- cutpurse
- A thief who cut purses in order to secure their contents; hence, a pickpocket.
Ballentine's law dictionary. Anderson, W.S.. 1998.
cutpurse
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Cutpurse — Cut purse (k[u^]t p[^u]rs ), n. One who cuts purses for the sake of stealing them or their contents (an act common when men wore purses fastened by a string to their girdles); one who steals from the person; a pickpocket [1913 Webster] To have an … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
cutpurse — one who steals by the method of cutting purses, a common practice when men wore their purses at their girdles [Johnson], mid 14c., from CUT (Cf. cut) (v.) + PURSE (Cf. purse). The word continued after the method switched to picking pockets … Etymology dictionary
cutpurse — [kut′pʉrs΄] n. 1. Historical a thief who stole purses by cutting them from the belts to which they were attached 2. a pickpocket … English World dictionary
cutpurse — noun /ˌkʌtˈpɜːs,ˌkʌtˈpɝs/ A thief who steals from others purses or pockets in public. A cutpurse of the empire and the rule Syn: pickpocket … Wiktionary
cutpurse — noun Date: 14th century pickpocket … New Collegiate Dictionary
cutpurse — /kut perrs /, n. 1. Older Use. a pickpocket. 2. (formerly) a person who steals by cutting purses from the belt. [1325 75; ME cutte purs. See CUT, PURSE] * * * … Universalium
cutpurse — n. thief; pickpocket … English contemporary dictionary
cutpurse — noun archaic a pickpocket. Origin ME: with ref. to stealing by cutting purses suspended from a waistband … English new terms dictionary
cutpurse — n. Pickpocket, thief, robber … New dictionary of synonyms
cutpurse — noun (C) old use a pickpocket … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
cutpurse — n pickpocket, pickpurse, lightfingers; purse snatcher, mugger; thief, robber, crook, bandit … A Note on the Style of the synonym finder
