Hacher de la paille (popular), to murder the French language. The English have the corresponding expression, “to murder the Queen’s English.” Also to talk in German.
[Haleine], f. (familiar), à la Domitien, cruelle, or homicide, offensive breath. According to the Dict. Comique it used to be said of a man troubled with that incommodity: Il serait bon trompette, parcequ’il a l’haleine forte. (Popular) Respirer l’—— de quelqu’un, to get at one’s secrets, “to pump” one.
Halènes, or alènes, f. pl. (thieves’), thieves’ implements, or “jilts.” Alène signifies properly shoe-maker’s awl.
Haler sur sa poche (sailors’), to pay, “to shell out.” Haler, properly to haul, to tow.
Halle, f. (popular), aux croûtes, stomach, or “bread-basket.” Also baker’s shop. La —— aux draps, the bed, “doss, or bug-walk,” and formerly “cloth-market,” an expression used by Swift in his Polite Conversation:—
Miss, your slave; I hope your early rising will do you no harm; I find you are but just out of the cloth-market.
(Journalists’) La —— au son, the Paris Conservatoire de Musique, or national music and dramatic academy. (Bullies’) Un barbise de la —— aux copeaux, a bully whose paramour brings him in but scanty profits, whose “business” is slack.
Hallebarde, f. (popular), tall, badly dressed woman, a “gawky guy.”
Halot, m. (popular), box on the ear, “smack on the chops.”
Haloter quelqu’un (thieves’), to box one’s ears, “to smack one’s chops;” to ply the bellows.