Saint Benedict's Tongue

Saint Benedict's Tongue: Cant, thieves' cant, thieves' slang
Saint Benedict's Script: A series of symbols written by criminals in chalk or paint, or carved into walls, to communicate with other criminals. Also used to refer to letter-writing etiquette and codes among the criminal classes.
From Saint Benedict, who was executed because he refused to repent his beliefs in face of his captors and instead spoke only nonsense when questioned.

---

Saint Benedict's Tongue (also known as Thieves' Speech or simply Cant) is the slang spoken particularly by the criminals of [Placeholder: City Name]. It's made of a mixture of abbreviations, religious or cultural references, local slang and other disguised phrases, and at times can be spoken so thickly that it entirely disguises the real meaning of the sentence and seems like another nonsense language altogether.

The written variant consists of symbols used to convey simple ideas, usually of a criminal nature.

Thieves' Script

Saint Benedict's Script by Rey-Writes

The written form of Cant consists of a series of symbols, used to indicate things to other criminals. It is not suitable for writing full letters or long communications, as it has little in the way of sophisticated grammar or even a large vocabulary. The specific symbols are made to be largely abstract and are changed over time, to prevent wary homeowners or the city watch getting wise to their meanings.
Basic symbols can be combined to give more complex information, but are not really suitable for conveying messages, due to the lack of grammar or, for that matter, verbs.
The symbols are usually chalked onto walls in inconspicuous places, often where they are unlikely to be seen by anyone except a thief. (E.g. these symbols may be found on the chimney stacks of some houses, where only a climbing thief will see them.) They may be scratched or carved into wood or stone if the owner of the house is believed to be particularly unobservant, or if the symbol needs to be more permanent, such as a dire warning.

Saint Benedict's Tongue: Dictionary

Where it is known, the origin of the slang term is listed in the far right. This final column is a work in progress.

---

Cant Term	Use	Definition	Origin
Anoint	Verb	Beat	From the idea that someone who has been severely beaten will need to "anoint" their wounds afterwards.
Ash tree	Noun	Gallows	Gallows in the city were supposedly traditionally made from the wood of ash trees.
Blinker	Verb	To give someone a black eye	From the idea that a person with a black eye will have difficulty seeing, like a horse wearing blinkers.
Bluebottle	Noun	Police constable	From the Watch's blue uniforms.
Brass	Noun	Money, coin	From metal coins (not that these have ever been made of brass)
Broads	Noun	Cards	Unknown
Broadsman	Noun	Charlatan who cheats at cards	From Broads
Buttoner	Noun	Assistant to a broadsman; someone who helps another person cheat at cards	Unknown
Canting crew	Noun	A gang of thieves	Originally from the term "thieves' cant" meaning the jargon used by thieves and criminals.
Canting crow	Noun	An unlicensed doctor, usually one catering to criminals	Originally from the term "thieves' cant" meaning the jargon used by thieves and criminals. Potentially a pun on "canting crew".
Church	Verb	Remove identifying marks from	From the idea of making the item "pure" i.e. untraceable.
Cobbler	Noun	Fence; receiver of stolen goods	Unknown
Crow	Noun	Doctor	Possibly based on the shape of plague doctors' masks. Possibly based on the cynical idea that doctors show up to dying patients like crows to carrion.
Dance beneath the ash	Metaphor/Idiom	To be hanged	Gallows in the city were supposedly traditionally made from the wood of ash trees.
Hemp fever	Noun	Hanged	From the hempen rope used to make a noose.
Magpie	Noun	Wealthy businessman	From "magnate". May also be a reference to their attraction to shiny things (i.e. their large fortunes.)
Monniker	Noun	Signature	Originally a term used to describe a thief's unique mark (see above) which acted as a kind of signature when scrawled near to other thief script. Now used to refer to traditional signatures as well.
Nails	Noun	Lockpicks	From their shape.
Nate	Noun	Wealthy businessman	From "magnate".
Outsider	Noun	Someone who infiltrates premises by disguising themselves as staff or a guard, or posing as someone with a right to be there.	From the idea of getting an "outsider" onto the inside. Self-evident.
Paperhanger	Noun	Forger, esp. of cheques or banknotes	Unknown
Rookery	Noun	Slum	As the slums have been said to resemble (both in sight, sound and smell) rooks' nesting colonies.
Saint Benedict's Tongue	Noun	Cant; thieves' speak; thieves' jargon	From Saint Benedict, a martyr who refused to repent or speak to his captors and instead spoke only nonsense.
Sanctify	Verb	Remove identifying marks from	From the idea of making the item "pure" i.e. untraceable.
Setter	Noun	Watchman, guard	Named after setter dogs, who are known for obediently and persistently tracking prey.
Sharp	Noun	Card swindler, cheater at cards	Unknown
Sighthound	Noun	Lookout, guard at a fixed post	Similar to Setter, sighthounds are known for hunting by sight and speed.
Sixteeth	Noun	A six-barrelled pistol or gun	From the six barrels. Origin of "teeth" unknown.
Skipper	Noun	Second-in-command; sometimes leader of a small or temporary crew	From naval slang.
Spark	Noun	Jewel or gemstone, esp. a diamond	From their small, bright appearance.
Stick	Noun	Informant	Unknown

Dictionary

32 Words.