The Prison Language (E–L)

Е

Егор: accomplice not trusted by others.
Едало: mouth.
Едалы: teeth.
Единоличник: solitary thief.
ЕЛД: person not belonging to any criminal group.
Ельна: thieves (collectively).
Ершить: to pretend to be a “thief-in-law” where none is present.
Есть налево!: “Done!”, “Completed!”
Е. на небо тайгой: to lie shamelessly.
Ерш: thief expelled from the underworld.
Елочка: drunk person.
Е. зелёная: former soldier now serving time.

Ж

Жаба: greedy person; police investigator; detective; summer dance floor where thieves and prostitutes gather.
Жабы: money.
Жавер: man.
Жалеть: to copulate.
Жало: tattoo needle; knife; tongue; syringe needle.
Жар: hopeless situation.
Жар-птица: light bulb.
Жаргон: slang, thieves’ talk.
Жар: railway station.
Железка: medal or badge.
Железная дорога: gambling game.
Железный нос: ITU worker (camp warden).
Жена: homosexual partner of one man.
Жених: pickpocket targeting women’s purses.
Женский монастырь: isolation cell for informants.
Жердочка: window bar.
Жерло: anus.
Жечь: to betray.
Жигал: daring thief, criminal leader.
Жилка: vein, also — craving for theft.
Жирный: rich.
Житуха: way of life, living conditions.
Жок: skilled pickpocket.
Жук: experienced thief.
Жулик: petty crook.
Журавль: prisoner transferred to another colony.
Журавчик: knife.
Жупел: warning, threat.
Жухлый: cowardly.

З

Забабошенный: inmate attached to his family.
Заболтать: to sell stolen goods.
Забрать: to get involved, engage.
Завалить: to betray, to beat, to kill.
Завалиться: to be caught by police.
Завести воньку: to convince others not to work in prison.
Завод: brothel, thieves’ den.
Загнуться: to die.
Задержать: to arrest.
Задник: back pocket.
Задок: same, back pocket.
Задолбить: to beat hard.
Заканать: to catch, to arrest.
Заклад: stash, hidden goods.
Заключённый: inmate.
Законый: recognized “thief-in-law.”
Закосить: to fake illness or insanity.
Закрутить: to complicate things.
Заложить: to inform, to betray.
Залёт: violation, trouble.
Замотать: to dispose of during investigation.
Замутить: to start chaos, to stir things up.
Заника: secret stash.
Запалить: to expose.
Запарка: mistake.
Запасть: to notice, to see.
Запевать: to start testifying.
Запрячь: to imprison.
Запутаться: to be confused, to mess up.
Засветиться: to reveal oneself to police.
Засечь: to spot, notice.
Застрелить: to shoot.
Засосать: to drown or to get pulled into something.
Заткнуть: to kill, strangle, silence.
Затянуть: to tighten, or drag someone in.
Захватить: to catch, arrest.
Зацепить: to involve, to affect.
Звезда: famous thief.
Звонок: end of sentence.
Зелёный: novice thief.
Змея: informer, sneaky inmate.
Змейка: train, tram; also thin watch chain.
Золотой: successful, lucky.
Золотая тюрьма: failed theft.
Зуб: tooth.

И

Иван: tramp hiding his name; leader of a gang concealing his identity.
И. Иванович: prosecutor.
И. с Волги: bold thug.
Игла: needle, syringe.
Игловой: drug addict.
Игра на гитаре: sexual act or safe-cracking using a tool.
Игра на заминку: game to distract a victim.
Игра на счастье: gambling without bluff.
Игра под очко: homosexual act during a card game.
Играть на скрипке: to saw the bars of a cell.
Игрок: hustler, player.
Игрушка: pistol, male genitals, or sexual partner.
Идеалист: inmate who follows old thieves’ laws.
Идол: person connected to the underworld.
Идти с кукушки: to escape from prison.
Иждивенец: assistant in a criminal group.
Извозчик: driver, prisoner on errands.
Измена каптёрки: suspicion after drugs use.
Изолятор: solitary confinement.
Икона: internal camp rules.
Индус: strong tea.
Интеллигент: white-collar criminal.
Ирка: old woman, nickname for guard.
Исповедаться: to confess, write an explanatory note.
Ишак: experienced thief.

К

Кабала: debt.
Кабак: tavern, place to drink.
Кабур: to break into a place through a hole.
Казак: camp inspector, criminal overseer.
Казанюк: revolver.
Казанка: prison uniform.
Кайф: pleasure, intoxication.
Камень: secret, hidden thing.
Камера: cell.
Канарейка: police car.
Капкан: trap, ambush.
Капуста: money.
Карандаш: knife, crowbar.
Карась: victim of a crime, sucker.
Картинка: photo ID or stolen passport.
Карточник: card sharp, gambler.
Катать: to steal in public transport.
Катала: card cheat.
Катка: bathhouse; also, a gambling place.
Каша: fight, brawl.
Кашевар: cook in prison.
Кач: riot, uprising.
Кемарь: sleep.
Кент: close friend, cellmate.
Кефир: light alcoholic drink (slang for homebrew).
Кидала: scammer.
Кидать: to cheat, to double-cross.
Киль: bandit.
Кимары: narcotics.
Кипиш: noise, commotion, panic.
Клад: stash, hiding spot.
Клава: prostitute.
Клеймо: tattoo.
Клетка: cell.
Климза: unattractive woman.
Ключ: key.
Клюква: lie, nonsense.
Кобура: leather pouch or hiding place.
Козёл: inmate cooperating with administration.
Козырной: high-ranking, authoritative inmate.
Кокнуть: to kill.
Колёса: pills, narcotics.
Колым: northern exile camp.
Комиссар: fake policeman.
Комок: bundle, small package of drugs.
Кон: gambling session; also prison law.
Кони двинул: died.
Контора: police department, station.
Копать: to investigate, interrogate.
Копейка: small coin; minimum sentence.
Корабль: prison transport or convoy.
Кореш: buddy, friend.
Коробка: prison cell.
Корова: informer.
Коса: braid; also, noose.
Костыль: piece of bread ration.
Кот: homosexual inmate.
Котлеты: bundles of money.
Кошка: thief entering homes via windows.
Красная зона: camp controlled by administration.
Красный: informant or enforcer inmate.
Крест: death, end, or exemption from work.
Крестить: to judge.
Кричуха: loudmouth prisoner.
Крокодил: train.
Крот: tunneler, person digging an escape route.
Крупняк: operation to catch criminals.
Кукол: fake document.
Кукушка: prisoner assisting administration.
Кулак: revolver.
Кум: prison officer.
Купить: to cheat, to bribe.
Кураж: confidence, boldness.
Курилка: smoking room.
Курить: to steal, to con.
Кусок: small thief.
Кутёж: spree, drunken party.
Кучер: thief.
Кучерява: luck, success.

Л

Лаба: music, slang for song or performance.
Лабаз: store.
Лаве: money.
Лавешник: rich man.
Лакаш: total failure.
Лакш: playing cards.
Ланс: brooch, jewel.
Ланцух: chain.
Лапа: bribe.
Лапоть: shoe, prison uniform.
Лапша: fake story, deception.
Ласты: feet.
Ласточка: prostitute.
Лебедь: drunk man.
Легавая: policewoman or female officer.
Легавый: cop.
Легкая: promiscuous woman.
Лед: sugar, methamphetamine.
Ленка: shirt.
Лепить: to lie, to invent.
Липа: forgery, fake document.
Лира: guitar.
Листики: cards.
Литва: thief’s servant, helper.
Ловить сеанс: to peep on a woman.
Ловкач: conman, swindler.
Ложак: cook in prison.
Лом: crowbar, burglar tool.
Ломать: to break, to escape.
Ломка: withdrawal, drug craving.
Лопата: plate.
Лох: simpleton, dupe, victim.
Лохматый: corrupt police officer.
Лоцман: lookout, leader in heist.
Луняк: lone robber.
Лучник: pickpocket.
Лысый: bald; can also mean "warden".
Лягавый: police, detective.
Ляпнуть: to blurt out, snitch.
Лялька: prostitute, flirt.