cutpurse

English

Alternative forms

cut-purse

Etymology

From cut +‎ purse: originally, purses were worn by a strap at the girdle, which the thief would cut.

Pronunciation

(UK) IPA^(key): /ˌkʌtˈpɜːs/
(US) IPA^(key): /ˌkʌtˈpɝs/
(UK)
(US)
enPR: kŭtʹpûrs'

Noun

cutpurse (plural cutpurses)

A thief who steals from others' purses or pockets in public.
- 1602 : William Shakespeare, Hamlet, act III scene 4
  A cutpurse of the empire and the rule
- c. 1620, anonymous, “Tom o’ Bedlam’s Song” in Giles Earle his Booke (British Museum, Additional MSS. 24, 665):
  The Gipsie snap & Pedro
  are none of Toms Comradoes,
  yͤ punck I skorne, & yͤ cutpurse sworn
  & yͤ roring boyes brauadoes

Synonyms

pickpocket, see also Thesaurus:pickpocket

Translations

a thief who steals from others' purses

Greek:
Ancient: βαλλαντιοτόμος m (ballantiotómos)

Anagrams

supercut

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