On dit que tu as poissé nos philippes (filouté nos pièces d’or).—Balzac.
Philippine, f. (familiar and popular). When a person cracks an almond for another, should there be a double kernel, he who cries out first, “Bonjour, Philippine!” can exact a present from the other. The word seems to be a corruption of the German vielliebchen.
Philistin, m. (artists’), a man who belongs to a different set, an outsider, a bourgeois, a “Philistine.” The Slang Dictionary says: “Society is supposed to regard all outside its bounds as belonging to the Philistine world. Bohemians regard all cleanly, orderly people who conform to conventionality as Philistines;” (medical) medical man who, not being on the staff of an hospital, visits the establishment, generally prolonging his stay more than is pleasant or convenient for the members of the staff; (tailors’) journeyman tailor. In the English slang a Philistine is a policeman. The German students call all townspeople not of their body “Philister,” as English ones say “cads.” The departing student says, mournfully, in one of the Burschenlieder: “Muss selber nun Philister sein!” i.e. “I must now Philistine be!”
Philosophe, m. (popular), poverty-stricken, or “quisby;” old or cheap shoe.
Plus d’une ci-devant beauté, aujourd’hui réduite à l’humble caraco de drap, à la jupe de molleton et aux sabots, si elle ne préfère les “philosophes” (souliers à quinze, vingt et vingt-cinq sols).—Vidocq.
Philosophe, rag-picker, or “bone-grubber.” Philosophes de neuf jours, shoes out at the sole. (Thieves’) Un ——, one of the light-fingered gentry, see [Grinche]; card-sharper who dispenses with the assistance of an accomplice.
Philosophie, f. (popular), poverty, neediness.
Photographier (popular), allez vous faire ——, go to the deuce, “go to pot.”
Pi, parler en ——, to add “pi” to each syllable of a word. Thus couteau becomes coupiteaupi.
Piaf, m. (thieves’), pride; boasting, “bouncing.”