Marionnette, f. (popular), soldier, or “grabby.”

Mari Robin (Breton cant), gendarmes.

Marlou, m. and adj. (general), prostitute’s bully, “ponce, or pensioner.” See Poisson.

Les marlous qui soutiennent les filles en carte, les insoumises du trottoir et les femmes des maisons de bas étage, ne se contentent pas de rançonner ces malheureuses qu’ils appellent leur marmite, leur dabe; ils détroussent sans cesse les passants et assassinent pour s’entretenir la main.—Léo Taxil.

Marlou, cunning, “downy.”

(Thieves’) Le — de Charlotte, the executioner, nicknamed Charlot.

Marloupatte, or marloupin, m. (popular), prostitute’s bully, or “petticoat’s pensioner.”

Marloupin, m. (popular and thieves’), prostitute’s male associate, “pensioner, petticoat’s pensioner, Sunday man, prosser, or ponce.” See Poisson.

Marlousier. See Marloupin.

Marmier, m. (thieves’), shepherd.

Marmite, f. (bullies’), mistress of a bully. Literally flesh-pot. The allusion is obvious, as the bully lives on the earnings of his associate.

Un souteneur sans sa marmite (sa maîtresse) est un ouvrier sans travail, ... pour lui tout est là: fortune, bonheur, amour, si ce n’est pas profaner ce dernier mot que de lui donner une acception quelconque à l’égard du souteneur.—Mémoires de Canler.

Marmite de terre, prostitute who does not pay her bully; —— de cuivre, one who brings in a good income; —— de fer, one who only brings in a moderate one. (Military) La —— est en deuil, the fare is scanty at present, that is, the flesh-pot is empty.

Marmiton de Domange, m. (popular), scavenger employed in emptying cesspools, or “gold-finder.” Domange was a great contractor in the employ of the city authorities.

Marmot, m. (thieves’), nourrir un ——, to make preparations for a robbery, “to lay a plant.” Literally to feed, to nurse a child.

Marmottier, m. (popular), a native of Savoy. Literally one who goes about exhibiting a marmot.

Marmouse, f. (thieves’), beard.

Marmouset, m. (thieves’), flesh-pot. Le —— riffode, the pot is boiling.

Marmousin, m. (popular), child, or “kid.”

Marmyon, m. (thieves’), flesh-pot, and figuratively purse.

Marne, f. (popular), faire la ——, is said of prostitutes who prowl about the river-side.

Marner (popular), to steal, or “to nick.” See Grinchir. Marner, to work hard, “to sweat.”

Marneur, m. (popular), strong, active labourer.

Marneuse, f. (popular), prostitute of the lowest class who plies her trade by the river-side. See Gadoue.

Maron, or marron, adj. (thieves’), caught in the act.

Non, il n’est pas possible, disait l’un; pour prendre ainsi “marons” les voleurs, il faut qu’il s’entende avec eux.—Vidocq.

Maron, or muron, salt.

Maronner (thieves’), to fail. Une affaire maronnée, fruitless attempt at robbery.

Il y a du renaud à l’affaire de la chique, elle est maronnée, le dabe est revenu.—Vidocq. (There is some trouble about the job at the church, it has failed, father is returned.)

Marot, adj. (popular), cunning; “up to snuff, one who knows wot’s wot, one who has been put up to the hour of day, one who knows what’s o’clock, leary.”

Marottier, m. (thieves’), hawker, or “barrow-man;” pedlar travelling about the country selling stuffs, neckerchiefs, &c., to country people. Termed, in the English cant, a “dudder” or “dudsman.” “In selling a waistcoat-piece,” says the Slang Dictionary, “which cost him perhaps five shillings, for thirty shillings or two pounds, he would show great fear of the revenue officer, and beg the purchasing clodhopper to kneel down in a puddle of water, crook his arm, and swear that it might never become straight if he told an exciseman, or even his own wife. The term and practice are nearly obsolete. In Liverpool, however, and at the East-end of London, men dressed up as sailors, with pretended silk handkerchiefs and cigars, ‘only just smuggled from the Indies,’ are still to be plentifully found.”

Marpaut, or marpeau, m. (old cant), man; master of a house (obsolete).

The word was formerly used by the Parisians with the signification of fool, greenhorn, loafer.

Marpaud. Mot de Paris, pour sot, niais, nigaut, badaud.—Le Roux, Dict. Comique.

Again, Cotgrave renders it as an ill-favoured scrub, a little ugly, or swarthy wretch; also a lickorous or saucy fellow; one that catches at whatever dainties come in his way. Michel makes the remark that morpion (crab-louse, a popular injurious term) must be derived from marpaut.

Marquant, m. (thieves’), man; master; chief of a gang, or “dimber damber;” women’s bully, or “Sunday man,” see Poisson; drunkard, or one who gets “canon.”

Marque, f. (familiar), horizontale de grande ——, very fashionable cocotte. Horizontale de petite ——, the ordinary sort of cocottes.

Décidément je ne sais quelle ardeur guerrière a soufflé sur nos horizontales de grande marque et de petite marque, mais depuis un mois nous avons à enregistrer un nouveau combat singulier dont elles sont les héroïnes.—Le Figaro, Oct., 1886.

(Thieves’) Marque, girl, or “titter;” woman, “laced mutton, hay-bag, cooler, shakester;” prostitute, or “bunter;” month, or “moon.” Il a été messiadien à six marques pour pégrasse, he has been sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for theft. Six marques, six months, or “half a stretch.” Une —— de cé, a thief’s wife. Termed, in old cant, “autem-mort;” autem, a church, and mort, woman. Marque franche, or marquise, a thief’s female associate, or “mollisher.” Concerning this expression, Michel says:—

On trouve dans l’ancienne germania espagnole “marca, marquida et marquisa” avec le sens de “femme publique.”—Dict. d’Argot.

Quart de ——, week. Tirer six marques, to be imprisoned for six months, “to do half a stretch, or a sixer.”

Marqué, m. and adj. (thieves’), month, “moon.” From the Italian marchese. Concerning this word, Michel says:—

Il ne saurait être douteux que ce nom ne soit venu à cette division de l’année, de l’infirmité périodique qu’ont les “marques” ou femmes, “lors que la Lune, pour tenir sa diette et vaquer à ses purifications menstruelles, fait marquer les logis féminins par son fourrier, lequel pour escusson n’a que son impression rouge.”—Dict. d’Argot.

(Popular) Etre ——, to have a black eye, or “mouse.” (Printers’) Marqué à la fesse, tiresome, over-particular man.

Marque-mal, m. (printers’), one who receives the folios from the printing machine; (popular) an ugly man, one with a “knocker face.”

Marquer (popular), à la fourchette is said of a restaurant or coffee-house keeper who adds imaginary items to a bill; —— le coup, to clink glasses when drinking. Bien ——, to show a good appearance, marquer mal being the reverse. Ne plus ——, is said of a woman who is past her prime; that is, who no longer has her menses. (Thieves’) Marquer, to have the appearance of a man in good circumstances.

Marquin, m. (thieves’), hat or cap, “tile.” See Tubard.

Marquis d’Argentcourt, m. (popular), or de la Bourse Plate, needy and vain-glorious man.

Marquise, f. (familiar), kind of mulled white claret; (thieves’) wife, or “raclan.”

Marraine, f. (thieves’), female witness.

Marre, f. (popular), amusement. Etre à la ——, to be joyously inclined; to amuse oneself. J’en ai pris une ——, I have enjoyed myself.

Marrer (popular), se ——, to amuse oneself; to be amused. Pensez si je me marre? Mince! Don’t I get amused, just!

Marron, or maron, adj. (popular), sculpté, grotesque, ugly face, or “knocker-head.” Cocher ——, “cabby” without a licence. Etre ——, to be taken in, “bamboozled.” (Military) Marron, report of an officer who goes the rounds; (printers’) clandestine print; also compositor working on his own account at a printer’s, who furnishes him with the necessary plant for a consideration. (Thieves’) Paumer or pommer ——, to catch in the act, red-handed.

(Thieves’) Etre servi ——, to be caught in the act.

Que je sois servie marron au premier messière que je grinchirai si je lui en ouvre simplement la bouche.—Vidocq.

Marronner, or maronner (thieves’), un grinchissage, to make an unsuccessful attempt at a robbery through lack of skill or due precautions. Maronner, to suspect.

Je maronne que la roulotte de Pantin trime dans le sabri.—V. Hugo, Les Misérables. (I suspect that the Paris mail-coach is going through the wood.)

Marseillaise, f. (popular), short pipe, or “cutty,” called “dudeen” by the Irish. Avoir une —— dans le kiosque, to be “cracked.” For synonyms see Avoir.

Enfin, pour sûr la politique lui aura tourné la tête! Il a une Marseillaise dans le kiosque.—Baumaine et Blondelet.

Marsouin, m. (popular), smuggler; (military) marine, or “jolly.” Literally porpoise.

Martin, m. (popular), fournir ——, to wear furs. “Martin” is the equivalent of “Bruin.” Le mal Saint-Martin had formerly the signification of intoxication. An allusion to the sale of wine at fairs held on Saint Martin’s day.

Martinet, m. (thieves’), punishment irons used at the penal servitude settlements. Properly a cat-o’-nine tails.

Martingalier, m. (gamblers’), gamester who imagines he is master of an infallible process for winning.

C’est un martingalier. C’est un des abstracteurs de quintessence moderne, qui s’imaginent avoir trouvé la marche infaillible pour faire sauter les banques.—Richepin.

Martyr, m. (military), corporal. Termed also “chien de l’escouade.”

Mascotte, f., gambler’s fetish.

Masquer en alezan (horsedealers’), to paint a horse so as to deceive purchasers. Termed also “maquiller un gayet.” Among other dishonest practices, horsedealers play improper tricks with an animal to make him look lively: they “fig” him, the “fig” being a piece of wet ginger placed under a horse’s tail for the purpose of making him appear lively, and enhance his price.

Massage, m. (popular), work, “graft,” or “elbow grease.”

Masse, f. (military), avoir la —— complète, to possess a well-filled purse. La —— noire, mysterious cash-box, supposed, by suspicious soldiers, to enclose the proceeds of unlawful profits made at the expense of the aforesaid by non-commissioned officers entrusted with the victualling or clothing department. (Thieves’ and cads’) Masse, work, “graft,” or “elbow grease.”

Masser (popular and thieves’), to work, “to graft.”

Masseur, m. (popular), active workman.

Mastar au gras-double, f. (thieves’), faire la ——, or la faire au mastar, to steal lead off roofs, “to fly the blue pigeon.”

Mastaré, adj. (thieves’), leaden.

Mastaroufleur, m. (thieves’), one who steals lead, a “bluey cracker.”

Mastic, m. (freemasons’), bread or meat; (popular) deceit. Péter sur le ——, to forsake work. (Thieves’) Mastic, man, or “cove;” (printers’) long, entangled speech; (theatrical) painting and otherwise making-up one’s face. Faire son ——, to paint one’s face, “to stick slap on.”

C’est l’ensemble de ces travaux de badigeon qui constitue le mastic. Un mastic consciencieux exige près d’une heure de peine.—P. Mahalin.

Mastiquer (popular), to cobble; (familiar and popular) to eat, “to grub,” “to yam.” It seems this latter term is connected with the word yam, the English name of the large edible tuber Dioscorea, a corruption of the name used in the West Indies at the time of the discovery, iniama or inhame. With regard to the expression the Slang Dictionary says:—“This word is used by the lowest class all over the world; by the Wapping sailor, West Indian negro, or Chinese coolie. When the fort called the ‘Dutch Folly,’ near Canton, was in course of erection by the Hollanders, under the pretence of being intended for an hospital, the Chinese observed a box containing muskets among the alleged hospital stores. ‘Hy-aw!’ exclaimed John Chinaman, ‘how can sick man yam gun?’ The Dutch were surprised and massacred the same night.” The synonyms for the term to eat, in the various kinds of French slang, are the following: “Tortiller du bec, becqueter, béquiller, chiquer, bouffer, boulotter, taper sur les vivres, pitancher, passer à la tortore, tortorer, se l’envoyer, casser la croustille, briffer, brouter, se caler, se calfater le bec, mettre de l’huile dans la lampe, se coller quelque chose dans le fanal, dans le fusil, or dans le tube, chamailler des dents, jouer des badigoinces, jouer des dominos, déchirer la cartouche, gobichonner, engouler, engueuler, friturer, gonfler, morfiaillier, cacher, se mettre quelque chose dans le cadavre, se lester la cale, se graisser les balots, se caresser l’Angoulême, friper, effacer, travailler pour M. Domange, clapoter, débrider la margoulette, croustiller, charger pour la Guadeloupe, travailler pour Jules, se faire le jabot, jouer des osanores.”

Mastiqueur, m. (popular), cobbler.

Mastroc, mastro, or mastroquet, m. (popular), landlord of wine-shop. Termed also “bistrot, troquet, mannezingue, empoisonneur.”

Mata, m. (printers’), abbreviation of matador, swaggerer, one who “bulldozes,” as the Americans say.

Matador, m. (popular), faire son ——, to give oneself airs; to swagger, to look “botty.” From the Spanish matador, bull-killer.

Matagot, m. (obsolete), funny eccentric individual who amuses people by his antics. Rabelais used it with the signification of monkey, monk:—

Matatane, f. (military), guard-room; cells, “mill, jigger, or Irish theatre.”

Matelas, m. (popular), ambulant, street-walker, or “bed-fagot.” See Gadoue.

Matelasser (popular), se ——, is said of a woman who makes up for nature’s niggardliness by padding her bodice.

Matelot, m. (sailors’), chum, mate.

Matelote, f. (sailors’), trimer à la ——, to be a sailor.

Mateluche, m. (sailors’), bad sailor.

Matériaux, m. pl. (freemasons’), food.

Matérielle, f. (gamesters’), one’s bread and cheese.

Et alors, quelques malheureux pontes ... se sont livres au terrible travail qui consiste à gagner avec des cartes le pain quotidien, ce que les joueurs appellent la matérielle.—Belot, La Bouche de Madame X.

Maternelle, f. (students’), mother, “mater.”

Mathurin, m. (sailors’), sailor, “salt, or Jack tar.” Termed also “otter;” wooden man-o’-war. Parler ——, to speak the slang of sailors.

(Thieves’) Les mathurins, dice, or “ivories.” (Popular) Mathurins plats, dominoes.

Ces objets doivent leur nom d’argot à leur ressemblance avec le costume des Trinitaires, vulgairement appelés Mathurins, qui chez nous portaient une soutane de serge blanche, sur laquelle, quand ils sortaient, ils jetaient un manteau noir.—Michel.

Matignon, m. (thieves’), messenger.

Matois, or matouas, m. (thieves’), morning.

Le condé de Nanterre et un quart d’œil, suivis d’un trèpe de cuisiniers sont aboulés ce matois à la taule.—Vidocq. (The mayor of Nanterre and a commissaire de police, followed by a body of police, came this morning to the house.)

Matou, m. (popular), man who is fond of the petticoat. Bon ——, libertine, “rattle-cap,” or “molrower.” Literally a good tomcat.

Matraque, m. (soldiers’ in Africa), bludgeon.

Nous avions brûlé le pays. Vous dire pourquoi, j’en serais bien en peine: une poule volée à un colon influent, un coup de matraque appliqué par un Bédouin ruiné sur la tête d’un Juif voleur ... et pif, paf, boum, coups de fusils, obus.—Hector France, Sous le Burnous.

Matriculer (military), to steal; said ironically, as “le numéro matricule,” borne by a soldier’s effects, is the only proof of ownership. Se faire ——, to get punished, “to be shopped.”

Mâts, m. pl. (thieves’), les deux ——, the guillotine. See Voyante.

Matte, f. (thieves’), enfant de la ——, thief, a “family-man.” For synonyms see Grinche. Michel says matte is derived from the Italian mattia, folly; so that “enfants de la matte” signifies literally children of folly.

Maturbes, m. pl. (thieves’), dice, or “ivories.” Jouer des ——, to eat, “to grub.”

Maube, f. (popular), Place ——, for Place Maubert, a low quarter of Paris.

Maugrée, m. (thieves’), governor of a prison. From maugréer, to grumble.

Mauricaud, m. (thieves’), cash-box, “peter.”

Il faut tomber sur ce mauricaud, et selon moi ce n’est pas la chose du monde la plus facile.—Vidocq. (We must find the cash-box, and in my opinion it is not the easiest thing in the world.)

Mauvaise (general), elle est ——! bad joke! bad trick! “sawdust and treacle!” none of that! “draw it mild!”

Mauve, f. (popular), umbrella of a reddish colour, a kind of “gingham.”

Mauviette, f. (popular), ribbon of a decoration in the button-hole.

Mayeux, m. (popular), humpback, or “lord.” Name given to a caricatured individual, a humpback, who appears in many of the coloured caricatures of 1830. Mayeux is a form of the old name Mahieu (Mathieu).

Mazagran, m. (general), coffee served up in a glass at cafés, or mixture of coffee and water.

Mazaro, or lazaro, m. (military), cells, “jigger,” Irish theatre, or mill.

Maze, f. (thieves’), abbreviation of Mazas, a central prison in Paris. Tirer un congé à la ——, to serve a term of imprisonment in Mazas.

Mazette, f. (military), recruit, or “Johnny raw;” man, or “cove.”

Mec, or meg, m. (thieves’), master; chief, “dimber damber.”

Bravo, mec! faisons lui son affaire et renquillons à la taule, je cane la pégrenne.—Vidocq. (Bravo, chief, let us do for him, and let us return home, I am dying of hunger.)

(Popular and thieves’) Mec, women’s bully, or “ponce.” See Poisson. Un —— à la redresse, good, straightforward man. Le —— des mecs, the Almighty.

Voyons, daronne ... il ne faut pas jeter à ses paturons le bien que le mec des mecs nous envoie.—Vidocq. (Come, mother, we must not throw at our feet the good things which the Almighty sends us.)

Mec à la colle forte, desperate malefactor; —— à sonnettes, rich man, “rag-splawger;” —— de la guiche, women’s bully, or “ponce,” see Poisson; —— des gerbiers, executioner; —— de la rousse, prefect of police; (popular) —— à la roue, one who is conversant with the routine of a trade.

Mécanicien, m. (popular), executioner’s assistant.

Mécanique, f. (popular), guillotine. Charrier à la ——, see Charrier.

Mécaniser (thieves’), to guillotine; (popular) to annoy.

Coupeau voulut le rattraper. Plus souvent qu’il se laissât mécaniser par un paletot.—Zola.

Méchant, adj. (familiar and popular), n’être pas ——, to be inferior, of little value, “tame, no great scratch.” Un livre pas ——, a “tame” book. Une plaisanterie pas méchante, a dull joke. Un caloquet pas ——, a plain bonnet.

Mèche (popular), il y a ——, it is possible. Il n’y a pas——, it is impossible. This expression has passed into the language. Et ——! and the rest! Combien avez-vous payé, dix francs?—Et mèche! How much did you pay, twenty francs?—Yes, and something over. (Thieves’) Etre de ——, to go halves.

On vous obéira. J’ai trop envie d’être de mèche.—Vidocq. (You shall be obeyed. I have too great a desire to go halves.)

Also to be in confederacy.

M’est avis que tu es de mèche avec les rupins pour nous emblêmer.—Vidocq. (My opinion is that you are in confederacy with the swells to deceive us.)

Six plombes et ——, half-past six. (Printers’) Mèche, work. Chercher ——, to seek for employment.

Méchi, m. (thieves’), misfortune. From the old French “meschief,” mischief.

Méchillon, m. (thieves’), quarter of an hour.

Mecq, m. (popular), prostitute’s bully. See Poisson.

Mecque, f. (thieves’), man, or “cove;” victim.

Médaillard, m. (artists’), artist who has obtained a medal at the Exhibition.

Médaille, f. (popular), silver five-franc coin; also called —— de Saint-Hubert; —— d’or, twenty-franc piece; —— en chocolat, the Saint-Helena medal. Called also “médaille de commissionnaire,” or “contre-marque du Père-Lachaise.”

Médaillon, m. (popular), breech, see Vasistas; —— de flac, cul-de-sac, or blind alley.

Médecin, m. (thieves’), counsel, or “mouth-piece.” It is natural that thieves should follow the advice of a doctor when on the point of entering the “hôpital,” or prison, where they will stay as “malades,” or prisoners, and whence they will come out “guéris,” or free.

Médecine, f. (thieves’), defence by a counsel; advice. Une —— flambante, a piece of good advice.

Collez-moi cinquante balles et je vous coque une médecine flambante.—Vidocq. (Tip me fifty francs, and I’ll give you a piece of good advice.)

(Popular) Médecine, dull, tiresome person.

Méfiant, m. (military), foot soldier, “beetle-crusher, or grabby.”

Meg, m. (thieves’), chief. Le —— des megs, God.

Il y a un mot qui reparaît dans toutes les langues du continent avec une sorte de puissance et d’autorité mystérieuse. C’est le mot magnus; l’Ecosse en fait son mac qui désigne le chef du clan ... l’argot en ait le meck et plus tard le meg, c’est à dire Dieu.—V. Hugo, Les Misérables.

Mégard, m. (thieves’), head of a gang of thieves, or “dimber damber.”

Mégo, m. (popular), balance in favour of credit.

Mégot, m. (popular), end of cigarette.