Contreficher (popular), s’en ——, to care not a straw, not a “hang.”
[Contre-marque], f. (popular), du Père-Lachaise, St. Helena medal. Those who wear the medal are old, and le Père-Lachaise is a cemetery in Paris.
Contrôle, m. (thieves’), formerly the mark on the shoulder of convicts who had been branded.
Contrôler (popular), to kick one in the face.
Convalescence, f. (thieves’), surveillance of the police on the movements of ticket-of-leave men.
Cop, f. (printers’), for “copie,” manuscript.
Copaille, f. (cads’), Sodomist. Termed also “tante, coquine.”
Cope, f. (popular), overcharge for an article; action of “shaving a customer.” The Slang Dictionary says that in England, when the master sees an opportunity of doing this, he strokes his chin as a signal to his assistant who is serving the customer.
Copeau, m. (popular), artisan in woodwork (properly copeaux, shavings); spittle, or “gob.” Arracher son ——. See [Arracher]. Lever son ——, to talk, “to jaw.”
Copeaux, m. pl. (thieves’), housebreaking, “screwing or cracking a crib.” An allusion to the splinters resulting from breaking a door.