Reverse Dictionary: PICKPOCKET

ADJECTIVES
► AT THE PUSH-UP working as a pickpocket → 1910 Aust. sl.
► ON THE BOTTLE engaged as a pickpocket → 2003 UK sl.
► ON THE DIP engaged in pickpocketing → 1949 US sl.
► ON THE DIPE engaged in picking pockets → 1877 criminals’ sl.
► TAILING A WHOLE FRONT said of a pickpocket who ‘cleans a victim right out, watch, money, etc.’ → 1929 US criminals’ sl.

NOUNS
► BAG the act and proceeds of pickpocketing → M19 UK criminals’ sl.
► BEAT an area in which a pickpocket works → M19 sl.
► BOOSTING MOB a gang of pickpockets → 1900 US criminals’ sl.
► BREECH-KICK a picking of pockets → 1904 sl.
► BUZ ► BUZZ the picking of pockets → L18 sl.
► BUZ-FAKING ► BUZZ-FAKING picking pockets → E19 sl.
► BUZZING pocket-picking → 1819 thieves’ sl.
► BUZZING ACADEMY a training school for pickpockets → 1921 sl. (Bk.)
► BUZZING LAY stealing, esp. picking pockets → 1819 thieves’ sl.
► CANNON MOB a pickpocketing gang → 20C sl.
► CHARIOT-BUZZING pocket-picking in an omnibus → c1850 sl.
► COLD FINGER WORK picking the pocket of a man preoccupied with sex → 1948 US sl.
► DIP pick-pocketing → 1859 sl.
► DIP SQUAD a police unit that targets pickpockets → 1977 UK sl.
► DIPPING the act of picking pockets → 1882 UK criminals’ sl.
► DIPPING GAG, THE picking pockets → c1905 criminals’ sl.
► FAM-LAY pickpocketing or shoplifting → 1708 sl.
► FAM-RUST a lack of practice at pickpocketing → 1850 UK criminals’ sl.
► FAN the preliminary touching of a targeted victim by a pickpocket → 1958 US sl.
► FANNING a pickpocket’s preliminary running of their hands over a victim to find a wallet or bankroll → 1900s US criminals’ sl.
► FILE LAY, THE pickpocketry → 18C cant
► FILING-LAY pickpocketry → 18C sl.
► FLY-BUZZING stealing, esp. picking pockets → 1819 thieves’ sl.
► GAGGING theft of money by pickpocketry to which several men working together have cleverly led up by engaging a man in conversation, taking him to a public-house, and skilfully causing him to disclose how much money he has → 1828 UK sl. obs.
► GAMMON the assistance rendered to a pickpocket by his accomplice(s) → 1720 UK sl. obs.
► MALTOOLING the practice of picking pockets in omnibuses → 1851 obs.
► MOLL-BUZZING purse snatching; picking pockets → 1900 Amer. sl.
► PALMISTRY the use of the hands in pocket-picking → 1711
► PRIG AND BUZZ pickpocketing → L18 sl.
► PUSH a small gang who mask the activities of a pickpocket by surrounding the victim → M19 UK criminals sl.
► PUSH-UP an act of pickpocketing in which the victim’s arm is pushed away from his or her pocket by the pickpocket’s accomplice → 1919 Aust. sl.
► SKINNY-DIPPING picking pockets on the London Underground; the idea being that the pickpocket has to be thin to work in the crowds → 2000s sl.
► STRIKING a robbery, swindle, picking a pocket, or imposition → 1591 sl.
► TAIL-BUZZING stealing a wallet from a tailcoat pocket → M19 UK criminals’ sl.
► TOOLING skilful pickpocketing → M19 sl.
► WHIZ the practice of picking pockets → 1925 sl., orig. & chiefly US
► WHIZZ-MOB a gang of pickpockets → 1929 sl.

NOUNS – PERSON
► ABSTRACTIONIST a pickpocket → 1841 US sl.
► ACADEMY BUZZ-NAPPER an apprentice in the art of picking pockets; some schools use a dummy with bells in every pocket for practice picking → 1890 criminals’ sl. obs.
► ADAM TILER ► ADAM TYLER a pickpocket’s confederate who receives the stolen article, and runs off with it → 1665 UK sl.
► ADEPT a pickpocket; a conjuror → 1721 thieves sl.
► AMUSER one who throws dust (sometimes snuff or pepper) in his victim’s eyes and then runs off; a companion then appears and, while ostensibly offering his sympathy, picks the victim’s pockets → M18 UK criminals’ sl.
► ANABAPTIST a pickpocket who, having been caught in the act, is ‘baptized’ by being placed beneath a pump or dumped into a pond → L18 sl.
► ANGLER a thief who uses a hook attached to a long rod to steal from otherwise inaccessible places; also, a pickpocket → 1567
► ANTHEM DIVER a pickpocket specializing in the robbery of church congregations → E18 sl.
► ARTIST a skilful pickpocket, sneak thief, confidence man, or other criminal → 1859 Amer. sl.
► BACKSTOP in a pickpocket team: the one who works directly behind the victim → 1950 US criminals’ sl.
► BAGGAGE MAN the member of a pickpocketing team who carries off the stolen goods → 1718 UK criminals’ sl.
► BAPTIST a pickpocket who has been caught and ducked or ‘baptized’ → 1823 UK sl.
► BARNACLE a pickpocket → 1890 sl. (Bk.)
► BARTHOLOMEW-GENTLEMAN a man not to be trusted; a pickpocket → 1880 (Bk.)
► BENNY WORKER a pickpocket or shoplifter who operates under the protection of an overcoat → 1926 US criminals’ sl.
► BILLY BUZMAN a thief or pickpocket who confines his attention exclusively to silk handkerchiefs → 1888 UK thieves’ sl.
► BOUNG-NAPPER ► BUNG-NAPPER a cut-purse, a pickpocket → L17 criminals’ sl.
► BULK an assistant to a pickpocket who jostles a person up against the wall, while the other picks his pocket  → 1673 sl. obs.
► BULK AND FILE the one jostles you whilst the other picks your pocket; the pickpocket and his mate → 1665 criminals’ sl. obs.
► BUNG a pickpocket → 1600 thieves’ cant, obs.
► BUNG-NIPPER a cut-purse, a pickpocket → 1659 criminals’ sl. 
► BUZ ► BUZZ a pickpocket → E18 sl.
► BUZ-BLOAK a pickpocket who specializes in loose cash and purses, as opposed to jewellery or handkerchiefs → M19 UK criminals’ sl.
► BUZ-COVE a pickpocket → E19 UK criminals’ sl.
► BUZ-FAKER a pickpocket, esp. one who makes the victims drunk before robbing them → 19C sl.
► BUZ-GLOAK ► BUZZ-GLOAK  a pickpocket → 1819 thieves’ sl.
► BUZ-KNACKER ► BUZZ-KNACKER a trainer of young pickpockets → M19 sl.
► BUZZER a pickpocket → 1862 sl.
► BUZZMAN a pickpocket → 1832 thieves’ sl.
► BUZZ NAPPER a young pickpocket → 1890 sl. (Bk.)
► CADGER a shoplifter-cum-beggar; also, the lowest rank of pickpocket → M19 UK criminals’ sl.
► CANNON a pickpocket of indefinite order → 1914 pickpockets’ sl.  (Bk.)
► CLAW in a gang of pickpockets, the expert operator who lifts the money and valuable collateral from the victim’s person → 1914  criminals’ sl. (Bk.)
► CLY-FAKER a pickpocket → 1823 criminals’ sl.
► COCKIES’ CLIP a pickpocket → 20C Aust. rhyming sl. for ‘dip’
► COVER a confederate who screens the operations of a thief or pickpocket → 1819 thieves’ sl.
► CUTPURSE one who steals by the method of cutting purses, a common practice when men wore their purses at their girdles; hence, a pickpocket, a thief, a robber → 1362
► DAME BUZZER a pickpocket or thief whose victims are mainly women → 1935 sl.
► DIP a pickpocket → M19 sl.
► DIPPER a pickpocket → 1889 criminals’ sl.
► DIPPING BLOKE a pickpocket → c1860 criminals’ sl.
► DIVER a pickpocket → 1611 criminals’ sl.
► ELBOW a pickpocket’s assistant → 1925 US criminals’ sl.
► FAG a pickpocket → M19 sl.
► FAKER a pickpocket → 20C criminals’ sl
► FAMMER a pickpocket → 1846 UK criminals’ sl.
► FANNER a pickpocket → 1950 US sl.
► FILE a pickpocket → 1665 sl.
► FILE-CLOY a pickpocket → M17 sl.
► FILE-LIFTER a pickpocket → c1670 cant
► FILER a pickpocket → c1670 cant
► FINGER a pickpocket → 1925 sl.
► FINGERS a pickpocket → 1930s US sl.
► FISH-FAG a pickpocket → M19 sl.
► FIVE FINGER a thief, esp. a pickpocket → 1932 US sl.
► FLIMP a pickpocket → E19 US criminals’ sl.
► FORK a pickpocket → L17 UK criminals’ sl.
► FOYL-CLOY a pickpocket → M17 sl.
► FRISKER a pickpocket, a petty thief → 1802 criminals’ sl.
► GALLOWS a thief or pickpocket, or one who associates with them → c1595 UK sl.
► GALLOWS-BIRD a thief or pickpocket, or one who associates with them → c1786 UK sl.
► GALLOWS-FACE a thief or pickpocket, or one who associates with them → 1725 UK sl.
► GALLUS a thief or pickpocket or one who associates with them → c1595 sl.
► GAMMON a thief’s or pickpocket’s accomplice who jostles the prospective victim that the actual thief can possess easily of his booty; a shoplifter’s accomplice → 1717 colloq. obs.
► GAMMONER a thief’s or pickpocket’s accomplice who distracts the victim while a crime is committed → 1795 colloq. obs.
► GANEV ► GANOF ► GANOV a thief, a crook; an amateur pickpocket → 1839 criminals’ sl.
► GEE WHIZ an armed pickpocket → 1975 Amer. criminals’ sl. (Bk.)
► GENNAUF a thief, swindler, gangster, or pickpocket → 1839 criminals’ sl.
► GILLIE WHEESEL a gypsy pickpocket; a robber → 1818 Sc.
► GON a professional thief, esp. a pickpocket → 1858 Amer. sl.
► GRAFTER a small-time criminal, such as a pickpocket or thief → 1866 US sl.
► GUN a professional thief, esp. a pickpocket → 1858 Amer. sl.
► GUNSMITH an experienced pickpocket who trains novice pickpockets → 1934 US sl.
► HEEL a sneak thief or pickpocket → 1916 US criminals’ sl., derogatory
► HEISTER a housebreaker; a shoplifter, a pickpocket, a robber → 1708 criminals’ sl.
► HOISTER a shoplifter or pickpocket → 1790 sl.
► HOOK a thief or pickpocket; orig., someone who stole from a picket while the victim’s attention was distracted by someone else → 1863 sl.
► HOOKER a thief or pilferer; a pickpocket; a stealer of pocket-watches → 1567 sl.
► HUNTER a pickpocket → 1949 US sl.
► HUSTLER one of a gang of pickpockets who takes part in hustling a person; also, a thief, a criminal; one who makes his living dishonestly or by begging; a pimp → 1825 sl.
► INSIDER a pickpocket specializing in inside pockets→ 1931 US criminals’ sl.
► INSIDE WORKER a pickpocket specializing in inside pockets → 1931 US criminals’ sl.
► INSTRUMENT the member of a gang who actually picks the pocket → 1925 US criminals’ sl.
► IN THE BOOK a thief, esp. a pickpocket → 20C US rhyming sl. for ‘hook’
► JACKROLLER a pickpocket; a mugger; a purse-snatcher → 2000 hipster sl. (Bk.)
► JANIZARY a pickpocket → 1896 sl. (Bk.)
► JOSTLER the member of a pickpocketing team who jostles and distracts the victim → 1929 Amer. criminal & police sl.
► KNUCK a thief, a pickpocket → 1819 sl. obs.
► KNUCKLE a pickpocket → 1781 sl. obs.
► KNUCKLER a pickpocket → 1801 thieves’ sl.
► LEATHER-WORKER a pickpocket or purse-snatcher → 1901 US sl.
► LEGSHAKE ARTIST a pickpocket → 20C sl., orig. Aust.
► LONG-FINGERED GENT a thief; a pickpocket → 1965 Amer. dial.
► LUSH-ROLLER a pickpocket operating on drunkards, half-wits, paralytics, etc. → 19C Brit. sl.
► MAGSMAN an assistant for a street swindler or pickpocket → M19 sl.
► MARKER the member of a pickpocketing team who takes the stolen item from the person that steals it → 1591 sl. obs.
► MOB OF CANNONS a pickpocket gang → 1928 criminals’ sl.
► MOBSMAN a member of a gang of criminals; a dressy swindler or pickpocket, esp. formerly, one who operates in a crowd → 1843 UK criminals’ sl.
► MOKE a pickpocket; a confidence trickster → 1867 US criminals’ sl.
► MOLL a girlfriend; a sweetheart; spec. the girlfriend or female accomplice of a gangster or criminal; a female pickpocket or thief → 1823
► MOLL BUZZ a female pickpocket → 1925 criminals’ sl. 
► MOLL-BUZZARD a pickpocket who preys upon women → 1899 criminals’ & police sl.
► MOLL-BUZZER 1. a pickpocket who preys upon women → 1859 criminals’ & police sl.
2. a female pickpocket or beggar; a female thief → 1866 Amer. sl.
► MOLLER 1. a thief specializing in pickpocketing women → 1859 criminals’ sl. 
2. a female pickpocket → 1992 criminals’ sl. (Bk.)
► MOLLEY 1. a female pickpocket → 1850 criminals’ sl.
2. a pickpocket who specializes in female targets; usually female → 1850 UK criminals’ sl.
► MOLL HOOK a female pickpocket → 1866 criminals’ sl. obs.
► MOLL-KNUCK a female pickpocket → 1865 UK criminals’ sl.
► MOLL TOOL 1. a female pickpocket → 1865 sl.
2. a pickpocket who specializes in female targets; usually female → 1865 UK criminals’ sl.
► MOLL TOOLER 1. a female pickpocket → 1859 sl. obs. (Bk.)
2. a pickpocket who specializes in female targets; usually female → 1850 UK criminals’ sl.
► MOLL WHIZ a female pickpocket → 1933 US criminals’ sl.
► MOLL WIRE 1. a female pickpocket → 1865 UK sl.
2. a pickpocket who specializes in robbing female victims → 1909 US sl.
► MOLL WORKER a pickpocket or thief whose victims are mainly women → 1925 criminals’ sl.
► MUSTARD CHUCKER a pickpocket who spills mustard on the victim as a diversion and excuse to approach → 1989 US sl.
► NATTY a young thief or pickpocket → 1850 sl. (Bk.)
► NATTY KID a young thief or pickpocket → 1785 sl. (Bk.)
► NATTY LAD a young thief or pickpocket → 1785 sl. (Bk.)
► NIP a cut-purse → 1591 UK criminals’ sl.
► NIPPER a cut-purse or pickpocket → 1585 UK criminals’ sl.
► NIPPING CHRISTIAN a cut-purse, a pickpocket or thief → 1611 sl.
► NUXMAN an expert pickpocket → 1856 criminals’ sl. 
► OPERATOR a pickpocket → 1821 UK criminals’ sl.
► PENINSULAR a female pickpocket → 1859 sl., obs.
► P.P. a pickpocket → 1887 UK criminals’ sl. obs.
► PRAT-DIGGER a pickpocket → 1908 US sl.
► PROP-GETTER a pickpocket → 1901 sl.
► PROP-MAN a pickpocket → 1901 sl.
► PUSH-UP MAN a pickpocket’s accomplice who pushes up the arm of the victim to facilitate access to their wallet → 1910 Aust. sl.
► QUEER DIVER a bungling, incompetent pickpocket → L17 UK criminals’ sl.
► READER-HUNTER a pickpocket specializing in pocket-books → 1812 thieves’ sl.
► READER-MERCHANT (generally in plural) pickpockets, chiefly among Jews, who ply about the bank to steal the pocket-books of persons who have just received their dividends there → L18 sl.
► REEFER a pickpocket or pickpocket’s accomplice → 1935 sl.
► SACK-DIVER a pickpocket → 1781 sl.
► SAFE in a pickpocketing team: the thief who takes the wallet or object stolen by the wire and leaves the scene with it → 1954 US sl.
► SCARECROW a pickpocket’s young assistant, who is disposable and can be turned over to the police → M19 UK criminals’ sl.
► SHARK a pickpocket → 1707 sl. obs.
► STALLER a pickpocket’s accomplice → 1812 sl.
► STOOK BUZZER a pickpocket who specialized in stealing handkerchiefs → M19 sl.
► STOOK HAULER a pickpocket who specialized in stealing handkerchiefs → M19 sl.
► TAIL-BUZZER a pickpocket specializing in removing snuff-boxes, purses, pocketbooks, etc. from gentlemen’s coat pockets → 1851 UK criminals’ sl.
► TAIL-DIP a thief who specializes in the picking of coat pockets → 1851 UK criminals’ sl. 
► TAIL-DIVER a pickpocket specializing in removing snuff-boxes, purses, pocketbooks, etc. from gentlemen’s coat pockets → 1859 UK criminals’ sl.
► TEAR-PLACKET a cutpurse; a pickpocket or thief → c1600 obs.
► TOOL a pickpocket → 1920 US criminals’ sl.
► TYBURN BLOSSOM a young thief or pickpocket, ‘who in time will ripen into fruit borne by the deadly never-green’ → 1796 sl.
► WHIZ ► WHIZZ a pickpocket → 1931 sl., orig. US
► WHIZZ BOY a pickpocket → 1931 sl., orig. US
► WHIZZER a pickpocket → 1925 criminals’ sl.
► WHIZZ MAN a pickpocket → 1932 sl., orig. US
► WIPE-DRAWER a pickpocket who steals handkerchiefs → 1910 criminals’ sl. obs.
► WIPE-HAULER a pickpocket who commits great depredations upon gentlemen’s pocket-handkerchiefs → 1864 sl.
► WIPE-LIFTER one who pickpockets handkerchiefs, which is considered the least desirable type of theft by pickpockets → 1886 US criminals’ sl.
► WIPE-NABBER a pickpocket who steals handkerchiefs → 1870 criminals’ sl. obs.
► WIPER-DRAWER a handkerchief-stealer → 1737 sl. (Bk.)
► WIRE HOOK a pickpocket → 1859 US criminals’ sl. 
► WIRER a pickpocket → 1930 criminals’ sl. obs.
► WORKER in a pickpocket team, the member who actually picks the victim’s pocket → 1910 sl.
► WORKMAN a pickpocket → 1910 UK criminals’ sl.

PHRASES
► ON THE DIP picking pockets → 1859 sl.
► ON THE WHIZ ► ON THE WHIZZ engaged in picking pockets → 1925 sl., orig. & chiefly US

VERBS
► ADEPT to pickpocket → 1890 criminals’ sl.
► BALLOON of a pickpocket: to mingle with the crowds watching the launch of the then new manned balloons → L18 UK criminals’ sl.
► BOTTLE OF FIZZ to work as a pickpocket; to steal something quickly as an opportunity arises → 1938 UK rhyming sl. for ‘The Whizz’
► BRING A BAG OFF to pick pockets successfully → M19 UK criminals’ sl.
► BUZZ 1. to rob a person, as by pickpocketing or purse-snatching → 1789 criminals’ sl.
2. to engage in theft, esp. pickpocketing → 1866 Amer. criminals’ sl.
► DIP to pick the pocket of → E20 sl.
► DIP ON to pick-pocket a person → 1946 S. Afr. sl.
► DIVE INTO A SACK to pick a pocket → L17 cant
► FAKE A CLY to pick a pocket → c1810 sl. obs.
► FAKE A POKE to pick a pocket → L19 UK criminals’ sl.
► FAN to pick pockets → 1920s sl.
► FILE to pick pockets; to pick the pockets of → L17 sl.
► FORK to pick pockets, using the fore and middle fingers, extended like the tines of a fork, which are thrust into the pocket, then closed tight on any object within; this is then withdrawn between the ‘fork’ → L17 sl.
► GAMMON to render the assistance of an accomplice to a pickpocket → 1753 UK sl.
► GIVE GAMMON to stand close to a person while another picks their pocket → 1720 thieves’ sl.
► GIVE THE FAN to pick pockets → 1920s sl.
► GO ON THE DIPE to pick pockets → 1877 criminals’ sl.
► GUT A FOB to pick a pocket → c1815 criminals’ sl.
► INSIDE to pick an inside pocket → 1925 US criminals’ sl. 
► JOSTLE to pick pockets → 1969 Amer. criminal & police sl.
► KISS THE DOG of a pickpocket: to face his victim → 1972 US criminals’ sl.
► LIFT to pick the pocket of someone; to rob → 1915 Amer. sl.
► MAKE A RAISE to pick a pocket; to rob → 19C US criminals’ sl.
► MANTICULATE to do a thing closely, as to pick a purse; to steal → 1656 obs.
► NIP to cut a purse or pick a pocket → 1592 UK criminals’ sl.
► PICK AND CUT to pick pockets → 17C sl.
► PUT THE HIGH GAME ON to rob; to pick someone’s pocket → 18C UK criminals’ sl.
► PUT UP THE DOOKS to thieve, esp. to pickpocket (dook = hand) → M19 sl.
► RAT to search for things to steal; to steal, to pilfer property; to pick a pocket → 1906 Aust. & NZ sl.
► STALL to surround, decoy, jostle or distract someone whose pocket is being picked → 1592 sl.
► TAKE THE WHOLE FRONT of a pickpocket: to steal everything the victim owns → ,1929 US criminals’ sl.
► THROW THE MITT to pick pockets → 1902 Amer. criminals’ sl.
► WORK THE TUBS to pick pockets on buses or at bus-stops → 1929 sl.
► WRING to pick someone’s pocket → L19 US sl.