Balader (thieves’), to choose; to seek. (Popular) Se ——, to take a walk; to stroll; “to mike;” to make off; to run away, “to cut one’s lucky.” See [Patatrot].
Baladeur, m. (popular), one who takes a walk.
Baladeuse, f. (popular), woman with no heart for work and who is fond of idly strolling about.
Balai, m. (hawkers’), police officer, or gendarme, “crusher;” (military) —— à plumes, plumes of shako. (Popular) Balai, the last ’bus or tramcar at night. Donner du —— à quelqu’un, to drive one away.
Balancement, m. (clerks’), dismissal, “the sack.”
Balancer (popular), to throw at a distance; —— quelqu’un, to dismiss from one’s employment, “to give the sack;” to get rid of one; to make fun of one; to hoax, “to bamboozle;” (thieves’) —— la rouscaillante, to speak, or “to rap;” —— sa canne is said of a vagrant who takes to thieving, of a convict who makes his escape, or of a ticket-of-leave man who breaks bounds; —— sa largue, to get rid of one’s mistress, “to bury a Moll;” —— ses alènes, to turn honest; to forsake the burglar’s implements for the murderer’s knife; —— ses chasses, to gaze about, “to stag;” —— son chiffon rouge, to talk, “to wag one’s red rag;” —— une lazagne, to send a letter, “screeve,” or “stiff.”
Balanceur, m. (thieves’), de braise, money changer. An allusion to the practice of weighing money.
Balancier, m. (popular), faire le ——, to wait for one.
Balançoir, balançon, m. (thieves’), window-bar.
Balançoire, f. (familiar), fib, “flam;” nonsense; stupid joke. Envoyer à la ——, to get rid of one, to invite one to make himself scarce, or to send one to the deuce.