Other forms: pickpockets
A pickpocket is the thief who empties your pockets in a crowd unnoticed. Beware of pickpockets, a skilled pickpocket, caught the pickpocket.
The skill is misdirection rather than speed: a bump, a spilled drink or a question moves your attention, and the hand follows. Crowded stations and famous sights are where they work. Note that the compound is pick plus pocket, and that it names the person rather than the act.
1nounpickpocketA thief who steals from pockets in a crowd.
“Keep your bag zipped on the crowded metro, because a pickpocket could be standing right beside you.”
pickpocket is a thief.
From pick + pocket.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA