Lago (thieves’), there. Gaffine —— le pante se fait la débinette, look there, the “cove” is running away.
Lagout, m. (thieves’), water (“agout” with the article).
Laigre, f. (thieves’), fair; market. Michel says this word is no other than the adjective “alaigre,” of which the initial letter has disappeared.
Laine, f. (tailors’), work, “graft.” Avoir de la ——, to have some work to do. (Thieves’) Tirer la ——, was formerly the term for stealing cloaks from the person; hence the old expression tire-laine, thief who stole cloaks.
Lainé, m. (thieves’), sheep, or “wool-bird.”
Laisée, f. (thieves’ and roughs’), prostitute, or “bunter.” See [Gadoue].
Laisser (familiar and popular), aller le chat au fromage (obsolete), is said of a girl who allows herself to be seduced, who loses her rose; —— tomber son pain dans la sauce (obsolete), to manage matters so as to get profit out of some transaction; —— ses bottes quelque part, to die. The expression is found in Le Roux’s Dict. Comique. Laisser fuir son tonneau, to die, “to kick the bucket.” See [Pipe]. Laisser pisser le mérinos, to wait for one’s opportunity. Synonymous of Laisser pisser le mouton, a proverbial saying.
Lait, m. (thieves’), à broder, ink. (Theatrical) Boire du ——, to be applauded.
A peine le couplet est-il chanté, au milieu des applaudissements payés, que Biétry ... salue ... tous les applaudisseurs ... il n’est pas le seul, ce soir-là, à boire du lait, comme on dit en style de théâtre.—Mémoires de Monsieur Claude.
Laïus (familiar), speech, or discourse. Piquer un ——, to make a speech.