A cryptolect, an argot, and/or a set of secretive low-key code word terminologies (also known as thieves' argot, rogues' cant, or peddler's French) used by thieves, beggars, vagabonds, criminals and hustlers in primarily of Great Britain in the early 16th century onwards until falling completely out of use in all language and literature by the late Victorian Era.
Simply put, it was the speakeasy, lowkey language and/or code word in itself, at the time used to avoid tipping off less knowledgeable agents of law enforcement.
The term was likely devised by the self declared "King of the Gypsies of Derbyshire's Devil's Arse", now known Peak Cavern, by either at the time Richard Skelton and/or/both his soon to be successor Cock Lorel (his real name a mystery, lost to time, but his pseudonym meaning rascal leader) and their band of misfits who either preyed upon the rich or all folk of the Shires of Britain at the time.
The term became extremely popular after literature of the 16 and mostly 17th centuries would depict the lives, both fictional and real, of these rogues, both recent and historic at the time, by modernfolk who could read to those who could not, usually at less reputable pubs or "public houses"at the time.
In modern times, it's used primarily by geeks who play tabletop RPGs or those who have a keen interest in histoical literature. Some secretive clever groups of our society today might adopt the code for their own use in secretive deeds.
Simply put, it was the speakeasy, lowkey language and/or code word in itself, at the time used to avoid tipping off less knowledgeable agents of law enforcement.
The term was likely devised by the self declared "King of the Gypsies of Derbyshire's Devil's Arse", now known Peak Cavern, by either at the time Richard Skelton and/or/both his soon to be successor Cock Lorel (his real name a mystery, lost to time, but his pseudonym meaning rascal leader) and their band of misfits who either preyed upon the rich or all folk of the Shires of Britain at the time.
The term became extremely popular after literature of the 16 and mostly 17th centuries would depict the lives, both fictional and real, of these rogues, both recent and historic at the time, by modernfolk who could read to those who could not, usually at less reputable pubs or "public houses"at the time.
In modern times, it's used primarily by geeks who play tabletop RPGs or those who have a keen interest in histoical literature. Some secretive clever groups of our society today might adopt the code for their own use in secretive deeds.
Thief A: "oi good fortune, brethren. Spot a pint for a recount of my most recent misfor-?"
Thief B: "nay, AN' HUSH! ...now see gent yonder table there in the nook? Dressed fine, he is, aye? Alone? Surly well endowed in coin an no match us? Thieves' can't."
Thief A: "Behind the pub when he goes to take the piss? We can purloin the loot and disperse, if you can muster up that pint fo'a fellow roué?"
Thief B: "nay, AN' HUSH! ...now see gent yonder table there in the nook? Dressed fine, he is, aye? Alone? Surly well endowed in coin an no match us? Thieves' can't."
Thief A: "Behind the pub when he goes to take the piss? We can purloin the loot and disperse, if you can muster up that pint fo'a fellow roué?"
by NegativeZEN February 24, 2021
Get the Thieves' Can'tmug. by Broken-trumpet101 May 14, 2020
Get the Thievedmug. <.7.9.7.6.>Composition Notebooks For Thieves Who Like Stealing, WE Tell TO Journal Becasue It Might be a Joke TO BE A Shoplifter Due To Loss Provention Policies And Regulations<.7.9.7.6.>
<.7.9.7.6.>Composition Notebooks For Thieves Who Like Stealing, WE Tell TO Journal Becasue It Might be a Joke TO BE A Shoplifter Due To Loss Provention Policies And Regulations<.7.9.7.6.>
by Angel234IsTheDarkSeraphim May 1, 2025
Get the <.7.9.7.6.>Composition Notebooks For Thieves Who Like Stealing, WE Tell TO Journal Becasue It Might be a Joke TO BE A Shoplifter Due To Loss Provention Policies And Regulations<.7.9.7.6.>mug. No you don't. No you don't think that. If you added up all of the things I've ever stole, you wouldn't even be able to charge me with grand larceny. REE-LON, on the other hand, most significant act of intellectual property theft in the last 50 years?
Hym "No you don't give a fuck about thieves. No you do not. You give a fuck about WHO steals and who gets away with it. And you want the cripple to get away with it and you want to retroactively punish me for a nebulous theft and a murder that has yet to happen that you were perfectly willing to provoke."
by Hym Iam October 18, 2025
Get the Thievesmug. we shout" THERE HE IS!!! GET 'EM!!!!"
hes like oh nooo he hopes in bobos chariot and tries to get away
but bobo cant pull him so bobos back snaps
then we deck him and his back goes 'snap'
Z<-----his back
and then when hes almost dead we say " COME ON!!! GET UP U SON OF A BITCH!!!"
and u bust ur foot in his mouth then the oldman turns him over and freebies him then slip n' slide then asscrack rip
i shit in his mouth then we put him in a well and u shit on him
then the robber bleeds out his ears!!!
hes like oh nooo he hopes in bobos chariot and tries to get away
but bobo cant pull him so bobos back snaps
then we deck him and his back goes 'snap'
Z<-----his back
and then when hes almost dead we say " COME ON!!! GET UP U SON OF A BITCH!!!"
and u bust ur foot in his mouth then the oldman turns him over and freebies him then slip n' slide then asscrack rip
i shit in his mouth then we put him in a well and u shit on him
then the robber bleeds out his ears!!!
by Sean BOB December 5, 2003
Get the BOBOS THIEVEmug. by abbacchiosbigmommymilkers February 18, 2022
Get the Thieves Guild Stuffmug.