Where does “cutpurse” come from?
cutpurse (English) comes from English purse, from Middle English purse, from Old English purs, from Old English burse, from Late Latin bursa, from Ancient Greek βύρσα — the skin stripped off a hide, leather; the skin...
cutpurse (English): A thief who steals from others' purses or pockets...
Definitions
- A thief who steals from others' purses or pockets...
Ancestry of “cutpurse”, step by step
cutpurse traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English purse
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | purse | A small bag for carrying money; A handbag; A... |
| 2 | Middle English | purse | — |
| 3 | Old English | purs | purse, leather bag; wallet, scrip |
| 4 | Old English | burse | pouch, bag |
| 5 | Late Latin | bursa | hide, purse; purse, hide |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | βύρσα | the skin stripped off a hide, leather; the skin... |