Quand on couche sur la plume de la Beauce (la paille), des rideaux, c’est du luxe.—Vidocq.
Piausser sur la —— de Beauce, to sleep in the straw. (Popular) Plumes, hair, or “thatch.” Termed also “tifs, douilles, douillards.” Se faire des plumes, or paumer ses plumes, to feel dull, to have the “blues.” (Familiar) Ecrire ses mémoires avec une —— de quinze pieds was said formerly of galley slaves. An allusion to the long oar which such convicts had to ply on board the old galleys. (Military) Plume! an ejaculation to denote that the soldier referred to will spend the night at the guard-room or in prison. An ironical allusion to the expression “coucher dans la plume,” to sleep in a featherbed, and to the hard planks which are to form the culprit’s couch. (Journalists’) Gen de ——, literary man. The term is used disparagingly.
C’est comme ça! continue le gen de plume. X... a osé m’envoyer son ouvrage en vers ... oh! la! la! quelle guitare!—Louise Michel.
Plumeau, m. (popular), va donc vieux ——! get along, you old fool, or “doddering old sheep’s head.”
Plumepatte, m., synonymous of [Dache] (which see).
Plumer (thieves’), le pantre, or faire la grèce, is said of rogues who, having formed an acquaintance with travellers whom they fall in with in the vicinity of railway stations, take them to a neighbouring café and induce them to play at some swindling game, with the result that the pigeon’s money changes hands. (Popular) Plumer, to sleep. Se ——, to go to bed.
Plumet, m. (familiar and popular), avoir son ——, to be drunk, or “tight.” Termed also “avoir son petit jeune homme, être paf, s’être piqué le nez.” For other synonyms see [Pompette]. One day, in 1853, Alfred de Musset, who then had become a confirmed tippler of absinthe, called on M. Empis, the manager of the Théâtre Français, and asked one of the officials of the theatre to introduce him into his presence. The official entered the directorial office, says Philibert Audebrand, when the following dialogue took place:—
—Monsieur le directeur ...
—Quoi? qu’y a-t-il?
—Eh bien, c’est M. Alfred de Musset.