Argot and Slang. Albert Barrere

(theatrical), le public, to indulge in drolleries calculated to excite mirth among an audience; (familiar) —— les côtes, to thrash, “to lick.”

      Chatouilleur (familiar), man on ’Change who by divers contrivances entices the public into buying shares, a “buttoner;” (thieves’) a thief who tickles a person’s sides as if in play, and meanwhile picks his pockets.

      Chatte, f. (popular), five-franc piece.

      Chaud, adj. and m. (popular), cunning; greedy; wide awake, or “fly;” high-priced. Il l’a——, he is wide awake about his own interests. Etre——, to look with watchful eye. (Familiar) Un——, an enthusiast; energetic man. Il fera——, never, “when the devil is blind.” Quand vous me reverrez il fera——, you will never see me again. Etre—— de la pince, to be fond of women, to be a “beard-splitter.” (Artists’) Faire——, to employ very warm tints after the style of Rembrandt and all other colourists. (Popular and thieves’) Chaud! quick! on!

      Chaud, chaud! pour le mangeur, il faut le désosser.—E. Sue.

      Chaudron, m. (familiar), bad piano. Taper sur le——, to play on the piano.

      Chaudronner (popular), to buy secondhand articles and sell them as new.

      Chaudronnier, m. (popular), secondhand-clothes man; (military) cuirassier, an allusion to his breastplate.

      Chaufaillon (popular), stoker.

      Chauffe-la-couche (familiar), man who loves well his comfort; henpecked husband, or “stangey.”

      Chauffer (popular), le four, to drink heavily, “to guzzle.” See Rincer. (Familiar) Chauffer un artiste, une pièce, to applaud so as to excite the enthusiasm of an audience; —— une affaire, to push briskly an undertaking; —— une place, to be canvassing for a post. Ça va chauffer, there will be a hot fight. Chauffer des enchères, to encourage bidding at an auction.

      Chauffeur, m. (popular), man who instills life into conversation or in a company; formerly, under the Directoire, one of a gang of brigands who extorted money from people by burning the feet of the victims.

      Chaumir (thieves’), to lose.

      Chaussette (thieves’), ring fastened as a distinctive badge to the leg of a convict who has been chained up for any length of time to another convict, a punishment termed “double chaîne.”

      Chaussettes, f. pl. (military), gloves; —— russes, wrapper for the feet made of pieces of cloth; (popular) —— de deux paroisses, odd socks.

      Chausson, m. (popular), old prostitute. Putain comme——, regular whore. (Ballet girls’) Faire son——, to put on and arrange one’s pumps.

      “Laissez-moi donc, je suis en retard. J’ai encore mon mastic et mon chausson à faire.” Autrement, pour ceux qui ne sont pas de la boutique, “il me reste encore à m’habiller, à me chausser et à me faire ma tête.”—Mahalin.

      Chaussonner (popular), to kick.

      Chauviniste, m., synonymous of “chauvin,” one with narrow-minded, exaggerated sentiments of patriotism, a “Jingo.”

      Chef, m. (military), abbreviation of maréchal-des-logis chef, quartermaster-sergeant in the cavalry. (Popular) Chef de cuisine, foreman in a brewery; (thieves’) —— d’attaque, head of a gang.

      Chelinguer (popular), to stink. Termed also “plomber, trouilloter, casser, danser, repousser, fouetter, vézouiller, véziner.”

      Cheminée, f. (popular), hat, “chimney pot.”

      Chemise, f. (popular), être dans la—— de quelqu’un, to be constantly with one, to be “thick as hops” with one. (Thieves’) Chemise de conseiller, stolen linen.

      Chemises, f. pl. (popular), compter ses——, to vomit, or “to cascade.” An allusion to the bending posture of a man who is troubled with the ailment.

      Chenâtre, adj. (thieves’), good, excellent, “nobby.”

      Ils ont de quoi faire un chenâtre banquet avec des rouillardes pleines de pivois et du plus chenâtre qu’on puisse trouver.—Le Jargon de l’Argot.

      Chêne, m. (thieves’), man, or “cove;” —— affranchi, thief, or “flash cove.” For synonyms see Grinche. Faire suer un——, to kill a man, “to give a cove his gruel.”

      Chenillon, m. (popular), ugly girl.

      Chenique, or chnic, m. (popular), brandy, “French cream.”

      Cheniqueur, m. (popular), drinker of brandy.

      Chenoc, adj. (thieves’), bad; good-for-nothing old fellow.

      Chenu, adj. (thieves’), excellent, “nobby.” Properly old, whitened by age; —— pivois, excellent wine; —— reluit, good morning; —— sorgue, good night.