- thief
You are a thief and a murderer, you have killed a baboon and stole his face ; vulgar abuse.
- thief in a candle
Part of the wick or snuff, which falling on the tallow, burns and melts it, and causing it to gutter, thus steals it away.
- thief takers
Fellows who associate with all kinds of villains, in order to betray them, when they have committed any of those crimes which entitle the persons taking them to a handsome reward, called blood money. It is the business of these thief takers to furnish subjects for a handsome execution, at the end of every sessions.
The 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue.