Transwiki:St Giles' Greek
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
St. Giles' Greek is an English Thieves' cant phrase. Thieves' cant is a secret language used by thieves, beggars and hustlers. The phrase 'St Giles' Greek' means secret language in this language.
It takes its name from the St Giles' area of present-day central London which, during the 17th and 18th centuries, was notorious as a refuge for thieves and other criminals.
[edit] References
- The 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, originally by Francis Grose.
