Vidocq's teenage years were a turbulent time period. He is described as being fearless, rowdy and cunning, very talented, but also very lazy. He spent much time in the armories (fighting halls) of Arras and acquired a reputation as a formidable fencer and the nickname le Vautrin ("wild boar"Today's French name is sanglier. Vautrin was a slang word for wild boar in northern France (Artois and Picardy) and was probably derived from the reflexive verb se vautrer ("to wallow in")). By stealing, he provided himself with some level of comfort.
