purloiner

A purloiner is caught taking a wallet from a handbag.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person who steals: "purloiner" refers to an individual who takes something dishonestly, especially in a secretive or furtive manner.

Usage Examples

• (A person who steals a painting from a museum.)
• (A thief who steals cleverly.)
• (A person who steals items from a store.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be a purloiner of ideas": to take someone else's intellectual property or concepts without permission.
  • The academic was accused of being a purloiner of research from other scholars. (Stealing intellectual work.)

Variants and Related Words

• Purloin (verb): to steal or take dishonestly.
  • He tried to purloin the documents from the office. (To steal documents secretly.)
• Purloined (adjective): stolen or taken dishonestly.
  • The purloined jewels were recovered by the police. (The stolen jewels.)

Synonyms

• Thief: a person who steals, especially secretly.
• Robber: a person who takes property by force or threat.
• Pilferer: a person who steals small items or in small amounts.
• Swiper: informal term for a person who steals quickly.

Related Idioms

• "a hand in the cookie jar": refers to a person caught stealing, especially in a petty or opportunistic way.
  • The employee was a purloiner, always with a hand in the cookie jar. (A thief who steals small items regularly.)
• "light-fingered": having a tendency to steal; skilled at stealing.
  • The purloiner was known for being light-fingered in crowded markets. (A thief adept at pickpocketing.)