argot
UK[ˈɑːɡəʊ]US[ˈɑːrɡoʊ]
n
The specialized vocabulary and idioms used by a particular social group or profession, especially by criminals or the underworld.
Etymology
The word 'argot' entered English in the mid-19th century directly from French, where it referred to the slang of the Parisian underworld. Its ultimate origin is obscure, but it is often linked to the Old French 'argoter', suggesting a connection to the contentious or secretive talk of marginalized groups. This etymological path reflects the word's core meaning: a private, coded language developed within a closed community for secrecy and group identity. The journey from a potential term for quarrelsome speech to a label for specialized jargon illustrates how language evolves to categorize the linguistic tools of subcultures.
Analysis
The word 'argot' is a simplex loanword from French. Its origin is uncertain but may be connected to the Old French word 'argoter', meaning 'to argue' or 'to quarrel', possibly influenced by slang terms among thieves.
Examples
The thieves communicated in their own impenetrable argot.
Linguists study the argot of various professions, from lawyers to jazz musicians.
The novel was rich in the argot of the 1920s criminal underworld.