Vivid Criminal Slang on the City Streets of France

by Stephen J. Gertz

L'Argot de "Milieu" was a groundbreaking and influential dictionary of criminal and low-life French slang, born of the fascination with crime and criminals that had swept early 20th century France in the wake of modern advances in forensics  that had allowed, for the first time, the tracking, apprehension, and prosecution of criminals using scientific methods.

Author Jean Lacassagne (1886-1960), who also wrote under the pseudonym, François Seringard,  was the son of the great Lyon forensic criminologist, Alexandre Lacassagne (1843-1924), was head of the Lyon prison medical service, and took a lifelong interest in the darker side of human nature, conducting many studies of French criminal subculture. This book was reprinted and revised several times but the first edition, with its striking color illustration by French painter, illustrator, and engraver André Dignimont (1891-1965, and known for his stylish erotica), is scarce.

Lacassagne fils became the doctor of a regiment during the First World War, and received his Ph.D. in 1916. He was also one of founders of l'Association républicaine pour favoriser les études médicales 1923-1924, becoming one of the most active members.  He became a knight in the Legion of Honor in 1925.

As Clinical Director at Antiquaille he was a specialist in venereal diseases, treating prostitutes and detainees. In 1945 he received a medal from the prison for twenty five years of service.

Like his father, he was extremely interested in criminal anthropology.  He published articles and books inspired by his meetings and correspondence with criminals. He observed their tattoos, studied their slang, investigated their history, psychology, and collected their reminiscences.

Writer of the Preface, Francis Carco, fantaisiste poet, novelist, and art critic, published several works in Parisian argot depicting the street life of Montmartre. 

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 LACASSAGNE. Docteur Jean. L'Argot du "Milieu." Préface de Francis Carco. Paris: Albin Michel, n.d. [1928]. First edition. Octavo (186 x 119 mm), xxii, 293, [1] pp. Pictorial wrappers, illustrated by André Dignimont.

Reprinted in 1935, 1948, 1951, and 1955. The edition of 1935 reproduces the original wrapper illustration but with the title text design revised.

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Images from L'Argot du "Milieu" courtesy of Justin Croft Antiquarian Books, with our thanks.

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The Elizabethan Devil's Dictionary

Caravaggio, The Cardsharps, c. 1594.

The word "slang" first appeared in print in 1756. Its origins are murky, but most linguists think it was part of what is known as "Thieves' Cant." This language of the criminal underworld was as complex and colorful as iambic pentameter. It was the secret lingo that allowed the lower class to spin a wicked web of beggars, thieves, con men, rogues, vagabonds, gamblers, cut-purses, pickpockets, prostitutes, witches, astrologers, alchemists, rakehells, card sharps, and fortune tellers. These loosely organized lowlifes used trickery and deception to fleece the gullible foreigners and greedy "respectable" citizens who were unlucky enough to wander into the taverns, brothels, gaming houses, and other dens of inequity that flourished on the shady side of the streets of London. This criminal's code was a tough one to crack, but a long lost library book holds the key.

The staff of the Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford uncovered the volume, which was originally published in 1699 under the title: A New Dictionary of Terms, Ancient and Modern, of the Canting Crew. Written by a scholar known only as 'B.E. Gent [gentleman],' its goal was to inform polite society of the words used by unscrupulous evil-doers to describe their wanton deeds. It was hoped this knowledge might protect the unwitting innocents targeted as "marks" by the criminal class. It was the first book of slang in dictionary form, with over 4,000 entries, including not only criminal cant, but terms used by sailors, labourers, servants, and even words and phrases used by ne'er-do-wells and reprobates of the upper classes.

Some of the words in the retitled The First English Dictionary of Slang 1699 are still commonplace, such as "chitchat" and "eyesore." But many have sadly passed into disuse, and, given their earthy humor and scruffy charm, deserve to be revived. Below is a list of a few examples, as defined by our gentlemanly guide, B.E:

Anglers, c. Cheats, petty Thieves, who have a Stick with a hook at the end, with which they pluck things out of Windows, Grates, &c. also those that draw in People to be cheated.

Arsworm, a little diminutive Fellow.

Buffenapper, c. a Dog-stealer, that Trades in Setters, Hounds, Spaniels, Lap, and all sorts of Dogs, Selling them at a round Rate, and himself or Partner Stealing them away the first opportunity.

Bumfodder, what serves to wipe the Tail.

Bundletail, a short Fat or squat Lass.

Cackling-farts, c. Eggs.

Dandyprat, a little puny Fellow.

Farting-crackers, c. Breeches.

Fizzle, a little or low-sounding Fart.

Humptey-dumptey, Ale boild with Brandy.

Grumbletonians, Malecontents, out of Humour with the Government, for want of a Place, or having lost one.

Keeping Cully, one that Maintains a Mistress, and parts with his Money very generously to her.

Knock down, very strong Ale or Beer.

Lantern-jaw’d, a very lean, thin faced Fellow.

Mawdlin, weepingly Drunk.

Mopsie, a Dowdy, or Homely Woman

Muddled, half Drunk.

Mutton-in-long-coats, Women. A Leg of Mutton in a Silk-Stocking, a Woman’s Leg.

One of my Cosens, a Wench

Pharoah, very strong Mault-Drink.

Princock, a pert, forward Fellow

Provender, c. he from whom any Money is taken on the Highway.

Strum, c. a Periwig. Rum-Strum, c. a long Wig; also a handsom Wench, or Strumpet.

Urchin, a little sorry Fellow; also a Hedgehog.

Willing-Tit, a little Horse that Travels chearfully.

B.E.'s original work is reprinted in the new publication, along with an introduction by John Simpson, chief editor of the Oxford English Dictionary and co-editor of the Oxford Dictionary of Slang, describing the history and culture of canting, and the evolution of English slang. The First English Dictionary of Slang 1699, edited by the Bodleian Library, will be published by Oxford University Press in September 2010.

Logophiles will love learning this lingua sinistra, and showing it off before those who can't cant. But a word to the wise: according to a 2009 article in Britain's Daily Mail, prisoners at Buckley Hall Prison in Rochdale, near Manchester, have adopted 16th century thieves cant to help them smuggle drugs and other contraband into the prison. This everything-old-is-new-again vernacular has been updated and modified for the digital age:

An astonished insider at the prison declared: "This is the most ingenious use of a secret code we have ever come across. Elizabethan cant was only used by a tiny number of people and it is quite amazing that it has been resurrected in order to buy drugs. Some inmates will try anything to get contraband into jail." Marketers of the First English Dictionary of Slang 1699 better cross prison libraries off their mailing lists...