Word Study
cutpurse
CIDE DICTIONARY
cutpurse, n.
One who cuts purses for the sake of stealing them or their contents (an act common when men wore purses fastened by a string to their girdles); one who steals from the person; a pickpocket [1913 Webster]
"To have an open ear, a quick eye, and a nimble hand, is necessary for a cutpurse." [1913 Webster]
For further exploring for "cutpurse" in Webster Dictionary Online