Retirer (thieves’), l’artiche, or le morlingue, to pick the pockets of a drunkard, “to pinch an emperor of his blunt.”
[Retoquer] (students’), to disqualify one at an examination, “to spin.” Etre retoqué, to fail to pass an examination, “to be ploughed.” About twenty years ago “pluck,” the word then used, began to be superseded by “plough.” It is said to have arisen from a man who could not supply the examiner with any quotation from Scripture, until at last he blurted out, “And the ploughers ploughed on my back, and made long furrows.” “Etre retoqué” may also be rendered into English slang by “to be plucked.” The supposed origin of “pluck” is that when, on degree day, the proctor, after having read the name of a candidate for a degree, walks down the hall and back, it is to give any creditor the opportunity of plucking his sleeve, and informing him of the candidate being in debt. Un retoqué du suffrage universel, an unreturned candidate for parliament.
Retour, m. (police and thieves’), cheval de ——, old offender who has been convicted afresh, “jail-bird.”
Un vieux repris de justice, un “cheval de retour,” comme on dit rue de Jérusalem, n’eût pas fait mieux.—Gaboriau.
Also one who has been a convict at the penal servitude settlement.
Ce n’est pas non plus le bouge sinistre de Paul Niquet,... dont ces mêmes tables et ce même comptoir voyaient les mouches de la bande à Vidocq, en quête d’un grinche ou d’un escarpe, trinquer avec les bifins ... les chevaux de retour (forçats libérés).—P. Mahalin.
(Popular) L’aller et le —— et train rapide, the act of slapping one’s face right and left, or kicking one on the behind.
Retourne, f. (gamesters’), trumps. Chevalier de la ——, card-sharper, or “magsman.”
Retourner (popular), sa veste, or son paletot, to fail in business, “to be smashed up;” to die, “to snuff it.” S’en ——, to be getting old. De quoi retourne-t-il? What is the matter at issue? (Roughs’) Retourner quelqu’un, to thrash one. See [Voie]. (General) Retourner sa veste (the expression has passed into the language), to become a turncoat, or “rat.” The Slang Dictionary says the late Sir Robert Peel was called the Rat, or the Tamworth Rat-catcher, for altering his views on the Roman Catholic question. From rats deserting vessels about to sink. The term is often used amongst printers to denote one who works under price. Old cant for a clergyman.
Rétréci, m. (popular), stingy man, one who is close-fisted.