Simple English-to-Cant | Simple Cant-to-English

English to Cant Dictionary

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Below is a reference dictionary for the simple form of thieves' cant, from English-to-cant (English words are to the left, and their cant definitions are on the right). The simple form of thieves' cant uses slang and certain code words to hide its true meaning. The simple thieves' cant was used by many common lower class individuals (not just thieves), and was often known by law officials who had been in the field for some time.

Alternatively, there is an advanced form of the Thieves' Cant:
Advanced Thieves' Cant: Introduction | Advanced English-to-Cant | Advanced Cant-to-English
Return to the Thieves' Cant Main Page

English	Cant
AReturn to top
Abandoned person	Blasted fellow, brimstone, lurch
Accomplice	Hired Help
Arrested	boned, hooked, invited, nabbed, pulled, roasted, snapt, touched
Assassin	Hit Man
BReturn to top
English	Cant
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
CReturn to top
English	Cant
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/swindler	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
DReturn to top
English	Cant
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
EReturn to top
English	Cant
Earrings	Lobe Latches
Emerald	Green Beer
Escape	Bing, burning ken, hike, rub
FReturn to top
English	Cant
Feign illness	Sham abram
Fence	Uncle
Flogging, whipping	Getting Stripes
Follow	Drag
Fool	Ben, cullability, gudgeon, gull, milch cow, pigeon, queer
GReturn to top
English	Cant
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
HReturn to top
English	Cant
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
IReturn to top
English	Cant
Illegal Goods	Contraband
Inform	Cackle, long tongued, nose, office, peach, rat, sing
Informant	A hole in need of a plugging
Injury	Scratch
Injury, serious	Broken finger
Innocent	Dodgies
JReturn to top
English	Cant
Jail	Guesthouse
Jail break	Goin' home
Jewel	Booze
Jewelry	Fancy Booze
Judge	Beak, fortune teller, grandpa, queer cuffin
KReturn to top
English	Cant
Kill	Crash, have a chat with, use up
Knock unconcious	Tuck in bed
LReturn to top
English	Cant
Lantern	Darkee, glim
Larceny	Racket
Lawyer	Black box, cursitor, petty fogger, puzzle-case
Lead	Moss
License	Jukrum
Lie	Amuse, gamon, palaver
Light (weight)	Thin woman
Lock	Joke
Lockpick	Punchline, charm, dub, kate, screw
Lockpicker	Gilt
Lockpicking	Black art, dub lay
Lookout	Pair of eyes
Loot	Stuffing
Loot from a theft	Score
Losing a hand (legal punishment)	Dropping a glove
MReturn to top
English	Cant
Magic	Flash
Magic item	Bagged flash
Man	Cove
Mistress of brothel	Nypper, reader merchants
Money	Bits
NReturn to top

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