Thief taker

Thief taker
Thief Thief (th[=e]f), n.; pl. {Thieves} (th[=e]vz). [OE. thef, theef, AS. [thorn]e['o]f; akin to OFries. thiaf, OS. theof, thiof, D. dief, G. dieb, OHG. diob, Icel. [thorn]j[=o]fr, Sw. tjuf, Dan. tyv, Goth. [thorn]iufs, [thorn]iubs, and perhaps to Lith. tupeti to squat or crouch down. Cf. {Theft}.] 1. One who steals; one who commits theft or larceny. See {Theft}. [1913 Webster]

There came a privy thief, men clepeth death. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

Where thieves break through and steal. --Matt. vi. 19. [1913 Webster]

2. A waster in the snuff of a candle. --Bp. Hall. [1913 Webster]

{Thief catcher}. Same as {Thief taker}.

{Thief leader}, one who leads or takes away a thief. --L'Estrange.

{Thief taker}, one whose business is to find and capture thieves and bring them to justice.

{Thief tube}, a tube for withdrawing a sample of a liquid from a cask.

{Thieves' vinegar}, a kind of aromatic vinegar for the sick room, taking its name from the story that thieves, by using it, were enabled to plunder, with impunity to health, in the great plague at London. [Eng.] [1913 Webster]

Syn: Robber; pilferer.

Usage: {Thief}, {Robber}. A thief takes our property by stealth; a robber attacks us openly, and strips us by main force. [1913 Webster]

Take heed, have open eye, for thieves do foot by night. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Some roving robber calling to his fellows. --Milton. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • thief-taker — thiefˈ catcher or thiefˈ taker noun 1. A person whose business is to arrest thieves 2. A detective • • • Main Entry: ↑thief …   Useful english dictionary

  • Thief-taker — A thief taker was a private individual hired to capture criminals. The widespread establishment of professional police in England did not occur until the 19th century. With the rising crime rate and newspapers to bring this to the attention of… …   Wikipedia

  • Thief — (th[=e]f), n.; pl. {Thieves} (th[=e]vz). [OE. thef, theef, AS. [thorn]e[ o]f; akin to OFries. thiaf, OS. theof, thiof, D. dief, G. dieb, OHG. diob, Icel. [thorn]j[=o]fr, Sw. tjuf, Dan. tyv, Goth. [thorn]iufs, [thorn]iubs, and perhaps to Lith.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Thief catcher — Thief Thief (th[=e]f), n.; pl. {Thieves} (th[=e]vz). [OE. thef, theef, AS. [thorn]e[ o]f; akin to OFries. thiaf, OS. theof, thiof, D. dief, G. dieb, OHG. diob, Icel. [thorn]j[=o]fr, Sw. tjuf, Dan. tyv, Goth. [thorn]iufs, [thorn]iubs, and perhaps… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Thief leader — Thief Thief (th[=e]f), n.; pl. {Thieves} (th[=e]vz). [OE. thef, theef, AS. [thorn]e[ o]f; akin to OFries. thiaf, OS. theof, thiof, D. dief, G. dieb, OHG. diob, Icel. [thorn]j[=o]fr, Sw. tjuf, Dan. tyv, Goth. [thorn]iufs, [thorn]iubs, and perhaps… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Thief tube — Thief Thief (th[=e]f), n.; pl. {Thieves} (th[=e]vz). [OE. thef, theef, AS. [thorn]e[ o]f; akin to OFries. thiaf, OS. theof, thiof, D. dief, G. dieb, OHG. diob, Icel. [thorn]j[=o]fr, Sw. tjuf, Dan. tyv, Goth. [thorn]iufs, [thorn]iubs, and perhaps… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • thief-catcher — thiefˈ catcher or thiefˈ taker noun 1. A person whose business is to arrest thieves 2. A detective • • • Main Entry: ↑thief …   Useful english dictionary

  • Thieves — Thief Thief (th[=e]f), n.; pl. {Thieves} (th[=e]vz). [OE. thef, theef, AS. [thorn]e[ o]f; akin to OFries. thiaf, OS. theof, thiof, D. dief, G. dieb, OHG. diob, Icel. [thorn]j[=o]fr, Sw. tjuf, Dan. tyv, Goth. [thorn]iufs, [thorn]iubs, and perhaps… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Thieves' vinegar — Thief Thief (th[=e]f), n.; pl. {Thieves} (th[=e]vz). [OE. thef, theef, AS. [thorn]e[ o]f; akin to OFries. thiaf, OS. theof, thiof, D. dief, G. dieb, OHG. diob, Icel. [thorn]j[=o]fr, Sw. tjuf, Dan. tyv, Goth. [thorn]iufs, [thorn]iubs, and perhaps… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Jonathan Wild — ( baptised 6 May 1683 – 24 May 1725) was perhaps the most famous criminal of London mdash; and possibly Great Britain mdash; during the 18th century, both because of his own actions and the uses novelists, playwrights, and political satirists… …   Wikipedia

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