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.
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
