cutpurse UK /ˈkʌtˌpɜːs/US /ˈkʌtˌpɝs/ noun1 •A thief who steals from others' purses or pockets in public.The Gipsie snap & Pedro are none of Toms Comradoes, yͤ punck I skorne, & yͤ cutpurse sworn & yͤ roring boyes brauadoes — 1620 formscutpurses