[Moucher] (popular), le quinquet, to kill, “to do” for one; to strike, to give a “wipe.”
Allons, mouche-lui le quinquet, ça l’esbrouffera.—Th. Gautier.
Moucher la chandelle, to give oneself up to solitary practices; to act according to the principles of Malthus with a view of not begetting children. For further explanation the reader may be referred to a work entitled The Fruits of Philosophy; —— sa chandelle, to die, “to snuff it.” For synonyms see [Pipe]. Se —— dans ses doigts (obsolete), to be clever, resolute. Se faire —— le quinquet, to get one’s head punched. (Gamesters’) Se ——, is said of attendants who, while pretending to make use of their handkerchiefs, purloin a coin or two from the gaming-table. It is said of such an attendant, who on the sly abstracts a gold piece from the stakes laid out on the table, il s’est “mouché” d’un louis.
Moucheron, m. (popular), waiter at a wine-shop; child, or “kid.”
Mouches, f. pl. (popular), d’hiver, snow-flakes. Tuer les ——, to emit a bad smell, capable of killing even flies. Termed also tuer les —— à quinze pas. (Theatrical) Envoyer des coups de pied aux ——, to lead a disorderly life.
Mouchettes, f. pl. (popular), pocket-handkerchief, “snottinger, or wipe.” Termed “madam, or stook,” by English thieves. Des ——! equivalent to du flan! des navets! des nèfles, &c., forcible expression of refusal; may be rendered by “Don’t you wish you may get it!” or, as the Americans say, “Yes, in a horn.”
Moucheur de chandelles, m. (popular). See [Moucher].
Mouchique, adj. (popular and thieves’), base, worthless, bad, “snide.”
C’était un’ tonn’ pas mouchique,