Definition of "cutpurse"

cutpurse

/ˌkʌtˈpɜːs/

noun
plural cutpurses
1. A thief who steals from others' purses or pockets in public.
  Quotations
  A cutpurse of the empire and the rule
  c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act III, scene iv]
  The Gipsie snap & Pedroare none of Toms Comradoes,yͤ punck I skorne, & yͤ cutpurse sworn& yͤ roring boyes brauadoes
  c. 1620, anonymous, “Tom o’ Bedlam’s Song” in Giles Earle his Booke (British Museum, Additional MSS. 24, 665)