Regency Thieves' Cant Trivia Quiz

Answer: The man by the door is a good fighter

If you were asked to Dub the Jigger, you'd open the door. A bruiser is a good fighter, either in or out of the boxing ring and a mill (possibly from the French word, meleé) is a fight or free-for-all. A cove is the slang word for a man or sometimes a rogue or thief.

Answer: Fortune tellers, fiddlers and magicians

Faytors (perhaps from the word 'fey' which meant clairvoyant or visionary) were fortune tellers. Crowderos played fiddles; the name may come from crwth (said 'crowd') the Welsh name for a fiddle. Faulkeners was a term for a variety of entertainers but mainly those who did tricks or juggled to keep the crowd enthralled. To have a lark is to have fun.

Answer: They're pickpockets but the boy in green is a chimney sweep

Bung-nippers were young thieves who cut the strings of purses held on the belt. Forking was dipping two fingers quickly into a pocket and 'forking' out anything therein.

It is thought the nickname, 'Little Clergyman' came from the fact that the children forced to climb up to clean inside chimneys became so black from the soot (apart from the kerchief they wore around their necks, which pulled up over their mouths) that they looked like clerics in their black cassocks.

Answer: He used to steal pewter tankards from taverns but this landlord is his brother

Thieves of all ages would employ an Adam Tiler, a respectable looking person to whom they would give the spoils immediately after taking them. Then if the police (called pigs or grunters, even in those days) or a Myrmidon (Watchman or constable's Aide) were to stop them, they'd have no incriminating evidence on them. Landlords were called Admirals of the Blue because they always wore blue aprons. If you're clan,you're family.

Answer: Executed

John "Jack" Ketch was the official executioner employed by King Charles II in the 17th century.
He became infamous for botched executions, notably those of Lord Russell in 1683 and James Scott, Duke of Monmouth in 1685, both of whom suffered several axe blows to the neck before dying.
The age of criminal responsibility in those days was seven, so children could be hanged at that age, although they rarely were. The youngest child to be executed in England was John Dean who was 8-9, convicted of arson in 1629, before the Regency period which began about 1795.
By 1800 children under 14 were no longer executed although adults could be condemned to death for murder, burglary, highway robbery, horse theft, rape and 'uttering' (passing forged documents). Shoplifting goods worth more than five shillings carried the death penalty for adults until the early 1820s, and very minor thefts by servants from their masters or mistresses could result in transportation to Australia, which meant effectively, away from all family, friends and country. Chittiface refers to a puny child.

Answer: Branded

To be badged was to be branded on the hand, visible evidence that the miscreant was caught thieving. The hand was first trapped in a 'Juggler's Box' then the branding iron applied.

Answer: He's been sitting too long and needs some exercise.

'Cooler' is just one of many euphemism for buttocks in Regency slang. Others include: pratts, feak, fun, rump and tinder box amongst them. To hoof it meant to walk or run.

Answer: Don't be fooled by his smartness, he's a thief and con-man

A bouncer, in Regency slang, was a thief who, having been detected in a petty crime, can talk himself out of it and even threaten to bring an action for slander if compensation isn't given forthwith. This clever confidence trick was called, 'giving it to 'em upon the bounce'. Bouncing was to use artful or intimidating language to turn the tables (or bounce the accusation back) on the accuser. (At that time it didn't refer to doormen).

Answer: We'll go by cab and ignore the child beggars

A Tim Whisky, (often shortened to just 'a whisky') was a small, one-horse cab. Tatterdemalions were young beggars poorly dressed either from necessity or to evoke pity.

Answer: The house has been marked for future burglary

It was the practice to put a screw of paper or small twig (a trig) in the keyhole of a house suspected of being temporarily empty. If, the next day, the twig was still there indicating that no key had been used, thieves would break in and steal the contents. Hedge-bird and bully-huff were both slang for thieves and 'touting the case' means watching the house. "It'll be a dub-lay the morn" means they will break in next morning if the 'trig' is still in place.

Answer: Coffee

Turkish coffee was imported from Arabia, a Muslim country and became a very popular drink in London. The Finish, the cant name for Carpenter's Coffee House was so named because it opened in the early hours, catering for those who had been banned from, or thrown out of, the taverns. A twist was another popular drink, half coffee, half tea - yuk!

Answer: The boys are gathering up empty bottles

In many of the lower-class coffee houses, drink was served or a blind eye turned to those who brought alcohol on to the premises. Bottles were constantly re-used so it was important to collect them and poor children would earn money from this.
Marine officers are empty bottles, slang used by sailors for something completely useless. Neck stamper were boys who collected bottles from homes where they had been delivered earlier.

Answer: Shake hands with his friend

To tip someone the mawley, meant to shake hands. Introducing him as a goodfellow means he's a friend.

Answer: A shoemaker

An ambassador of Morocco was cant for a shoemaker. Morocco was a soft goat leather used for high-quality shoes and books. Older quiz players may remember the movie 'Road to Morocco' in which Bing Crosby sings the pun, '... like Webster's dictionary, we're Morocco bound.'

Answer: To a hostelry with good beds

Oat-stealer is a play on the word, 'Hosteler', or inn-keeper and a 'rum libbege at his lay' means,'a good bed at his place'. So you will be quite safe there, although you will no doubt encounter a few fleas and bedbugs.