LAWhammer Lexicon, Part 3 (Patreon)

Here's part 3 of the LAWhammer lexicon. Like Part 2, Euphimisms, Idioms, and Slang, this is a work-in-progress, so if you have any new and awesome terms you think I should include, leave a comment here or on the LAWhammer Discord and I'll take a look.

For those of you who are budding WFRP Antiquarians, a chunk of the material included here was originally written for a WFRP book I was co-authoring with Will Hindmarch for FFG called Tome of Thieves. I wrote about 50K words for that, but for reasons now lost to time, that book never saw the light of day.

But, it does mean I had a good start for building this blog post!

Lastly, like the last post, this one has been highlighted as potentially problematic by Patreon.

So, if Patreon request changes, I'll do whatever's required and post an unedited version for the final pdf.

THIEVES' CANT, A GLOSSARY

The vulgar Argot of Rogues, Villains, and Coves. A true Introduction for gentler Folk

The so-called Thieves’ Tongue is a secret argot used by thieves, beggars, rogues, and vagabonds of all kinds. Although most commonly used to hide the cozenings and knaveries of urban criminals, it has become so widespread in the poorer districts of our great cities that it now considered a discrete Reikspiel dialect. Indeed, some eminent linguists even claim it has become a full language in its own right, for all it lacks the political clout to enforce such a claim.

However one chooses to classify it, Thieves’ Tongue is an established form of communication in the Empire with a history at least five centuries long. Called Slanga by its native speakers, it is founded on the many lower-class city dialects of Reikspiel, with primary influence from three other languages: Mootish, Strigany, Tilean. The following glossary provides a selected cross-section of the words and phrases used by the language, but it should in no way be seen as exhaustive.

The following words and phrases are only known by those with Language (Thieves’ Tongue),
and may be understood by those with Etiquette (Criminals) with an Intelligence Test.

A

Angler. A thief who uses a hooked stick to fish items from open windows.

Apple Pie. 1) A clumsy thief; 2) An inexperienced thief; 3) Someone unwelcome in the underworld.

apple apples on sticks are associated with children + pie thief

‘Look at that sweet apple pie!’ Look at that inexperienced person who doesn’t belong here.

B

Bark. Threaten.

Batty-fang. To harshly punish.

From Bretonnian batte de fin beat to the end.

Bilk. A swindler or confidence artist.

Middenland/Nordland variant Bilker.

Bilking. To defraud or cheat.

‘Cove done bilked me!’ That dishonest man cheated me!

Bird. A prisoner or convict.

Black Arts. Lock picking.

Chiefly used in Wissenland and Averland.

Black Rose, the. The death sentence.

Black roses are associated with Morr, the God of Death.

‘Nah, Ol’ Thom were given the Black Rose last year’ No, Old Thom was given the death sentence last year.

Bleeding. Giving up money.

‘I’ve bled the cull already.’ I have already taken the man’s money.

Blind. Justice.

Chiefly used in Averland and Wissenland.

Blubbered. Fat.

Chiefly used in Nordland and the Wasteland.

‘You take the blubbered dog, I’ll handle this one.’ You take the fat Middenlander, I’ll handle this one.

Bobbed. 1) To cheat or trick; 2) To be upset at being cheated or tricked.

Bogger. A Wastelander.

Books. Playing cards.

‘It’s your turn to deal the books, pal.’ It’s your turn to deal the cards, my friend.

Bootying. Purposefully losing, a common gambling tactic.

‘He’s playing booty.’ He’s purposefully losing.

Brother. A pickpocket’s associate.

Typically, a brother receives stolen goods then flees the scene, ensuring the pickpocket carries no incriminating evidence.

From ‘Ranald’s Brother’, a popular tale from The Riddles Ten, a Ranaldan Holy Book.

Buck. A husband.

Bull. An Ostlander.

Bully. 1) A coward; 2) A person who pretends to be someone different.

‘The cove’s my Bullybuck’ The dishonest man pretends to be my husband.

Bullypie. A thief who encourages quarrels in order to rob both parties when their attentions are elsewhere.

bully a person who pretends to be someone else + pie thief

Bunting. 1) Petticoats; 2) Skirts.

Burn. Extort.

Butters the bacon. Pays very well.

By the blade. In the stocks or pillory.

From myths that claim Verena, Goddess of Wisdom, carries the ‘Sword of Judgement’ to threaten petty criminals, warning them not to commit worse crimes.

C

Cockling. Capital punishment of hanging.

‘The Dirty Dove was cockled.’ The thief was hung for stealing from a temple.

Cadger. A begger.

Reikland/Wissenland variant Cadge

Cadger’s Hall. A Shallyan Mercyhouse established to feed the homeless.

Cadging. Begging.

Capper. A thief who steals hats and hoods.

Cannon. A Nulner.

Derived from one of the city’s heraldic devices.

Cap’n. A thug.

Cap’n Book. A thug employed to threaten gamblers who refuse to pay because they suspect cheating.

Cat. A rogue or conman.

From Ranald, the God of Trickery’s, sacred animal.

Cat-faced. 1) Two-faced; 2) Charming.

Cat’s Eyes. Fake sores.

Commonly used by beggars to elicit sympathy.

Cauliflower. A judge.

Chasing Esme’s pig. Looking for sex.

From Mootish Shalag Esmen pog Hunting Esmerelda’s kiss.

Chink. Coins.

Chavi. A dishonest or anti-social youth.

From Strigany chavi child.

Chopped. Good.

From Altdorf rhyming slang: Chopped Wood—Good.

Chum. A person you have shared a prison cell with.

Clack. Tongue.

Clacking. Talking.

Clank. 1) Brass pennies; 2) Nothing of worth.

Clanker. An obvious lie.

Clean. Expert.

‘The doxie’s a clean miner.’ That dishonest woman is an expert lock picker.

Clod. 1) A country person; 2) A dullard.

Coachload. A large sum of money.

Cogging. Cheating at dice.

Cold Cut. A Cleric of Morr, God of Death.

Confess. Visit the privy.

Convenient. A mistress.

Cophers. Lice.

From Altdorf rhyming slang: Copher Spice—Lice. Copher is a trading city in Araby.

Copper. A member of the Watch.

Chiefly used in Altdorf, where the Watch carry copper badges.

Countess’s Court. A brothel.

Widely believed to be named for Grand Countess Emmanuelle of Nuln, but historically the phrase has been applied to other figures.

Cove. A dishonest man.

From Strigany kova that person.

Crack. Burgle.

Cracking. Burglarising.

Cracker. A burglar.

Creaking. Spilling secrets.

‘The cat creaks.’ That rogue can’t keep a secret.

Croaker. A person who always foretells doom, no matter how positive the circumstances.

Croaking. Dying.

‘That bully croaked last year.’ That coward died last year.

Cull. An honest man.

Cup-shot. Drunk.

Curb. An angler’s hook.

Curber. An angler.

Curls. Clippings shaved from coins, which typically curl.

D

Dabbling. Sexual intercourse.

From Altdorf rhyming slang: Dabbling Duck—Fuck.

Daddles. Hands.

Darker. A counterfeiter of documents, licences, and passes.

Daughter. A key.

From an obsolete Cant term, ‘locksmith’s daughter’.

Dead Water. A thieving job that yielded poor results.

Chiefly used in Reikland and the Wasteland.

Dehaglying. Throwing grit or sand in victims’ eyes before stealing from them.

From Altdorf rhyming slang: Dehagli’s Fit—Grit; Dehagli is a God of Tailoring in many parts of the Empire.

‘Dehaglied three fat culls!’ I have successfully thrown grit in the faces of three honest men, and stolen from them.

Dehagli. 1) A thief who carries grit to aid thieving; 2) a thief who pretends to assist Dehaglied victims, stealing from them as their grit-throwing associate flees.

Dell. An honest woman.

Dice. Loaded dice.

Dick. An investigator or thief-taker.

From Nordlander dialect deek see.

Dicer. A counterfeiter of coin dies.

Die Hard. To show no fear at the gallows.

Gangs often tell their members to ‘die hard’, to maintain their reputations.

Dipper. A pickpocket.

Dipping. Pickpocketing.

Dirty Doves. Thieves who regularly steal from shrines and temples.

Chiefly used in Reikland.

Disguised. Drunk.

Div. An idiot.

From Strigany divvy maddened.

Dog. A Middenheimer.

Dog Pound. Jail.

Chiefly used in Talabheim.

Dogger. A member of the Watch.

Chiefly used in Talabheim where the Watchmen wear wolf symbols of Ulric, the God of Winter, Wolves, and War.

Dolly-up. Halfling strip show.

Doomsayer. Paedophile.

So-called because Morrian Doomsayers conduct the religious rite that marks a child’s legal status changing to adult at age 10.

Done. Robbed.

Dove. A fool.

From the holy symbol of Shallya, the Goddess of Mercy. Myths claim Ranald tricked immortality from Shallya, making her ‘the fool’.

Doxie. A dishonest woman.

Dragpie. A thief who grabs goods from passing carts, wagons, and coaches.

Drake. A woman who dresses as a man.

Drakes often protect prostitutes who do not trust men to do the job. This practise is common in Altdorf, Carroburg, and Nuln.

During the Reign of Empress Karl. Never.

The focus of this phrase has changed with each new emperor.

E

Ease. Kill.

‘Make it easy for the dove!’ Kill the fool!

Escapee. A chimney sweep.

So-called, as the sweep is said to have escaped from Morr’s Realm, the afterlife of the God of Death.

Eyes. Sores, boils, and similar.

Education. Imprisonment.

From ‘Verena’s Education’ a now obsolete phrase.

‘He’s gettin’ an education.’ He’s in prison.

Elbow. A Gambler.

Elbowing. Gambling.

Empress Molrella. 1) A high-born woman with low-born tastes; 2) A woman with pretensions above her station.

Supposedly the 13th century Empress, Molrella I of Nuln, had notoriously salacious tastes.

F

Family Man. A fence.

Fat. Obviously rich.

Father. A temple.

From Altdorf rhyming slang: Father Klaus—Sigmar’s House.

Father Klaus. A Priest of Sigmar, patron God of the Empire.

Chiefly used in Altdorf. It is common practice in poorer districts of Altdorf to nickname priests you do not know ‘Father Klaus’.

Flagpie. A child or very small person hoisted through a small window to throw goods out to an awaiting thief.

Fly Rink. Bald head.

Fog. Arse.

From Altdorf rhyming slang: Fog Farce—Arse.

Frogger. Lawyer.

From Old High Reikspiel fogger lawyer.

Footpad. An unmounted robber who steals from travellers.

Frosty-faced. Pock-marked.

G

Gaffer. A member of the Watch.

Chiefly used in Averland and Stirland.

From Strigany gavva hide. Not to be confused with Mootish gaffah foreman.

Gagger. A rogue who spins tales of suffering to con well-meaning folk.

Gagging. 1) Lying; 2) Storytelling.

From Mootish gaggah talking.

Garland. A judicial champion.

From Altdorf rhyming slang: Garland Campion—Judicial Champion. Garlands awarded in Reikland for success in tourneys are often made from campion flowers.

Grease up. Capital punishment of hanging.

Chiefly in Averland, Mootland, and Stirland.

Groper. A money-lender, specifically a usurer.

Groping. Lending money.

Guild. A gang of criminals.

Gull. A very gullible person.

Gullgroper. A usurer who lends to habitual gamblers.

H

Hammer. A Sigmarite.

Hanger. Purse.

Haymaker. A usurer who lends money to prisoners so they can make bail, and often charges extortionate rates of interest.

Hen. A man who dresses as a woman.

High Tide. Indicates a potential target’s pockets are overflowing with wealth.

Chiefly used in Nordland, Reikland, and the Wasteland.

Highpad. A Highwayman; a mounted robber who steals from travellers.

Hungry Trolls and the Gobbos. Very dangerous.

‘Nah, I don’t advise it, it’s hungry trolls and the gobbos.’ No, I don’t advise that course of action, it’s very dangerous.

Hunter. A Hochlander.

I

Imperial Wedding. A marriage between a prostitute and a hardened criminal.

Ivories. Teeth.

Ivory Box. Mouth.

J

Jigger. A whipping post.

Jink. Gold crowns of dubious origin.

Karls. Hands.

From Altdorf rhyming slang: Karl-Franz—Hands.

Keeping It In The Family. Fencing goods.

Kitten. A child recently taken to thievery.

From Ranald, the God of Trickery’s, sacred animal, the cat.

Knuckles. Dice.

Kushty. Very good.

From Strigany kushtipen very good.

L

Lattice Pie. A burglar who pretends to be a lamp lighter, granting the right to carry a ladder in order to reach high windows.

Library. A deck of cards.

Lifter. A thief who steals from shops and markets.

Lifting. Stealing from a shop or market.

Lily pad. A thief who steals from moored boats.

Livestock. Lice, fleas, and similar parasites.

Lollipop. Capable child thief.

From Strigany loli phabai red apple. It is a common Strigany custom to sell sugared apples, which are popular with children.

Look out for. Protect.

Lord of the Narrow Sea. A drunkard who urinates under a table on the shoes of those sitting opposite.

Low Tide. Indicates someone with empty pockets and purses.

Chiefly used in Nordland, Reikland, and the Wasteland.

Lumber. Stolen goods.

Lumber Yard. A safe house, typically used to store stolen goods.

M

Magpie. Someone trying too hard to look like a rogue; often used in reference to an outsider.

From Ranald’s sacred animal, the magpie.

‘Nah, just a pair o’ magpies!’ No, it’s just two outsiders who think they fit in.

Maiden’s. 1) Darkness; 2) Night-time.

From the largely obsolete phrase ‘Maiden Time’, which refers to a time where all can see as well as the Blind Maiden, who is a symbol for Verena, Goddess of Justice.

Maiden’s Bluff. The act of hiding in a house during the day, so it can be opened at night to let in other burglars.

Marine Officer. A useless person.

Chiefly used in Altdorf and Nordland. So-called because Reiklander Naval Officers are widely claimed to be useless by most seaman.

Mastiff. 1) A bailiff; 2) Someone working for a bailiff.

Miller. Murderer.

Milling. 1) Breaking someone free from jail; 2) Stealing; 3) Killing.

Milling Tilean. A pit fighter.

Miner. A lock picker.

Mining. Lock picking.

Mineshaft. 1) A building to be entered by lock picking; 2) a criminal job centred around lock-picking

Mobility. Commoners.

From ‘The Mob’; used in counterpoint to the nobility.

Moll. A harlot.

Supposedly named for Empress Molrella I of Wissenland.

Moller. A person in charge of a brothel.

Morr’s boob. Murderer.

Although widely believed to mean ‘Morr’s Fool’, is actually derived from High Reikspiel mordbube murder boy.

Morr’s Fayre. A public execution.

Moveables. Rings, brooches, bangles, and similar, easily removed jewellery.

Mullered. Very drunk.

From Strigany mullerd murdered.

N

Nark. An informer to the Watch.

From Strigany nakki nose.

Norser. A Nordlander.

O

Old Sheaf. Wife.

Owler. 1) A judge; 2) A Cleric of Verena.

From Verena, the Goddess of Justice’s, sacred animal, the owl.

Owl Shunter. A member of the Watch, often shortened to just Shunter.

Chiefly used in Nuln.

P

Pa Bloater. The Plague Lord, Nurgle.

Pad. 1) A road; 2) A robber; a thief who steals from travellers.

Pal. A friend.

From Strigany pral brother.

Parade. A horse.

Parader. A thief who cuts bags from passing horses.

Peeking. Being on guard duty.

Pelter. A cleric or templar of Ulric.

Pie. A Thief.

From Ranald, the God of Trickery’s, sacred animal, the magpie.

Pie Eater. Watchman; commonly, just Eater is used.

Pieman. 1) A master thief; 2) A fence.

Piking it. Running away.

Pincher. A thief who palms money when counting it to another, stealing a proportion.

Plaster. Owed money.

See Plastering.

Plastering. Paying money that is owed.

So-called because walls are often used to hide coins, which must be broken then replastered after larger debts are paid.

Plum Pie. A female-presenting thief who employs femininity to steal from others.

Pot. Head.

Prince, the. Ranald, God of Trickery.

From Ranald’s sobriquet, ‘The Prince of Cats’.

R

Rabbit. A child.

Ravenposts. Gallows.

From Morr, the God of Death’s, sacred animal, the raven.

Rhya’s Plea. A claim of pregnancy by a woman convicted of a capital crime.

Some courts, especially Verenean courts, will not punish an unborn child for a mother’s misdeeds.

Rigging. 1) Conning (Chiefly used in the Wasteland); 2) Putting on one’s clothes.

Rum. 1) Odd (Chiefly used in Stirland); 2) Good; 3) Valuable (Chiefly used in the Wasteland).

S

Sausage. A cleric or templar of Sigmarite.

Savings. Lawyers.

From Altdorf rhyming slang: Savings Sawyer—Lawyer.

Scab. 1) A worthless man; 2) A man without skills.

Scraper. A counterfeiter of fine art.

Scran. Food.

Common in Middenland, Nordland, and Hochland.

From Strigany scatan to eat.

Scratchlander. Stirlander.

So-called because all Stirlanders are said to have fleas.

Scrump. To steal.

From Mootish scrump to steal apples.

Scrumper. Thief

From Mootish scrumper apple thief.

Seaman. A Marienburger.

Sell a Cat. Lie.

Shimmy. A silver shilling.

Shiner. A gold crown.

Chiefly used in Altdorf.

Shiv. An improvised knife.

From Strigany chivomengro knife.

Shop. A prison.

Simple. A poison.

Silver Laced. Infested with lice.

Sixer. A usurer.

So-called, as any charge of over five in a hundred is viewed by most as criminal.

Skimming. Embezzling.

Skimmer. An Embezzler.

Skuller. An Altdorfer.

From one of the city’s heraldic devices.

Slanga. Thieves’ Tongue.

From Varg Norscan slaangu secret language. This origin means the word is seen as heretical by some religious scholars.

Slanger. 1) A liar; 2) Someone who knows Thieves’ Tongue.

Smudger. Shallya.

So-called because the Goddess’s eternal tears would cause her paint to run.

Snoot. 1) A Highwayman that only robs from the rich, and treats victims with courtesy; 2) A fanciful claim, unlikely to be true.

Sop. A bribe.

Squelch. Fragile or weak.

‘The rum tailor-pie’s squelch, but he has me plaster, so I’m looking out for the cove.’ That odd, dishonest Marienburger thief is weak, but he owes me money, so I’m protecting him.

Squelchies. Fragile goods.

Stalling. Being inducted into a gang of criminals.

Stateman. A beggar or rogue who pretends to be an injured soldier.

Stretch. One yard.

Sticks. Pistols.

Stop Temple. The main hideout of a gang of criminals.

T

Tailor. Averlander.

So-called for the number of tailors to be found in Averheim.

Thumbing. Pressing the thumb into an eye for the purpose of permanently blinding.

This is a common practice with gangs from Ostland and Ostermark.

Tilling. Fetching.

‘The gull’s tilling scran.’ The gullible person is fetching food.

Toaster. A fencing sword.

Tobaro. A sword.

Tobaran blades are said to be some of the finest in the world.

Tobarese Pie. A thief that swipes swords from sheathes and runs.

Togs. Clothes.

From Strigany toig sclothes.

Tooth-pick. A cosh or cudgel.

Top. Strike someone on the head.

Topper. An executioner.

Totter. A bonepicker or rag-and-bone seller.

From Strigany totter seller of waste items.

Totting. Selling rag and bone.

From Strigany tottin selling waste items.

Traders. 1) Thieves; 2) Members of a gang of criminals.

Tuppence. Clerics and templars of Morr, the God of Death.

So-called because of Morrian traditions where coins are placed over a corpse’s eyes.

Tusker. Talabheimer.

From the myths that Taal, the God of Wild Places, often appeared as a Boar.

Twitcher. A thief who hovers near alley entrances whipping cloaks from passers’ backs.

Chiefly used in Talabheim.

V

Velveteen. A noble.

So-called for the green velvet cloaks worn by nobles at the Altdorf court. Chiefly used in Reikland.

W

Waits. Musicians paid to play beneath the windows of the rich at night.

Waiters. Thieves who pose as waits.

Wash. Paint worn on the face to enhance attractiveness or aid disguises.

Watch Harvest. A bad time to attempt a crime.

Whisker. A great lie.

Windy. Foolish.

With A Rose. With an expectation of privacy.

Roses, the sacred flower of Morr, are often arranged on tables when a meeting is solemn and private, and none should discuss its details with others. The roses are often chosen for their closeness to gang colours.

Wonga. Coins or wealth.

From Strigany vonga coal.

Written out. Arrested

‘The totter were written out last week.’ The bone-picker was arrested last week.

*  *  *

That's the section done. I could easily have written another hundred entries here and still had more to say, but this is a great start.

And, yes, now all four of the old Troll games have been referenced. I call that a personal win.

Next up for the Lexicon will be some noble Banter. Until then!