[Beauce], f. (thieves’), plume de ——, straw, or “strommel.”
Beauce, m., beauceresse, f., second-hand clothes-dealers of the Quartier du Temple.
Beauge, m. (thieves’), belly, “guts.”
Beausse, m. (thieves’), wealthy man, “rag-splawger,” or one who is “well-breeched.”
Bébé, m. (popular), stunted man; female dancer at fancy public balls in the dress of an infant; the dress itself; term of endearment. Mon gros ——! darling! ducky!
Bec, m. (popular), mouth, “maw;” —— salé, a thirsty mortal. Claquer du ——, to be fasting, “to be bandied.” Rincer le —— à quelqu’un, to treat one to some drink. Se rincer le ——, to wet one’s whistle. Tortiller du ——, to eat, “to peck.” Casser du ——, to have an offensive breath. Avoir la rue du —— mal pavée, to have an irregular set of teeth. Ourler son ——, to finish one’s work. (Sailors’) Se calfater le ——, to eat or drink, “to splice the mainbrace.” (Thieves’) Bec de gaz, bourrique, flique, cierge, arnif, peste, laune, vache, police-officer or detective, “pig,” “crusher,” “copper,” “cossack,” “nark,” &c.
Bécane, f. (popular), steam engine, “puffing billy;” small printing machine.
Bécarre is the latest title for Parisian dandies; and the term is also used to replace the now well-worn expression “chic.” The “bécarre” must be grave and sedate after the English model, with short hair, high collar, small moustache and whiskers, but no beard. He must always look thirty years of age; must neither dance nor affect the frivolity of a floral button-hole nor any jewellery; must shake hands simply with ladies and gravely bend his head to gentlemen. “Bécarre—being translated—is ‘natural’ in a musical sense.”—Graphic, Jan. 2, 1886. The French dandy goes also by the appellations of “cocodès, petit crevé, pschutteux,” &c. See [Gommeux].
Bécasse, f. (popular), female guy.
Eh! va donc, grande bécasse!