _one who wins money at a game honestly or not_; ---- de la Paume, _he who loses_; (theatrical) ---- Dufour est dans la salle, _expression used by an actor to warn another that he is not acting up to the mark and that he will get himself hissed_, or “get the big bird.” (Familiar and popular) Un ---- à rouflaquettes, _prostitutes bully_, or “pensioner.” For list of synonyms see POISSON. Monsieur de Paris, _the executioner_. Formerly each large town had its own executioner: Monsieur de Rouen, Monsieur de Lyon, &c. Concerning the office Balzac says:--
Les Sanson, bourreaux à Rouen pendant deux siècles, avant d’être revêtus de la première charge du royaume, exécutaient de père en fils les arrêts de la justice depuis le treizième siècle. Il est peu de familles qui puissent offrir l’exemple d’un office ou d’une noblesse conservée de père en fils pendant six siècles.
Monsieur personne, _a nobody_. (Brothels’) Monsieur, _husband of the mistress of a brothel_.
Monsieur, avec son épaisse barbiche aux poils tors et gris.--=E. DE GONCOURT=, _La Fille Elisa_.
(Cads’) Monsieur le carreau dans l’œil, _derisive epithet applied to a man with an eye-glass_; ---- bas-du-cul, _man with short legs_.
MONSTRE, _m._, _any words which a musician temporarily adapts to a musical production composed by him_.
MONSTRICO, _m._ (familiar), _ugly person_, _one with a_ “knocker face.”
MONTAGE DE COUP, _m._ (popular), _the act of seeking to deceive by misleading statements_.
Mon vieux, entre nous, Te n’coup’ pas du tout Dans c’montage de coup; Faut pas m’monter l’coup.
=AUG. HARDY.=
MONTAGNARD, _m._ (popular), _additional horse put on to an omnibus going up hill_.
MONTAGNE DU GÉANT, _f._ (obsolete), _gallows_, “scrag, nobbing cheat, or government signpost.”
MONTANT, _m. and adj._ (thieves’), _breeches_, “trucks, hams, sit-upons, or kicks.” (Military) Grand ---- tropical, _riding breeches_; petit ----, _drawers_. (Familiar) Montant, _term which is used to denote anything which excites lust_.
MONTANTE, _f._ (thieves’), _ladder_. Literally _a thing to climb up_.
MONTE-À-REGRET (thieves’), abbaye de ----, _the guillotine_. Formerly _the gallows_. This name was given the scaffold because criminals were attended there by one or more priests, and on account of the natural repugnance of a man for this mode of being put out of his misery. Michel records the fact, that at Sens, one of the streets leading to the market-place, where executions took place, still bore, a few years ago, the name of Monte-à-regret. Chanoine de ----, _one sentenced to death_. Termed also “grognon,” or _grumbler_. Monter à l’abbaye de ----, _to be guillotined_, meant formerly _to be hanged_, to suffer the extreme penalty of the law on “wry-neck day,” when the criminal before being compelled to put on the “hempen cravat,” would perhaps utter for the edification of the crowd his “tops, or croaks,” that is, his last dying speech. It is curious to note how people of all nations have always striven to disguise the idea of death by the rope by means of some picturesque or grimly comical circumlocution. The popular language is rich in metaphors to describe the act. In the thirteenth century people would express hanging by the term “mettre à la bise;” in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries an executed criminal was spoken of as “vendangeant à l’eschelle, avoir collet rouge, croître d’un demi-pied, faire la longue lettre, tomber du haut mal,” and later on: “Servir de bouchon, faire le saut, faire un saut sur rien, donner un soufflet à une potence, donner le moine par le cou, approcher du ciel à reculons, danser un branle en l’air, avoir la chanterelle au cou, faire le guet à Montfaucon, faire le guet au clair de la lune à la cour des monnoyes.” Also, “monter à la jambe en l’air.” Then a hanged man was “un évêque des champs” (on account of executions taking place in the open country) “qui bénit des pieds,” and hanging itself, “une danse où il n’y a pas de plancher,” which corresponds to the expression, “to dance upon nothing.” The poor wretch was also said to be “branché,” a summary proceeding performed on the nearest tree, and he was made to “tirer la langue d’un demi-pied.” The poet François Villon being in the prison of the Châtelet in 1457, under sentence of death for a robbery supposed to have been committed at Rueil by himself and some companions, several of whom were hanged, but whose fate he luckily did not share, thus alludes with grim humour to his probable execution:--
Je suis François, dont ce me poise, Né de Paris emprès Ponthoise, Or, d’une corde d’une toise, Saura mon col que mon cul poise.
When Jonathan Wild the Great is about to expiate his numerous crimes, and his career is soon to be terminated at Tyburn, Fielding makes him say: “D--n me, it is only a dance without music; ... a man can die but once.... Zounds! Who’s afraid?” Master Charley Bates, in common with his “pals,” called hanging “scragging”:--
“He’ll come to be scragged, won’t he?” “I don’t know what that means,” replied Oliver. “Something in this way, old feller,” said Charley. As he said it, Master Bates caught up an end of his neckerchief, and holding it erect in the air, dropped his head on his shoulder, and jerked a curious sound through his teeth; thereby intimating, by a lively pantomimic representation, that “scragging” and hanging were one and the same thing.--=DICKENS=, _Oliver Twist_.
The expression is also to be met with in Lord Lytton’s _Paul Clifford_:--
“Blow me tight, but that cove is a queer one! and if he does not come to be scragged,” says I, “it will only be because he’ll turn a rusty, and scrag one of his pals!”
Again, the same author puts in the mouth of his hero, Paul Clifford, the accomplished robber, the “Captain Crank,” or chief of a gang of highwaymen, a poetical simile, “to leap from a leafless tree”:--
Oh! there never was life like the Robber’s--so Jolly, and bold, and free; And its end--why, a cheer from the crowd below And a leap from a leafless tree!
Penny-a-liners nowadays describe the executed felon as “taking a leap into eternity;” facetious people say that he dies in a “horse’s nightcap,” _i.e._, a halter, and the vulgar simply declare that he is “stretched.” The dangerous classes, to express that one is being operated upon by Jack Ketch, use the term “to be scragged,” already mentioned, or “to be topped;” and “may I be topped!” is an ejaculation often heard from the mouths of London roughs. Formerly, when the place for execution was at Tyburn, near the N. E. corner of Hyde Park, at the angle formed by the Edgware Road and the top of Oxford Street, the criminal brought here was said to put on the “Tyburn tippet,” _i.e._, Jack Ketch’s rope. The Latins used to describe one hanged as making the letter I with his body, or the long letter. In Plautus old Staphyla says: “The best thing for me to do, is with the help of a halter, to make with my body the long letter.” Modern Italians say of a man about to be executed, that he is sent to Picardy, “mandato in Picardia.” They also use other circumlocutions, “andare a Longone,” “andare a Fuligno,” “dar de’ calci al vento,” “ballar in campo azurro.” Again, the Italian “truccante” (_thief_), in his “lingue furbesche” (_cant of thieves_), says of a criminal who ascends the scaffold, the “sperlunga, or faticosa” (_gallows_), with the “margherita, or signora” (_rope_) adjusted on his “guindo” (_neck_) by the “cataron” (_executioner_), that he may be considered as “aver la fune al guindo.” The Spanish “azor” (_thief_, in _Germania_, or Spanish cant), under sentence of a “tristeza” (_sentence of death_), when about to be executed left the “angustia” (_prison_) to go to the gallows, or “balanza,” which is now a thing of the past, having been superseded by the hideous “garote.” The German “broschem-blatter” (_thief_, in “rothwelsch,” or German cant), when sentenced to death was doomed to the “dolm,” or “nelle,” on which he was ushered out of this world by the “caffler” (_German Jack Ketch_).
MONTER (popular), d’un cran, _to obtain an appointment superior to that one possesses already_; _to be promoted_; ---- à l’arbre, or à l’échelle, _to be fooled_. Alluding to a bear at the Zoological Gardens being induced to climb the pole by the prospect of some dainty bit which is not thrown to him after all. Also _to get angry_, “to get one’s monkey up;” ---- en graine, _to grow old_. Literally _to run to seed_; ---- des couleurs, le Job, or un schtosse, _to deceive one by false representations_, “to bamboozle;” ---- une gamme, _to scold_, “to bully-rag;” ---- un coup, _to find a pretext_; _to lay a trap for one_.
C’est des daims huppés qui veulent monter un coup à un ennemi.--=E. SUE.=
Monter le coup, or un battage, _to deceive one by misleading statements_. Ça ne prend pas, tu ne me monteras pas le coup, “No go,” _I am aware of your practices and_ “twig” _your manœuvre_, or “don’t come the old soldier over me.” Faire ---- à l’échelle, _to make one angry_, “to make one lose his shirt.” Se ---- le bourrichon, or le baluchon, _to fly into a passion about some alleged injustice_. Also _to be too sanguine, to form illusions about one’s abilities, or about the success of some project_.
Oh! je ne me monte pas le bourrichon, je sais que je ne ferai pas de vieux os.--=ZOLA=, _L’Assommoir_.
Se ---- le coup, se ---- le verre en fleurs, _to form illusions_. Essayer de ---- un bateau à quelqu’un, _to seek to deceive one_, “to come the old soldier” _over one_. (Thieves’) Monter un arcat, _to swindle_, “to bite;” ---- un gandin, _to deceive_, “to stick, or to best;” ---- un chopin, _to make all necessary preparations for a robbery_, “to lay a plant;” ---- à la butte, _to be guillotined_.
Un jour, j’ai pris mon surin pour le refroidir. Après tout, mon rêve c’est de monter à la butte.--_Mémoires de Monsieur Claude._
Monter sur la table, _to make a clean breast of it_; _to inform against one_, “to blow the gaff.” It also means _to tell a secret_, “to split.”
While his man being caught in some fact (The particular crime I’ve forgotten), When he came to be hanged for the act, Split, and told the whole story to Cotton.
_Ingoldsby Legends._
(Theatrical) Monter une partie, _to get together a small number of actors to give out of Paris one or two performances_; (military) ---- en ballon, _practical joke at the expense of a new-comer_. During the night, to both ends of the bed of the victim are fixed two running nooses, the ropes being attached high up on a partition by the side of the bed. At a given signal the ropes being pulled, the occupant of the bed finds himself lifted in the air, with his couch upside down occasionally.
MONTEUR, _m._ (theatrical), de partie, _an actor whose spécialité is to get together a few brother actors for the purpose of performing out of town_; (popular) ---- de coups, or de godans, _swindler_; _one who is fond of hoaxing people_; _one who imposes on others_, “humbug.” Concerning the latter term the _Slang Dictionary_ says: “A very expressive but slang word, synonymous at one time with hum and haw. Lexicographers for a long time objected to the adoption of this term. Richardson uses it frequently to express the meaning of other words, but, strange to say, omits it in the alphabetical arrangement as unworthy of recognition! In the first edition of this work, 1785 was given as the earliest date at which the word could be found in a printed book. Since then ‘humbug’ has been traced half a century further back, on the title-page of a singular old jest-book, ‘_The Universal Jester_, or a pocket companion for the Wits: being a choice collection of merry conceits, facetious drolleries, &c., clenchers, closers, closures, bon-mots, and humbugs, by Ferdinando Killigrew.’ London, about 1735-40. The notorious orator Henley was known to the mob as Orator Humbug. The fact may be learned from an illustration in that exceedingly curious little collection of caricatures published in 1757, many of which were sketched by Lord Bolingbroke, Horace Walpole filling in the names and explanations. Haliwell describes humbug as ‘a person who hums,’ and cites Dean Milles’s MS., which was written about 1760. In the last century the game now known as double-dummy was termed humbug. Lookup, a notorious gambler, was struck down by apoplexy when playing at this game. On the circumstance being reported to Foote, the wit said, ‘Ah, I always thought he would be humbugged out of the world at last!’ It has been stated that the word is a corruption of Hamburg, from which town so many false bulletins and reports came during the war in the last century. ‘Oh, that is Hamburg (or Humbug),’ was the answer to any fresh piece of news which smacked of improbability. Grose mentions it in his _Dictionary_, 1785; and in a little printed squib, published in 1808, entitled _Bath Characters_, by T. Goosequill, humbug is thus mentioned in a comical couplet on the title-page:--
Wee Thre Bath Deities bee Humbug, Follie, and Varietee.
Gradually from this time the word began to assume a place in periodical literature, and in novels written by not over-precise authors. In the preface to a flat, and most likely unprofitable poem, entitled _The Reign of Humbug, a Satire_, 8vo, 1836, the author thus apologizes for the use of the word: ‘I have used the term _humbug_ to designate this principle (wretched sophistry of life generally), considering that it is now adopted into our language as much as the words dunce, jockey, cheat, swindler, &c., which were formerly only colloquial terms.’ A correspondent, who in a number of _Adversaria_ ingeniously traced bombast to the inflated Doctor Paracelsus Bombast, considers that humbug may, in like manner, be derived from Homberg, the distinguished chemist of the Court of the Duke of Orleans, who, according to the following passage from Bishop Berkeley’s _Siris_, was an ardent and successful seeker after the philosopher’s stone:--
Of this there cannot be a better proof than the experiment of Monsieur Homberg, who made gold of mercury by introducing light into its pores, but at such trouble and expense that, I suppose, nobody will try the experiment for profit. By this injunction of light and mercury, both bodies became finer, and produced a third different to either, to wit, real gold. For the truth of which fact I refer to the memoirs of the French Academy of Sciences.--=BERKELEY=, _Works_.”
_The Supplementary English Glossary_ gives the word “humbugs” as the North-country term for certain lumps of toffy, well flavoured with peppermint. (Roughs’) Monter à cheval, _to be suffering from a tumour in the groin, a consequence of venereal disease, and termed_ poulain, _foal_, hence the jeu de mots; (wine retailers’) ---- sur le tonneau, _to add water to a cask of wine_, “to christen” _it_. Adding too much water to an alcoholic liquor is termed by lovers of the “tipple” in its pure state, “to drown the miller.”
MONTEUR DE COUPS, _m._ (popular), _story-teller_; _cheat_.
MONTEUSE DE COUPS, _f._ (popular), _deceitful woman_; _one who_ “bamboozles” _her lover or lovers_.
MONTPARNO (thieves’), _Montparnasse_. See MÉNILMONTE.
J’ai flasqué du poivre à la rousse. Elle ira de turne en garno, De Ménilmuche à Montparno, Sans pouvoir remoucher mon gniasse.
=RICHEPIN.=
MONTRER (theatrical), la couture de ses bas, _to break off a stage engagement by the simple process of leaving the theatre_; (familiar and popular) ---- toute sa boutique, _to expose one’s person_.
Ah! non ... remettez votre camisole. Vous savez, je n’aime pas les indécences. Pendant que vous y êtes, montrez toute votre boutique.--=ZOLA.=
MONTRE-TOUT, _m._ (popular), _short jacket_. Termed also “ne te gêne pas dans le parc.” (Prostitutes’) Aller à ----, _to go to the medical examination, a periodical and compulsory one, for registered prostitutes, those who shirk it being sent to the prison of Saint-Lazare_.
MONU, _m._ (cads’), _one-sou cigar_.
MONUMENT, _m._ (popular), _tall hat_, or “stove-pipe.”
MONZU, or MOUZU, _m._ (old cant), _woman’s breasts_. Termed, in other varieties of jargon, “avant-postes, avant-scènes, œufs sur le plat, oranges sur l’étagère,” and in the English slang, “dairies, bubbies, or Charlies.”
MORASSE, _f._ (printers’), _proof taken before the forme is finally arranged_; ---- _final proof of a newspaper article_. Also _workman who remains to correct such a proof, or the time employed in the work_. (Thieves’) Morasse, _uneasiness_; _remorse_. Battre ----, _to make a hue and cry_, “to romboyle,” in old cant, or “to whiddle beef.”
MORASSIER, _m._ (printers’), _one who prints off the last proof of a newspaper article_.
MORBAQUE, _m._ (popular), _disagreeable child_. See MORBEC.
MORBEC, _m._ (popular), _a variety of vermin which clings tenaciously to certain parts of the human body_.
MORCEAU, _m._ (freemasons’), d’architecture, _speech_; (popular) ---- de gruyère, _pockmarked face_, “cribbage-face;” ---- de salé, _fat woman_. Un ----, _a slatternly girl_. (Thieves’) Manger le ----, _to peach_, “to blow the gaff.”
Le morceau tu ne mangeras De crainte de tomber au plan.
=VIDOCQ.=
(Literary) Morceau de pâte ferme, _heavy, dull production_. (Artists’) Faire le ----, _to paint details skilfully_. (Military) Le beau temps tombe par morceaux, _it rains_.
MORD (familiar and popular), ça ne ---- pas, _it’s no use_; _no go_.
MORDANTE, _f._ (thieves’), _file_; _saw_. The allusion is obvious.
MORDRE (popular), se faire ----, _to be reprimanded_, “to get a wigging;” _to get thrashed_, or “wolloped.”
MORESQUE, _f._ (thieves’), _danger_.
MORFE, _f._ (thieves’), _meal_; _victuals_, or “toke.”
Veux-tu venir prendre de la morfe et piausser avec mézière en une des pioles que tu m’as rouscaillée?--_Le Jargon de l’Argot._
MORFIANTE, _f._ (thieves’), _plate_.
MORFIGNER, MORFILER (thieves’), _to do_; _to eat_. From the old word morfier. Rabelais uses the word morfialler with the signification of _to eat_, _to gorge oneself_.
La, la, la, c’est morfiallé cela.--=RABELAIS=, _Gargantua_.
MORFILER, or MORFILLER (thieves’), _to eat_, “to yam.”
Un vieux fagot qui s’était fait raille pour morfiller.--=VIDOCQ.= (_An old convict who had turned spy to get a living._)
Termed also morfier. Compare with morfire, or morfizzare, _to eat_, in the lingue furbesche, or Italian cant. Se ---- le dardant, _to fret_. Dardant, _heart_.
MORGANE, _f._ (old cant), _salt_.
C’est des oranges, si tu demandais du sel ... de la morgane! mon fils, ça coûte pas cher.--=VIDOCQ.= (_Here are some potatoes; just you ask for salt, my boy; it’s cheap enough._)
MORGANER (roughs’ and thieves’), _to bite_. Morgane le gonse et chair dure! _Bite the cove! pitch into him!_
MORICAUD, _m._ (thieves’), _coal_; _wine-dealer’s wooden pitcher_.
MORI-LARVE, _f._ (thieves’), _sunburnt face_.
MORLINGUE, _m._ (thieves’), _money_; _purse_, “skin.” Faire le ----, _to steal a purse_, “to fake a skin.”
MORNANTE, _f._ (thieves’), _sheepfold_. From morne, _sheep_.
MORNE, _f. and adj._ (thieves’), _sheep_, or “wool-bird.” Termed “bleating cheat” by English vagabonds. Courbe de ----, _shoulder of mutton_. Morne, _stupid_; _stupid man_, “go along.”
MORNÉE, _f._ (thieves’), _mouthful_.
MORNIER, MORNEUX, or MARMIER, _m._ (thieves’), _shepherd_.
MORNIFFER (popular), _to slap one’s face_, “to fetch a bang,” or “to give a biff,” as the Americans have it. Termed _to give a_ “clo,” at Winchester School.
MORNIFLE, _f._ (thieves’), _money_, or “blunt.”
When the slow coach paused, and the gemmen storm’d, I bore the brunt-- And the only sound which my grave lips form’d Was “blunt”--still “blunt!”
=LORD LYTTON=, _Paul Clifford_.
Mornifle tarte, _spurious coin_, or “queer bit.” Refiler de la ---- tarte, _to pass off bad coin_; _to be a_ “snide pitcher, or smasher.” Properly mornifle has the signification of _cuff on the face_.
MORNIFLEUR TARTE, _m._ (thieves’), _coiner_, or “queer-bit faker.”
MORNINGUE, or MORLINGUE, _m._ (thieves’), _money_, or “pieces;” _purse_. Faire le ----, _to pick a pocket_. In the old English cant “to fang” _a pocket_.
O shame o’ justice! Wild is hang’d, For thatten he a pocket fang’d, While safe old Hubert, and his gang, Doth pocket of the nation fang.
=FIELDING=, _J. Wild._
Termed in modern English cant “to fake a cly,” a pickpocket being called, according to Lord Lytton, a “buzz gloak”:--
The “eminent hand” ended with--“He who surreptitiously accumulates bustle, is, in fact, nothing better than a buzz gloak.--_Paul Clifford_.
Porte ----, _purse_, “skin, or poge.”
MORNOS, _m._ (thieves’), _mouth_, “bone-box, or muns.” Probably from morne, _mutton_, the mouth’s most important function being to receive food.
MORPION, _m._ (popular), _strong expression of contempt_; _despicable man_, or “snot.” Literally _crab-louse_. Also a _bore_, one who clings to you as the vermin alluded to.
MORPIONNER (popular), _is said of a bore that you cannot get rid of_.
MORSE (Breton cant), _barley bread_.
MORT, _f. and adj._ (popular), marchand de ---- subite, _physician_, “pill.”
C’est bien sûr le médecin en chef ... tous les marchands de mort subite vous ont de ces regards-là.--=ZOLA.=
Lampe à ----, _confirmed drunkard whose thirst cannot be slaked_. (Familiar and popular) Un corps ----, _an empty bottle_. The English say, when a bottle has been emptied, “Take away this bottle; it has ‘Moll Thompson’s’ mark on it,” that is, it is M. T. An empty bottle is also termed a “marine, or marine recruit.” “This expression having once been used in the presence of an officer of Marines,” says the _Slang Dictionary_, “he was at first inclined to take it as an insult, until someone adroitly appeased his wrath by remarking that no offence could be meant, as all that it could possibly imply was: one who had done his duty, and was ready to do it again.” (Popular) Eau de ----, _brandy_. See TORD-BOYAUX. (Thieves’) Etre ----, _to be sentenced_, “booked.” Hirondelle de la ----, _gendarme on duty at executions_. (Military school of Saint-Cyr) Se faire porter élève-mort _is to get placed on the sick list_. (Gamesters’) Mort, _stakes which have been increased by a cheat, who slily lays additional money the moment the game is in his favour_.
MORTE PAYE SUR MER, _f._ (thieves’), _the hulks_ (obsolete).
MORUE, _f._ (popular), _dirty, disgusting woman_.
Vous voyez, Françoise, ce panier de fraises qu’on vous fait trois francs; j’en offre un franc, moi, et la marchande m’appelle ... Oui, madame, elle vous appelle ... morue!--=GAVARNI.=
Also _prostitute_. See GADOUE. Grande ---- dessalée, _expression of the utmost contempt applied to a woman_. Pedlars formerly termed “morue,” _manuscripts_, for the printing of which they formed an association, “clubbed” together.
MORVIAU, _m._ (popular), _nose_. Termed also “pif, bourbon, piton, pivase, bouteille, caillou, trompe, truffe, tubercule, trompette, nazareth;” and, in English slang, “conk, boko, nob, snorter, handle, post-horn, and smeller.” Lécher le ----, _to kiss_. The expression is old.
Lécher le morveau, manière de parler ironique, qui signifie caresser une femme, la courtiser, la servir, faire l’amour. Dit de même que lécher le grouin, baiser, être assidu et attaché à une personne.--=LE ROUX=, _Dict. Comique_.
The term “snorter” of the English jargon has the corresponding equivalent “soffiante” in Italian cant.
MORVIOT, _m._ (popular), _secretion from the mucous membrane of the nose_, “snot.”
Dans les veines d’ces estropiés, Au lieu d’sang il coul’ du morviot. Ils ont des guiboll’s comm’ leur stick, Trop d’bidoche autour des boyaux, Et l’arpion plus mou qu’ du mastic.
=RICHEPIN.=
Morviot, _term of contempt_, not quite so forcible as the English expression “snot,” which has the signification of _contemptible individual_. Petit ----, _little scamp_.
MOSCOU, _m._ (military), faire brûler ----, _to mix a vast bowl of punch_. Alluding to the burning down of Moscow by the Russians themselves in 1812.
MOSSIEU À TUBARD, _m._ (popular), _well-dressed man_, a “swell cove.” Tubard is a _silk hat_.
MOT, _m._ (popular), casser un ----, _to have a chat_, or “chin music.”
MOTTE, _f._ (general), _pudenda mulierum_. Termed also “chat,” and formerly by the poets “le verger de Cypris.” Le Roux, concerning the expression, says:--
La motte de la nature d’une femme, c’est proprement le petit bois touffu qui garnit le penil d’une femme.--_Dict. Comique._
Formerly the false hair for those parts was termed in English “merkin.” (Thieves’) Motte, _central prison, or house of correction_. Dégringoler de la ----, _to come from such a place of confinement_. The synonyms of prison in different varieties of slang are: “castue, caruche, hôpital, mitre, chetard or jetard, collège, grosse boîte, l’ours, le violon, le bloc, boîte aux cailloux, tuneçon, austo, mazaro, lycée, château, lazaro.” In the English lingo: “stir, clinch, bastile, steel, sturrabin, jigger, Irish theatre, stone-jug, mill,” the last-named being an abbreviation of treadmill, and signifying by analogy _prison_. The word is mentioned by Dickens:--
“Was you never on the mill?” “What mill,” inquired Oliver. “What mill? why the mill,--the mill as takes up so little room that it’ll work inside a stone-jug.--_Oliver Twist._
In Yorkshire a prison goes by the appellation of “Toll-shop,” as shown by this verse of a song popular at fairs in the East Riding:--
But if ivver he get out agean, And can but raise a frind, Oh! the divel may tak’ toll-shop, At Beverley town end!
This “toll-shop” is but a variation of the Scottish “tolbooth.” The general term “quod” to denote a prison originates from the universities. Quod is really a shortening of quadrangle; so to be quodded is to be within four walls (_Slang Dict._).
MOTUS DANS L’ENTREPONT! (sailors’), _silence!_ “put a clapper to your mug,” or “mum’s the word.”
MOU, _m._ (popular), avoir le ---- enflé, _to be pregnant_, or “lumpy.”
MOUCHAILLER (popular and thieves’), _to scan_, “to stag;” _to look at_, “to pipe;” _to see_.
J’itre mouchaillé le babillard ... je n’y itre mouchaillé floutière de vain.--_Le Jargon de l’Argot._
MOUCHARD, _m._ (popular), _portrait hung in a room_; (popular and thieves’) ---- à becs, _lamp-post_, the inconvenient luminary being compared to a spy. Mouchard, properly _spy_, one who goes busily about like a fly. It formerly had the signification of _dandy_.
A la fin du xviiᵉ siècle, on donnait encore ce nom aux petits-maîtres qui fréquentaient les Tuileries pour voir autant que pour être vus; C’est sur ce fameux théâtre des Tuileries, dit un écrivain de l’époque, qu’une beauté naissante fait sa première entrée au monde. Bientôt les “mouchars” de la grande allée sont en campagne au bruit d’un visage nouveau; chacun court en repaître ses yeux.--=MICHEL.=
MOUCHARDE, _f._ (thieves’), _moon_, “parish lantern, or Oliver.”
Mais déjà la patrarque, Au clair de la moucharde, Nous reluque de loin.
=VIDOCQ.=
La ---- se débine, _the moon disappears_, “Oliver is sleepy.”
MOUCHE, _f._, _adj., and verb_ (general), _police, or police officer_; _detective_. Compare with the “mücke,” or spy, of German cant; (thieves’) _muslin_; (students’) ---- à miel, _candidate to the Ecole Centrale des Arts et Manufactures, a great engineering school_. Alluding to the bee embroidered in gold on their caps. (Popular) Mouche, _bad_, or “snide;” _ugly_; _stupid_. C’est bon pour qui qu’est ----, _it is only fit for_ “flats.” Mouche, _weak_.
Il a reparu, l’ami soleil. Bravo! encore bien débile, bien pâlot, bien “mouche,” dirait Gavroche.--=RICHEPIN.=
Non, c’est q’ j’ me ----, _ironical negative expression meant to be strongly affirmative_. Synonymous of “non, c’est q’ je tousse!” Vous n’avez rien fait? Non, c’est q’ j’ me ----, _you did nothing? oh! didn’t I, just!_
MOUCHER (popular), le quinquet, _to kill_, “to do” _for one_; _to strike, to give a_ “wipe.”
Allons, mouche-lui le quinquet, ça l’esbrouffera. --=TH. GAUTIER.=
Moucher la chandelle, _to give oneself up to solitary practices_; _to act according to the principles of Malthus with a view of not begetting children_. For further explanation the reader may be referred to a work entitled _The Fruits of Philosophy_; ---- sa chandelle, _to die_, “to snuff it.” For synonyms see PIPE. Se ---- dans ses doigts (obsolete), _to be clever, resolute_. Se faire ---- le quinquet, _to get one’s head punched_. (Gamesters’) Se ----, _is said of attendants who, while pretending to make use of their handkerchiefs, purloin a coin or two from the gaming-table_. It is said of such an attendant, who on the sly abstracts a gold piece from the stakes laid out on the table, il s’est “mouché” d’un louis.
MOUCHERON, _m._ (popular), _waiter at a wine-shop_; _child_, or “kid.”
MOUCHES, _f. pl._ (popular), d’hiver, _snow-flakes_. Tuer les ----, _to emit a bad smell_, capable of killing even flies. Termed also tuer les ---- à quinze pas. (Theatrical) Envoyer des coups de pied aux ----, _to lead a disorderly life_.
MOUCHETTES, _f. pl._ (popular), _pocket-handkerchief_, “snottinger, or wipe.” Termed “madam, or stook,” by English thieves. Des ----! _equivalent to_ du flan! des navets! des nèfles, &c., forcible expression of refusal; may be rendered by “Don’t you wish you may get it!” or, as the Americans say, “Yes, in a horn.”
MOUCHEUR DE CHANDELLES, _m._ (popular). See MOUCHER.
MOUCHIQUE, _adj._ (popular and thieves’), _base_, _worthless_, _bad_, “snide.”
C’était un’ tonn’ pas mouchique, C’était un girond tonneau, L’anderlique, l’anderlique, L’anderliqu’ de Landerneau!
=GILL.=
The English cant has the old word “queer,” signifying base, roguish, or worthless--the opposite of “rum,” which signified good and genuine. “Queer, in all probability,” says the _Slang Dictionary_, “is immediately derived from the cant language. It has been mooted that it came into use from a ‘quære’ (?) being set before a man’s name; but it is more than probable that it was brought into this country by the gipsies from Germany, where _quer_ signifies _cross_, or _crooked_.” (Thieves’) Etre ---- à sa section, or à la sec, _to be noted as a bad character at the police office of one’s district_. The word “mouchique,” says Michel, is derived from “mujik,” _a Russian peasant_, which must have become familiar in 1815 to the inhabitants of the parts of the country invaded by the Russians.
MOUCHOIR, _m._ (popular), d’Adam, _the fingers_, used by some people as a natural handkerchief, “forks;” ---- de bœuf, _meadow_. Termed thus on account of oxen having their noses in the grass when grazing; ---- de poche, _pistol_, or “pops.” (Familiar and popular) Faire le ----, _to steal pocket-handkerchiefs_, “to draw a wipe.” Coup de ---- (obsolete), _a box on the ear_, a “wipe in the chaps.”
Voyez le train qu’a m’ fait pour un coup de mouchoir que j’lui ai donné.--=POMPIGNY=, 1783.
(Theatrical) Faire le ----, _to pirate another author’s productions_.
MOUCHOUAR-GODEL (Breton cant), _pistol_.
MOUDRE (popular), or ---- un air, _to ply a street organ_.
MOUF (popular), abbreviation of _Mouffetard_, the name of a street almost wholly tenanted by rag-pickers, and situate in one of the lowest quarters of Paris. Quartier ---- mouf, _the Quartier Mouffetard_. La tribu des Beni Mouf-mouf, _inhabitants of the Quartier Mouffetard_. Champagne ----, or Champagne Mouffetard, _a liquid manufactured by rag-pickers with rotten oranges picked out of the refuse at the Halles_. The fruit, after being washed, is thrown into a cask of water and allowed to ferment for a few days, after which some brown sugar being added, the liquid is bottled up, and does duty as champagne. It is the Cliquot of poor people.
MOUFFLANTÉ, _adj._ (popular), _comfortably, warmly clad_.
MOUFFLET, _m._ (popular), _child_, or “kid;” _urchin_; _apprentice_.
MOUFION, _m._ (popular), _pocket-handkerchief_, “snottinger, or wipe.”
MOUFIONNER (popular), _to blow one’s nose_. (Thieves’) Se ---- dans le son, _to be guillotined_. Literally _to blow one’s nose in the bran_. An allusion to an executed convict’s head, which falls into a basket full of sawdust. Termed also “éternuer dans le son, or le sac.” See FAUCHÉ.
MOUGET, _m._ (roughs’), _a swell_, or “gorger.” Des péniches à la ----, _fashionable boots, as now worn, with pointed toes and large square heels_.
MOUILLANTE, _f._ (thieves’), _cod_; (popular) _soup_.
MOUILLÉ, _adj._ (popular), être ----, _to be drunk_, or “tight.” See POMPETTE. Etre ----, _to be known in one’s real character_. Alluding to cloths which are soaked in water to ascertain their quality. (Thieves’) Etre ----, _to be well known to the police_.
MOUILLER (popular), se ----, _to drink_, “to have something damp,” or as the Americans have it, “to smile, to see the man.” The term is old.
Mouillez-vous pour seicher, ou seichez pour mouiller.--=RABELAIS.=
Also _to get slightly intoxicated_, or “elevated.” (Theatrical) Mouiller à, or dans, _to receive a royalty for a play produced on the stage_. Se ----, _to take pains in one’s acting_. (Thieves’) Se ---- les pieds, _to be transported_, “to lump the lighter, or to be lagged.” (Roughs’) En ----, _to perform some extraordinary feat with great expenditure of physical strength_. Les frères qui en mouillent, _acrobats_. (Military) Mouiller, _to be punished_.
MOUISE, _f._ (thieves’), _soup_.
Vous qui n’avez probablement dans le bauge que la mouise de Tunebée Bicêtre vous devez canner la pégrenne.--=VIDOCQ.=
MOUKALA, _m._ (military), _rifle_. From the Arab.
MOUKÈRE, or MOUCAIRE, _f._ (popular), _ugly woman_; _girl of indifferent character_; (military) _mistress_. Ma ----, _my young_ “’ooman.” Avoir sa ----, _to have won the good graces of a fair one_, generally a cook in the case of an infantry soldier, the cavalry having the monopoly of housemaids or ladies’ maids, and sappers showing a great penchant for nursery-maids.
MOULARD, _m._ (popular), superlative of moule, _dunce_, or “flat.”
MOULE, _m. and f._ (popular), une ----, _face_, or “mug.” Also _a dunce_, _simpleton_, or “muff.”
Foutez-moi la paix! Vous êtes une couenne et une moule!--=G. COURTELINE.=
Le ---- à blagues, _mouth_, or “chaffer.” Literally _the humbug-box_. Un ---- à boutons, _a twenty-franc piece_. Un ---- à claques, _face with impertinent expression which invites punishment_. Termed also ---- à croquignoles. Un ---- à gaufres, or à pastilles, _a face pitted with small-pox marks_, “crumpet-face, or cribbage-face.” Un moule à gaufres is properly _a waffle-iron_. Un ---- à poupée (obsolete), _a clumsily-built, awkward man_.
Ah! ah! ah! C’grand benêt! a-t-il un air jaune ... dis donc eh! c’moule à poupée, qu’ veux-tu faire de cette pique?--_Riche-en-gueule._
Un ---- à merde, _behind_, “Nancy.” For synonyms see VASISTAS. Also _a foul-mouthed person_. Un ---- de gant, _box on the ear_, or “bang in the gills.” Un ---- de bonnet, head, or “canister.” Un ---- de pipe à Gambier, _grotesque face_, or “knocker face.” Un ---- à melon, _humpback_, or “lord.” (Military) Envoyer chercher le ---- aux guillemets, _to send a recruit on a fool’s errand_, to send him to ask the sergeant-major for _the mould for inverted commas_, the joke being varied by requesting him to fetch the key of the drill-ground. Corresponds somewhat to sending a greenhorn for pigeon’s milk, or a pennyworth of stirrup-oil.
MOULER (familiar and popular), un sénateur, _to ease oneself by evacuation_, “to bury a quaker;” (artists’) ---- une Vénus, _same meaning_. Artists term “gazonner,” _the act of easing oneself in the fields_. See MOUSCAILLER.
MOULIN, _m._ (popular), de la halle (obsolete), _the pillory_.
Mais pour qu’à l’avenir tu fass’ mieux ton devoir, Fais réguiser ta langu’ sur la pierre infernale, Et puis j’te f’rons tourner au moulin de la halle.
_Amusemens à la Grecque_, 1764.
Moulin, _hairdresser’s shop_; ---- à café, _mitrailleuse_. Thus termed on account of the revolving handle used in firing it off, like that of a coffee-mill. Also _street organ_; ---- à merde, _slanderer_; ---- à vent, _the behind_. See VASISTAS. Concerning the expression Le Roux says:--
Moulin à vent, pour cul, derrière. Moulin à vent, parcequ’on donne l’essor à ses vents par cette ouverture-là.--_Dict. Comique._
(Thieves’) Moulin, _receiver’s_, or “fence’s,” _house_. Termed also “maison du meunier.” Porter du gras-double au ----, _to steal lead and take it to a receiver of stolen property_, “to do bluey at the fence.” (Police) Passer au ---- à café, _to transport a prostitute to the colonies_.
MOULINAGE, _m._ (popular), _prattling_, “clack.”
MOULINER (popular), _to talk nonsense_; _to prattle_. A term specially used in reference to the fair sex, and an allusion to the rapid, regular, and monotonous motion of a mill, or to the noise produced by the paddles of a water-mill, a “tattle-box” being termed moulin à paroles.
MOULOIR, _m._ (thieves’), _mouth_, “bone-box, or muns;” _teeth_, “ivories, or grinders.”
MOULURE, _f._ (popular), _lump of excrement_, or “quaker.” Machine à moulures, _breech_, or “Nancy.” See VASISTAS.”
MOUNICHE, _f._ (thieves’), _woman’s privities_, “merkin,” according to the _Slang Dictionary_.
MOUNIN, _m._ (thieves’), _child_, or “kid;” _apprentice_.
MOUNINE, _f._ (thieves’), _little girl_.
MOUQUETTE, _f._ (popular), _cocotte_, or “poll.” See GADOUE.
Assez! Taisez vos becs!... à la porte les mouquettes! --=P. MAHALIN.=
MOURE, _f._ (thieves’), _pretty face_, “dimber mug.”
MOURIR (popular), tu t’en ferais ----! _is expressive of refusal_. Literally _if I gave you what you want you would die for joy_. See NÈFLES.
MOURON, _m._ (popular), ne plus avoir de ---- sur la cage, _to be bald_, _or to sport_ “a bladder of lard.” For synonymous expressions see AVOIR.
MOUSCAILLE, _f._ (thieves’), _excrement_, or, as the Irish say, “quaker.”
MOUSCAILLER (thieves’), _to ease oneself by evacuation_. The synonyms are “mousser, enterrer son colonel, aller faire une ballade à la lune, mouler un sénateur, mouler une Vénus, gazonner, aller au numéro cent, déponer, fogner, flaquer, écrire à un Juif, déposer une pêche, poser un pépin, un factionnaire, or une sentinelle; envoyer une dépêche à Bismark, flasquer, touser, faire corps neuf, déposer une médaille de papier volant, or des Pays-Bas (obsolete), faire des cordes, mettre une lettre à la poste, faire le grand, faire une commission, débourrer sa pipe, défalquer, tarter, faire une moulure, aller quelque part, aller à ses affaires, aller où le roi va à pied, filer, aller chez Jules, ierchem, aller où le roi n’envoie personne, flaquader, fuser, gâcher du gros, galipoter, pousser son rond, filer le cable de proue, faire un pruneau, aller au buen-retiro, aller voir Bernard, faire ronfler le bourrelet, la chaise percée, or la chaire percée.” In the English slang, “to go to the West Central, to go to Mrs. Jones, or to the crapping-ken, to the bog-house, to the chapel of ease, to Sir Harry; to crap, to go to the crapping-case, to the coffee-shop, to the crapping castle,” and, as the Irish term it, “to bury a quaker.”
MOUSCAILLEUR, _m._ (popular), _scavenger employed in emptying cesspools_, or “gold-finder.”
MOUSQUETAIRE GRIS, _m._ (popular), _louse_, or “grey-backed ’un.”
MOUSSAILLON, _m._ (sailors’), _a ship-boy_, or “powder-monkey.” From mousse, _ship-boy_.
MOUSSANTE, _f._ (popular and thieves’), _beer_, or “gatter.” Un pot de ----, a “shant of gatter.” A curious slang street melody, known in Seven Dials as _Bet the Coaley’s Daughter_, mentions the word “gatter”:--
But when I strove my flame to tell, Says she, “Come, stow that patter, If you’re a cove wot likes a gal, Vy don’t you stand some gatter?” In course I instantly complied, Two brimming quarts of porter, With sev’ral goes of gin beside, Drain’d Bet the Coaley’s daughter.
Moussante mouchique, _bad, flat beer_, “swipes, or belly vengeance.”
MOUSSARD, _m._ (thieves’), _chestnut tree_.
MOUSSE, _f._ (popular and thieves’), _excrement_; _wine_. The word is old. Villon, a poet of the fifteenth century, uses it with the latter signification. For quotation see JOUER DU POUCE. (Popular) De la ----! _nonsense!_ “all my eye,” or “all my eye and Betty Martin.” Is also expressive of ironical refusal; “yes, in a horn,” as the Americans say.
MOUSSECAILLOUX, _m._ (popular), _infantry soldier_, “wobbler, or beetle-crusher.”
MOUSSELINE, _f._ (thieves’), _white bread_, or “pannum,” alluding to a similarity of colour. Also _prisoner’s fetters_, “darbies.”
MOUSSER (popular), _to ease oneself by evacuation_. See MOUSCAILLER. Also _to be wroth_, “to have one’s monkey up.” Faire ---- quelqu’un, _to make one angry by_ “riling” him.
MOUSSERIE, _f._ (thieves’), _privy_, “crapping-ken.”
MOUSSEUX, _adj._ (literary), _hyperbolic_.
MOUSSUE, _f._ (thieves’), _chestnut_.
MOUSTACHU, _m._ (familiar), _man with moustache_.
MOUSTIQUE, _m._ (popular), avoir un ---- dans la boîte au sel, _to be_ “cracked,” “to have a slate off.” For synonymous expressions see AVOIR.
MOUT, _adj._ (popular), _pretty_, _handsome_.
MOUTARDE, _f._ (popular), _excrement_. Baril à ----, _the behind_. For synonyms see VASISTAS. The expression is old.
En le lançant, il dit: prends garde, Je vise au baril de moutarde.
_La Suite du Virgile travesti._
MOUTARDIER, _m._ (popular), _breech_, or “tochas.” See VASISTAS.
Et en face! Je n’ai pas besoin de renifler ton moutardier.--=ZOLA.=
MOUTON, _m._ (popular), _mattress_, or “mot cart;” (general) _prisoner who is set to watch a fellow-prisoner, and, by winning his confidence, seeks to extract information from him_, a “nark.”
Comme tu seras au violon avant lui, il ne se doutera pas que tu es un mouton.--=VIDOCQ.=
Deux sortes de coqueurs sont à la dévotion de la police: les coqueurs libres, et les coqueurs détenus autrement dit moutons.--_Mémoires de Canler._
MOUTONNAILLE, _f._ (popular), _crowd_. Sheep will form a crowd.
MOUTONNER (thieves’ and police), _to play the spy on fellow-prisoners_.
Celui qui est mouton court risque d’être assassiné par les compagnons ... aussi la police parvient-elle rarement à décider les voleurs à moutonner leurs camarades.--=CANLER.=
MOUTROT, _m._ (thieves’), _Prefect of police_. Le logis du ----, _the Préfecture de Police_.
MOUVANTE, _f._ (thieves’), _porridge_.
MOUVEMENT, _m._ (swindlers’), concierge dans le ----, _doorkeeper in league with a gang of swindlers_, for a description of which see BANDE NOIRE.
MOUZU, _m._ (thieves’), _woman’s breasts_, “Charlies, or dairies.”
MUCHE, _adj. and m._ (prostitutes’), _polite, timid young man_; (popular) _excellent_, _perfect_, “bully, or ripping.”
MUETTE, _f._ (Saint-Cyr School), _drill exercise in which cadets purposely do not make their muskets ring_. This is done to annoy any unpopular instructor. (Thieves’) Muette, _conscience_. Avoir une puce à la ----, _to feel a pang of remorse_.
MUFE, or MUFFLE, _m. and adj._ (thieves’), _mason_; (familiar and popular) _mean fellow_; _mean_.
Son pâtissier s’était montré assez mufe pour menacer de la vendre, lorsqu’elle l’avait quitté.--=ZOLA=, _Nana_.
Mufe, _scamp_, _cad_, “bally bounder.”
Elles restaient gaies, jetant simplement un “sale mufe!” derrière le dos des maladroits dont le talon leur arrachait un volant.--=ZOLA=, _Nana_.
MUFFÉE, _f._ (popular), en avoir une vraie ----, _to be completely intoxicated_. See POMPETTE.
MUFFETON, MUFFLETON, _m._ (popular), _young scamp_; _mason’s apprentice_.
MUFFLEMAN (popular), _mean fellow_.
MUFFLERIE, _f._ (popular), _contemptible action_; _behaviour like a cad’s_.
MUFLE, _m._ (thieves’), se casser le ----, _to meet with_. Termed also “tomber en frime.”
Tel escarpe ou assassin ne commettra pas un crime un vendredi, ou s’il s’est cassé le mufle devant un ratichon (prêtre).--_Mémoires de Monsieur Claude._
MUFRERIE, _f._ (popular), _disparaging epithet_; ---- de sort! _curse my luck!_
MUITAR, _f._ (thieves’), être dans la ----, _to be in prison_, or “in quod.”
MULET, _m._ (military), _marine artillery man_; (printers’) _compositor_, or “donkey.” “In the days before steam machinery was invented, the men who worked at press,” says the _Slang Dictionary_, “the pressmen, were so dirty and drunken a body that they earned the name of pigs. In revenge, and for no reason that can be discovered, they christened the compositors “donkeys.’” (Thieves’) Mulet, _devil_.
Les meusniers, aussi ont une mesme façon de parler que les cousturiers, appelant leur asne le grand Diable, et leur sac, Raison. Et rapportant leur farine à ceux ausquels elle appartient, si on leur demande s’ils en ont point prins plus qu’il ne leur en faut, respondent: Le grand Diable m’emporte, si j’en ay prins que par raison. Mais pour tout cela ils disent qu’ils ne desrobent rien, car on leur donne.--=TABOUROT.=
MURAILLE (familiar and popular), battre la ----, _to be drunk and to reel about, now in the gutter, now against the wall_.
MURER (popular), je te vas ----! _I’ll knock you down, or I’ll double you up!_ See VOIE.
Là il commença à m’embrasser. Ma foi, comme pour le verre de vin, il n’y avait pas de refus. Il ne me déplaisait pas, cet homme. Il voulut même m’habiller avec une chemise de sa femme. Mais voici qu’il me propose des choses que je ne pouvais accepter, et qu’il me menace de me murer si je dis un mot.--_Echo de Paris._
MURON, _m._ (thieves’), _salt_.
MURONNER (thieves’), _to salt_.
MURONNIÈRE, _f._ (thieves’), _salt-cellar_.
MUSARDINE, _f._ (familiar), _name given some forty years ago to a more than fast girl, or to a girl of indifferent character_, termed sometimes by English “mashers,” a “blooming tartlet.”
On dit une musardine, comme jadis on disait une lorette.--=ALBÉRIC SECOND.=
The synonyms corresponding to various epochs are:--Under the Restauration “femme aimable,” a term of little significance. In Louis Philippe’s time, “lorette,” on account of the frail ones mostly dwelling in the Quartier Notre Dame de Lorette. Under the Third Empire “chignon doré” (it was then the fashion, as it still is, for such women to dye their hair a bright gold or auburn tint), or “cocodette,” the feminine of “cocodès,” _young dandy_. Now-a-days frequenters of the Boulevards use the term “boudinée,” “boudiné, bécarre, or pschutteux,” being the latest appellations for the Parisian “masher.” The term “musardine” must first have been applied to fast girls frequenting the Bals Musard, attended at the time by all the “dashing” elements of Paris. “In English polite society, a fast young lady,” says the _Slang Dictionary_, “is one who affects mannish habits, or makes herself conspicuous by some unfeminine accomplishment, talks slang, drives about in London, smokes cigarettes, is knowing in dogs and horses, &c.”
MUSÉE, _m._ (popular), le ---- des claqués, _the Morgue_.
MUSELÉ, _m._ (popular), _dunce_, or “flat;” _good-for-nothing man_. Alluding to a muzzled dog who cannot use his teeth.
MUSETTE, _f._ (popular), _voice_. Couper la ---- à quelqu’un, _to silence one_, “to clap a stopper on one’s mug;” _to cut one’s throat_.
MUSICIEN, _m._ (thieves’), _dictionary_; _variety of informer_, or “snitcher;” (familiar) ---- par intimidation, _a street melodist who obtains money from people desirous of getting rid of him_.
J’y ai retrouvé aussi le “musicien par intimidation,” l’homme à la clarinette, qui s’arrête devant les cafés du boulevard en faisant mine de porter à ses lèvres le bec de son instrument. Les consommateurs épouvantés se hâtent de lui jeter quelque monnaie afin d’éviter l’harmonie. --=ELIE FRÉBAULT=, _La Vie de Paris_.
It, however, occurs occasionally that people annoyed by the harmonists of the street have their revenge whilst getting rid of them without having to pay toll, as in the case of the “musicien par intimidation.” One day a French artist in London, who every day was almost driven mad by the performances of a band of green-coated German musicians, hit upon the following singular stratagem. Placing himself at the window, and facing his tormentors, he applied a lemon to his lips. The effect was instantaneous, as through an association of ideas the mouths of the musicians began to water to such an extent that, unable to proceed with their symphony, they surrendered the battlefield to the triumphant artist. (Popular) Des musiciens, _beans_, alluding to the wind they generate in the bowels. (Printers’) Des musiciens, _large number of corrections made on the margin of pages_; _unskilled compositors who are unable to proceed with their work_.
MUSIQUE, _f._ (popular), _second-hand articles_; _odd pieces of cloth sewn together_; _kind of penny loaf_. Termed also “flûte.” Also _what remains in a glass_; (thieves’) _informing_; _informers_.
La deuxième classe, que les voleurs désignent sous le nom de musique, est composée de tous les malfaiteurs qui, après leur arrestation, se mettent à table (dénoncent).--=CANLER.=
Passer à la ----, _to be placed in the presence of informers for identification_; (card-sharpers’) _swindling at cards_.
MUSIQUER (card-sharpers’), _to mark a card with the nail_.
MUSSER (popular), _to smell_.
MUTILÉS, _m. pl._ (military), _soldiers of the punishment companies in Africa, who are sent there as a penalty for purposely maiming themselves in order to escape military service_.
MYLORD, _m._ (popular), _hackney coach_, “growler.”
N
NAGEANT, or NAGEOIR, _m._ (thieves’), _fish_.
NAGEOIRES, _f. pl._ (popular), _large whiskers in the shape of fins_; _arms_, or “benders;” _hands_, or “fins.” Un monsieur à ----, _a prostitute’s bully_, or “pensioner.” For list of synonyms see POISSON.
NAÏF, _m._ (printers’), _employer_, or “boss.” The expression is scarcely used nowadays.
Le vieux pressier resta seul dans l’imprimerie dont le maître, autrement dit le “naïf,” venait de mourir.--=BALZAC.=
NARQUOIS, or DRILLE, _m._ (old cant), formerly _a thievish or vagrant old soldier_.
Drilles ou narquois sont des soldats qui truchent la flamme sous le bras, et battent en ruine les entiffes et tous les creux des vergnes ... ils ont fait banqueroute au grand coëre et ne veulent pas être ses sujets ni le reconnaître.--_Le Jargon de l’Argot._
Parler ---- formerly had the signification of _to talk the jargon of vagabonds_.
NASE, _m._ (popular), _nose_.
NASER QUELQU’UN (popular), is equivalent to “avoir quelqu’un dans le nez,” _to have a strong dislike for one_, _to abominate one_.
NAVARIN, _m._ (thieves’), _turnip_; (popular) _scraps of meat from butchers’ stalls retailed at a low price to poor people_.
NAVET, _m._ (familiar), _hypocrite with bland polished manners_, a kind of Mr. Pecksniff; _fool_, _dunce_, or “flat.” Le champ de navets, _the cemetery_.
Je ne sais pas seulement à quel endroit du champ de navets on a enterré le pauvre vieux, j’étais au dépôt. --=LOUISE MICHEL.=
(Familiar and popular) Avoir du jus de ---- dans les veines, _to be lacking in energy_, _to be a_ “sappy.” Des navets! _an ejaculation of refusal_.
Ohé! les gendarmes, ohé! des navets!--=H. MONNIER.=
Also _is expressive of incredulity, impossibility_. See NÈFLES.
Il faut avoir fait trois ans de Conservatoire pour savoir parler ... alors on sait donner aux mots leur valeur: mais sans cela!...--Des navets!--=E. MONTEIL.=
(Artists’) Navets, _rounded arms or legs showing no muscle_.
NAVETTE, _f._ (thieves’), _pedlar_.
NAZARET, _m._ (popular), _large nose_, or “conk.” See MORVIAU.
NAZE, _m._ (popular and thieves’), _nose_, “smeller, or smelling-cheat.” The word is borrowed from the Provençal. For synonyms see MORVIAU.
NAZI, _m._ (popular and thieves’), _venereal disease_, “Venus’ curse.”
NAZIBOTER (popular), _to speak through the nose_. J’ai le mirliton bouché, ça me fait ----, _I have a cold in the head, that makes me speak through my nose_.
NAZICOT, _m._ (popular), _small nose_. See MORVIAU.
NAZONNANT, _m._ (popular), _big nose_, “conk.” See MORVIAU.
NÈFLES, _f. pl._ (familiar and popular), des ----! _an expression of refusal, or ejaculation of incredulity_.
Il paraît que cette vierge est bonne, bonne!--à quoi?--A tout. Elle fait des miracles superbes.--Des nèfles!--=MONTEIL.=
Kindred expressions are: “Des navets! De l’anis! Tu auras de l’anis dans une écope! Du flan! Tu t’en ferais mourir! Tu t’en ferais péter la sous-ventrière! Mon œil! Flûte! Zut! Et ta sœur? Des plis! La peau! Peau de nœud! De la mousse! Du vent! Des emblèmes! Des vannes! Des fouilles! On t’en fricasse!” which might be rendered by, “Walker! All my eye! You be blowed! You be hanged! Not for Joe! How’s your brother Job? Don’t you wish you may get it?” &c., and by the Americanism, “Yes, in a horn.”
NEG, _m._ (popular), au petit croche, _rag-dealer_. Neg, for négociant; ---- en viande chaude, _prostitute’s bully_, or “pensioner.” For the list of synonyms see POISSON.
NÉGOCIANTE, _f._ (familiar), _woman who keeps a small shop, and who pretends to sell gentlemen’s gloves or perfumery_. When the purchaser tenders a twenty-franc piece for payment, “Do you require change?” the lady asks with an inviting smile, the required change being generally returned “en nature.”
NÉGRESSE, _f._ (popular), _bottle of red wine_.
Allons, la mère, du piccolo! et deux négresses à la fois, s’il vous plaît.--=CH. DUBOIS DE GENNES.=
Une ---- morte, _an empty bottle_, one which has “M. T.” on it, _i.e._, “Moll Thompson’s mark.” Termed also “marine.”
Le tas de négresses mortes grandissait. Un cimetière de bouteilles.--=ZOLA.=
Etouffer, éreinter une ----, or éternuer sur une ----, _to drink a bottle of red wine_, “to crack” it. Négresse, _flea_.
Qu’il s’ra content le vieux propriétaire, Quand il viendra pour toucher son loyer, D’voir en entrant tout’ la paill’ par terre Et les négress’s à ses jamb’s sautiller.
_Parisian Song._
Négresse, _parcel made up in oilskin_; (sailors’) _belt_.
NÉGRIOT, _m._ (thieves’), _strong box_, “peter;” _casket_.
Vous avez entendu ma femme et mes deux momignardes (filles) vous bonnir (dire) que le négriot (coffret) était gras et qu’il plombait (pesait beaucoup).--=VIDOCQ.=
NEIGE, _f._ (familiar and popular), boule de ----, _negro_. Termed also “bamboula, boîte à cirage, bille de pot-au-feu, mal blanchi,” and in the English cant or slang, “bit o’ ebony, snowball, lily-white, darky, black cuss.”
NÉNETS, or NÉNAIS, _m. pl._ (familiar), _woman’s breasts_, “Charlies, dairies, or bubbies.” Termed also “avant-postes, avant-scènes, nichons, deux œufs sur le plat;” (popular) ---- de veuve, _feeding bottle_.
NEP, _m._ (thieves’), _rascally Jew dealing in counterfeit diamonds, sham jewellery, or who seeks to sell at a high price the cross of an order studded with glass pearls or paste diamonds_.
NE-TE-GÊNE-PAS-DANS-LE-PARC, _m._ (familiar and popular), _short jacket_. Termed also “saute-en-barque, pet-en-l’air, montretout.”
NET, _adj._ (popular), un atelier ----, _a workshop tabooed by workmen, who forbid any of their fellows to accept work there_.
NETTOYAGE, _m._ (popular), _loss of all one’s money at a game_, or “mucking-out;” _selling of property_; _robbing of property_.
NETTOYÉ, _adj._ (familiar and popular), _given up for dead_, “done for,” or, as the Americans say, a “gone coon;” _dead_, “settled;” _robbed_. Etre ----, _to have lost all one’s money at some game_, “to have blewed it, or to be a muck-snipe.” Also _to be exhausted_, _done up_, or “gruelled.” La monnaie est nettoyée, _the money is gone, spent_.
De la jolie fripouille, les ouvriers! Toujours en noce. Se fichant de l’ouvrage, vous lâchant au beau milieu d’une commande, reparaissant quand leur monnaie est nettoyée.--=ZOLA.=
NETTOYER (familiar and popular), _to sell_; _to rob_; _to clean out at some game_, “to muck out;” _to kill_, “to do” _for one_. Se faire ----, _to be killed_. (Thieves’) Nettoyer un bocart, _to break into a house and strip it of all its valuables_, “to do a crib,” _or to do a_ “ken-crack-lay.” Nettoyer, _to apprehend_, “to smug.”
NEZ, _m._ (familiar and popular), _disappointed look_.
Plus de parts de gâteaux! Il fallait voir le nez de Boche.--=ZOLA.=
Prendre dans le ----, _to reprimand_, “to give a wigging.” Un ---- en pied de marmite, _short nose with a thick end_. Un ---- où il pleut dedans, _turned-up nose_, or “pug nose.” Nez passé à l’encaustique, _nose which shows a partiality for potations on its owner’s part_, or “copper nose.” Avoir le ---- sale, _to be drunk_, or “tight.” See POMPETTE. Avoir quelqu’un dans le ----, _to entertain feelings of dislike towards one_. Faire son ----, _to make a wry face_, _to look_ “glum.”
On se mouilla encore d’une tournée générale; puis on alla à la _Puce qui renifle_, un petit bousingot où il y avait un billard. Le chapelier fit un instant son nez, parce que c’était une maison pas très propre. Le schnick y valait un franc le litre.--=ZOLA=, _L’Assommoir_.
Avoir le ---- creux, _to be cunning_, “to be fly to wot’s wot;” _to possess perspicacity_.
Oh! elle avait le nez creux, elle savait déjà comment cela devait tourner.--=ZOLA.=
Mettre son ---- dans le bleu, or se piquer le ----, _to get drunk_. See POMPETTE.
Lui se piquait le nez proprement, sans qu’on s’en aperçût.... Le zingueur au contraire, devenait dégoûtant, ne pouvait plus boire sans se mettre dans un état ignoble.--=ZOLA=, _L’Assommoir_.
Nez de pompettes formerly meant _drunkard’s nose_, like that of an “Admiral of the Red,” with “grog blossoms.”
NEZ-DE-CHIEN, _m._ (popular), _mixture of beer and brandy_. Avoir le ----, _to be drunk_. See POMPETTE.
NIAIS, _m._ (thieves’), _thief who repents, or who has qualms of conscience_.
NIAS, _m._ (thieves’), _me_, “my nibs;” in Italian cant, “monarco, or mia madre.” C’est pas pour mon ----, _that’s not for me_.
NIB, NIBERGUE, NIBERTE (thieves’ and cads’), _no_; _not_; ---- de braise, _no money_. Ça fait ---- dans mes blots, _that does not suit me_, _that’s not my game_; ---- du flanche! _leave off!_ “stow faking!” Nib du flanche, le gonse t’exhibe, _leave off, the man is looking at you_. In other terms, “stow it, the gorger’s leary.” Nib de tous les flanches! S’ils te font la jactance, n’entrave pas dans leurs vannes, ne norgue pas. _Keep dark about all our jobs; if they try to pump you, don’t allow yourself to be taken in, do not confess._ Nib au truc, or ---- du truc, _hold your tongue about any job_, “keep dark.”
NIBÉ (thieves’), _hold your tongue_, “mum your dubber;” _enough_.
NIBER (thieves’), _to see_, “to pipe;” _to look_, “to dick.” Nibe la gonzesse, _look at the girl_, or “nark the titter.” Le rousse te nibe, _the policeman is looking at you_, “the bulky is dicking.”
NIBERGUE (thieves’), _nothing_, “nix.”
Est-ce que tu coupes dans les rêves, toi? Quoiqu’ ça peut faire des rêves? nibergue! (rien).--=VIDOCQ.=
NIBERTE (thieves’), _nothing_, “nix.”
J’avais balancé le bogue que j’avais fourliné et je ne litrais que niberte en valades.--=VIDOCQ.= (_I had thrown away the watch which I had stolen, and I had nothing in my pockets._)
NICDOUILLE, _m._ (popular), _dunce_, “dunderhead.”
NICHE, _f._ (roughs’), _house_; _home_. Rappliquer à la ----, _to go home_.
Quand qu’ all’ rappliqu’ à la niche, Et qu’ nous sommes poivrots, Gare au bataillon d’la guiche, C’est nous qu’est les dos.
=RICHEPIN=, _Chanson des Gueux_.
A c’te ----! _go home!_
NICHONS, _m. pl._ (familiar), _bosoms_, or “Charlies.”
Nana ne fourrait plus de boules de papier dans son corsage. Des nichons lui étaient venus.--=ZOLA.=
NID, _m._ (popular), à poussière, _the navel_. Un pante sans ---- à poussière, _Adam_. According to a quotation in Mr. O. Davies’ _Supplementary English Glossary_, the navel being only of use to attract the aliment _in utero materno_, and Adam having no mother, he had no use of a navel, and therefore it is not to be conceived he had any. Un ---- à punaises, _a room in a lodging-house_, where the bed is generally a mere “bug-walk.” Un ---- de noirs, _priests’ seminary_, alluding to their black vestments.
NIÈRE, or NIERT, _m._ (thieves’), _individual_, “cove, bloke, or cull.” The Americans say “cuss.”
C’est le moment il n’y a pas un niert dans la trime.--=VIDOCQ.= (_It’s just the time when there’s nobody on the road._)
Nière, _accomplice_, or “stallsman.” Manger son ----, _to inform against an accomplice_, “to turn rusty and split,” or “to turn snitch.” Cromper son ----, _to save one’s accomplice_. Un ---- à la manque, _accomplice not to be trusted_. Un bon ----, _a good fellow_, or “ben cove.” Mon ----, _I_, _me_, “my nibs.” Termed also mon ---- bobéchon. Un ----, _a clumsy fellow_.
NIF, or NIB (thieves’), _nothing_, “nix;” _no_. Termed “ack” at Christ’s Hospital or Blue Coat School.
NIFER (thieves’), _to cease_, “to stash, to stow, or to cheese.”
NIGAUDINOS, _m._ (popular), _simple-minded fellow_, or “flat.”
NIKOL (Breton cant), _meat_.
NINGLE, _f._ (literary), _gay girl_, “mot.” See GADOUE.
NIOLLE, or GNIOLE, _m. and adj._ (popular and thieves’), _dunce_, or “flat;” _foolish_.
Vous comprenez que je n’étais pas si niolle (bête) de donner mon centre (nom) pour me faire nettoyer par vos rousses (arrêter par vos agents).--=CANLER.=
Niolle, _old hat_.
NIOLLEUR, _m._ (popular), _dealer in old hats_.
NIORT, _m._ (thieves’), _name of a town_. Aller, or battre à ----, _to deny one’s guilt_. A play on the above name, and nier, _to deny_.
NIORTE, _f._ (thieves’), _flesh_, or “carnish.”
NIPPE-MAL, _m._ (popular), _badly-dressed man_.
NIQUE, _f._ (thieves’), être ---- de mèche, _to have no share in some evil deed_.
Elle est nique de mèche (sans aucune complicité), répondit l’amant de la Biffe.--=BALZAC.=
NIQUEDOULE, _m._ (thieves’), _dunce_, or “go-along.”
Ah! ah! dit l’Frisé, te v’là morte! Et l’grand niqu’doul’ s’mit à pleurer.
=RICHEPIN.=
NISCO, or NIX (popular), _nothing_, “nix;” _no such thing_.
Et moi! je m’en irais bredouille? Nisco! ma biche. --=P. MAHALIN.=
Nisco braisicoto, _no money_, _no_ “tin.”
NISETTE, _f._ (thieves’), _olive_.
NIVEAU, _m._ (popular), ne pas trouver son ----, _to be drunk_, or “snuffy.” See POMPETTE.
NIVET, _m._ (old cant), _hemp_.
NIVETTE, _f._ (old cant), _hemp-field_.
NIX. See NISCO.
NOBLE ÉTRANGÈRE, _f._ (literary), _five-franc piece_.
NOBRER, or NOBLER (thieves’), _to recognize_. Nous sommes noblés et filés, _we are recognized and followed_.
NOC, _m._ (popular), _blockhead_, “cabbage-head.”
NOCE, _f._ (popular), de bâtons de chaise, _grand jollification_, or “flare up.” Also _a fight between a married couple_. Faire la ----, _to lead a gay life_; _to hold revels_.
NOCER. See FAIRE LA NOCE; (popular) ---- en Père Peinard, _to indulge in solitary revels_.
NOCERIE, _f._ (popular), _revels_, “boozing.”
NOCEUR, _m._ (popular), _one who leads a gay life_, _a sort of_ “jolly dog.”
NOCEUSE, _f._ (popular), _woman of questionable character who shows a
## partiality for good cheer_.
NOCHER (popular), _to ring_. Noche la retentissante, _ring the bell_, or “jerk the tinkler.”
NOCTAMBULE, _m._ (familiar), _one fond of roving about on the Boulevards at night_.
NOCTAMBULER (familiar), _to sit up, or rove about at night_, “to be on the tiles.”
NOCTAMBULISME, _m._ (familiar), _roving about at night_.
NŒUD, _m._ (popular), see FLAGEOLET. Mon ----! _an ejaculation of contempt or refusal_. Filer son ----, _to go away_, “to slope;” _to run away_, “to cut the cable and run before the wind,” in the language of English sailors. Peau de ----, see PEAU.
NOGUE, _f._ (roughs’), _night_, or “darkmans.”
NOIR, _m. and adj._ (popular), _coffee_; ---- de peau de nègre, _miserable man_, _an assistant of rag-pickers_. Du ----, _lead_, or “bluey.” Un ---- de trois ronds sans cogne, _a three-halfpenny cup of coffee without brandy_. Pierre noire, _slate_. Un petit père ----, _a tankard of wine_. (Familiar) Le cabinet ----, _an office in which the letters of persons suspected of being hostile to the government were opened previous to their being forwarded by the post office_.
Le cabinet noir, supprimé en 1830, fut rétabli par le ministre des affaires étrangères, le général Sébastiani.... Le cabinet noir n’existait plus de nom sous l’Empire; il existait de fait aux Tuileries.--_Mémoires de Monsieur Claude._
La chambre noire, _a council-chamber where Napoleon III. received his agents and formed secret plans_.
Ce fut dans ce cabinet secret que furent résolus la mort de Kelch et l’enlèvement secret des premiers fomentateurs du complot de l’Opéra-Comique.--_Mémoires de Monsieur Claude._
Bande noire, _a gang of swindlers_. See BANDE. The _Echo de Paris_, August, 1886, mentions a gang of this description which formed a vast association and victimized wine merchants in all parts of the country:--
Les associés se divisaient en quatre catégories: 1º “Les Faisans;” 2º “Les Courtiers à la mode;” 3º “Les Concierges dans le mouvement;” 4º “Les Fusilleurs.” Les “Courtiers à la mode” étaient des individus qui avaient réussi à se faire agréer comme représentants par des maisons de gros. Les “Faisans,” par l’intermédiaire des “courtiers,” et avec la complaisance des “concierges dans le mouvement,” se faisaient faire des envois de pièces de vins soit en gare, soit à domicile. Les “Fusilleurs” achetaient ces pièces de vin à vil prix et les revendaient aussi cher que possible.
(Saint-Cyr School) Une noire fontaine, _an inkstand_.
NOISETTE, _f._ (popular), avoir un asticot dans la ----, _to be_ “cracked.” For synonyms see AVOIR.
NOIX, _f._ (popular), escailleux de ---- (obsolete), _slow man_, “slow-coach.”
Et Dieu, quelz escailleux de noix, Qui venez cy de tous cottez, Ou, par la foy que je vous doys, D’une grosse pelle de boys Vos trouz de cul seront sellez.
_Farce nouvelle._
Une coquille de ----, _a very small glass_. (Military) Gauler des ----, _to fence badly_. An allusion to a man knocking down walnuts from a tree with a rod.
A ce compte-là on ne doit pas faire de grands progrès en escrime?--Eh! justement ... on a beau être cavalier et avoir toujours le bancal au côté ... on barbotte ... on gaule des noix.--=DUBOIS DE GENNES.=
NOM, _m._ (theatrical), _actor of note_, “star.”
Bourgoin prenait des élèves du Conservatoire pour accompagner son “nom,” quelquefois aussi des cabotins de province.--=E. MONTEIL.=
(Popular) Un ---- de Dieu, _disparaging epithet_, the equivalent being, in English slang, “bally fellow.”
L’homme de chambre, au café! Dort-t’y assez ce nom de Dieu-là!--=G. COURTELINE.=
NOMBRIL (card-players’), de religieuse, _the ace of cards_, or “pig’s eye.” (Thieves’) Nombril, _noon_.
NONNANT, _m._, NONNANTE, _f._ (thieves’), _friend_.
NONNE, _f._ (thieves’), _abettor of a pickpocket_. The accomplices press round the victim during the thief’s operations. The proceeds of the robbery pass at once into the hands of one of the “nonnes,” called “coqueur,” or “bob,” in English cant. Faire ----, _to form a small crowd in the street so as to attract idlers, and thus to facilitate a pickpockets operations_. Those who thus aid a confederate are termed “jollies” in the English slang.
NONNEUR, _m._ (thieves’), _accomplice_. Termed by English thieves “stallsman, or Philiper.” The “Philiper” stands by and looks out for the police while the others commit a robbery, and calls out “Philip!” when anyone approaches. According to Vidocq, there is a variety of “nonneurs” who are merely in the service of other thieves. Their functions are to watch, to hustle the intended victim, and to make off with the valuables handed to them by their principal. The “nonneur” is not always rewarded by a share in the proceeds of the robbery; he generally receives wages for the day proportionate to the profits obtained in the “business.” Manger sur ses nonneurs, _to inform against one’s accomplices_, “to blow the gaff, or to turn snitch.”
Le quart d’œil lui jabotte Mange sur tes nonneurs, Lui tire une carotte, Lui montant la couleur.
=VIDOCQ=, _Mémoires_.
NORGUER (thieves’ and cads’), _to own to a crime_; _to confess_. Si le curieux te fait la jactance n’entrave pas, ne norgue pas, _If the judge examines you, do not fall into the snare, do not confess_.
NOSIGUES, or NOUSAILLES (thieves’), _we_, _ourselves_.
NOTAIRE, _m._ (popular), _bar of drinking-shop_; _landlord of drinking-shop_, “boss of lushing-crib;” _tradesman who allows credit_.
NOTE, _f._ (dandies’), être dans la ----, _to be well up in events of the day_; _to be a man of the_ “period.”
NOTER (Breton cadgers’), _night_.
NOTRE, _m._ (thieves’), _accomplice_, or “stallsman;” “one of our mob.”
NOUET (Breton cant), _dead drunk_.
NOUEUR, _m._ (thieves’), _accomplice_, or “stallsman.”
NOUJON, _m._ (thieves’), _fish_.
NOUNE, or NONNE, _m._ (thieves’), _accomplice who follows in the wake of a pickpocket and receives the stolen property_, “bob.”
NOURRICE, _f._ (thieves’), _female who purchases stolen property_, or “fence.” (Familiar and popular) Et les mois de ---- (ironical), _and the rest_. Cette dame a trente ans. Et les mois de nourrice! _This lady is thirty years old. And the rest!_ Un dépuceleur de nourrices, _a simpleton_, a “duffer;” _a silly Lovelace_.
NOURRIR (thieves’), une affaire, _to preconcert a scheme for a theft or murder_.
Nourrir une affaire, c’est l’avoir en perspective, en attendant le moment propice pour l’exécution.--=VIDOCQ.=
Nourrir un poupard, or un poupon, _synonymous of_ “nourrir une affaire.”
Chacun donnait dix-huit ans à ce garçon qui devait avoir nourri ce poupon (comploté, préparé ce crime) pendant un mois.--=BALZAC.=
NOURRISSEUR, _m._ (popular), _eating-house keeper_, or “boss of a grubbing-crib;” (thieves’) _thief who a long time beforehand makes every preparation with the view of committing a robbery or crime_.
Les nourrisseurs préméditent leurs coups de longue main, et ne se hasardent pas à cueillir la poire avant qu’elle ne soit mûre.--=VIDOCQ.=
Nourrisseur, _housebreaker who devotes his attentions to houses or apartments whose tenants are away on a journey_, such houses being termed “dead ’uns” by English “busters.”
NOUSAILLES, or NOUZAILLES (thieves’), _we_, _ourselves_.
Je crois que nous avons été donnés par le chêne qui s’est esgaré de chez nouzailles avec mes frusquins.--=VIDOCQ.= (_I think we have been informed against by the man who ran away from our place with my clothes._)
NOUVEAU JEU, _m._ (literary), _new model_; _new fashion_.
NOUVEAUTÉ, _f._ (prostitutes’), faire sa ----, _is to take to a fresh_ “beat.”
NOUVELLE, _f. and adj._ (familiar), à la main, _short newspaper paragraph containing some more or less witty aphorism or joke_, “tit-bit;” ---- couche, _the_ “coming” _people_. La ----, _the penal settlement of New Caledonia_. Passer à la ----, _to be transported_, “to lump the lighter,” or “to serve Her Majesty for nothing.” (Military) Faire une descente sur de nouvelles côtes, _a jeu de mots which has reference to the searching by imprisoned soldiers on the person of a comrade whose first visit it is to the cell, in order to get possession of any money he may have secreted about him_.
Il me semble que ça sent la chair fraîche par ici.--Moi de même; et il m’est avis que nous allons avoir à faire une “descente sur de nouvelles côtes.” --=CHARLES DUBOIS DE GENNES=, _Le Troupier tel qu’il est à cheval_.
NOVEMBRE 33, _m._ (military), _officer or non-commissioned officer who strictly adheres to military regulations_; also _a stew which contains all kinds of condiments_.
NOYAU, _m._ (military), _recruit_, “Johnny raw.” In the slang of the workshop or prison, _a new-comer_. (Popular) Avoir des noyaux, _to have money_, or “tin.”
NOZIGUE (thieves’), _us_.
T’as donc taffe de nozigue?--=VIDOCQ.= (_Are you then afraid of us?_)
NUIT, _f._ (journalists’), bourgeois de ----, _police officers, or detectives, in plain clothes_.
Mon ami d’Hervilly appelle ces sergents de ville déguisés des “bourgeois de nuit;” l’expression est juste et comique.--=FRANCIS ENNE.=
NUMÉRO, _m._ (familiar and popular), onze, _legs_, or “Shanks’s mare.” Prendre la voiture, or le train onze, _to walk_; termed facetiously “pedibus cum jambis.” Etre d’un bon ----, _to be grotesque or dull_. Gros ----, _brothel_, “flash drum, academy, or nanny-shop.” Thus called on account of the number of large dimensions placed over the front door of such establishments; recognizable also by their whitewashed window-panes. Le ---- cent, _the W.C._, or “Mrs. Jones.” A play on the word sent. Numéro sept, _rag-picker’s hook_. Je connais ton ---- (threateningly), _I know who you are!_ This latter ejaculation seems to be an awful threat in the mouths of English cads. Je retiens ton ---- (threateningly), _I’ll not forget you!_ Une fille à ----, explained by quotation.
Il y a trois classes de prostituées: 1º les filles à numéro ou filles de bordel: 2º les filles en carte ou filles isolées; 3º les filles insoumises ou filles clandestines.--=LÉO TAXIL.=
(Cocottes’) Le ---- un, _he who keeps a girl_.
Ça l’amant d’Amanda!... Oui! Ah! mais, tu sais, chéri, c’est pas son numéro un.--=GRÉVIN.=
NUMÉROTÉ, _adj._ (familiar), char ----, _cab_, “shoful, rattler, or growler.”
Et sautant dans un char numéroté vous vous feriez conduire chez elle.--=P. MAHALIN.=
NUMÉROTE TES OS (popular), _get ready for a good thrashing_, or _I’ll break every bone in your body_, words generally uttered previous to a set to. Varied also by the amiable invitation, “Viens que je te mange le nez!”
La rigolade tournait aux querelles et aux coups. Un grand diable dépenaillé gueulait: “Je vas te démolir, numérote tes os!”--=ZOLA.=
NYMPHE, _f._ (common), _girl of indifferent character_; ---- de Guinée, _negress_, _a female_ “bit o’ ebony;” ---- verte, _absinthe_, the beverage being green.
N’Y PAS COUPER (military), _to be confined in the guard room or cells_, “to be roosted.” Literally _to be prevented from shirking one’s duties, or deceiving one’s superiors_.
Ah! tu es garde de nuit, fit-il; eh bien, attends, mon vieux, tu n’vas pas y couper!
--Quoi, y couper? hurla le malheureux.
Mais l’autre écumait de colère. Il beuglait:--... Laisse faire, va, je vas l’dire au major, et tu n’y couperas pas de tes quinze jours de boîte!--=G. COURTELINE.=
Also _to be prevented from taking advantage of others_, _of_ “taking a rise out of them.” Vous n’y couperez pas, _I’ll stop your_ “little game.”
Ah! hurla-t-il alors, vous faites de l’esprit! Eh bien, mon petit ami, allez vous rhabiller, je vous fiche mon billet que vous n’y couperez pas.--=G. COURTELINE.=
N’y pas couper de cinq ans de biribi, _not to escape five years’ service in the “Compagnies de discipline,” or punishment companies in Africa_.
Vous avez beau être de la classe, allez, vous n’y couperez pas de cinq ans de biribi.--=G. COURTELINE.=
O
OBÉLISCAL, or OBÉLISQUAL, _adj._ (common), _splendid_; _wonderful_, _marvellous_, “crushing.”
Splendide, aveuglant, obélisqual! Un ban pour la néophyte.--=P. MAHALIN.=
OBSERVASSE, _f._ (popular), _remark_. For observation.
OBUSIER, _m._ (military), _the behind_.
OCCASE, _f._ (general), _opportunity_.
En ce bas monde, il ne faut jamais perdre une occase de s’amuser.--=E. MONTEIL.=
Mère d’----, _pretended mother_. (Popular) Œil d’----, _glass eye_. (Thieves’) Chasse d’----, _glass eye_.
OCCASION, _f._ (thieves’), _candle-stick_.
OCCIR (familiar), used jocularly, _to kill_, “to put one out of his misery.”
OCCUPER (thieves’), s’---- de politique, _to extort money from persons by threats of disclosures_.
Les hommes qui se livrent au genre d’escroquerie dit chantage et qui dans leur argot, prétendent s’occuper de politique ... spéculent sur les habitudes vicieuses de certains individus, pour les attirer, par l’appât de leurs passions secrètes, dans des pièges où ils rançonnent sans peine leur honteuse faiblesse.--=TARDIEU=, _Etude Médico-légale sur les attentats aux mœurs_.
OCHES, or LOCHES, _f. pl._ (popular), _ears_, “wattles, or lugs.”
OCRÉAS, _m. pl._ (Saint-Cyr cadets’), _shoes_.
OCULAIRE ASTRONOMIQUE, _m._ (billiard players’), _two balls touching one another_, or “kissing.”
ODEUR DE GOUSSET, _f._ (obsolete), _money_.
Ça fait d’bons lurons qui ont l’odeur du gousset chenument forte. Falloit les gruger d’la bonne faiseuse.--_Amusemens à la Grecque_, 1764.
ŒIL, _m._ (familiar and popular), américain, _sharp eye_.
Tu vois clair, ma vieille!--Oh! on a de l’œil.--L’œil américain! Quand on a fait la campagne d’Afrique! --=E. MONTEIL.=
Taper dans l’----, _to take one’s fancy_. Œil bordé d’anchois, _inflamed eye_; ---- de bœuf, _five-franc piece_; ---- de verre, _eye-glass_; ---- d’occase. See OCCASE. Œil en dedans _is used to express the dull, lack-lustre expression of a drunkard’s eye_.
Pris d’absinthe--selon sa louable habitude--Hurluret présidait la cérémonie en sa qualité de capitaine commandant, les poignets enfouis dans les poches, l’œil en dedans.--=G. COURTELINE.=
Œil en tirelire, _eye with amorous expression_; ---- marécageux, _eye with killing expression_; ---- qui dit zut, or merde, à l’autre, _squinting eye_, “swivel-eye.” A l’----, _gratis_.
L’abbé R.... qui s’y connaît, traite un peu les enfants comme sa protégée Annette; il les exploite; ils travaillent “à l’œil” pour un salaire au moins insignifiant et pour une becquetée de fayots, accompagnés d’hosties de temps en temps.--=FRANCIS ENNE=, _Le Radical_.
Avoir l’----, _to have credit_, “tick, jawbone, or day.” Faire l’----, _to allow credit_. Crever un ---- à quelqu’un, _to refuse one credit_, _to refuse him_ “ready gilt tick;” _to give one a kick behind_, “to toe one’s bum,” or “to land a kick.” L’---- est crevé, _no more credit_. The following announcement is sometimes to be read on shop windows: “Crédit est mort; les mauvais débiteurs lui ont crevé l’œil,” which might be rendered by “touch pot, touch penny.”
“We know the custom of such houses,” continues he, “’tis touch pot, touch penny.”--=GRAVES=, _Spiritual Quixote_.
Ouvrir l’---- de 20 francs, de 30 francs, &c., _to give credit for 20 francs, &c._ Avoir de l’----, or du chien, _to have elegance_, _to be_ “tsing-tsing.” Faire de l’---- à une femme, _to court a woman_. Mon ----! _is expressive of refusal_; may be rendered by “don’t you wish you may get it!” or the Americanism, “yes, in a horn.” See NÈFLES. Avoir de l’----, du cheveu, et de la dent _is said of a woman who has preserved her good looks_. Se mettre le doigt dans l’----, _to be mistaken_. S’en battre l’----, _not to care a straw_, a “hang.” Un tape à l’----, _a one-eyed man_, or a “seven-sided animal,” as “he has an inside, outside, left side, right side, foreside, backside, and blind side.” Taper dans l’---- à quelqu’un, _to please one_, _to suit one_. Taper de l’----, _to sleep_, “to have a dose of balmy.” Tortiller, or tourner de l’----, _to die_, “to kick the bucket.” Avoir un ---- au beurre noir, _to have a black eye, or eyes in_ “half-mourning.”
Mais il aperçut Bibi-la-Grillade, qui lisait également l’affiche. Bibi avait un œil au beurre noir, quelque coup de poing attrapé la veille.--=ZOLA=, _L’Assommoir_.
Des yeux au beurre noir, _black eyes_, “in mourning.” The possessor of these is said in pugilistic slang to have his “peepers painted,” or to have his “glaziers darkened.”
ŒILLETS, _m. pl._ (popular), _eyes_, “top lights, or peepers.” Cligner des ----, _to wink_.
ŒUF, _m._ (popular), _head_, or “nut.” Casser son ----, _to have a miscarriage_. Un ---- sur le plat, _twenty-five francs_ (_a silver five-franc piece and a twenty-franc gold coin_). Des œufs sur le plat, _black eyes_, or “eyes in mourning.” Also _small breasts_.
N’allez pas m’dire qu’une femme qui n’a qu’deux œufs sur le plat posés sur la place d’armes, peut avoir une fluxion vraisemblable a une personne avantagée comme la commandante?--=CHARLES LEROY=, _Le Colonel Ramollot_.
OFFICIER, _m._ (popular), _working confectioner_; _assistant waiter at a café_; (gamesters’) ---- de tango, or de topo, _cheat_, “tame cheater, or hawk.” A play on the words “carte topographique;” (thieves’) ---- de la manicle, _swindler_; (military) ---- de guérite, _a private soldier_; ---- payeur, _comrade who treats the company to drink_.
OFFICIEUX, _m._ (familiar), _man-servant_.
OGRE, _m._ (popular), _wholesale rag-dealer_. Formerly _one who kept an office for providing substitutes for those who, having drawn a bad number at the conscription, had to serve in the army_; _usurer_; (thieves’) _receiver of stolen property_, or “fence;” _landlord of a wine-shop frequented by thieves_, or “boss of cross-crib;” (printers’) _compositor who works by the day_.
OGRESSE, _f._ (thieves’), _proprietress of a wine-shop frequented by thieves_, or “cross-crib;” _proprietress of a brothel_.
OIE, _f._ (familiar), la petite ---- (obsolete), _preliminary caresses_, better explained by quotation.
Ce sont les petites faveurs qu’accordent les femmes à leurs amants, comme petits baisers tendres, attouchements et autres badineries, qui conduisent insensiblement plus loin. La petite oie, c’est proprement les préludes de l’amour.--=LE ROUX=, _Dict. Comique_.
OIGNES, _m. pl._ (popular), aux petits ----, _excellently_, _in first-rate style_. For aux petits oignons.
OIGNON, _m._ (popular), _money_, or “blunt.” For synonyms see QUIBUS. It has been said that the term “blunt” is from the French “blond,” sandy or golden colour, and that a parallel may be found in brown or browns, the slang for halfpence. This etymology, it has been said again, may be correct, as it is borne out by the analogy of similar expressions; blanquillo, for instance, is a word used in Morocco and southern Spain for a small Moorish coin. The “asper” (ασπρὸν) of Constantinople is called by the Turks akcheh, _i.e._, little white. It seems to me more probable, however, that the word is derived from blanc, an old French coin, or from the nature of the coin itself, which has a blunt circular edge. Arranger aux petits oignons, _to scold vehemently_, “to bully-rag.” Chaîne d’oignons, _ten of cards_. Champ d’oignons, see CHAMP. Il y a de l’----, _there is much groaning and gnashing of teeth_. An allusion to the tears brought to the eyes by the proximity of onions. Peler des oignons, _to scold_, “to give a wigging.” (Familiar and popular) Faire quelque chose aux petits oignons, _to do something excellently, in first-rate style_.
Vous savez, elle est cocasse votre chanson, et vous l’avez détaillée ... aux petits oignons!--=E. MONTEIL.=
Un ----, _a large watch_, “turnip.”
OISEAU, _m._ (popular), faire l’----, _to play the fool_. Aux oiseaux, _very fine, or very good_, _excellent_, _perfect_, “out-and-out, first-class.”
Ca m’ paroît bien tapé, “aux oiseaux,” mamzelle. Fourrez un peu la main sous l’empeigne pour voir tout l’fini d’l’ouvrage.--=SAINT-FIRMIN=, _Le Galant Savetier_.
The origin of this expression comes, no doubt, from certain bindings in fashion in the eighteenth century, which bore birds in the corners. People would say then, une reliure aux oiseaux. Se donner des noms d’----, _is said ironically of gushing lovers who give one another fond appellations_. Oiseau de cage, _prisoner_, “canary;” ---- fatal, _crow_. The expression reminds one of Virgil’s--
Sæpe sinistra cava prædixit ab ilice cornix,
and of La Fontaine’s--
Un corbeau Tout à l’heure annonçait malheur à quelque oiseau.
OLIVE DE SAVETIER, _f._ (popular), _turnip_. See CHANGER.
OMBRE, _f._ (general), _prison_, or “quod.”
Elle sera condamnée dans le gerbement de la Pouraille, et grâciée pour révélation après un an d’ombre!--=BALZAC.=
A l’----, _in prison_, _in_ “quod.” Mettre quelqu’un à l’----, _to kill one_, “to do for one.” See REFROIDIR.
OMELETTE, _f._ (military), _practical joke which consists in turning topsy-turvy the bed of a sleeping soldier_; ---- du sac, _similar operation performed on the contents of a knapsack_.
OMETTRE (thieves’), l’----, _to kill him_.
OMNIBUS, _m._ (popular), _overflow of liquids on the counter of a wine-shop collected in a tank and retailed at a low price_; _glass holding a demi-setier of wine_. On some wine-shops in the suburbs may yet be seen the inscription: “Ici on prend l’omnibus.” Un ----, _a prostitute_, or “mot.” Literally _one who may be ridden by all_. For synonyms see GADOUE. Omnibus, _extra waiter at a restaurant or café_; also _one who loafs about the streets of Paris without any visible means of livelihood_.
Omnibus, batteur de pavé, c’est-à-dire des gens que l’on rencontre sur tous les points de Paris comme les véhicules dont ils portent le nom, mais qui diffèrent de ceux-ci en ce qu’ils n’ont ni couleur, ni enseigne, ni lanterne pour indiquer où ils vont et d’où ils viennent.--=PAUL MAHALIN.=
Attendre l’----, _to wait for one’s glass to be filled_; (thieves’) ---- de coni, _hearse_; ---- à pègres, _prison van_, or “black Maria.”
OMNIBUSARD, _m._ (popular), _beggar who plies his trade in omnibuses_. He pretends not to have sufficient money wherewith to pay his fare, and by a pitiful tale awakens the compassion of the passengers.
OMNICOCHEMAR À LA COLLE, _m._ (thieves’), _bus driver_. Thus called because he seems stuck to his box.
OMNICROCHE, _f._ (thieves’), _omnibus_, “chariot.” Faire l’----, _to pick pockets in an omnibus_, an operation which goes among English thieves by the name of “chariot-buzzing.” Gaule d’----, _bus driver_. Termed also échalas d’----.
ON (thieves’), à sa gin, _here is_; ---- à lavarès, _drunken man_. On à sa gin on à lavarès, _here is a drunken man_. I have given the expression in my informant’s own spelling. (Popular) On pave! _words which mean that a certain street is to be avoided for fear of meeting a creditor_.
Exclamation pittoresque qui exprime l’effroi d’un débiteur amené par hasard à passer dans une rue où se trouve un “loup.” Le “typo” débiteur fait alors un circuit plus ou moins long pour éviter la rue où l’ “on pave.”--=BOUTMY.=
(Familiar and popular) On dirait du veau, _ironical ejaculation of eulogy_.
Ici-bas, chacun sur terre Cherche à faire du nouveau; Soit un engin pour la guerre, Soit à distiller de l’eau. Ce que j’veux faire est pratique: Changer: “On dirait du veau” Par cette phrase plus énergique: Va donc, eh! fourneau!
=A. QUEYRIAUX.=
ONCHETS, _m. pl._ (military), partie d ’----, _a duel_. Onchets, properly _spellicans_.
C’est-à-dire que tu es dans l’intention d’entamer une seconde