The Maltese Falcon (1941 Film)

The Maltese Falcon (1941 Film) Glossary

judiciously

wisely

gaudy

ostentatious

On the beat

(referring to a policeman): on duty

pocket-edition

miniature form/short

constitutional

innate

virtue

moral uprightness

tailing

covertly following and watching someone

galley

kitchen in a ship

newsie

a reporter

nailing

to catch someone (as in, a criminal)

hawk

sell one's valuables for money

slick

polished and smooth

loath

unwilling to do something

contradict

refute or allege the opposite

deceitful

dishonest

retainer

A fee paid in advance of a job

strong-arm

use violence or force to get something

bum steer

false information

fall guy

a person who deliberately takes the blame in order to take attention away from other people

gunsel

A gun-toting criminal; also a euphemism for a homosexual youth

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