Thieves' Cant

CANT TO ENGLISH

-A-


 * Abbess:the mistress of a brothel.


 * Abram:naked


 * Abram cove:a word used among thieves which signifies a naked or poor man. It can also mean a lusty strong rogue.


 * Abram men:a beggar who pretends to be mad.


 * To sham abram:to pretend to be sick.


 * Academy:brothel.


 * Ace of spades:a widow.


 * Acorn:to ride a horse foaled by an acorn, is to be hanged on the gallows.


 * Adam Tiler:a pickpockets associate, who receives the stolen goods, and runs off with them.


 * Affidavit Men:a witness for hire. Someone who will swear to anything in court if paid to do so.


 * Air and exercise:He has had air and exercise, ie he has been whipped at the carts tail.


 * Ambidexter:a lawyer who garners fees from both plaintiff and defender.


 * Anabaptist:a pickpocket caught in the act, and punished by being thrown into a pond.

Angling for coppers:begging out of a prison window with a cap or box let down on the end of a long string.
 * Anglers:pilferers or petty thieves who with a stick having a hook at the end, steal goods out of shop windows, grates etc.


 * Arch Rogue:The chief of a gang of thieves or gipsies.


 * Ard:hot, stolen.


 * Ark:a boat.


 * Artichoke:hanged (see hearty choke).


 * Aunt:a prostitute or someone who procures prostitutes.


 * Avoir Du Pois Lay:stealing brass weights off the counters of shops.


 * Autem Bawler:a priest.


 * Autem Divers:pickpockets who operate in churches and temples.


 * Autem Mort:a female beggar who hires children in order to inspire charity.

-B-


 * Babes in the wood:criminals in the stocks or pillory.


 * Badge:a term for one who has had his hand burned as punishment for theft.


 * Bandog:a bailiff or sheriff.


 * Barrow man:a man under sentence of transport.


 * Bat:a very common prostitute.


 * Bawd:a prostitute.


 * Bawdy basket:criminal who sells items from door to door, but makes most of their living by stealing.


 * Beak:a justice of the peace or magistrate.


 * Beef:to "cry beef" is to give an alarm. To "be in a mans beef" is to wound him with a sword.


 * Beggar maker:a man who owns a tavern.


 * Beilby's Ball:to "dance with Beilby's ball" is to be hung.


 * Bene:good.


 * Bene Bowse:good beer.


 * Bene Cove:good fellow.


 * Bene Darkmans:good night.


 * Bene feaker:counterfeiter.


 * Bene feakers of gybes:counterfeiter of false passes.


 * Ben:a fool.


 * Bess or Betty:a crow bar.


 * Bilboes:the stocks or prison.


 * Bilk:to cheat or con.


 * Bing:to go or escape.


 * Bingo:brandy or other spirit.


 * Bingo boy:a drinker of brandy.


 * Bingo mort:a female drinker of brandy.


 * Birds of a feather:rogues of the same gang.


 * Bite:to steal.


 * Black art:the art of picking a lot.


 * Black box:a lawyer.


 * Blasted fellow:an abandoned rogue or prostitute.


 * Blater:a stolen calf.


 * Bleaters:those cheated by a Jack in the Box (See Jack in the box).


 * Bleating rig:sheep stealing.


 * Blow:to "bite the blow" is to steal the goods.


 * Blueberry:an officer of the law.


 * Blue pigeons:thieves who steal lead off houses and other buildings.


 * Bluffer:an inn keeper.


 * Blunt:money.


 * Boarding school:a prison.


 * Bob:shoplifter's assistant. One who receives stolen goods.


 * Boned:seized, arrested.


 * Boung: a purse.


 * Boung nipper:a cut purse.


 * Brimstone:an abandoned woman or thief.


 * Bubber:a thief who steals from taverns.


 * Bufe:a dog.


 * Bufe nabber:a dog thief.


 * Bug:to exchange a material for one of less value.


 * Bung nipper:a pickpocket.


 * Burning the ken:to flee a tavern without paying your bill.


 * Bus napper:a constable.


 * Bus nappers kenchin:a watchman.


 * Buttock and file:a prostitute who steals from their clients.


 * Button:a fake coin.


 * Buzman:a pickpocket.

-C-


 * Cackle:to inform on a thief.


 * Calle:a cloak or gown worn as a disguise.


 * Canters:thieves or beggars.


 * Canting Crew:thieves or beggars.


 * Cap:take an oath.


 * Captain Sharp:a person in a fixed game of chance whose job is to bully those who refuse to pay their debts.


 * Caravan:a large sum of money, or one who is cheated of a large sum of money.


 * Cattle:prostitutes or gipsies.


 * Charactered:to have your hand burnt as a punishment for theft.


 * Charm:a lockpick.


 * Chatts:the gallows.


 * Clank:a silver tankard.


 * Clank napper:a silver tankard stealer.


 * Clear:very drunk.


 * Click:to hit.


 * Clicker:the person who divides the booty between a group of thieves.


 * Climb up a ladder to bed:be hanged.


 * Cloy:steal.


 * Cloyes:thieves.


 * Cly:a pocket.


 * Cly the jerk:to be whipped.


 * Cockles, to cry:to be hanged.


 * Colt:one who lends a horse to a highway man, or an apprentice thief.


 * Confect:counterfeited.


 * Content:a person murdered for resisting a robbery.


 * Cove:a man.


 * Cracksman:a house breaker.


 * Cramp word:the sentence of death.


 * Crash:kill.


 * Crop:hang.


 * Cull:an honest man.


 * Cullability:easily cheated.


 * Curbing law:the act off hooking items out of a window (see angling.)


 * Cursitors:a bad lawyer

-D-


 * Dangle:hang.


 * Darbies:chains (handcuffs)


 * Darby:easy money.


 * Darkee:a dark or hooded lantern.


 * Darkmans:night time.


 * Dawb:bribe.


 * Deadly nevergreen:gallows.


 * Derrick:a hangman.


 * Dimber Damber:a chief thief.


 * Ding Boy:a mugger.


 * Dive:to pick a pocket.


 * Dive:a thieves hideout.


 * Dommerer:a beggar who pretends to be mute.


 * Drag:to follow a cart or wagon in order to rob it.


 * Draw-latches:robbers of houses.


 * Drawing the King's picture:to counterfeit coins.


 * Dromedary:a bungling thief.


 * Dub:a lockpick.


 * Dub Lay:to rob a house by picking its lock.


 * Dummee:a pocket book or purse.


 * Dumps:coins made of lead.


 * Die hard:show no fear or remorse at the gallows.

-E-


 * Earnest:a promise to pay.


 * Equipt:well dressed, rich.

-F-


 * Fagger:a small boy passed through a window in order to open the door to a house.


 * Family man:a receiver of stolen goods.


 * Fam lay:palming an item in order to steal it.


 * Fams:gloves.


 * Fen:a prostitute.


 * Fence:to sell stolen goods. One who buys stolen goods.


 * Fencing ken:a place where stolen goods are hidden.


 * Fidlam ben:thieves.


 * Figging law:the art of picking pockets.


 * Figure dancer:one who alters the numbers on notes of credit or other paper money.


 * Filcher:see angler.


 * Flash ken:a thieves hideout.


 * Flash lingo:thieves cant.


 * Floating hell:a prison ship.


 * Flog:to whip.


 * Fob:cheat.


 * Footpad:a common thief.


 * Fork:to pick a pocket.


 * Fortune teller:a judge.


 * Foyst:a pickpocket.


 * Frummagemmed:strangled or hanged.


 * Fun:a cheat or a trick.


 * Fuzz:to pretend to shuffle a deck of cards.

-G-


 * Gallows bird:a thief or pickpocket or someone that associates with them.


 * Game:any mode of robbery.


 * Gamon:to deceive.


 * Gaoler's coach:a cart used to take felons to execution.


 * Gentleman's master:a highwayman.


 * Gibberish:thieves cant.


 * Gilt:a thief who picks locks.


 * Ginny:a crowbar.


 * Glazier:a thief who breaks windows in order to steal.


 * Glim:a lantern used in housebreaking.


 * Grease:bribe.


 * Gregorian tree:gallows.


 * Gudgeon:a gullible person.


 * Gull:a gullible person, to cheat someone.

-H-


 * Hamlet:a senior constable.


 * Hang gallows look:a villainous appearance.


 * Hang in chains:a vile, desperate person.


 * Harman:a constable.


 * Harmans:the stocks.


 * Hearty choke:to be hanged.


 * Heave:to rob.


 * Hempen fever:a person who has been hanged is said to have died of "hempen fever."


 * Hempen widow:one whose husband was hanged.


 * High pad:a highwayman.


 * Hike:to run away.


 * Hoist:to rob by entering through windows that have been left open.


 * Hoodwink:blindfold or fool someone.


 * Hooked:captured.


 * Hookers:see angler.


 * Hubbub:a riot.


 * Hue:to whip.


 * Hush: murder.


 * Hush money:a bribe.

-I-


 * Iron:money.


 * Ironmongers shop:to "keep an ironmongers shop" is to be hung in chains.

-J-


 * Jack in a box:a card sharper.


 * Jack Ketch:hangman.


 * Jail bird:prisoner.


 * Jammed:hanged.


 * Jem:a gold ring.


 * Jemmy:a crow bar.


 * Jigger:whipping post.


 * Jordain:a stick or staff used by muggers.


 * Juggler's box:the device used to burn the hands of criminals.


 * Jukrum:the permission of the head of a thieves guild to operate within his territory.

-K-


 * Kate:a lockpick.


 * Ken:a house.


 * Ken Miller or Ken Cracker:housebreaker.


 * Ketch:hangman.


 * Kiddeys:young thieves.


 * King's plate:chains, shackles.


 * King's pictures:money.


 * Knight of the blade:a bully.


 * Knight of the post:a man willing to give fake evidence for money.


 * Knight of the road:a highwayman.

-L-


 * Laced mutton:a prostitute.


 * Lag:a man transported for a crime.


 * Land pirate:a highwayman.


 * Lay:danger.


 * Leaf:to "go with the fall of the leaf" is to be hanged.


 * Lift:steal.


 * Lightmans:daytime.


 * Little snakesman:a small boy passed through a window in order to open a door.


 * Long tongued:unable to keep a secret.


 * Lowre:money.


 * Lully priggers:thieves who steal wet clothes off clothes lines.


 * Lurch:to be "left in the lurch" is to be betrayed by ones companions.

-M-


 * Mad Tom:a beggar who feigns madness.


 * Made:stolen.


 * Made man:a member of the thieves guild.


 * Maunding:begging.


 * Milch cow:one who is easily tricked out of his money.


 * Moabites:bailiffs.


 * Mobility:the commoners. Intended as a pun on 'nobility.'


 * Moon curser:a thief who uses the darkness as cover for his crime.


 * Moon men:gipsies.


 * Morning drop:the gallows.


 * Mort:a woman.


 * Moss:lead stolen off the top of buildings.


 * Mot:see Mort.


 * Myrmidons:constables.

-N-


 * Nab:to seize.


 * Nab the stoop:to be put in the stocks.


 * Napper: a cheat or thief.


 * Napper of naps:a sheep stealer.


 * Natty lads:young thieves or pickpockets.


 * Neck weed:hemp to be made into rope.


 * Needle point:a card sharper.


 * New drop:the gallows.


 * Newman's lift:the gallows.


 * Nig:the metal clipped of a coin by a criminal.


 * Night magistrate:a constable.


 * Nim:to steal or pilfer.


 * Nip:a cheat.


 * Noisy dog racket:the crime of stealing brass door knockers from doors.

Nose:a criminal who gives evidence against his colleagues in order to gain a lighter sentence.
 * Noozed:hanged (or married).


 * Nubbing:hanging.


 * Nubbing cheat:the gallows.


 * Nubbing cove:the hangman.


 * Nubbing ken:the courthouse.


 * Nypper:a cutpurse.

-O-


 * Oak:a rich man.


 * Oaken towel:a cudgel.


 * Office:to "give office" is to tell constables of a thieves activities.


 * Old hand:an experienced thief.


 * Onion:a seal or signet ring.


 * Overseer:a man in the pillory or stocks.

-P-


 * Pad:the highway.


 * Pad borrowers:horse thieves.


 * Palaver:a tale told in order avoid blame for a crime.


 * Panny:house.


 * Parenthesis:the stocks.

Patter flash:to use thieves cant.
 * Parings:the metal clipped of a coin by a criminal.


 * Paum:conceal in the hand.


 * Peach:turn informer.


 * Peeper:a spying glass. (Telescope?)


 * Penance board:the pillory.


 * Petty fogger:a lawyer willing to undertake any case.


 * Pigeon:a person easy to cheat.


 * Plate:money, silver, gold etc.


 * Poney:money.


 * Pop:pawn.


 * Pop shop:pawnbrokers.


 * Porridge:prison.


 * Posse mobilitatis:a mob chasing a criminal.


 * Poulterer:a man who opens mail and steals the money enclosed within.


 * Pound:prison.


 * Prad lay:the act of cutting the saddlebags of horses in order to steal their contents.


 * Prad:a horse.


 * Prig:a thief.


 * Prig napper:one who catches thieves. A bounty hunter.


 * Priggers:thieves


 * Priggers of prancers:horse thieves.


 * Priggers of cacklers:robbers of henhouses.


 * Prince Prig:head of a group of thieves or gipsies.


 * Provendor:the victim of a thief.


 * Public ledger:a prostitute.


 * Pull:arrest.


 * Puzzle-cause:a lawyer who does not understand the case.

-Q-


 * Quarromes:a body.


 * Queer:"To queer" means to confuse someone.


 * Queer bail:someone who pretends to have money in order to act as surety for an arrested person. When the person is released they disappear.


 * Queer birds:a person who when released from prison returns to a life of crime.


 * Queer bit makers:counterfeiters of coins.


 * Queer bung: an empty purse.


 * Queer cove:a thief.


 * Queer cuffin:a justice of the peace.


 * Queer ken:a prison.


 * Queer mort:a diseased prostitute.


 * Quod: prison.


 * Quota:a thieves share of the booty.

-R-


 * Rag:paper money.


 * Rank rider:a highwayman.


 * Rap:taking a false oath.


 * Rascal:rogue or villain.


 * Raspberry:a praetorian guard.


 * Rat:an informer. To turn informer.


 * Rattling cove:a coachman.


 * Rattling mumpers:beggars who beg from coaches.


 * Reader:a pocket book or purse.


 * Reader merchants:pickpockets.


 * Ready:money.


 * Recruiting service:highway robbery.


 * Repository:a gaol.


 * Resurrection men:those employed by scientists to steal bodies from churchyards.


 * Rhino:money.


 * Ribbin:money.


 * Ringing the changes:exchanging silver coins for those made of less valuable metal.


 * Roast:arrest.


 * Robert's men:successful thieves.


 * Rot gut:cheap spiritous liquor.


 * Rovers:pirates, wandering thieves.


 * Rub:run away.


 * Ruffles:chains or shackles.


 * Rufflers:beggars who pretend to be wounded soldiers or sailors.


 * Rug:safe and secure.


 * Rum:fine, good, valuable.


 * Rum beck:a justice of the peace.


 * Rum bite:a clever trick.


 * Rum bob:a skilled apprentice thief.


 * Rum bung:a full purse.


 * Rum cod:a purse filled with gold.


 * Rum diver:a skilled pickpocket.


 * Rum dubber:a skilled lock picker.


 * Rum file:a skilled pickpocket.


 * Rum fun:a clever trick.


 * Rum pad:the highway.


 * Rum padders:skilled and successful highwaymen.


 * Rum prancer:a good horse.


 * Rushers:home invaders.

-S-


 * Salmon:an oath taken by a beggar.


 * Scapegallows:one who deserves and has escaped the gallows.


 * Scragged:hanged.


 * Scragg'em fair:a public execution.


 * Screw:a lock pick or skeleton key.


 * Sham:a trick.


 * Sharper:a con man.


 * Sheriff's ball:an execution.


 * Sheriff's hotel:prison.


 * Sheriff's journeyman:hangman.


 * Sheriff's picture frame:gallows.


 * Shoplifter:one who steals from a shop.


 * Sing:call out, inform.


 * Slang:chains or shackles.


 * Slang:thieves cant.


 * Slipgibbet:see Scapegallows.


 * Snap the glaze:break a window.


 * Snapt:captured.


 * Sneak:a pilferer.


 * Snoozing ken:brothel.


 * Sop:a bribe.


 * warehouse:prison.


 * Squeak:escape. "To squeak" means to confess.


 * Squeakers:organ pipes.


 * Stalling ken:place where stolen goods can be sold.


 * Star the glaze:break a jewellers window.


 * Stoop:the pillory.


 * Stop hole abbey:the central hideout or guild hall for a thieves guild.


 * Stretching:hanging.


 * Stuling ken:see Stalling ken.


 * Swaddler:a thief who beats and murders his victims.


 * Swag:booty.


 * Sweating:removing metal from a coin, by using chemicals.


 * Swing:hang.

-T-


 * Tail:a prostitute.


 * Tayle drawers:a thief who steals swords from a mans belt.


 * Teize:a flogging.


 * Thatch-gallows:a man of poor character.


 * Thief takers:someone who associates with thieves in order to arrest them and obtain rewards.


 * Three-legged mare:the gallows.


 * Three legged stool:the gallows.


 * Tom of Bedlam:see Mad Tom.


 * Topping cheat:the gallows.


 * Topping cove:hangman.


 * Touch:arrest.


 * Trounce:punish.


 * Tucked up:hanged.


 * Turncoat:one who has betrayed his friends.


 * Turn off:hang.


 * Twig:realise that something is up.


 * Two to one shop:pawnbrokers.

-U-


 * Underdubber:a prison guard.


 * Upright Man:chief thief of a guild.


 * Used up:killed.

-V-


 * Vamp:pawn.


 * Varlets:criminals.


 * Vincent's law:the art of cheating at cards.

-W-
 * Vowel:to write an I.O.U.


 * Waterpad:river pirate.


 * Wedge:silver plate.


 * Whack:a share of booty obtained by fraud.


 * Whip jacks:thieves who pretend to be sailors in order to gain free passage on boats and ships.


 * Wiper:handkerchief.


 * Wiper drawer:a pickpocket who steals handkerchiefs.


 * Wooden ruff:pillory.


 * Wry neck day:day of execution.

-Y-


 * Yelp:cry out for the police.

-Z-


 * Zad:a very crooked person.