Word of the Day

Saturday, January 03, 2009

yegg

\yeg\ , noun;

a burglar who robs safes; safecracker

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Quotes:

Except for a series of cartoons, showing Tammany as a little yegg in a tiger-striped sweater, Mr. Hearst subsequently published nothing very damaging to the Brown Derby.

-- Time, 1928-09-10

"A train robber is better than a public yegg" has been the campaign slogan of A.L. Jennings, train robber and member of the famous Dalton gang, who was nominated in today's primaries for County Attorney over a half dozen opponents.

-- New York Times, 1912-08-08

Origin:

by 1903, underworld slang of unknown origin, possibly the name of an American burglar and safecracker