light-fingered, a.
Having light and nimble fingers. a. gen. b. Having fingers quick and dexterous at pilfering; thievish, dishonest. † c. Prompt in giving or returning a blow; pugnacious. Obs.
| a. 1804 Edin. Rev. V. 152 The..solemn gravity of the premier affords a fine contrast to the light-fingered agility of his brother. 1890 Century Dict., Light-fingered, light in touch with the fingers, as in playing the piano. |
| b. 1547 Boorde Introd. Knowl. xxxviii. (1870) 217 They be lyght fyngerd and vse pyking. 1579–80 North Plutarch, Aristides (1595) 351 Themistocles..was a wise man..but yet somewhat light fingered. 1624 Gataker Transubst. 148 Some light-fingered person having pickt his purse. 1699 W. Dampier Voy. II. i. 14 Our men contented themselves with looking after their goods (the Tonquinese being very light-finger'd). 1758 Johnson Idler No. 26 ¶11 Sharp girls were apt to be light-fingered. 1823 Scott Let. 18 June in Lockhart, The light-fingered gentry melt plate so soon as it comes into their possession. 1860 Thackeray Round. Papers, Round Christm. tree 105 The light-fingered gentry pick pockets furiously in the darkness. |
| c. 1581 Lambarde Eiren. ii. vii. (1588) 220 Youth..whether brawling, quarrelous, lightfingred or bloudie-handed. 1589 R. Harvey Pl. Perc. (1860) 3 Light-fingred Younkers, which make euery word a blow. 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts (1658) 370 Angry men are light-fingered and apt to strike. |
Hence
lightˈfingeredness.
| 1881 Nation (N.Y.) XXXIII. 358/1 The general persuasion of their [sc. Gipsies'] propensity to light-fingeredness. |