cutpurse

• cut-purse

From Middle English cutte-purs; equivalent to cut +‎ purse: originally, purses were worn by a strap at the girdle, which the thief would cut.

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

cutpurse (plural cutpurses)

1. A thief who steals from others' purses or pockets in public.
   • c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iv]:

     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

• pickpocket, see also Thesaurus:pickpocket

• supercut