S
SACHEVEREL. An iron door.
SACK. A pocket.
SAINT GILES BUZZMAN. A handkerchief thief.
SAINT TERRA. A churchyard.
SAM. A stupid fellow.
SANGUINARY. Bloody.
SANS. Without; nothing.
SAWNEY. Bacon; fat pork.
SCAMP-FOOT. A foot-pad.
SCANDAL PROOF. One who has eaten shame and drank after it; or would blush at being ashamed.
SCANDAL SOUP. Tea.
SCARCE. To slip away; to make one's self scarce.
SCAVOIR. Sharp; cunning; knowledge.
SCENT. Bad management. "The cove was nabbed on the scent," the fellow was arrested by reason of his own bad management.
SCHEME. A party of pleasure.
SCHOFEL. Bad money.
SCHOFEL-PITCHERS. Passers of bad money.
SCHOOL. A gang of thieves. "A school of knucks," a gang of pickpockets.
SCHOOL OIL. A whipping.
SCHOOLING. Jostling; pitching.
SCOLD'S CURE. A coffin. "The blowen has napped the scold's cure," the jade is in her coffin.
SCOT. A young bull.
SCOUR. To run away.
SCOUT. A watchman.
SCRAGG. The neck.
SCRAGGED. Hanged.
SCRAN. Food.
SCRANNING. Begging.
SCRAPE. Trouble.
SCRAPP. A plan to rob a house or commit any kind of roguery.
SCRAPPER. A pugilist.
SCRATCH. To write; to forge.
SCRATCH. Time agreed upon; to meet at the appointed time; to face another.
SCRATCHER. A forger; a copyist.
SCREAVES. Paper money.
SCREEN. A bank-bill.
SCREW. A key.
SCREWING. Opening a lock with keys.
SCREWING UP. Choking; garroting. "Screw up the bloke, and that will stop his blasted red rag from chanting beef," choke the man, and that will prevent him from crying "stop thief."
SCREWSMAN. A burglar who works with keys, picks, dubs, bettys, etc., etc.
SCRIP. Writing-paper. "The bloke freely scratched the scrip, and tipped me forty cases," the man readily signed the paper, and gave me forty dollars.
SCROBE. A private chastisement.
SCROOF. To live with a friend, and at his expense.
SCROOFING. Living at a friend's expense. Thieves are in the habit of scroofing with an old pal when they first come out of prison, until they can steal something for themselves.
SCRUB. A mean fellow.
SCRUB-BADO. A mean, insignificant puppy; the lowest of the low; the itch.
SCUTTLE. To cut a pocket.
SEA-CRAB. A sailor.
SEAVEY. Sense; knowledge.
SECRET. Cheated. "The bloke was let into the secret," the man was cheated.
SEES. The eyes.
SEND. To drive or break. "Take the jimmy and send it into the jigger," take the crow and force it into the door.
SERENE. All right. It is all serene.
SERVE HIM OUT. Give him a good thrashing.
SERVED. Found guilty; convicted.
SET. Prepared beforehand; "a set thing;" a trap; a determined thing.
SETTER. A shadow; an officer in disguise, who points out the thief for others to arrest.
SETTLED. Knocked down; murdered.
SETTLING. Killing. "Settling a bloke," killing a man.
SHADOW. A first-class police officer; one who possesses naturally the power of retaining with unerring certainty the peculiar features and characteristics of persons, added to the indomitable perseverance of the slot-hound to follow his quarry.
SHADY. Quiet; out of sight; not easily found.
SHADY GLIM. A dark lantern.
SHAKE. A prostitute; one who gambles with dice; to shake; to draw any thing from the pocket. "The knuck shook the swell of his fogle," the pickpocket stole the gentleman's handkerchief.
SHAKEDOWN. A panel-thief or badger's crib.
SHAKESTER. A lady.
SHALERS. Girls.
SHALLY. A negative; a person that is never positive.
SHAM LEGGERS. Men who pretend to sell smuggled goods.
SHAPES. Naked.
SHARK. A custom-house officer.
SHARP. A man that is well posted; one who "knows a thing or two;" a gambler.
SHARPER. One who obtains goods or money by any kind of false pretense or representation.
SHARPER'S TOOLS. A fool and false dice or cards.
SHAVER. A cheat.
SHEEN. Bad money.
SHEENEY. A Jew thief.
SHELF. A pawn-shop.
SHELION. A shilling.
SHERIFF'S BALL. An execution.
SHERO. The head.
SHERRID. Run away.
SHICKSTER. A woman.
SHIFTING. Cheating or stealing.
SHIGUS. A judge.
SHILLEY. No stability.
SHIN-BREAKING. Borrowing money.
SHINERAGS. Nothing.
SHINES. Gold coin.
SHOE-LEATHER. A phrase to denote some one is approaching.
SHOON. A fool; a country lout.
SHOOTING-STARS. Thieves who do not remain long in one place.
SHOP. A prison.
SHOPPED. Imprisoned.
SHOVE. Pass money. "Shove the blunt," spend the money. "Shove queer," pass counterfeit money.
SHOVING. Passing bad money.
SHRED. A tailor.
SHYCOCK. A man who is fearful of being arrested; shy of the officers.
SICER. Sixpence.
SICK. Imprisoned.
SIDE-POCKET. A drinking-saloon in an out-of-the-way-place; a resort for thieves.
SIFTING. Examining; emptying purses or pocket-books for the purpose of examining their contents, is called sifting.
SILENCE. To kill; to knock down.
SIMKIN. A fool.
SIMON. A simpleton.
SING. To cry aloud. "The cove sings beef," the fellow calls thief.
SING SMALL. Have little to say for yourself.
SINK. To cheat; to hide from a partner.
SINKERS. Thieves who do not divide fair with their companions.
SINKING. Cheating a partner; not dividing fair.
SKEP. A pocket full of money; a place for keeping money; a savings bank.
SKEW. A cup.
SKEWER. A sword or dagger.
SKILLEY. Prison fare.
SKIN. A purse. "The bloke's skin was full of honey," the man's purse was full of money.
SKINK. A waiter.
SKINNERS. Small lawyers who hang about police offices and figuratively skin their clients.
SKIP-KENNEL. A footman.
SKIPPER. A barn.
SKIT. Humbug; a joke.
SKULL. The head of the house; the President of the United States; the Governor; the head man.
SKY-BLUE. Gin.
SKYCER. A mean, sponging fellow.
SLAMKIN. A slovenly female.
SLANEY. A theatre.
SLANG or SLAG. A watch-chain. "The knucks twisted the swell's thimble, slang, and onions, and also touched his leather, but it was very lathy. It only raked a case and a half; the thimble was a foist, but the slang and onions were bene. The altemel of the swag raked only fifteen cases," the pickpockets stole a gentleman's watch, chain, and seals, and also his pocket-book; but there was only a dollar and a half a piece for them in it. The watch was a cheat, but the chain and seals were good. The whole plunder divided gave the thieves fifteen dollars each.
SLANGED. Chained by the leg.
SLAP-BANG. An eating-house; a restaurant.
SLASH. Outside coat pocket.
SLAT. A half-dollar.
SLATE. A sheet.
SLAWEY. A female servant.
SLICK-A-DIE. A pocket-book.
SLIM. Punch.
SLINGTAIL. Poultry.
SLIPPERY. Soap.
SLOP. Tea.
SLOPS. Ready-made clothing.
SLOUGH. To bow the head.
SLUBBER. A heavy, stupid fellow.
SLUBBER DE GULLION. A mean fellow.
SLUICE YOUR GOB. Take a good long drink.
SLUICED. To drink. "The bene cove sluiced their gobs with slim till they all snoozed in the strammel like sounders," the good fellow gave them punch till they slept in the straw like hogs.
SLUM. A package of bank bills; a low drinking-place.
SLUMING. Passing spurious bills.
SLUMMING. Stealing packages of bank-bills.
SLY-BOOTS. A fellow that pretends to be a fool.
SMACK. To share. "Smack the swag," share the spoil.
SMACK. To swear on the Bible. "The queer cuffin bid me smack the calf-skin, but I only bussed my thumb," the justice told me to kiss the book, but I only kissed my thumb.
SMACKING COVE. A coachman.
SMART. Spruce.
SMASH. To change.
SMASH-FEEDER. A silver spoon.
SMASHER. Money-changer.
SMEAR. A plasterer; a mason.
SMEAR GILT. A bribe.
SMELLER. A nose.
SMELLING CHEAT. A bouquet.
SMELTS. Half-eagles; five dollars.
SMICKET. A woman's shift or skirt.
SMILE. To drink.
SMILER. A bumper.
SMIRK. A superficial fellow.
SMITER. The arm.
SMOKE. Humbug; any thing said to conceal the true sentiment of the talker; to cover the intent.
SMOKE. To observe; to suspect; to understand.
SMOKY. Suspicious; curious; inquisitive.
SMOUCH. To steal.
SMUG. A blacksmith.
SMUSH. To seize suddenly; to snatch.
SMUT. Indecent.
SNABLE. To plunder; sometimes to kill.
SNAFFLERS. Highwaymen.
SNAGLING. Stealing poultry by putting a worm on a fish-hook, thereby catching the fowl, then twisting their necks and putting them in a bag.
SNAGS. Large teeth.
SNAKE. A fellow that glides into a store or warehouse, and conceals himself for the purpose of letting in his companions.
SNAKED. Arrested.
SNAM. To snatch.
SNAPPED. Arrested.
SNAPPER. A gun.
SNAPPERS. Pistols.
SNAPT. Arrested; caught.
SNEAK-THIEF. A fellow who sneaks into areas, basement-doors or windows, or through front-doors by means of latch-keys, and entering the various apartments, steals any thing he can carry off.
SNEAKING. Conveying away stolen goods.
SNEAKSMAN. See Sneak-thief.
SNEEZER. A snuff-box.
SNID. Six.
SNIDE STUFF. Bad money.
SNITCH. An informer; the nose; a spy.
SNITE. Slap; wipe. "Snite his snitch," wipe his nose.
SNIVEL. To cry.
SNOOZING-KEN. A bawdy-house.
SNOT. A gentleman.
SNOUT. A hogshead.
SNOW. Linen.
SNUDGE. A thief who conceals himself under the bed.
SNUFF. Offended. "To take snuff," to be offended.
SNUG. Quiet; all right.
SOAP. Money.
SOD. A worn-out debauchee, whom excess of indulgence has rendered unnatural.
SOFT. Bank bills; paper money.
SOLDIER. A smoked herring.
SOLFA. A clerk.
SOP. A bribe.
SOT-WEED. Tobacco.
SOUNDERS. Hogs.
SPADO. A sword.
SPANISH. Silver coin.
SPARK. A diamond.
SPEAK. To steal; to take away. "Bob spoke with the toney on the chestnut prancer," Bob robbed the fool on the chestnut horse. "To speak with," to steal from.
SPEAKER. Plunderer.
SPEALERS. Gamblers.
SPEILER. A gambler.
SPICE. To steal.
SPICER. A foot-pad.
SPICER HIGH. A highway-robber.
SPIT. A sword or dagger.
SPLIT. Parted; separated.
SPLIT CAUSE. A lawyer.
SPLIT ON HIM. Informs against; denounces him.
SPLIT OUT. No longer friends; quarrelled; dissolved partnership.
SPOONEY. Foolish.
SPORT. A gamester; a man fond of racing and gaming of all kinds.
SPOT. To make a note of something you wish to remember; to look at a person with the intention of remembering him; to point one out to another as a suspected person, or one to be remembered.
SPOUT. A pawnbroker's shop.
SPRAT. Sixpence.
SPREAD. Butter. "The cove pinched a keeler of spread, and was pulled foul. The beaks sent him to the premonitory for three moons," the fellow stole a tub of butter, and was arrested with it in his possession. The judges sent him to the penitentiary for three months.
SPRINGING THE PLANT. To discover the place where stolen property is concealed; to remove stolen property from its place of concealment. "When I was in the old doss I told my skinner to see Jack and tell him to spring the plant, fence it, and send me my regulars, as I wanted to melt it," when I was in the Tombs I told my lawyer to see Jack, and tell him to remove the plunder from the place in which we hid it, to sell it, and send me my share of the proceeds, as I wanted to spend it.
SPUD. Base coin; bad money.
SPUNG. A miser.
SPUNK. Matches.
SPUNK-FAKERS. Match-sellers.
SQUARE. Honest; upright; good.
SQUEAK or SQUEAL. To inform. A thief is said to "squeak" or "squeal" when, after his arrest, he gives information against his accomplices, or where stolen property may be found.
SQUEAKER. A child.
SQUEEZE. Silk or satin.
SQUEEZE CLOUT. A silk handkerchief.
SQUELCH. A fall.
STAG. One who has turned State's evidence.
STAG. To see. "Stag the cop," see the policeman.
STAGGED. Discovered; informed on.
STAIT. City of New-York.
STAKE. Plunder, large or small in value, as the case may be.
STALL. One whose business it is to conceal as far as possible the manipulation of his confederate who is trying to pick a person's pocket. The stall places himself either in front, back, or sideways, or by any stratagem attracts the attention of the intended victim. Any thing said or done by which the attention is directed from the true state of the case is called a stall.
STALLING-KEN. A house for the reception of stolen goods.
STAMFISH. To talk in a way not generally understood.
STAMP. A particular way of throwing dice out of the box.
STAMPERS. Feet; shoes; sometimes the stairs.
STANDING. Purchasing stolen property.
STANDING IN. Bidding for; making an offer; taking part with. "The bloke stands in with the cross-coves, and naps his regulars," the man takes part with the thieves, and receives his share of the plunder.
STAR THE GLAZE. Break the show-case; break the glass.
STAR-GAZERS. Prostitutes; street-walkers.
STARCH. Pride.
STARDER. A receiver.
STARK NAKED. Stripped of every thing; "skinned by a Tombs lawyer."
START. The Tombs. "The cove has gone to the old start," the fellow has gone to the Tombs.
STAUNCH. Can not be made to tell; reliable; can be trusted with a secret. "I say, Smasher, won't the cove squeak if he's pinched and promised by the beak to be turned up?" "No, not for all the blasted beaks this side of Sturbin. I tell you he is a staunch cove, and there need be no fear." I say, Smasher, won't the fellow betray us if he is arrested and promised by the judge to be set at liberty again? No, not for all the blasted judges this side of State prison. I tell you he is a reliable fellow, and there is no fear.
STAY-TAPE. A dry-goods clerk.
STEAMBOAT. A term used by gamblers. See Indians about.
STEAMER. A tobacco pipe.
STEEL. House of Refuge.
STEPPER. The treadmill.
STEPPING-KEN. A dance-house.
STICK. A breastpin.
STICK-FLAMS. Gloves.
STICKS. Pistols; household furniture.
STIFF. A letter; a written or printed paper; a newspaper.
STIFF 'UN. A corpse.
STIFLE. Kill.
STIFLE THE SQUEAKER. Kill the child.
STINK. To publish an account of a robbery.
STIR. A crowd; a fire.
STOGGER. A pickpocket.
STONE PITCHER. Sing Sing.
STOP. A detective officer.
STOP LAY. Two or more well-dressed pickpockets go into a fashionable quiet street and promenade singly until they select a person that will answer their purpose; one of them stops the person and inquires the direction to a place somewhat distant. On being informed of the route he should take, he pretends not to exactly understand his informant, who, getting a little more interested in his desire to be explicit, draws closer to the inquirer. At about this point, one or both the others walk up and in an instant the amiable individual is minus some part of his movable property. The above practice is what is termed the "stop lay."
STOW YOUR WID. Be silent.
STRAMMEL. Straw; hay.
STRANGER. A guinea.
STRAW-MAN. False bail.
STRETCH. One year.
STRETCHERS. Horse-racers.
STRIKE. To get money from candidates before an election, under the pretense of getting votes for them; to borrow without intending to pay back.
STRING. To humbug. "String the bloke and pinch his honey," humbug the man and get his money.
STRUMMER-FEKER. A hair-dresser.
STUBBLE. Stop it.
STUBBLE YOUR RED RAG. Hold your tongue.
STUFF. Money.
STUKE. A handkerchief.
STUMPS. Legs.
STUN HIM OUT OF HIS REGULARS. Cheat him out of his rights; deprive him of his share of the plunder.
STUNNER. Extra; superior; very good.
STURBIN. State prison.
SUBSIDE. Get out of the way; run away.
SUCK. Any kind of liquor.
SUCKED. Cheated.
SUCKER. A term applied by gamblers to a person that can be cheated at any game of cards.
SUET. Liquor.
SUGAR. Money.
SUITE. Watch, seals, etc.
SUPER or SOUPER. A watch.
SUPOUCH. A landlady.
SURE THING. A term used to denote that the person is certain to be a winner.
SUSPERCOL. To hang.
SWABLER. A dirty fellow.
SWADDLER. A fellow who pretends to be anxious for the salvation of every body, and harangues crowds of gaping knaves and fools in the parks, or any other public place. The pickpockets generally pay him well for his efforts. Sometimes fellows who pick a quarrel with a man, beat him, and at the same time rob him, are called swaddlers.
SWAG. Plunder.
SWAG-COVE. A receiver of stolen goods.
SWAG-RUM. Full of wealth.
SWEATING. Reducing the weight of gold coin by putting it in a bag and shaking it violently for some time, and then collecting the dust which is thus worn off.
SWELL. A gentleman. "Swell mob," the well-dressed thieves with good address, who appear like honest gentlemen.
SWIG. Liquor of any kind.
SWIG-COVES. Fellows who traverse the country under the pretense of begging old clothes.
SWING. To hang.
SWITCHED. Married.
SYEBUCK. Sixpence.
SYNTAX. A schoolmaster.