T h i e v e s   C a n t
Here I've written some thieves cant I've found on the net. More will be added and I'm going to try and encorperate it into my fan-fiction since I am a thief:)
PS. Most of this cant is medieval England stuff but some of it in french and since Gypsies come from all over....anyways, it's kind of neat!
Thieves and rogues are generally the same. Thieves have more class, that's all!
Ace of Spades : A widow
Ride a horse foaled by an acorn : To be hanged from the gallows
Affidavit Men: Someone who will swear to anything in court; a witness for hire
Anabaptist: A pickpocket caught in the act and thrown in a pond
Angling for coppers: To beg from a prison window
Artichoke: To be hanged
Bene Darkmans: Good night
Birds of a feather: Rogues of the same gang
Blue pigeons: Thieves who steal off houses and other buildings
Brimstone: An abandoned woman or thief
Bubber:  A thief who steals from taverns
Button:  A fake coin
Cackle: To inform on a thief
Calle: A cloak worn in disguise
Canting Crew: Thieves or beggars
Charm: A lockpick
Cloyes:  Thieves
Dimber Damber: A chief thief
Die hard:  Show no fear of gallows
Fidlam ben:  Thieves
Frummagemmed:  strangled or hung
Gallows bird:  A thief or pickpocket or someone who talks with them
Gilt: A thief who picks locks
Jukrum: The permission of the head of a thieves guild to operate within his territory
Moon curser: A thief who uses the darkness as cover for his crime
Nose: A criminal who gives evidence against his colleagues in order to gain a lighter sentence
Onion: A seal or signet ring
Quarromes: A body
Queer cuffin: A justice of the peace
Rum bob:  A skilled apprentice thief
Snap the glaze: Brake a window
Twig:  Realize that something is up
Zad:  A very crooked person

Over 50 ways to say " T h i e f "

Adam Tiler, anabaptist, anglers, ark ruffians, autem divers,
bawdy basket, blue pigeons, Bob, bubber, bufe napper, bung nipper, buzman, canters, canting crew, Captain Sharp, clank, napper, cloyes,cracksman, draw latches, dromedary, fagger, fidlam ben, filcher, footpad, foyst, gallows bird, gilt,glazier, hooker, kiddeys, little snakesman, lully priggers, made man, moon curser, napper of naps,natty lads, nypper, old hand, pad borrowers, poulterer, priggers, priggers of prancers, priggers of cacklers, queer cove, reader merchant, ressurection men,Robert's men, rovers, shoplifter, sneak, swaddler, tayle drawer, waterpad, whip jack


Back to Cloverleaf