Chapter IX

Criminal Slang--Used by All Classes of Criminals.

Auntie or Mother--Keeper of an assignation house, or house of ill-fame.

Alias--A false name used by crooks.

Alley Rat--One who robs persons in alleys.

A Panhandler--A beggar, or one who solicits alms on the streets.

A Mizzen Mast Worker--A top story thief.

A Moll Buzzer--A thief who robs women only.

A Green Goods Man--One who sells worthless securities.

A Flying Jib--A talkative drunk.

A Four-flusher--A bluffer, a braggart.

A Bum Shaft--A bad leg.

A Bum Mit--A sore arm, or crippled hand.

A Bum Lamp--A bad eye.

A Bum Steer--False information, or direction.

A Fall Guy--One who assumes blame to shield others.

A Stool Pigeon--Thief who informs on others for protection.

A Valentine--A short jail sentence.

A Gum Moll--A woman pickpocket.

A Rag--A woman.

A Skirt--A woman.

A Hunch--A tip; a presentiment.

A Flat Wheel--A crippled leg or foot.

A Lift--A help.

Blackstone--A judge.

Blew in--Came in; came in town.

Bowl of Suds--Glass of beer.

Bats--Delirium tremens.

Blow--To tell around; to leave a place; to let alone.

Beak--A magistrate; a judge.

Bolt--To leave in haste.

Buggy--Insane.

Benny--An overcoat.

Benny (wooden)--A coffin.

Big House--Penitentiary.

Bilked--Fooled, evaded.

Bloke--Another person; a dumb fellow.

Brief--Pawn ticket.

Bracelets--Handcuffs.

Beefer--A complaining or informing person.

Belched--Told it; informed; gave up information.

Body Snatcher--Undertaker.

Beat--To escape; to defraud; to overcome.

Bang-up--Done right; good; red handed; without warning.

Bug House--Insane asylum.

Blowing a Peter--Blowing open a safe.

Blink--No good.

Bull--A policeman.

Baldy--An old man.

Blind--A make-believe; a stall; a pretense; an excuse.

Brass--Nerve.

Booked--Registered at a police station.

Brush--Whiskers.

Cannon--Gun; a pickpocket.

Canuck--A French Canadian.

Coffin Varnish--Bad whiskey.

Cell 99--Coroner’s office; unidentified.

Chi--Chicago.

Cop--Policeman; steal.

Copper--Policeman.

Cold Feet--Lost courage.

Can--Police station.

Chuck--Meals.

Cop the Coin--Steal the money.

Croak--To die.

Crocus--A doctor.

Cove--A fellow.

Cush--Money.

Charlie Adams--A Yankee jail.

Chippie--A young woman of doubtful character.

Cooler--A cell.

Crumb--A louse.

Cuter--The prosecuting attorney.

Cinch--A certainty.

Coffin Nails--Cigarettes.

Coke Head--A user of cocaine.

Dame--A girl.

Dip--A pickpocket.

Ditch--To leave.

Dope--Information.

Dough--Money.

Duck--To sneak; to dodge; to sneak away.

Dump--Hang-out; low resort.

Drag--Horse and wagon; burglars’ tools; political influence; draw smoke from pipe, cigarette or cigar.

Daffy--Demented or insane.

Dress Suit Burglar--Lobbyist; slippery fellow; smooth person.

Damp Powder--Not to be feared; a fake agitator.

Double Crossed--To betray confidence; to fool.

Dippy--Insane; crazy.

Dressed in--To prepare for prison sentence, being measured, photographed, hair cut, and donned with uniform.

Dressed out--To receive discharge, suit money, etc., when leaving prison.

D. & S.--Dangerous and suspicious.

Douse the Glim--Turn out the light.

Disciples--Jury.

Doniker--Cell; water closet.

Fagin--Thief; a person who teaches others how to steal.

Flat Joint--Crooked gambling joint.

Fall Guy--Thief who takes blame and penalty to save pals.

Fall Money--A fund maintained by thieves for their protection.

Fence--A receiver of stolen goods.

Finger--An officer of the law.

Flag--To stop.

Frame-up--A pre-arranged affair.

Frisk--A search.

Front--A showing, good clothes.

Flop--To stop; lie down; rest.

Flush--With plenty of money.

Fixed--Bribed; bought; pre-arranged.

Four-flusher--One who acts for effect.

Fine as Silk--In good condition.

Front Office--Office of Chief of Police or Detectives.

Floater--A traveler; a tramp.

Fresh Fish--A new hand; a new-comer.

Flossie--A blonde.

Gat--Revolver.

Gran--Leg; an old person.

Gofer--Safe, with time lock.

Gaff--Punishment.

Houseman--Burglar.

Hash Slinger--Waiter; restaurant worker.

Hop Joint--Place where opium is smoked.

Hot Air--Senseless talk.

Hot Foot--Run.

Hitting the Pipe--Smoking opium.

Harness Bull--Uniform officer.

Hinky Dink’s--Clark St., Chicago; a resort in Chicago.

Hay Rack--Cell bed.

Hip--Wire; aware of.

Hoof--Walk.

Hike--Walk.

Hep--To be aware; to catch on.

Head Light--Diamond stud; a whiskey nose.

Heat on--Drunk.

Jersey Lightning--Bad whiskey.

Jobbed--Pre-arranged; unjustly convicted.

Jugged--Arrested.

Jagged--Drunk.

Jimmy--A bar with a crook in it so as to produce leverage.

Jacob--A ladder.

Jimmying a Bull--To stop or kill a policeman.

Jobs Put Over--Crimes committed.

Kicks--Shoes.

Knocker--One who speaks against the interests of another.

Kite--An immoral woman.

Knockout Drops--A drug used to stupefy.

Kike--A worthless or unsuccessful Jew thief.

Laying on the Side--Smoking opium.

Lingo--Foreign talk.

Lip--Talk.

Leery--Afraid; doubtful of.

Leather--Purse.

Laying Out--Assaulting.

Lay-out--Gambling outfit; opium outfit; an illegal collection.

Laying Paper--Passing worthless checks, drafts, etc.

Life Boat--A pardon.

Life Saver--Drink of whiskey.

Lemon Pool--Two playing against one in a game of pool; beat at pool by two confederates.

Law Ghost--A lawyer who never appears in court, but prepares cases for trial, looking up law, etc.

Mouthpiece--A lawyer.

Moniker--A name; an alias.

Mission Stiff--A missionary worker; a convert.

Pick-up--Arrested accidentally without any specific charge.

Punk--Bread.

Phoney--A substitute; bogus; not real.

Puffin Rod--A revolver.

Pipe Dream--Something not real; idealistic idea.

Plug--A horse; anything old or broken down.

Suds--Beer.

Slop--Stale beer.

Swig--A drink.

Swipe--Steal.

Stick--To remain; to wait.

Slats--Ribs.

Sixer--Six months.

Scot Free--Escaped; with no restraint.

Shiner--A black eye.

Sheeney--A Jew, a Hebrew; a stingy person.

Soaking--Placing in pawn; hitting.

Switch--Transferred; passing to another; substituting.

Spieling--Talking; walking; waltzing.

Snide--Mean; cheap.

Scratcher--Forger.

Shoving the Queer--Passing counterfeit.

Scrub Squad--Sanitary gang in prison.

Shark--Money lender.

Sidetracked--Left.

Soup--A concoction made by boiling dynamite in water and then drawing off the bottom, which is nitroglycerine, used in safe blowing.

Smoke Wagon--Revolver.

Sinkers--Doughnuts.

Side Door Sleeper--A box car.

Shadowed--Followed; kept track of; actions noted.

Snow--Cocaine.

Salve--Cheap talk.

Shy--Short.

Tribunal--Court.

Twist--Waltz.

Tart--A girl of questionable character.

Togs--Clothes.

Tanking Up--Drinking.

Tip--A warning.

Tommy--A girl of questionable character.

Toad Skins--Paper money.

Turnip--A watch.

Throwed Down--Betrayed.

Third Rail--A pickpocket on a R. R.

Tommy Buster--A man who beats prostitutes and lewd women.

Turn a Trick--A theft accomplished.

Trailed--Followed by a detective.

Track 13 and a Washout--A term in a western prison.

Third Degree--A violent method of the police; a re-enaction of the crime that one is accused of.

Twenty-three--An invitation to leave; originated in New Orleans, La.

Top-piece--Reward; hat.

To the Sheets--To bed.

Tip Your Mitt--Make known your purpose.

Uncle--A prefix to the name of pawnbroker.

Up the River--Sentenced to Sing Sing, a New York prison.

Use the Wax--Take an impression of a key.

Vagged--Convicted of vagrancy.

Velvet--Easy.

Windjammer--A talkative person.

Whiskey Tenor--A bad soloist.

White Mule--Alcohol.

White Stuff--Morphine.

Wet Goods--Stolen goods.

Yenshee--Residue left in the pipe after smoking opium, which is boiled over again and smoked.