Bargoens

"Bargoens" is a form of Dutch slang. More specifically, it is a cant language that arose in the 17th century, and was used by criminals, tramps and travelling salesmen as a secret code, like Spain's "Germanía" or French "Argot".

However, the word "Bargoens" usually refers to the thieves' cant spoken in the latter half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. The actual slang varied a lot from place to place; often "Bargoens" denotes the variety from the Holland region in the Netherlands, especially Amsterdam. While many words from "Bargoens" have faded into obscurity, others have become part of standard Dutch (but are more often used in the Amsterdam dialect than in other Dutch dialects). Examples of words now common in Dutch: "hufter" (bastard), "gappen" (to steal) and "poen" (money). As is the case for most thieves' languages, many of the words from "Bargoens" are either insults or concern money, crime or sex.

Due to the large number of Jews that were travelling salesmen, and because of their position as relative outcasts, "Bargoens" has many Yiddish loanwords. Examples are "sjacheren" (to barter), "mesjogge" (crazy) or "jatten" (hands, to steal).

"Baragouin" means "jargon" in French. Supposedly, the French have based this word on the Breton words "Bara! Gwin!". Which means "Bread! Wine!" Breton soldiers allegedly used it to order food and drink in inns.