"Jesus" = male prostitute who entraps; compare "Judas goat"

[Joel S. Berson]

The term "Jesus" was apparently used in early 19th c. France, by
criminals or homosexuals (who were often the same) in the sense "Male
prostitute also trained to steal; his speciality was to  lead men
into situations ripe for blackmail"  From Vidocq (1837).

Interesting.  Was this a criminals' argot inversion (what would be
the right philological term?) from "Judas", as in the "Judas goat"
that leads sheep to the pen, later extended to humans who entrap
others?  Also interesting:  the earliest OED2 citation is only 1941.

Joel
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