Glossary of Thief Slang {Thieves' Cant}

Box-Man: Strictly speaking, a thief specialized in cracking safes.

Burn: To underreport the take in a job to one's partners. "Luigi burned us. He told us there were only three diamonds, and kept two for himself."

Cannon: Pickpocket, cutpurse.

Contraband: Illegal goods (stolen or prohibited by local law).

Fencing: Selling stolen goods. "We stole the duke's jewels and fenced them later the same night."

The Fix: Ties with corrupt officials to have criminal charges "fixed"—that is, thrown out. This will usually require bribes or favors.

General Subscription: Money collected from the local underworld to free a captured thief by bribing officials.

Hit Man: Assassin; an "executioner" for crime bosses, paid to kill their enemies.

Lone Wolf: A solitary, independent thief. He is probably self-taught and not allied with a guild.

Made-Guy: A burglar who is in good standing with the local thieves' guild; a guildsman.

Mark: The target of a confidence game. "We have to bring the mark to the Burnt Goose Tavern."

Mob: A group of thieves.

Pennyweighter: a thief who operates by replacing valuable items (especially jewelry) with worthless ones.

Piece Man: Someone who trades knowledge on where stolen property can be sold.

Pigeon: Victim of a con or swindle.

Pigeon Plucker: swindler, con artist.

Racket: Any sort of larceny, from pickpocketing and burglary through embezzlement.

Rootin': Committing crimes.

Roper: Someone who pulls in a mark for a con.

Rounder: A good, professional burglar.

Score: Loot from a theft. "We got a good score from the duke."

Squeal: To identify one's partners to the local authorities, usually in return for a lighter penalty for one's own crimes.

Tipster: Someone who has knowledge to share with burglars about good targets.