Felouse, or fenouse, f. (thieves’), meadow.
Felouse, felouze, or fouillouse, f. (thieves’), pocket, or “cly;” —— à jeun, empty pocket.
Il demanda à sezière s’il n’avait pas quelques luques de son babillard; il répondit qu’oui, et mit la louche en sa felouze et en tira une, et la ficha au cornet d’épices pour la mouchailler.—Le Jargon de l’Argot. (He asked him whether he had any pictures from his book. He said yes, and put his hand in his pocket, drew one out, and gave it to the friar to look at.)
Femme, f. (familiar), de Breda, gay girl. Quartier Breda is the Paris St. John’s Wood; (popular) —— au petit pot, rag-picker’s consort; —— de terrain, low prostitute, or “draggle-tail.” See [Gadoue]. (Thieves’ and cads’) Femme de cavoisi, dressy prostitute who frequents the Boulevard cafés; (military) —— de l’adjudant, lock-up, “jigger,” or “Irish theatre;” —— de régiment, big drum; (familiar) —— pur faubourg, is said of a lady with highly polished manner, or ironically of one whose manners are anything but aristocratic.
Fenasse, f. (popular), man without energy, a lazy man. Old word fen, hay.
Fendante, f. (thieves’), door, “jigger.” Termed also “lourde.”
Fendart, m. (popular), braggart, swaggerer, or “swashbuckler.” Termed formerly “avaleur de charrettes ferrées.” Faire son ——, to brag, to swagger, to look big, to bluster, “to bulldoze” (American). Ne fais donc pas ton ——, “come off the tall grass,” as the Americans say.
Fendre (thieves’), l’ergot, to run away. Literally to split the spur. The toes being pressed to the ground in the act are naturally parted. For synonyms, French and English, see [Patatrot]. (Card-sharpers’) Fendre le cul à une carte, to notch a card for cheating purposes; (military) —— l’oreille, to place on the retired list. An allusion to the practice of splitting the ears of cavalry horses no longer fit for service and put up for auction, termed “cast” horses. (Popular) Fendre l’arche à quelqu’un, to bore one to death. Literally to split one’s head. (General) Se ——, to give oneself or others an unusual treat. Je me fends d’une bouteille, I treat myself to (or I stand treat for) a bottle of wine.
Zut! je me fends d’un supplément!... Victor, une troisième confiture!—Zola, Au Bonheur des Dames.