Argot and Slang. Albert Barrere

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СКАЧАТЬ of marchand.

      Chandelier, m. (popular), nose, “boko,” “snorter,” or “smeller.” For synonyms see Morviau.

      Chandelle, f. (military), infantry musket; sentry. Etre conduit entre quatre chandelles, to be marched off to the guard-room by four men and a corporal. La—— brûle, it is time to go home. Faire fondre une——, to drink a bottle of wine. Glisser en——, to slide with both feet close together.

      Mon galopin file comme une flèche. Quelle aisance! quelle grâce même! Tantôt les pieds joints, en chandelle: tantôt accroupi, faisant la petite bonne femme.—Richepin, Le Pavé.

      Changer (popular), son poisson d’eau, or ses olives d’eau, to void urine, “to pump ship.” See Lascailler.

      Changeur, m. (thieves’), clothier who provides thieves with a disguise; rogue who appropriates a new overcoat from the lobby of a house or club, and leaves his old one in exchange. Also thief who steals plate.

      Chanoine, m., chanoinesse, f. (thieves’), person in good circumstances, one worth robbing; —— de Monte-à-regret, one sentenced to death; old offender.

      Chantage, m. (familiar), extorting money by threats of disclosures concerning a guilty action real or supposed, “jobbery.”

      Chanter (familiar), to pay money under threat of being exposed. Faire—— quelqu’un, to extort money from one under threat of exposure; to extort “socket money.” (Popular) Faire—— une gamme, to thrash one, “to lead a dance.” See Voie.

      Chanteur, m. (thieves’), juge d’instruction, a magistrate who investigates a case before trial; (familiar) man who seeks to extort money by threatening people with exposure. There are different kinds of chanteurs. Vidocq terms “chanteurs” the journalists who prey on actors fearful of their criticism; those who demand enormous prices for letters containing family secrets; the writers of biographical notices who offer them at so much a line; those who entice people into immoral places and who exact hush-money. The celebrated murderer Lacenaire was one of this class. Chanteur de la Chapelle Sixtine, eunuch. Maître——, skilful chanteur (which see).

      Chantier, m. (popular), embarrassment, “fix.”

      Chaparder (military), to loot; to steal, “to prig.”

      Chapelle, f. (familiar), clique. Termed also “petite chapelle;” (popular) wine-shop, or “lush-crib.” Faire——, is said of a woman who lifts her dress to warm her limbs by the fire. Fêter des chapelles, to go the round of several wine-shops, with what result it is needless to say.

      Chapelure, f. (popular), n’avoir plus de—— sur le jambonneau, to be bald, “to have a bladder of lard.” See Avoir.

      Chapi, m. (popular), hat, or “tile.” See Tubard.

      Chapiteau, m. (popular), head, or “block.” See Tronche.

      Chapon, m. (popular), monk. Cage à chapons, monastery. Des chapons de Limousin, chestnuts.

      Chapska, m. (popular), hat, or “tile.” See Tubard.

      Char, m. (familiar), numéroté, cab.

      Charcuter (popular), to amputate.

      Charcutier (popular), clumsy workman; surgeon, “sawbones.”

      Chardonneret, m. (thieves’), gendarme. An allusion to his red, white, and yellow uniform. Properly a goldfinch.

      Charenton, m. (popular), absinthe. The dépôt for lunatics being at Charenton, the allusion is obvious.

      Chargé, adj. (popular), tipsy, “tight.” See Pompette. (Coachmen’s) Etre——, to have a “fare.”

      Charger (coachmen’s), to take up a “fare;” (prostitutes’) to find a client; (cavalry) —— en ville, to go to town.

      Charier (thieves’), to try to get information, “to cross-kid.”

      Charieur (thieves’), he who seeks to worm out some information.

      Charlemagne, m. (military), sabre-bayonet.

      Charlot, m. (popular and thieves’), the executioner. His official title is “Monsieur de Paris.” Soubrettes de——, the executioner’s assistants, literally his lady’s maids. An allusion to “la toilette,” or cropping the convict’s hair and cutting off his shirt collar a few minutes before the execution. (Thieves’) Charlot, thief; —— bon drille, a good-natured thief. See Grinche.

      Charmant, adj. (thieves’), scabby.

      Charmante, f. (thieves’), itch.

      Charmer (popular), les puces, to get drunk. See Sculpter.

      Charogneux, adj. (familiar), roman——, filthy novel.

      Charon, charron, m. (thieves’). See Charrieur.

      Charpenter (playwrights’), to write the scheme of a play.

      Charpentier, m. (playwrights’), he who writes the scheme of a play.

      Charretée, f. (popular), en avoir une——, to be quite drunk, to be “slewed.” See Pompette.

      Charriage, m. (thieves’), swindle; —— à l’Américaine is a kind of confidence trick swindle. It requires two confederates, one called “leveur” or “jardinier,” whose functions are to exercise his allurements upon the intended victim without awakening his suspicions. When the latter is fairly hooked, the pair meet—by chance of course—with “l’Américain,” a confederate who passes himself off for a native of America, and who offers to exchange a large sum of gold for a smaller amount of money. The pigeon gleefully accepts the proffered gift, and discovers later on that the alleged gold coins are nothing but base metal. This kind of swindle goes also by the names of “vol à l’Américaine,” “vol au change.” Charriage à la mécanique, or vol au père François, takes place thus: a robber throws a handkerchief round a person’s neck, and holds him fast half-strangled on his own back while a confederate rifles the victim’s pockets. Charriage au coffret: the thief, termed “Américain,” leaves in charge of a barmaid a small box filled to all appearance with gold coin; he returns in the course of the day, but suddenly finding that he has lost the key of the box, he asks for a loan СКАЧАТЬ