Ronge-pattes, m. (popular), child, or “squeaker.”
Rongeur, m. (familiar), or ver rongeur, cab taken by the hour. Paris cabs generally go at a snail’s pace, with consequent increase of fare.
Roquille, f. (popular), one-fourth of a setier, or eighth part of a litre.
Rosbif de rat d’égout! m. (roughs’), insulting epithet. Might be rendered by “you skunk!”
Hé! dis donc, éclanche de bouledogue, rosbif de rat d’égout, tu vas te faire taper sur la réjouissance.—A. Scholl, L’Esprit du Boulevard.
Rose des vents, f. (popular), breech, “blind cheek” in the English slang.
Rosière de Saint-Laze, f. (popular), for Saint-Lazare, an inmate of the prison of Saint-Lazare, which serves for prostitutes and unfaithful wives. Properly une “rosière,” or rose queen, is a virtuous, well-behaved maiden. At Nanterre and other country places a maid is proclaimed rosière at a yearly ceremony in which the authorities play their part, the famous pompiers of the not less famous song being one of the most important factors in the pageant.
Rossaille, f. (horse-dealers’), worthless horse, “screw.”
Rossard, m. (familiar and popular), man with no heart for work, a “bummer.”
Trubl’ est un rossard,