Rouspéter (popular), to be in a bad humour; to resist.
Rouspettau, m. (thieves’), noise.
Rouspetter (popular), used in a disparaging manner, to talk; to reply. Qu’est-ce que vous me rouspettez-là? What the deuce are you talking about?
Rousse, m. and f. (popular and thieves’), la ——, the police, the “reelers.” Un ——, police officer, or “crusher;” detective, or “nark.” See [Pot-à-tabac].
Va, c’est pas moi qui ferais jamais un trait a un ami; si je suis rousse (mouchard), il me reste encore des sentiments.—Vidocq.
La —— à l’arnac, the detective force. Red-haired people are supposed to be treacherous, hence the epithet “rousse” applied to the police. According to an old proverb,
Barbe rousse, noir de chevelure,
Est réputé faux de nature.
Scarron expressed the following wish:—
Que le Seigneur en récompense