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St Giles' Greek
Reference material by Wiktionary contributors. This retains its source identity and is not 411 news reporting.
English
Etymology
The term comes 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.
Proper noun
St Giles' Greek
en cant A secret language, as spoken by beggars and thieves.
References
The 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, originally by Francis Grose.
en eponyms