Méquer (thieves’), to command. From meq, meg, chief, head of gang, or “dimber damber.”
Mercadet, m. (familiar), man who sets on foot bubble companies, swindling agencies, and other fishy concerns. A character of Balzac.
Mercandier, m. (popular), butcher who retails only meat of inferior quality.
Mercanti, m., name given by the army in Africa to traders, generally thievish Jews.
Cependant les mercantis, débitants d’absinthe empoisonnée et de vins frelatés, escrocs, banqueroutiers, repris de justice, marchands de tout acabit.—Hector France, Sous le Burnous.
Merdaillon, m. (popular), contemptible man, or “snot.”
Merde, f. (thieves’), de pie, fifty-centime piece. (Popular) Faire sa ——, to give oneself airs, to look “botty.” Des écrase ——, fashionable boots, as now worn, with large low heels. Termed also “bottines à la mouget.”
Merdeux, m. (popular), scavenger employed to empty cesspools, “gold-finder;” despicable mean fellow, “snot.”
Mère, f. (popular), abbesse, mistress of a brothel; —— de petite fille, bottle of wine; —— d’occase, procuress who plays the part of a young prostitute’s mother, or a beggar who goes about with hired children; —— aux anges, woman who gives shelter to forsaken children, and hires them out to mendicants; (thieves’) —— au bleu, guillotine. See [Voyante]. (Corporations’) Mère, innkeeper, where “compagnons,” or skilled artisans of a corporation, hold their meetings. The compagnons used to individually visit all the towns of France, working at each place, and the long journey was termed “tour de France.”
Mérinos, m. (popular), man with an offensive breath. Manger du ——, to play billiards, or “spoof.”