Mirobolant, adj. (familiar and popular), excellent, “slap-up, or scrumptious;” marvellous, “crushing.”
Eh! c’est la bande! c’est la fameuse, la superbe, l’invincible, à jamais triomphante, séduisante et mirobolante bande du Jura.—Bande du Jura. Madame de Gasparin.
“Mirobolant” is a corruption of admirable. Another instance of this kind of slang formation is “abalobé,” from abalourdi.
Miroir, m. (card-sharpers’), a rapid glance cast on the stock of a game of piquet, or on the first cards dealt at the game of baccarat. A tricky “dodge” which enables the cheat to gain a knowledge of his opponent’s hand. (Popular) Un —— à putains, synonymous of bellâtre, a handsome but vulgar man, one likely to find favour with the frail sisterhood. Rigaud says: “Miroir à putains, joli visage d’homme à la manière des têtes exposées à la vitrine des coiffeurs.” The phrase is old.
Dis-lui qu’un miroir à putain
Pour dompter le Pays Latin
Est un fort mauvais personnage.
Scarron.
Fielding thus expatiates on the readiness of women to look with more favour on a handsome face than on an intellectual one:—