ABOYEUR (popular), _crier or salesman at public or private sales_; _man employed at the doors of puffing shops or theatrical booths to entice people in_, “barker;” _man who is constantly clamouring in words or writing against public men_; _man in a prison whose function it is to call prisoners_. ABRACADABRANT, _adj._ (familiar), _marvellous_, or “stunning.” From Abracadabra, a magic word used as a spell in the Middle Ages. ABRAQUÉ, _adj._ (sailors’), _tied_; _spliced_. ABREUVOIR, _m._ (popular), _drinking-shop_, or “lush-crib;” ---- à mouches, _bleeding wound_. ABRUTI, _m._, _a plodding student at the Ecole Polytechnique_, termed a “swat” at the R. M. Academy; _stolid and stupid man_; ---- de Chaillot, _blockhead_, or “cabbage-head.” Chaillot, in the suburbs of Paris, has repeatedly been made the butt for various uncomplimentary hits. ABRUTIR (familiar), s’----, _to plod at any kind of work_. Literally _to make oneself silly_. ABS, abbreviation of _absinthe_. ABSINTHAGE, _m._ (familiar), _the drinking or mixing of absinthe_. ABSINTHE, _f._ (familiar), faire son ----, _to mix absinthe with water_. Absinthe à la hussarde _is prepared by slowly pouring in the water_; “l’amazone” _is mixed in like manner, but with an adjunction of gum_; “la panachée” _is absinthe with a dash of gum or anisette_; “la purée” _is prepared by quickly pouring in the water_. Faire son ---- en parlant, _to spit when talking_. Heure de l’----, _the hour when that beverage is discussed in the cafés, generally from four to six p.m._ Avaler son ----, _see_ AVALER. ABSINTHÉ, _adj._ (familiar), _intoxicated on absinthe_. ABSINTHER (familiar), s’----, _to drink absinthe_; _to be a confirmed tippler of absinthe_. ABSINTHEUR, _m._ (familiar), _a drinker of absinthe_; _one who makes it a practice of getting drunk on absinthe_. ABSINTHIER, or ABSINTHEUR, _m._, _retailer of absinthe_. ABSINTHISME, _m._ (familiar), _state of body and mind resulting from excessive drinking of absinthe_. ABSORBER (familiar), _to eat and drink a great deal_, to “guzzle.” ABSORPTION, _f._, _annual ceremony at the Ecole Polytechnique, at the close of which the seniors, or “anciens,” are entertained by the newly-joined, termed_ “melons” (“snookers” _at the Royal Military Academy_). ACABIT, _m._ (popular), _the person_; _the body_; _health_; _temper_. Etre de bon ----, _to enjoy sound health_. Un étrange ----, _an odd humour_, or “strange kidney.” ACACIAS, _m._, faire ses ----, _to walk or drive, according to the custom of fashionable Parisians, in the “Allée des Acacias” from the Porte-Maillot to La Concorde_. ACALIFOURCHONNER (popular), s’----, _to get astride anything_. ACCAPARER (familiar), quelqu’un ----, _to monopolize a person_. ACCENT (thieves’), _signal given by spitting_. ACCENTUER (popular), ses gestes ----, _to give a box on the ear_; in other terms, “to warm the wax of one’s ear;” _to give a blow_, or “bang.”