The Broken Compass

The Broken Compass

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The Broken Compass
The Broken Compass
A thieves' lexicon for 18th-century London
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A thieves' lexicon for 18th-century London

A street-wise guide to low-life argot from the pages of the Old Bailey trial reports

Mathew Lyons
Mar 21, 2025
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The Broken Compass
The Broken Compass
A thieves' lexicon for 18th-century London
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Here’s something a little different which I thought readers of The Broken Compass might find diverting. I’m always fascinated by slang, which is to say I’m fascinated by people’s endless capacity for…

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