The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1891-06-04
SOME QUEER EXPRESSIONS.
They Are Found in the Vocabulary Pecu-
liar to Thieves.

They Are Found in the Vocabulary Pecu.
liar to Thieves.
Zone frequently hears odds and ends
of slangy expressions which are said to
have their origin in the vocabulary used
by thieves, but is it true that the class
in question really has anything like a
vernacular peculiarly its own?' was the
question propounded to veteran de-
tective by representative of the Free
Press.
Eyes, it is fact, responded the de-
tective, ''and, curiously enough, a num-
Der of the expressions used by crooked
people nowadays were current $50 years
ago among English and French thieves.
Within my own recollection there have
been good many changes in these
slang expressions, but the great major
ity of them still remain in use the same
as years ago. You can, however, set
one thing down as an established truth:
When you hear either crook or an Of
ficer sprinkle his conversation pretty
literally with slang, make up your
mind that he is no good. To be sure
all thieves, and the majority of detect
ives, understand what the various
slang expressions used by thieves mean,
but it's only the more ignorant class Of
thieves or the coarser grade of men
whose business it is to run them down,
who habitually talk in the yernacular.
Although am little rusty so far as
these expressions are concerned, will
jog my memory and give you all of them
that can now recollect. In the first place
/ 49, Se& 49, ~
'grafters,' knucks and guns, although
variously subdivided according to the
particular line of stealing they engage
in. Thus a burglar is night worker
or house worker A jewelry store
thief is pennyweighter, a highway
man is a strong arm man. shoplifter
is holster, safe blower is a peter
man. box man. or iron worker, for
merly called gopher blowers A pick
pocket is generally called dip, but
sometimes simply CRATER A thief
who robs houses in the early evening is
called porch climber, climber or
'second-story worker All petty thieves
come under the general designation of
'snealks,' and those who steal from
wagons on the streets are called butch
er cart thieves A forger is a scratch.
err and a confidence man is con
man. Touch means steal, Jug means
bank; hence the expression touching q
| Jug signifies stealing from a bank. A
woman is 'moll, and a moll-buzzer'
is pickpocket who makes a speciality
of robbing women. Men are called
'bloles,' guys suckers marks and
mugs Suckers and marks are vic
TINS or intended victims, and a soft
mark is an easy victim. Money is
sugar or stuff" stolen property is
'swag,' a receiver of the same a fence
To conceal stolen property is to plant
it, and 'springing the plant is to re-
move the property from where it is
secreted.
Each thief's share of plunder Is called
his 'whacl1,' and what is deposited for
use in case arrest follows a crime is
called fall money All police officers
are called 'coppers; an ununiformed
officer is a 'faty cop while detective
is 'fy-copper' or thy-collar' 'Pinched'
or 'sneezed' means arrested, while
sloughed is used in the same connec-
ton. Cooler or 'quod' mean a jail or
police station, while grand Quay
means a penitentiary. A lawyer is a
'mouth-piece' and judge is 'beak,
while settled means convicted and
sentenced to prison. Doing bit is
serving term in prison. Getting the
black gown means being condemned to
death, while 'croak' means to kill A
crook who informs on his associates is
called 'snitch, finger or capper.
By officers the same are called spoilers
, or stool pigeons Tanning Is feeling OF
a mans pockets from the outside to see
what he carries and where he carries
? it. 'Whisking' means searching a pris
oner. A persons head is his nut, his
face is called his mug his nose
'conlz, his eyes 'ogles, his ears 1ugs,
J his mouth 'kisser, and his teeth grind
ers.' His hands are dukes his fngerl
7 forks or hooks and his elbows crooks.
:. A hat is sdicer' or . scady,' a coat
ben or benjamin, an overcoat 'tol
: benjamin, a watch is a super golc
Il watch a red super A collar is
'dicky,' trousers are kicks, shoes ar
> 'squills' or stamps and boots ar
{ schurns' A dollar is case a hun
s dred dollars is century, while coun
L terfeit money is 'qaeer' or 'fimsy.' !
9 man who passes counterfeit money i
n said to shove it, man who makes
!. is called 'conniacker' or 'coney-man
u Pipe is watch or look at, screw is ge
9 out of the way, pad the hoof' means t
e run away. revolver Is a gun and
y slung shot is billy or black jack
= A saloon is a 1ushing tub or 'boozin
70 ken, car or train is srattler, Will
II food is peck To 'patter flash is t
talk slang, and 'stash your gab' mean
q stop talking, and right here, / guess
le would be good place for me to paus
~ for breath, and give you an oppol
9 tunity to commit to memory the Sian
y expressions have been able to rece
y lect. Detroit Free Press.
e. AN English publisher announces
N new work entitled '.He Always Please
ID His Wife, Il Is fietion.-N, Y, 3,