Vive les enfans de l’argot.
La Chanson des Argotiers.
Trucsin, m. (thieves’), house of ill-fame, “flash-drum, nanny-shop, or Academy.” In America certain establishments of this description are termed “panel-cribs.” I find the following description in a book called the Slang Dictionary of New York, London, and Paris (the last-named town might have been left out): Panel-crib, a place especially fitted up for the robbery of gentlemen, who are enticed thereto by women who make it their business to pick up strangers. Panel-cribs are sometimes called badger-cribs, shake-downs, and touch-cribs, and are variously fitted for the admission of those who are in the secret, but which defy the scrutiny of the uninitiated. Sometimes the casing of the door is made to swing on well-oiled hinges which are not discoverable in the room, while the door itself appears to be hung in the usual manner, and well secured by bolts and lock. At other times the entrance is effected by means of what appears to be an ordinary wardrobe, the back of which revolves like a turnstile on pivots. When the victim has got into bed with the woman, the thief enters, and picking his pocket-book out of his pocket, abstracts the money, and supplying its place with a small roll of paper, returns the book to its place. He then withdraws, and coming to the door raps and demands admission, calling the woman by the name of wife. The frightened victim dresses himself in a hurry, feels his pocket-book in its proper place, and escapes through another door, congratulating himself on his happy deliverance. The panel-thief who fits up a panel-crib tries always to pick up gentlemen that are on a visit to the city on business or pleasure, who are not likely to remain and prosecute the thieves.
Truelle, f. (freemasons’), spoon. Termed also “pelle.”
Truffard, or truffardin, m. (popular), soldier, “swaddy.” Truffard also means happy, lucky.
Truffe, f. (popular), nose of considerable proportions, or “conk;” potato, “spud;” —— de savetier, chestnut. Aux truffes, excellent, “first-class, fizzing, out-and-out, nap.” Il a un nez à chercher des truffes is used to compare a man to a pig, as a porcine assistant is necessary for the finding and rooting up of truffles.
Truffé, adj. and m. (familiar), arrant, or “captious” fool; —— de chic, superlatively elegant or stylish, “tsing tsing.”
Truffer (popular), to deceive, “to cram up.”
Trufferie, f. (popular), fib, “cramming up.”
Truffeur, m. (popular), one who tells fibs, who “throws the hatchet,” or “draws the long-bow.” The English slang expressions come from the wonderful stories which used to be told of the Norman archers, and more subsequently of Indians’ skill with the tomahawk.