Prima dona. See [Egout].
[Prin], m. (schools’), head of a school, the “gaffer.” Abbreviation of principal.
[Prince], m. (popular), one who suffers from the itch. See [Principauté]. Prince du sang, murderer; —— russe, man who keeps a woman.
[Principauté], f. (popular), the itch. A play on principauté de Galles and gale, itch. Termed in English slang, “Scotch fiddle.” “To play the Scotch fiddle,” says the Slang Dictionary, “is to work the index finger of the right hand like a fiddlestick between the index and middle fingers of the left. This provokes a Scotchman in the highest degree, as it implies that he has the itch. It is supposed that a continuous oatmeal diet is productive of cutaneous affection.” In Scotland the ejaculation, “God bless the Duke of Argyle!” is an insinuation made, when one shrugs his shoulders, of its being caused by parasites, or cutaneous affection. It is said to have been originally the thankful exclamation of the Glasgow folk at finding a certain row of iron posts, erected by his Grace in that city to mark the division of his property, very convenient to rub against. Some say the posts were put up purposely for the benefit of the good folk of Glasgow, who were at the time suffering from the “Scotch fiddle.”
Prine, wife of the “[prin]” (which see).
Prison, f. (popular), être dans la —— de Saint-Crépin, to have tight boots on. Saint-Crépin is the patron saint of shoemakers.
Probité, f. (thieves’), kindness.
Si je ne suis pas si gironde (gentille) j’ai un bon cœur; tu l’as vu lorsque je lui portais le pagne à la Lorcefé (la provision à la Force); c’est là qu’il a pu juger si j’avais de la probité (bonté).—Vidocq.
Problème, m. (students’), watch chain in the possession of the owner. The problem is, how comes it that such an ornament is not at the pawnshop?
Produisante, f. (thieves’), the earth.