More specifically, it is a cant language that arose in the 17th century, and was used by criminals, tramps and travelling salesmen as a secret code, like Spain's Germanía or French Argot.
Hufter (jerk), gappen (to steal) and poen (money) are examples of words now common in Dutch.
As is the case for most thieves' languages, many of the words from Bargoens are either insults or concern money, crime or sex.
Examples are sjacheren (to barter), mesjogge (crazy), jatten (hands, to steal), gabber (buddy, friend), tof (great), hachelen (to eat).
It is supposed to have been derived either from the Breton words bara+gwin (bread+wine) or from Bourgondisch ('Burgundish', i.e. [the language] from Burgundy).