peculatorn.
/ˈpɛkjᵿleɪtə/, U.S. /ˈpɛkjəˌleɪdər/ Somewhat formal in later use.
A person who peculates; an embezzler, esp. of state or public money or property.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > thief > defrauder or swindler > [noun] > embezzler or peculator
peculator1656
embezzler1667
defaulter1771
defalcator1805
grafter1896
grifter1915
1656 T. Blount Glossographia Peculator, that robbeth the Prince or common treasure.
1715 T. Burnet Second Tale of Tub xv. 168 A little Villain is sent to Execution if he picks your Pocket! but a Lord T—— must be a very notorious Peculator if he is punish'd.
1775 W. Stearns View Controv. between Great-Brit. & Amer. Colonies p. v In defence of the property, rights, sacred and civil, of Americans, against the insults and depredations of ministerial peculators.
1825 N.Y. Lit. Gaz. 26 Nov. 190/2 Justice is daily sending sixpenny rogues and thieves to the tread-mill, while the peculators of thousands unblushingly go at large in the face of that public whose pockets they have picked.
1855 J. L. Motley Rise Dutch Republic I. ii. v. 443 An infamous peculator..rolling up a fortune with great rapidity by his shameless traffic in benefices, charges, offices.
1911 Eng. Hist. Rev. 26 36 Prize commissioners had been appointed by Charles..for the purpose of taking possession of captures as soon as they were brought in, protecting them from peculators.
1997 G. Hosking Russia (1998) ii. i. 53 They must leave him free to proceed against peculators, traitors and heretics as he saw fit.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2005; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1656