Chapter IX · Criminal Slang—Used by All Classes of Criminals.
Reading edition
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.