I Never Knew There Was a Word for It - Adam Jacot De Boinod [131]
jibber the kibber (Cornwall 1781) a wrecker’s tactic of fixing a lantern round the neck of a horse which at night appeared like a ship’s light. The ships bearing toward it ran aground, and were plundered by the locals
NOT QUITE MY COLOUR
Even the most upright of us may not be totally straight all the time:
wardrobing (US slang) buying an item and then returning it after wearing it
bilker (1717) a person who gives a cabman less than his fare and, when remonstrated with, gives a false name and address
manoeuvring the apostles (b.1811) robbing Peter to pay Paul (i.e. borrowing from one man to pay another)
oyster (underworld slang 1920) a society woman employed to wear stolen jewellery in the hope that she will receive an offer from a fence, and will, because of her social position, remain unsuspected by the police
PANHANDLER
Just because you’ve been reduced to begging, it doesn’t mean that you’re dishonest. Having said that, some bums have always known that cheating pays:
dommerers (1567) men who pretended to be deaf and dumb
cleymes (b.1811) artificial sores, made by beggars to excite charity
scaldrum dodge (mid 19C) the practice of deliberately burning the body with a mixture of acids and gunpowder to simulate scars and wounds to soften the hearts of those from whom one begs
whip-jacks (1562) vagabonds who pretended to be shipwrecked sailors
aurium (16C) a wandering beggar posing as some kind of priest
CUTPURSE
Others, fitter and more fleet of foot, make better boodle by being proactive:
maltooling (b.1861) the picking of pockets in omnibuses
bulk and file (1698) two pickpockets operating together (the
bulk jostles the party that is to be robbed and the
file steals the treasure)
reef (c.1860) to draw up a dress-pocket until a purse is within reach of the fingers
pappy (underworld slang 1910) an elderly man whose clothes and pockets are baggy (the ideal victim for a pickpocket)
SLEIGHT OF HAND
As in many another career paths, the professional pilferer, too, likes to develop his expert knowledge:
feeder-prigger (late 18C) a thief specializing in silver spoons
badger (US mid 19C) a rogue who specializes in robbing clients who are visiting a brothel
efter (underworld slang 1846) a thief who robs theatre patrons during a show
tinny-hunter (late 18C) a thief who robs people whose homes are burning down, while pretending to give assistance
vamper (mid 19C) a thief who deliberately starts fights between others in order to rob them in the confusion
tosher (b.1859) one who steals copper from the bottom of ships moored in the Thames
ARTFUL DODGERS
Other tricks of the trade definitely make a crook’s life easier and more productive:
trigging the jigger (early 19C) placing a small piece of paper (trig) in the front door keyhole of a house that is presumed to be uninhabited; if the paper is still there a day later, the robber can believe that the house is empty and can be broken into safely
treacle-man (late 19C) a good-looking man who works as a decoy for burglars by charming the housemaid while the gang slip in unnoticed
snudge (underworld slang 1665) a thief who hides himself under a bed in order to rob the house
little snakesman (1781) a little boy who gets into a house through the sink-hole, and then opens the door for his accomplices
DOLPHINS AND TURTLES
Underworld slang, old and new, covers a whole range of dodgy activity, from the relatively harmless to the downright evil:
shoulder surf (UK current slang) to use a pair of binoculars to read the PIN of people using cash dispensers
slaughter (1950s) an immediate dumping ground for recently stolen property, before it is shared out or hidden more permanently and securely
turn turtle (early 19C) to flip a carriage upside-down
airmail (US prison jargon 1950s) concrete, bricks and so on hurled down from rooftops onto patrol cars responding to a call
rifling (underworld slang 1885) plundering