Cutpurse

Cutpurse
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 open ear, a quick eye, and a nimble hand, is necessary for a cutpurse. --Shak. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • 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

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