CONSTRAINED STEELE |
By Peg Daniels |
GLOSSARY
| Abrazo | Embrace (Spanish) | Alcos | Those habitually drunk (from ‘alcoholics,’ I’m sure). (Irish slang) |
| All’onda | Creamy and wavy |
| Arse over kick | Head over heels (Irish slang) |
| B&E | Breaking and Entering |
| Babby | Baby (Irish) |
| Banger | Firecracker (British slang) |
| Biscuit | Cookie (British, Irish) |
| Bimmer | BMW |
| Bollywood | Indian film industry |
| Bremen | In West Germany, at the time. Also, here, the name of a story character – a ‘Mando operative’ based in Bremen |
| Canteen | A box used to store silverware. (Chiefly British.) |
| Carnal (accent second syllable) | More than a friend – one who is trusted (Spanish slang) |
| Catalogues raisonnés | Monographic books with lists of all the known works of an artist. |
| Cervezas | Beer |
| Chain of Eyes | The list of people who saw the stolen item in the order in which it was seen. |
| Chemist | Drug store |
| Chippers | Fish-and-chip shops (Irish slang) |
| Church call | Pre-opening briefing where jobs are assigned (Carny lingo) |
| Chota, la | The cops ( Mexican-American slang) |
| Cod | Having someone on (Irish/British slang) |
| Cop the flash | Carny lingo. Somewhat literal translation: win/steal the expensive prizes used to attract the customers (as opposed to the ‘slum,’ the cheap prizes customers usually win, assuming they win at all!) |
| Dismas | The Good Thief, crucified with Jesus, who heeded the call of grace. |
| Dustbin | Garbage can |
| G'way from me | You’re kidding (Irish slang) |
| Gang bangers | Gang members |
| Gestas | The Bad Thief, crucified with Jesus, unrepentant to the end. |
| In the life | To be involved in con games |
| Information broker | This term is being used to indicate a person who sells bank information. According to a PI I talked with, these guys (‘spooks’) used to work in the Department of Treasury and have access to this information. This is illegal, of course. That hasn’t stopped PI’s from using them, I hear. No one I know, of course. |
| Jack Thompson Golf Course | Now the Maggie Hathaway Golf Course |
| John Hewitt | ‘The City and its Creators’ |
| John Hewitt | ‘Conacre,’ ‘Freehold,’ and ‘Homestead.’ |
| John Hewitt | ‘Ireland’ |
| La Chota | The cops ( Mexican-American slang) |
| LACMA | The Los Angeles County Museum of Art |
| Lashings | Lots of ( Irish) |
| Murder, My Sweet | An Original Philip Marlowe Mystery, adaptation of the Raymond Chandler novel 'Farewell, My Lovely.’ RKO Radio Pictures Inc. 1944. The movie starts at the end of the
story, with Philip Marlowe’s eyes bandaged, sitting under the hot light of an interrogation room. The police grill him
about what happened.
Perhaps the most famous quote from the book and movie: Philip Marlowe: "I caught the blackjack right behind my ear. A black pool opened up at my feet. I dived in. It had no bottom." |
| Ne plus ultra | The state of being without a flaw or defect, ‘no more beyond’ (Latin) |
| Nick | Jail |
| Northeim | A place in Germany. |
| Olvera Street | Olvera Street is the oldest part of the City of Los Angeles; it is also known as the birthplace of the City of Angels or as El Pueblo Historic Monument. Many Latinos often refer to it as La Placita Olvera. It contains 27 historic buildings and a traditional Mexican style plaza area where you can wander around and shop for souvenirs and handcrafted Mexican wares typical of old Mexico. |
| Omadhaun | Idiot, fool, stupid. (Irish) |
| Piss-take | A joke ( British slang) |
| Plaster | Bandage |
| Provenance | History of ownership of a valued object or work of art or literature |
| Quality | Superior social class (Irish slang) |
| Rashers | Pieces of bacon (Irish) |
| Riesling | A white wine; the most noble and expressive, according to ‘The Riesling Report.’ Its homeland is Germany, where it has been cultivated since the 1400s or earlier |
| Schottisches Lachsfilet auf Keta-Kaviar-Sauce, Blattspinach und Kartoffelgratin | Scottish filet of salmon with keta (Alaska’s freshest caviar) caviar sauce, leaf spinach and potato gratin ( German) |
| Starnberg See | Lake Starnberg (German) |
| Starnberg | A place in Germany |
| Strasse | Street ( German) |
| Stroke | Steal (Irish slang) |
| Sunday School Show | Carny lingo. An honest carnival |
| The Butler Did It | John’s story about the butler is true up to the sentence ‘When the theft was discovered, the Swedish government refused to return the painting – according to Swedish law, the auction buyer had purchased it in good faith,’ but the events happened only fairly recently |
| To see the wolf’s ears | To find oneself in great danger (Spanish) |
| Torch | Flashlight ( British) |
| Wanderweg | Walking trail (German) |
| Weimar | A place in Germany. Also, here, the name of a story character – a ‘Mando operative’ based in Weimar |
| Whinge | To complain or protest, especially in an annoying or persistent manner. (Chiefly British, Irish) |
http://webpages.charter.net/drpeg/csglossary.htm
Original content copyrighted by Margaret Daniels 2004
WGA Registration Number 1022262