Boisseau, m. (popular), shako; tall hat, “chimney pot.” For synonyms see Tubard; litre wine bottle.
Boissonner (popular), to drink heavily, “to swill.”
Boissonneur (popular), assiduous frequenter of wine-shop, a “lushington.”
Boissonnier (popular), one who drinks heavily, a “lushington.”
Boîte, f. (familiar and popular), mean house, lodging-house, or restaurant; trading establishment managed in an unbusiness-like manner; one’s employer’s establishment; workshop; crammer’s establishment; disorderly household; carriage, or “trap;” —— à cornes, hat or cap; —— à dominos, coffin, “cold meat box;” —— à gaz, stomach; —— à surprises, the head of a learned man; —— à violon, coffin; —— au sel, head, “tibby;” —— aux cailloux, prison, “stone-jug;” —— d’échantillons, latrine tub; (thieves’) —— à Pandore, box containing soft wax for taking imprints of keyholes; (military) guard-room, “jigger;” —— aux réflexions, cells. Boulotter de la——, coucher à la——, to get frequently locked up. Grosse——, prison. (Printers) Boîte, printer’s shop, and more particularly one of the inferior sort.
“C’est une boîte,” dit un vieux singe; “il y a toujours mèche, mais hasard! au bout de la quinzaine, banque blèche.”
Faire sa——, to distribute into one’s case. Pilleur de——, or fricoteur, one who takes on the sly type from fellow compositor’s case.
Boiter (popular), des calots, to squint, to be “boss-eyed;” (thieves’) —— des chasses, to squint, to be “squinny-eyed.”
Boléro, m. (familiar), a kind of lady’s hat, Spanish fashion.
Bolivar, m. (popular), hat, “tile.”
Bombe, f. (popular), wine measure, about half a litre; (military) —— de vieux oint, bladder of lard. Gare la——! look out for squalls!
Bombé, m. (popular), hunchback, “lord.”
Bon, man to be relied on in any circumstance; one who is “game;” man wanted by the police. Etre le——, to be arrested, or the right man. Vous êtes—— vous! you amuse me! well, that’s good! (Printers’) Bon, proof which bears the author’s intimation, “bon à tirer,” for press. Avoir du——, to have some composition not entered in one’s account, and reserved for the next. (Familiar) Bon jeune homme, candid young man, in other terms greenhorn; (popular) —— pour cadet is said of a dull paper, or of an unpleasant letter; —— sang de bon sang, mild oath elicited by astonishment or indignation. (Popular and familiar) Etre des bons, to be all right, safe. Nous arrivons à temps, nous sommes des bons. Le—— endroit, posteriors. Donner un coup de pied juste au—— endroit, to kick one’s behind, to “hoof one’s bum.” Arriver—— premier, to surpass all rivals, “to beat hollow.”
Bonbon, m. (popular), pimple.
Bonbonnière, f. (popular), latrine tub; —— à filous, omnibus.
Bonde (thieves’), central prison.
Bon-Dieu (soldiers’), sword. (Popular) Il n’y a pas de——, that is, il n’y a pas de—— qui puisse empêcher cela. (Convicts’) Short diary of fatigue parties at the hulks.
Bondieusard, m. (familiar), bigot; dealer in articles used for worship in churches.
Bondieusardisme, f., bigotry.
Bondieuserie, f., article used for worship; dealing in such articles.
Bonhomme, m. (thieves’), saint. (Familiar and popular) Un——, an individual, a “party.” Mon——, my good fellow. Petit—— de chemin, see Aller.
Bonicard, m., bonicarde, f. (thieves’), old man, old woman.
Boniface, m. (popular), simple-minded man, “flat,” or “greenhorn.”
Bonifacement (popular), with simplicity.
Boniment, m. (familiar), puffing speech of quacks, of mountebanks, of shopmen, of street vendors, of three-card-trick sharpers, and generally clap-trap speech in recommendation or explanation of anything. Richepin, in his Pavé, gives a good specimen of the “boniment” of a “maquilleur de brèmes,” or three-card-trick sharper.
Accroupi, les doigts tripotant trois cartes au ras du sol, le pif en l’air, les yeux dansants, un voyou en chapeau melon glapit son boniment d’une voix à la fois traînante et volubile: … C’est moi qui perds. Tant pire, mon p’tit père! Rasé, le banquier! Encore un tour, mon amour. V’là le cœur, cochon de bonheur! C’est pour finir. Mon fond, qui se fond. Trèfle qui gagne. Carreau, c’est le bagne. Cœur, du beurre, pour le voyeur. Trèfle, c’est tabac! Tabac pour papa. Qui qu’en veut? Un peu, mon neveu! La v’là. Le trèfle gagne! Le cœur perd. Le carreau perd. Voyez la danse! Ca recommence. Je le mets là. Il est ici, merci. Vous allez bien? Moi aussi. Elle passe. Elle dépasse. C’est moi qui trépasse, hélas! … Regardez bien! C’est le coup de chien. Passé! C’est assez! Enfoncé! Il y a vingt-cinque francs au jeu! &c.
Bonique, m. (thieves’), white-haired old man.
Bonir (thieves’), to talk; to say, “to patter;” —— au ratichon, to confess to a priest.
Le dardant riffaudait ses lombes,
Lubre il bonissait aux palombes,
Vous grublez comme un guichemard.
Richepin, Chanson des Gueux.
Bonisseur, m., one who makes a “boniment” (which see); (thieves’) barrister; —— de la bate, witness for the defence.
Bonjour, m. (thieves’), voleur au——, bonjourier, or chevalier grimpant, thief who, at an early hour, enters a house or hotel, walks into a room, and appropriates any suitable article. If the person in bed wakes up, the rogue politely apologises for his pretended error. Other thieves of the same description commence operations at dinner-time. They enter a dining-room, and seize the silver plate laid out on the table. This is called “goupiner à la desserte.”
Bon motif, m. (familiar). Faire la cour à une fille pour le——, to make love to a girl with honourable intentions.
Bonne, adj. (familiar), amusing, or the reverse. Elle est bien——, what a good joke! what a joke! Elle est——, celle-là! well, it is too bad! what next? (Popular) Etre à la——, to be loved. Etre de la——, to be lucky. Avoir à la——, to like. Bonne fortanche, female soothsayer; —— grâce, cloth used by tailors as wrappers.
Bonnet, m., secret covenant among printers.
Espèce de ligue offensive