THIEVES’ LATIN, subs. phr. (old).—The cant terms and slang used by thieves; ST. GILES’ GREEK; PEDDLAR’S FRENCH (q.v.), etc.
1855. C. KINGSLEY, Westward Ho! xiv. “Go away,” I heard her say—“there’s a dear man;” and then something about a ‘queer cuffin’ (that’s a justice in these canters’ THIEVES’ LATIN).
THE MURDERING THIEVES, subs. phr. (military).—The Military Train; the title from 1857 to 1860 of The Army Service Corps. Other nicknames (also derived from the initials) are The London Thieving Corps (1855–7); The Moke Train (1857–60), etc.
SAFE AS A THIEF IN A MILL, phr. (old).—Very secure.
1630. TAYLOR (‘The Water Poet’), Workes, iii. 9.
| There she may lodge, and trade too if she will, | |
| As sure and SAFE AS THEEUES ARE IN A MILL. |
1694. MOTTEUX, Rabelais, V. iv. Your gaol birds … are as SAFE AS THIEVES IN A MILL within this sanctuary.
