Thieves' Cant

Created by Thieves Guild, edited by Daem0nSpade

"A colorful language that is." One of the older thieves guild members says to his apprentice: " You see, the pigs can't understand thieves' cant, we can talk openly about borrowing bits without raising anyone's suspicion. And that's not all, everyone of the trade can be distinguished by their markings. Do you remember how we recognize the assassins?" While keeping his eyes on his mark the apprentice thief answers:" by their silver viper broch on their cloak." His master, not responding, makes a motion with his hand as if he is unlocking a door that is not there. The thieves apprentice, covered by the shadow of night, darts forward towards the dimly lit window and slips inside...

Vocabulary

A

Cant

English

Abandoned person

Blasted fellow, brimstone, lurch

Accomplice

Hired Help

Arrested

boned, hooked, invited, nabbed, pulled, roasted, snapt, touched

Assassin

Hit Man

B

Cant

English

Backstab

Shoulder tap

Beer

Bowse

Beggars

Abram men, autem mort, dommerer, Mad Tom, rattling mumpers, rufflers, Tom of Bedlam

Begging

Angling for coppers, maunding

Big (size)

Tall man

Boat

Ark

Body

Quarromes

Body thieves

Ressurection men

Booty

Quota, swag, whack

Brandy

Bingo

Bribe

Expense money

Brothel

Academy, snoozing ken

Burglar, professional

Rounder

Burglary

Visitin' the neighbors

C

Cant

English

Calf, stolen

Blater

Call for Police

Cry beef

Cart

Gaoler's coach

Climb

Taking a big step

Cloak

Calle

Club

Jordain, oaken towel

Coach man

Rattling cove

Coin shavings

Nig, parings

Coin, fake

Button, dump

Commiting crimes

Rooton'

Con

Amuse, bilk, fob, fun, fuzz, hoodwink, sham

Con artist/swindle

Pigeon Plucker

Con man

Amuser, jack in a box, needle point, nip, sharper

Con/swindle victim

Pigeon

Copper

Rust

Counterfeited

Confect

Counterfeiter

Bene feaker, figure dancer, queer bit maker

Counterfeiting

Drawing the King's picture, sweating

Courthouse

Nubbing ken

Criminals being transported

Barrow man, lag

Criminals in the stocks

Babes in the wood, nappered, overseer

Criminals with hands burned

Badge, charactered

Crowbar

Bess, Betty, ginny, jemmy

D

Cant

English

Dagger

Pig poker

Danger

Lay

Day

Lightmans

Death sentence

Cramp word

Dagger

Pig poker

Danger

Lay

Day

Lightmans

Death sentence

Cramp word

Diamond

Chunk o' Gin

Die

Goin' Legit

Dog

Fang, bufe

Door

Lid

Drunk

Clear

E

Cant

English

Earrings

Lobe Latches

Emerald

Green Beer

Escape

Bing, burning ken, hike, rub

F

Cant

English

Feign illness

Sham abram

Fence

Uncle

Flogging, whipping

Getting Stripes

Follow

Drag

Fool

Ben, cullability, gudgeon, gull, milch cow, pigeon, queer

G

Cant

English

Gallows

Chatts, deadly nevergreen, Gregorian Tree, morning drop, new drop, Newman's lift, nubbing cheat, sheriff's picture frame, three legged mare, three legged stool, topping cheat

Gang

Birds of a feather

Gloves

Fams

Gold

Yellow Tin

Good

Bene, rum

Guard

Pig

Guard, Head of the

Papa Porker

Guildsman, high-standing

Made Guy

Gypsies

Cattle, moon men

H

Cant

English

Hanged

Acorn, artichoked, beilby's ball, cry cockles, cropped, dangled, frummagemmed, hearty choked, hempen fever, ironmongers shop, jammed, leaf, noozed, nubbing, ridin' the rope, scragged, stretched, swing, turned off

Hangman

Derrick, Jack Ketch, Ketch, nubbing cove, sheriff's journeyman, topping cove

Healer, underworld

Tinker

Heavy (weight)

Fat lady

Hello

Knock-knock

Hide

Shadow dance, Crawl in a hole

Hideout

Dive, fencing ken, flash ken, stalling ken, stop hole abbey, stuling ken

Highway

Pad

Highway robbery

Recruiting service

Highwayman

Colt, gentleman's master, high pad, knight of the road, land pirate, rank rider

Hit

Click

Honest man

Cull

House

Crib, ken, panny

Housebreaker

Cracksman, draw latch, Ken Miller, Ken Cracker, rushers

Common Phrases

-Uncle is out of town::The fence has been captured--