Perpendiculaire, f. (thieves’ and cads’), watch-guard, or “slang.” Secouer la ——, to steal a watch-guard, “to claim a slang.”
Perpète, f. (thieves’), à ——, for life. Etre gerbé à ——, to be sentenced to transportation for life, to be booked for a “lifer.”
Perpignan, m. (coachmen’s), whip-handle. It appears that the best whip-handles come from Perpignan.
Perroquet, m. (familiar), glass of absinthe. Asphyxier, étouffer, étrangler, plumer, or tortiller un ——, to drink absinthe. Perroquet de savetier, blackbird. It is worthy of remark that blackbirds are great favourites with cobblers in all countries.
Perruche, f. (popular), glass of absinthe.
Perruque, adj. and f. (familiar), old-fashioned. (Popular) Faire en ——, to procure anything by fraud. Used especially by workmen in reference to any of their own tools procured at the expense of the master.
Perruquemar, m. (popular), hairdresser. From perruquier. Termed also “merlan.”
Perruquier, m. (military). Dache, —— des zouaves, an imaginary character. Allez donc raconter cela à Dache, tell that to the marines. (Popular) Perruquier de la crotte, shoeblack.
Persiennes, f. pl. (popular), spectacles, “barnacles, or gig-lamps.”
Persigner (thieves’), to break open; —— une lourde, to break open a door, “to strike a jigger;” —— un client, to cheat a man, “to stick a cove.”