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light-fingered. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
light-fingered, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
light-fingered in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
light-fingered you have here. The definition of the word
light-fingered will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
light-fingered, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
From light (“not heavy”, adjective) + fingered (“having fingers”, adjective).
Pronunciation
Adjective
light-fingered (comparative lighter-fingered or more light-fingered, superlative lightest-fingered or most light-fingered)
- Having quick, light and nimble fingers.
- (figuratively) Having nimble fingers, especially for stealing or picking pockets (pickpocketing), given to thievery or shoplifting.
1848 June 28, William Makepeace Thackeray, “Before the Curtain”, in Vanity Fair , London: Bradbury and Evans , →OCLC, page vii:There is a great quantity of eating and drinking, making love and jilting, laughing and the contrary, smoking, cheating, fighting, dancing and fiddling; […] yokels looking up at the tinselled dancers and poor old rouged tumblers, while the light-fingered folk are operating upon their pockets behind.
Derived terms
Translations
having quick, light and nimble fingers
given to stealing, pickpocketing, thievery, shoplifting
Verb
light-fingered
- simple past and past participle of light-finger
See also