pickpurse

9.9

A person who steals money and small things from other people's pockets or bags

noun
/ˈpɪkˌpɜrs/

Archaic

: carterista

Everyone was warned to be careful around the pickpurse who was known to operate in crowded areas.

Examples

The clever pickpurse managed to steal the wallet without anyone noticing.
Are pickpurses in love and we deserve to die.

Love's Labour's Lost (2000)
In the bustling market, a notorious pickpurse was caught red-handed by a vigilant shopkeeper.

Synonyms

thief

vspickpurse

754 1.0

A person who takes someone else's things without permission

is narrower in use, referring to purse or pocket stealing rather than general theft

pickpocket

vspickpurse

19 4.2

A person who steals wallets or phones from pockets and bags in crowds

is an older term rather than the common modern word

stealer

vspickpurse

4 4.6

A person who takes things that belong to others without permission

focuses on purses or pockets rather than broad property taking

dip

vspickpurse

Archaic

3 9.7

A person who steals from other people's pockets

is an older, less slangy word rather than an informal label

sneak thief

vspickpurse

2 7.6

A person who secretly steals things without using force

focuses on purses or pockets rather than general furtive stealing

cutpurse

vspickpurse

Archaic

1 9.9

A person who steals money from people's pockets or purses in public places

is an older everyday word rather than mainly a historical label

pilferer

vspickpurse

1 7.3

A person who steals small things without using force

focuses on purses or pockets rather than small-item stealing

nimmer

vspickpurse

Offensive

9.9

A person who steals things from people's pockets

is an older form used historically rather than modern slang

purloiner

vspickpurse

9.6

A person who steals things secretly

focuses on purses or pockets rather than secret taking in general

larcener

vspickpurse

Archaic

9.9

A person who illegally takes other people's things

is an older everyday word rather than the legal or technical term

Surface Forms

pickpurse singular

pickpurses plural

Morphology

pickpurse = pick + purse (transparent) = pick + purse

Meaning is directly composed from 'pick' + 'purse' — a person who picks (steals from) purses.

Etymology

Pickpurse comes from joining pick, which means 'to take quickly or secretly', and purse, a 'small bag for money', so it literally names someone who 'picks' a purse. That's why a pickpurse is a thief who steals money or small things from another person's pocket or bag.