Fouille, f. (popular and thieves’), pocket, “sky-rocket, cly.”
Fouille-au-tas, m. (popular), rag-picker, or “tot finder.”
Fouille-merde, m. (popular), scavenger employed in emptying cesspools, “gold finder;” also a very inquisitive man.
Fouiller (familiar and popular), pouvoir se ——, to be compelled to do without; to be certain of not getting. Also expressive of ironical refusal. Si vous croyez qu’il va vous prêter cette somme, vous pouvez vous ——, if you reckon on his lending you that sum, you will have to do without it. Tu peux te ——, you shall not have it; you be hanged!
Madame, daignerez-vous accepter mon bras?—Tu peux te fouiller, calicot!—P. Mahalin.
Fouilles, f. pl. (popular), des ——! is expressive of refusal; may be rendered by the American “yes, in a horn.” For synonyms see [Nèfles].
Fouillouse, f. (thieves’), pocket, or “cly.” The word is old. Rabelais has “Plus d’aubert n’estoit en fouillouse.”
Fouinard, m. (popular), cunning, sly man; a tricky “dodger;” coward, or “cow’s babe.” Termed in old French tapineux.
Fouiner (popular), to play the spy, or Paul Pry; to escape, “to mizzle.”
Foulage, m. (popular), a great deal of work, much “graft or elbow grease.”