A thief or pickpocket who cuts purses from the belts of victims to steal their money, especially in medieval and Renaissance times.
From 'cut' and 'purse,' literally describing the method used—thieves would cut the leather purse strings with a sharp blade and steal it. This was such a common crime in crowded medieval cities that it became a specific term.
Cutpurses were so common in Renaissance London that they operated in organized gangs with specific roles—one person would distract the victim while another cut the purse and a third grabbed it—basically the original flash mob crime!
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