A Brief Lexicon of the Cant of Theives and other Undesirables

Of all the languages I have had opportunity to study, the language of the Theives, also known as Cant has been the most fascinating, and the most dangerous. This list I have published anonymously for fear of the repercussions that would be sure to follow.

• ALFAFL – Second Law of Thieves. Acronym for Always Look For A Free Lunch. Always seize opportunity. 
• Arch – A captain just under the head of the guild; 10th-level thief. 
• Arch Wench – Captain in charge of trollops and beggars. 
• Arch Beggar – Chief of beggars; “The Honorable Gentleman.” 
• Arch Spy – Senior spy officer in the Guild of Whispers; “The Ear.” 
• Aunt’s Place – A safehouse location. 
• Badger – Highwayman; waylays pilgrims, travelers, caravans. 
• Baker's Bag – A payment pouch intentionally light to cheat the receiver.
• Bawler – Priest or curate. 
• Beak – Judge, magistrate, or other civil authority. 
• Bent – Caught by the guild (as opposed to by the law). 
• Black Lantern – Decoy or false lead to lure a target into a trap. 
• Bleat – To swear in court, testify, or sign a warrant. 
• Bleater – Victim of the guild; or a complainer in the guild. 
• Block – About 1 gold bar or 2,000 coins. 
• Blood – Net take from a job, after expenses and splits; “thick” or “thin.” 
• Bare Orchard – A graveyard; also a street/alley where bodies turn up often. 
• Booth – House/building. 
• Bowman – Second-story thief or wall climber. 
• Brasser – Someone who lies boldly without shame, even when caught. 
• Bricky – Stupid, frustrating, dead weight. 
• Bright – Haul of mostly silver coins. 
• Button Box – Hidden compartment in clothing or gear.
• Cackle – Formal confession of a crime to civil authority. 
• Call – Permission, especially from a higher rank to a lower. 
• Candlejack - A way of describing good and bad luck, also a mythological figure who plays prominently in the cosmology of many thieves.
• Cank – One who refuses to confess to civil authority. 
• Cat – Copper coin. 
• Chalked – Secretly marked for later theft, observation, or attack. 
• Charm(er) – Lock-picking tool; or to use it, someone who picks locks 
• Clay – Hidden savings, often toward “retirement”; usually theoretical. 
• Cock – Silver coin. 
• Cooler – Woman. 
• Cousin – Guild member, not necessarily from the same city. 
• Clink – Coins. 
• Cloak – Fence; one who buys or exchanges stolen goods. 
• Creeping – Earning an honest living.
• Crew – Gang of thieves under an Uncle. 
• Crooked – Operating as a thief without guild approval. 
• Crow’s Dice – Rigged or loaded game of chance. 
• DALOFARING – Fifth Law of Thieves. Acronym for Doors Are Left Open For A Reason; It’s Never Good. Beware traps. 
• Debbie – Underperforming thief; amateur. 
• Dinner – Scheduled, regular guild meeting. 
• Dipping – Taking a cut; legitimately receiving a share. 
• Dive(r) – Picking pockets, a pickpocket. 
• Dog – Platinum coin. 
• Doll’s Eye – Harmless or distracted look meant to hide true intent. 
• Drag the Line – Investigate thoroughly, especially for missing goods or people. 
• Dreambox – A dead drop or prearranged hiding place to exchange goods or messages without meeting. 
• Dustman’s Cut – Payment for hiding or disposing of evidence. 
• Eye – Second-story or higher window. 
• Fancy – Platinum. 
• Fat – 60%–95% cut. 
• Finger – Assassin; member who kills for money. 
• Four-Lock Job – High-risk, high-security theft. 
• Friend – Intended victim; “Old Friend” is a former victim. 
• Friendly – Easily moved loot; cash, especially gold. 
• Gild the Coin – Bribe someone unnecessarily to secure future favor. 
• Goose – Gold coin. 
• Grand Dame – Arch Wench; head of the Madames. 
• Gropers – Beggars; vagrants. 
• Hack – One who earns by fighting or soldiering. 
• Hand – Head of the Assassins; feared enforcer. 
• Heater – Man. 
• Heaving – Drawing breath; barely making a living. 
• Heavy – Loot hard to move or carry; needs a fence. 
• Hen – Madame; lieutenant of the Grand Dame. 
• Hit – Ten coins. 
• Honorable Gentleman – Chief beggar of the town. 
• Hue – Whip or flog; punish by civil authority. 
• Hug – Close-quarters stabbing. 
• Inkhand – Forger or falsifier of documents. 
• Jenny – Any thief’s tool except a lock pick. 
• Joker – Hired betrayer embedded in another crew. 
• Jolly - Look out for a job
• Kin – Thieves not in the same crew but under the same Prince. 
• Lad – Guilded thief. 
• Large – One hundred coins. 
• Lamp Widow – Broken or disabled lock, left as a warning. 
• Lung – Screaming child, especially infant or toddler. 
• Lurched – Beaten at a game, swindled, or overcharged. 
• Mill – Spell or incantation. 
• Miller – Wizard or spell user. 
• Moonbag – Earnings from a month's work; a windfall. 
• Mouth – Door or portal. 
• Muffing - Moving silently. 
• Napper – Cheater among thieves; thief without guild sanction. 
• Napping – To cheat or steal without license. 
• Nose – First-story window. 
• Old Man – Arch; captain just under the guild head. 
• ORFOC - Sixth Law of Thieves. Acronym for Only Rats Fear Old Candlejack.
• Palm – Five coins. 
• Pie – 100% of the take. 
• Pitch the Silver – Spend stolen gains quickly to avoid tracing. 
• Prick(ler) - Hear Noise or someone who does.
• Prince – Head of the guild; “he who holds the stone.” 
• Pullet – Woman; prostitute. 
• Rat’s Bridge – Hidden or indirect route in or out of a target. 
• Red – Haul of mostly copper coins.
• Rent - Dues owed to the next higher level of the guild. 
• Riggle – Avoid paying as one ought. 
• Riggler – One who tries to evade guild tax. 
• Roll – To go easy on; make things simple. 
• Run – Live the life of a thief. 
• Rutter – Captain of Slayers. 
• Salt – Poison. 
• SHASHOSHOO – Third Law of Thieves. Acronym for Shear A Sheep Often, Skin Him Only Once. Milk a mark for the long term. 
• Scalpel – True assassin, not a mere thug. 
• Scarecrow – Paladin or knight. 
• Script – Plan for a job. 
• Shadow – Unpaid but unspoken obligation to the guild or a thief. 
• Sheep – Marks; sources of income. 
• Shiny – Haul of mostly gold coins. 
• Sit / Sit Down – Formal meeting between guild members. 
• Skinning – Taking an illegitimate, oversized cut. 
• Slap – Arrest or detain. 
• Slapper – Law officer; constable or reeve. 
• Slayer – Guild thug; hired muscle. 
• Slice – Share of the take. 
• Sleeper/Sleepy – Civilian; thief not in the know. 
• Sniff(er) - Find traps, a person who does so.
• Spill Oil – Reveal a plan too soon or to the wrong person. 
• Squint(er) - Read Language or someone who does.
• Stone – Magical item allegedly used by Princes to uncover the truth. 
• Stomach – Gross take from a job. 
• Strong Back – One who consistently shows profit. 
• Tall – 1,000 coins. 
• Tax – Guild’s cut of a job. 
• Tears – Acid.
• Thick – 15%–40% cut. 
• Thin – 1-10% cut. 
• Thornbush – Easy-looking job with hidden dangers. 
• Ticket – Initiation fee to join the guild. 
• TINHAT – First Law of Thieves. Acronym for There Is No Honor Among Thieves.
• Teeth – Dog or pet. 
• Tender – New guild member; probationer. 
• TOBDIZ – Fourth Law of Thieves. Acronym for The Only Bad Dip Is Zero. Better small profit than none. 
• Torch – Watchman, lamplighter, or crier. 
• Twisted – Hung from the neck. 
• Uncle – Master Thief; heads a crew. 
• Vomit – Job that breaks even. 
• Weak Back – One who rarely profits. 
• Wet – Committed to action or crime. 
• Whisker – Ranger or bard; any non-thief with rogue skills; also a pretender to nobility. 
• Whetstone – Veteran thief who sharpens the skills of juniors, often harshly. 
• Whisper Bag – Bribe paid to keep someone silent. 
• Wide – 45%–55% cut. 
• Wink – Sell out or turncoat, not a cackler.