BANC, _m._ (convicts’), _camp bed_; (Parisians’) ---- de Terre-Neuve, _that part of the Boulevard between the Madeleine and Porte Saint-Denis_. Probably an allusion to the ladies of fishy character, termed “morues,” or _codfish_, who cruise about that part of Paris, and a play on the word Terre-Neuve, _Newfoundland_, where the real article is fished in large quantities. (Military) Pied de ----, _sergeant_. See PIED. BANCAL, _m._ (soldiers’), _cavalry sword_. Et, je me sens fier, ingambe, D’un plumet sur mon colbac, D’un bancal, et du flic-flac De ce machin sur ma jambe. =A. DE CHATILLON.= BANDE, _Properly cushion of billiard table_. Coller sous ----, _to get one in a fix_, _in a_ “hole.” BANDE D’AIR, _f._ (theatrical), _frieze painted blue so as to represent the sky_. BANDE NOIRE, _f._, _a gang of swindlers who procure goods on false pretences and sell them below their value_, “long firm.” La Bande Noire comprises four categories of swindlers working jointly: “le courtier à la mode,” who, by means of false references, gets himself appointed as agent to important firms, generally wine merchants, jewellers, provision dealers. He calls on some small tradesmen on the verge of bankruptcy, denominated “petits faisans,” or “frères de la côte,” and offers them at a very low price merchandise which they are to dispose of, allowing him a share in the profits. The next step to be taken is to bribe a clerk of some private information office, who is thus induced to give a favourable answer to all inquiries regarding the solvency of the “petit faisan.” The courtier à la mode also bribes with a like object the doorkeeper of his clients. At length the goods are delivered by the victimized firms; now steps in the “fusilleur” or “gros faisan,” who obtains the merchandise at a price much below value--a cask of wine worth 170 francs, for instance, being transferred to him at less than half that sum--the sale often taking place at the railway goods station, especially when the “petit faisan” is an imaginary individual represented by a doorkeeper in confederacy with the gang.--_Translated from the “République Française” newspaper, February, 1886._ BANDER (popular), la caisse, _to abscond with the cash-box_. Properly _to tighten the drum_; ---- l’ergot, _to run away_, “to crush.” BANNETTE (popular), _apron_. BANNIÈRE, _f._ (familiar), être en ----, _to be in one’s shirt_, _in one’s_ “flesh bag.” BANQUE, _f._ (popular), _falsehood_, _imposition_, “plant.” (Hawkers’) La ----, _the puffing up of goods to allure purchasers_; _the confraternity of mountebanks_. (Showmens’) Truc de ----, _password which obtains admission to booths or raree-shows_. (Printers’) Banque, _pay_. La ---- a fouaillé _expresses that pay has been deferred_. Etre bloqué à la ----, or faire ---- blèche, _to receive no pay_. BANQUET, _m._ (freemasons’), _dinner_. BANQUETTE, _f._ (popular), _chin_. BANQUEZINGUE, _m._ (thieves’), _banker_, “rag-shop cove.”