Amazone, f., (thieves’), female card-sharper.
Ambassadeur, m. (popular), shoemaker, “snob;” (in gay girls’ slang) a bully. See Poisson.
Ambes, f. pl. (thieves’), legs, “gambs.”
Ambier (thieves’), to flee, “to pike.” See Patatrot.
Et mezière de happer le taillis et ambier le plus gourdement possible.—Jargon de l’Argot. (I got off, and ran away as fast as possible.)
Ambrellin (Breton cant), son.
Ambulante, f. (thieves’), female who is at once a hawker, a thief, and a prostitute.
Amendier, m. (theatrical), fleuri, stage manager, “daddy.” A play on the word amende, a fine, the connection being obvious.
Amener (popular), s’——, to come, to go to. Le voilà qui s’amène, here he comes.
Américain (thieves’), confederate of a thief, who goes by the name of Jardinier. The pair induce a simpleton to dig at the foot of a tree for a buried treasure, when they rob him of his money; a swindler who pretends he has just returned from America; (familiar) a drink, something between grog and punch. Faire l’œil——, to scrutinize with searching glance. Oeil——, eye with purposely amorous, “killing,” expression; also a very sharp eye.
Américaine, vol à l’ (see Charriage).
Ami (thieves’), expert thief, “gonnof;” —— de collège, prison chum.
Amicablement (popular), in a friendly manner, affectionately.
Aminche, aminchemar, aminchemince, m. (thieves’), friend, “ben cull;” —— d’aff, accomplice, “stallsman.”
Amis, m. pl. (popular), comme cochons, “thick” friends.
Amiteux, adj. (popular), friendly, amiable, gentle.
Amocher (popular), to bruise, to ill-treat, to “manhandle.” S’—— la gueule, to maul one another’s face, to “mug” one another.
Amorcé, adj. (popular), furnished, garnished.
V’la qu’est richement amorcé, j’en suis moi-même ébaubi.—Richepin.
Amoureux (popular), hunchback, or “lord;” —— de carême, a timid lover. Literally a “Lent lover.” (Printers’) Papier——, paper that blots.
Ampafle, m. (thieves’), cloth.
Amphi, m. (students’), abbreviation of amphithéâtre, lecture room.
Amphibie (typographers’), typographer who is at the same time a printer and reader, “donkey.”
Amprefan (Breton cant), a low, insulting expression.
Amusatif, adj. (popular), amusing, funny.
Amuser (popular), s’—— à la moutarde, to neglect one’s duty or work for trifles, tomfooleries.
An, m. (thieves’), litre, measure for wine.
Anarcho, m., anarchist.
Anastasie, f., literary and theatrical official censorship.
Anchois, m. (popular), yeux bordés d’——, eyes with inflamed eyelids.
Anchtibler (thieves’), to apprehend, to “nab,” or “to smug.”
Ancien, ancienne (peasants’), father, mother. “Ancien” at the military schools is a student who has been through the two years’ course. In the army, a soldier who has served one term of service at least.
Anderlique, m. (popular), a dirty or foul-mouthed man. Properly a small tub used by scavengers.
Andosse, m. (thieves’), the back.
Alors le rupin en colère, jura que s’il attrapait jamais des trucheurs dans son pipet qu’il leur ficherait cent coups de sabre sur l’andosse.—Jargon de l’Argot.
Andouille, f. (popular), a man devoid of energy, a “muff.” Properly chitterlings. Faire l’——, to play the fool. Grand dépendeur d’andouilles, one who prefers good cheer to work.
Viennent aussi des bat-la-flemme, des sans-douilles,
Fainéants, suce-pots, grands dépendeurs d’andouilles,
Qui dans tous les cabarets ont tué leur je dois,
Et qui ne font jamais œuvre de leurs dix doigts.
Richepin, La Mer.
(Cod-fishers’) Andouille, wind blowing to sea-ward.
Angauche, or angluce, f. (thieves’), goose. Tortiller de l’——, to eat goose.
Ange-gardien, m. (popular), man whose calling is to see drunkards home; muslin inside a chemisette.
Anglais, m. (familiar), creditor, “dun;” man who keeps a mistress; a carefully made up dummy parcel in shops. Il a de l’——, is said of a horse which shows blood. Anglais à prunes, voyageurs à prunes, prudent travellers, who, being aware of the long price asked for fruit at restaurants, are satisfied with a few plums; (cabmens’) —— de carton, an expression of contempt applied to a stingy “fare.”
Anglaise, f. (mountebanks’), the share of each partner in the business; the expenses of each guest at a meal. (Popular) Danser à l’——, a practice followed by girls who pretend to go to the ball of the opera, and stop at a restaurant where they await clients. Faire une——, to pay one’s share in the reckoning; also a favourite game of loafers. One of the players tosses all the pence of the party; those which turn up heads, or tails as the case may be, are his; another player adjudges to himself the tails, and so on with the rest. Filer, or pisser à l’——, to give the slip, to take “French leave.”
Angluce, or angauche, f. (thieves’), goose.
Angoulême, f. (thieves’), the mouth, “muns.” From “engouler,” to swallow. Se caresser l’——, to eat and drink, to take “grub and bub.” See Mastiquer.
Anguille, f. (thieves’), belt. Properly eel; (familiar) —— de buisson, snake.
Anis, m. (popular), de l’——! exclamation expressive of refusal, may be rendered by “you be hanged!” See Nèfles.
Anisette, f. (popular), de barbillon, water, or