St Giles' Greek

proper noun

A secret language, as spoken by beggars and thieves.

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Meanings

proper noun
  1. cantA secret language, as spoken by beggars and thieves.

Origin

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.

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Cite this entry
APA

St Giles' Greek. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/St%20Giles'%20Greek

MLA

“St Giles' Greek.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/St%20Giles'%20Greek. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “St Giles' Greek,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/St%20Giles'%20Greek.

Source: St Giles' Greek on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.