snatchern.
/ˈsnatʃə/, U.S. /ˈsnætʃər/ 1.
a. One who or that which snatches; a thief, a robber. (Also with at or away.)
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > thief > [noun]
thief688
bribera1387
stealer1508
taker?a1513
goodfellow1566
snatcher1575
lift1591
liftera1592
larcin1596
Tartar1602
lime-twig1606
outparter1607
Tartarian1608
flick1610
puggard1611
gilt1620
nim1630
highwayman1652
cloyer1659
out-trader1660
Robin Goodfellow1680
birdlime1705
gyp1728
filch1775
kiddy1780
snaveller1781
larcenist1803
pincher1814
geach1821
wharf-rat1823
toucher1837
larcener1839
snammer1839
drummer1856
gun1857
forker1867
gunsmith1869
nabber1880
thiever1899
tea-leaf1903
gun moll1908
nicker1909
knocker-off1926
possum1945
scuffler1961
rip-off1969
the mind > possession > taking > seizing > [noun] > quickly or hurriedly > one who
catcherc1450
cratcher?1518
snatcher1575
intercepter1598
interceptor1598
snappera1616
interloper1670
1575 W. Baldwin et al. Last Pt. Mirour for Magistrates (new ed.) Tresilian xi So catchers and snatchers toyle both night and daye, Not needy but greedy, still prolling for their praye.
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis i. 11 I am kind Æneas, from foes thee snatcher of housgods.
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Grippeur, a griper; catcher, snatcher.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry V (1623) i. ii. 143 We do not meane the coursing snatchers onely, But feare the maine intendment of the Scot. View more context for this quotation
1648 H. Hexham Groot Woorden-boeck Een Rucker, a Puller, or a Snatcher away.
1736 R. Ainsworth Thes. Linguæ Latinæ I. (at cited word) A snatcher at, captator.
1805 W. Scott Lay of Last Minstrel iv. iv. 96 Full oft the Tynedale snatchers knock At his lone gate.
1866 Morning Star 21 Aug. 3/2 There having lately been a great many ‘snatchers’ in the neighbourhood of Whitechapel.
1868 W. Morris Earthly Paradise ii. 461 The snatchers..Lurked round the gates of less well-guarded folds.
b. A body-snatcher. (See body n. Compounds 2.)
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > thief > bodysnatcher > [noun]
resurrectionist1777
resurrection man1781
resurrection woman1815
body snatcher1819
resurrection cove1819
resurrectioner1822
resurrection jarvey1825
grab1831
snatcher1831
body lifter1832
all-night man1861
resurrector1861
1831 Ann. Reg., Law Cases, etc. 321/1 A person in the room..told him that he must mind what he was at, as they were snatchers.
1884 A. Griffiths Chron. Newgate II. vii. 331 The snatchers brought a hamper which contained a body in a sack.
c. One who takes fish by ‘snatching’.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > fisher > [noun] > using other methods
poundmanc1307
Petera1343
petermanc1400
fish-potter1819
sniggler1840
snatcher1878
ice-fisherman1879
guddler1880
pot fisher1890
pot fisherman1890
1878 Standard 21 Oct. (Davies) Some ‘snatchers’ will use two, three, or even four triangles.
d. slang (originally U.S.). A kidnapper.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > thief > kidnapper or abductor > [noun]
man-thiefeOE
men-stealer1526
man-stealer1582
spirit1611
plagiary1613
spiriter1665
kidnapper1678
silver-cooper1796
abductor1809
body snatcher1852
shanghaier1917
snatcher1932
1932 Tulsa (Okla.) Daily World 7 Mar. 10/5 ‘Snatchers’ or kidnapers have not been as busy in Tulsa as they have in other cities.
1940 ‘D. Hume’ Invitation to Grave xviii. 235 Mick was reflecting upon the fact that his father's ‘snatchers’ had entered through this door.
2. plural. ‘A book-name for the Raptores’ ( Encycl. Dict. 1887).
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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