Gratouille, f. (popular), itch. From gratter, to scratch, to itch.
Gratouse, f. (thieves’), lace.
Gratousé, adj. (thieves’), adorned with lace.
Gratte, f. (popular), itch; unlawful profits of shopmen on the sale of goods, something like the “fluff” or profits on short change by railway ticket-clerks; bonus allowed to shopmen; —— couenne, barber, “strap;” —— pavé, loiterer seeking for a living, one “on the mouch.”
Grattée, f. (popular), blows, “props.”
Gratte-papier, m. (familiar and popular), clerk, or “quill-driver;” (military) non-commissioned officer filling the functions of clerk.
[Gratter] (popular), to shave; to thrash, “to wallop.” See [Voie]. Gratter, to purloin portions of cloth, given for the making of apparel; to apprehend. See [Piper]. Gratter le papier, to write; to be a clerk, or “quill-driver;” —— la couenne, to shave. En ——, to perform on the dancing-rope. Les frères qui en grattent, rope-dancers. Gratter les pavés, to lead a life of poverty.
Grattoir, graton, m. (popular), razor. Passer au ——, to get shaved, or “scraped.”
Graveur sur cuir, m. (popular), shoemaker, “snob.”
Grèce, f. (familiar), the tribe of card-sharpers. Tomber dans la ——, to become a card-sharper. Vol à la ——, card swindle. (Thieves’) Grèce, or soulasse, swindler who offers one a high profit on the change of gold coins, for which he substitutes base coin when the bargain has been struck. A variety of the confidence trick. Vidocq thus describes the mode of operating of these gentry. A confederate forms an acquaintance with a farmer or country tradesman on a visit to town. While the new pair of friends are promenading, they are accosted by another confederate, who pretends to be a foreigner, and who exhibits gold coin which he wishes to exchange for silver. Subsequently the three adjourn to a wine-shop, where the pigeon, being entrusted with one of the coins, is requested to have it tested at a changer’s, when he finds it to be genuine. A bargain is soon struck, and, when the thieves have decamped, the victim finds that in exchange for sound silver coin he has received a case full of coppers or gunshot.