argot
UK: ˈɑːɡəʊ | US: ˈɑːrɡoʊ
n. a specialized vocabulary or set of expressions used by a particular group, often to obscure meaning from outsiders; jargon or slang.
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The word "argot" originates from French, where it originally referred to the slang of thieves and beggars in 17th-century Paris. It likely derives from the Old French "argoter," meaning "to argue" or "to chatter," though its exact roots are debated. Over time, it broadened to denote any in-group language, retaining its association with secrecy and exclusivity. Unlike many English words, "argot" resists neat morpheme division, as it evolved as a compact unit in French before being borrowed into English.
The criminals communicated in an argot incomprehensible to the police.
Linguists study the argot of subcultures to understand social dynamics.
Teenagers often develop their own argot to distinguish themselves from adults.
The technical argot of programmers can be daunting for beginners.
His novel captured the argot of 1920s jazz musicians authentically.