Baliverneur, m. (popular), monger of “twaddle,” of tomfooleries, of “blarney.”
Ballade, f. (popular), aller faire une —— à la lune, to ease oneself.
Balle, f. (thieves’), secret; affair; opportunity. Ça fait ma ——, that just suits me. Manquer sa ——, to miss one’s opportunity. Faire ——, to be fasting. Faire la ——, to act according to instructions. (Popular) Balle, one-franc piece; face, “mug;” head, “block.” Il a une bonne ——, he has a good-natured looking face, or a grotesque face. Rond comme ——, is said of one who has eaten or drunk to excess; of one who is drunk, or “tight.” Un blafard de cinq balles, a five-franc piece. (Familiar) Enfant de la ——, actor’s child; actor; one who is of the same profession as his father. (Prostitutes’) Balle d’amour, handsome face. Rude ——, energetic countenance, with harsh features. Balle de coton, a blow with the fist, a “bang,” “wipe,” “one on the mug,” or a “cant in the gills.”
Ballomanie, f., mania for ballooning.
[Ballon], m. (popular), glass of beer; the behind, or “tochas.” Enlever le —— à quelqu’un, to kick one in the hinder part of the body, “to toe one’s bum,” “to root,” or “to land a kick.” En ——, in prison, “in quod.” Se donner du ——, to make a dress bulge out. Se lâcher du ——, to make off rapidly, “to brush.”
Ballonné, adj. (thieves’), imprisoned, “in limbo.”
Ballot, m. (tailors’), stoppage of work.
Balloter (tailors’), to be out of work, “out of collar;” (thieves’) to throw.
Bal-musette, m., dancing place for workpeople in the suburbs.
Les bals-musette au plancher de bois qui sonne comme un tympanon sous les talons tambourinant la bourrée montagnarde ... que la musette remplit de son chant agreste.—Richepin, Le Pavé.