argot

American  

[ahr-goh, -guht] / ˈɑr goʊ, -gət /

noun

1. a specialized idiomatic vocabulary peculiar to a particular class or group of people, especially that of an underworld group, devised for private communication and identification.

   a Restoration play rich in thieves' argot.

2. the special vocabulary and idiom of a particular profession or social group.

   sociologists' argot.

---

argot British  

/ ɑːˈɡɒtɪk, ˈɑːɡəʊ /

noun

1. slang or jargon peculiar to a particular group, esp (formerly) a group of thieves

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• argotic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of argot

1855–60; < French, noun derivative of argoter to quarrel, derivative Latin ergō ergo with v. suffix -oter

Explanation

Argot is language particular to a specific group. It can mean a kind of slang, a technical language or a code. In high school, only those who spend their time studying computer manuals could understand the argot of the computer lab kids. The word argot was originally used to describe the slang of thieves and rogues, who spoke in sneaky ways that the upright citizen couldn’t understand. We can also use argot to describe less criminal kinds of vocabularies. Any specialized practice can create an argot: boxers talk of bodyshots and jabs, just as grammar teachers complain of split infinitives and dangling participles.

Related Words

• lingo
• parlance
• patois
• vernacular