Blaviniste, m. (thieves’), pickpocket who devotes his attention to handkerchiefs, “stook hauler.”
Blé, blé battu, m. (popular), money, “loaver.”
Blèche, adj., middling; bad; ugly. Faire banque ——, not to get any pay. Faire ——, to make a “bad” at a game, such as the game of fives for instance.
Bleu, m. (military), recruit, or “Johnny raw;” new-comer at the cavalry school of Saumur; (thieves’) cloak; also name given to Republican soldiers by the Royalist rebels of Brittany in 1793. After 1815 the Monarchists gave the appellation to Bonapartists. (Popular) Petit ——, red wine. Avoir un coup d’——, to be slightly tipsy, “elevated.” See [Pompette].
Quand j’siffle un canon...
C’est pas pour faire l’pantre.
C’est qu’ j’ai plus d’cœur au ventre...
Après un coup d’bleu.
Richepin, Chanson des Gueux.
(Familiar) Bleu, adj. astounding; incredible; hard to stomach. En être ——; en bailler tout ——; en rester tout ——, to be stupefied, much annoyed or disappointed, “to look blue;” to be suddenly in a great rage. (Theatrical) Etre ——, to be utterly worthless.