[Harpe], f. (general), jouer de la ——, to slily take liberties with a woman by stroking her dress, as Tartuffe did when pretending to ascertain the softness of Elmire’s dress. The expression is old; it is to be met with in the Dict. Comique.
Jouer de la harpe signifie jouer des mains auprès d’une femme, la patiner, lui toucher la nature, la farfouiller, la clitoriser, la chatouiller avec les doigts.—J. Le Roux, Dictionnaire Comique.
(Thieves’) Harpe, prison-grated window. Jouer de la ——, to be in prison, or “in quod.” Pincer de la ——, to put oneself at a window.
Harper (popular), to catch, “to nab;” to seize, “to grab.”
Harpions, m. pl. (popular and thieves’), feet, or “dew-beaters;” hands, or “dukes.” From the old word harpier, concerning which the Dictionnaire Comique says:—
Harpier. Pour voler ou friponner impunément, prendre ou enlever par force, comme les harpies.
Harponner (popular), to seize, “to grab;” —— tocquardement, to lay rough hands on; to give one a shaking.
Hasard! or h! (printers’), ironical exclamation meaning that happens by chance, of course!
Haüs, or aüs, m. (shopmens’), appellation applied by shopmen to a person who, after much bargaining, leaves without purchasing anything.
Hausse-col, m. (military), cartridge-box. The expression has become obsolete.