Cop

Flic is a term of slang to indicate a Policier, a policeman and by extention any members of the services of the Police and comparable. This term is also used to indicate the Gendarme S, even if they are soldiers and not police officers.

Etymology

The word cop is relatively recent. The etymology of this word is very dubious, but for this very interesting reason:

The first quotations of “fligue” or “flic” are first half of the XIXe century. It is at that time in March 1829 that appear the first police services in blue cloth uniform and buttons gilded with the weapons of the town of Paris. Debelleyme comes to Paris to reorganize the municipal police by creating - for the first time in Europe - a body of policemen armed with white canes with pommel. This first body was composed of 48 paid sergeants 100 francs per month. They were amongst other things affected with the monitoring of the streetwalkers who parrallèlement transfer the tax of three francs which struck them at the time quite simply removed.

Hitherto the Police force called upon “informers” - it was the time of Vidocq - who were as civilians. One can suppose that the slang, language with the characteristic to adapt very quickly, quickly called these former informers armed with a cane of “flies with dart”. Let us note, that at that time all the insects were called by simplification “fly”, even the bees which were only “flies with honey”.

One finds in the " New national dictionary - Elder Bescherelle - in four volumes - 1887 the term “fligue with dart” S. Mr. Arg. Policeman, policeman which carries a sword; and a line further “flic” S. Mr. Arg. Police superintendent. But no trace of these two words in Littré of 1873.

To make the connection between " mouchard" /" fly with dard" and the “fligue with dart” or the “flique one”, it is initially necessary to try to include/understand the system rapide* formation of the slang words by synonym, by " analogy of sens" and by " analogy of sound (total or partial homonymy) ". Example of formation of a word by analogy of sound: " police" who becomes " poulet".

  • the slang is first of all a language coded not to be included/understood those which do not form part of the circle of the initiates. This language must unceasingly evolve/move to remain incomprehensible.

Missing links between " mouchard" and " flique" is certainly in the definition of the following words also drawn from Bescherelle of 1887: - darting. S. Mr. Arg. Personified love. Cupid. - to dart… to by analogy launch a sharp glance, animated, piercing, penetrating. To dart the eyes. To dart a glance on somebody. - arrow. S.F. (and. moy. high allem., flitsch even signif.)… Charc. Bacon arrow. What one raised of a pig, since the shoulder to the thigh. To buy a bacon arrow. - flêcher to cover a female; ram says itself. - fligue with dart. S. Mr. Arg. Policeman, policeman which carries a sword. - flic. S. Mr. Arg. Police superintendent.

  • Bond between " arrow of lard" and " flique":

" Fliche, district of salted pig, piece of bacon, lmâ. fliches, flichia. Fliche remained to us in the form arrow, in the expression arrow of bacon, and Roquefort says that this piece removed on one on the sides of a pig, was called thus because its length which makes it resemble a feature, to an arrow. This etymology would not be so ridiculous that one agreed to say it; because we see haste also meaning part of flesh (R.d.l.V p. 300. 1) However the origin of the word fliche is different, it derives from the ahal.* flicci, perna (Haupt, Zeitschr. F. D.A. p.197 1st coll); anglo Saxon flicce, English flitch, Icelandic flycke, arrow; suéd. flåsk, a half pig. All these words affiliated to fleck, flick, piece, part. V. Schwenk D.W. fleisch" ethimologic by G.F. Burguy/Grammar of the language of oil or grammar of the French dialects in XIIe and XIIIe centuries. Volume III - 1870Glossaire ethimologic by G.F. Burguy/Grammar of the language of oil or grammar of the French dialects in XIIe and XIIIe centuries. Volume III - 1870]
  • Bond between " mouche" and " flèche"

" Mosche, mousche, mouske, mousque, fly; moschet, mousket, mouské,…; moschete, mouschete, mouskete, lmâ muscheta, species of feature launched by the machines of war; species of crossbow; our mousquet. G. Guiart II, 333 employs fly in the same direction as moschete. To mosche still our moucheter refers. Guyet already had thought of derivation indicated here, Ménage adopted it then rejected it wrongly. " by G.F. Burguy/Grammar of the language of oil or grammar of the French dialects in XIIe ethimologic by G.F. Burguy/Grammar of the language of oil or grammar of the French dialects in XIIe and XIIIe centuries. Volume III - 1870Glossaire ethimologic by G.F. Burguy/Grammar of the language of oil or grammar of the French dialects in XIIe and XIIIe centuries. Volume III 1870]

Slang

The word cop is him even transformed into " Keuf" following the fashion of verlant (Keu-Fli > Keuf).

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