argot
pronunciation
How to pronounce argot in British English:
UK [ˈɑ:gəʊ]
How to pronounce argot in American English:
US [ˈɑrgət]
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- Noun:
- a characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves)
Word Origin
- argot (n.)
- 1860, from French argot (17c.) "the jargon of Paris rogues and thieves," earlier "the company of beggars," from Middle French argot, "group of beggars," origin unknown. Gamillscheg suggests a connection to Old French argoter "to cut off the stubs left in pruning," with a connecting sense of "to get a grip on." The best English equivalent is perhaps cant. The German equivalent is Rotwelsch, literally "Red Welsh," but the first element may be connected with Middle High German rot "beggar." Earlier in English was pedlar's French (1520s) "language of thieves and vagabonds."
Example
- 1. The clusters had what are known in the argot of the trade as deep roots .
- 2. Debt reduction , or deleveraging as it is known in the inelegant argot of economists , is a painful process .
- 3. Entire subcultures now define themselves primarily or exclusively through their chosen text-messaging or instant-messaging argot .
- 4. In the grating argot of his public-relations past , mr cameron was elected to " decontaminate " the brand .
- 5. Please advise your travel plan at earliest date so we make argot acidly .