Pieds, m. pl. (popular), avoir mangé ses ——, to have an offensive breath. Se tirer des ——, to go away, to run away, “to hook it.” See [Patatrot]. Où mets-tu tes pieds? what are you meddling about? (Military) Avoir les —— de châlit, to be particular, careful. Avoir les —— nattés, to feel a disinclination for going out, or not to be able to go out. (Printers’) Pieds de mouche, notes in a book, generally printed in small type. (Thieves’) Avoir les —— attachés dans le dos, to be dogged by the police, “to get a roasting.” (Popular and thieves’) Bénir des pieds, to be hanged, “to swing, to be scragged.” Termed formerly “to fetch a Tyburn stretch,” or “to preach at Tyburn Cross,” alluding to the penitential speeches made on such occasions. In olden times a hanged person was termed in France “évêque des champs,” alluding to the cap which was drawn over the face of the convict, and which represented the mitre, also to the convulsive movements of his legs. It was the custom to erect the gallows in the open country. Hence the expression, “évêque des champs qui donne la bénédiction avec les pieds.”
Pier (thieves’), old word, to drink. In English slang, “to liquor up,” and, as the Americans term the act, “to smile,” or “to see the man.” See [Rincer].
Pierre, f. (popular), à affûter, bread, or “soft tommy;” (freemasons’) —— brute, bread; (thieves’) —— de touche, confrontation of a malefactor with his victim or with witnesses.
Pierreau, m. (military), recruit, or “Johnny raw.” Also soldier who has been for one year in the corps.
Ils tranchaient les questions d’un mot, ... considéraient du haut de leur importance les brigadiers qu’ils qualifiaient de bleus et de pierreaux, comme s’ils fussent arrivés de la veille.—G. Courteline.
Pierreuse, f. (popular), prostitute of the lowest class, who generally prowls near heaps of stones on the road, or in building yards, “draggle-tail.” See [Gadoue]. Concerning this class of prostitutes Léo Taxil says: “Il est une classe absolument ignoble, qui est la lie des filles en carte: les pierreuses. On donne ce nom à un genre particulier de femmes qui ont vieilli dans l’exercice de la prostitution du plus bas étage ... elles sortent la nuit ... elles stationnent auprès des chantiers ou à proximité des terrains vagues.”
[Pierrot], m. (popular), glass of white wine. Asphyxier un ——, to drink a glass of white wine. Pierrot, properly, is a pantomimic character with face painted white and dressed in white attire. (Hairdressers’) Pierrot, application of lather on the face; (military) recruit, or “Johnny raw.” Termed also “bleu.”
Les anciens commencèrent par faire la sourde oreille, supportèrent avec patience les quolibets et les piqûres d’aiguille jusqu’au jour où un “pierrot,” tout nouvellement arrivé ... reçut une paire de calottes.—G. Courteline.
Also bad soldier who shirks his duty and incurs punishment.
De temps en temps, l’adjudant Flick, en cherchant ses deux “pierrots,” constatait leur disparition. Les deux pierrots ... s’étaient donné un peu d’air. Ces bordées duraient six journées, au bout desquelles ils revenaient fiers comme des paons, frisant la désertion de cinq minutes.—G. Courteline.