[CUT v. 63.] ‘One who steals by the method of cutting purses, a common practice when men wore their purses at their girdles’ (J.); hence, a pickpocket, thief, robber; also fig.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. VI. 118. ‘Bi Crist,’ quaþ a Cuttepors [B. V. 639 cutpurs, C. VIII. 283 kitte pors] ‘I haue no kun þere.’
1530. Palsgr., 505/2. His eares be cutte of, it is a signe he hath ben a cut purse.
1587. Golding, De Mornay, xii. 176. How often hast thou seene the Cutpurse hanged with the purse about his necke?
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., IV. iv. 686. To haue an open eare, a quick eye, and a nimble hand, is necessary for a Cut-purse.
1668. R. L’Estrange, Vis. Quev. (1708), 74. A crowd of Cut-purses, running full speed from their own Ears.
1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 25, ¶ 11. I approached him as if I knew him a Cut-purse.
1824. W. Irving, T. Trav., II. 244. Measures were taken to arrest this cut-purse of the ocean.
attrib. 1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., II. iv. 137. Away you Cutpurse Rascall, you filthy Bung, away.
1884. Pall Mall Gaz., 19 Sept., 1/2. General Gordon is incapable of that cut-purse policy.
Hence † Cutpursing vbl. sb., cutting of purses.
1499. Promp. Parv., 111 (Pynson). Cut pursinge, burcidium.
1579. J. Jones, Preserv. Bodie & Soule, I. xv. 28. This … is farre worse than coosining, cut pursing, or roging.
