Bohemian circle

Bohemian circle is an outdated slang term for theft .

The saying came up in Austria in the 19th century and migrated north and west from there. It describes the (ancient) gesture of sagging: the right thumb is the one leg of a compass; the four fingers describe a circle.

Until well into the 20th century, the Bohemian circle was the subject of many caricatures of the "Bohemians" .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Peter Becher , Jozo Džambo: Same pictures, same words. Austrians and Czechs in the caricature (1848–1948) . Munich 1997, p. 42.
2. ↑ zeno.org
3. ↑ Central Bavarian (October 30, 2008)