Thief (thf), n.; pl. Thieves (thvz). [OE. thef, theef, AS. þeóf; akin
to OFries. thiaf, OS. theof, thiof, D. dief, G. dieb, OHG. diob, Icel.
þjfr, Sw. tjuf, Dan. tyv, Goth. þiufs, þiubs, and perhaps to Lith.
tupeti to squat or crouch down. Cf. Theft.] 1. One who steals; one who
commits theft or larceny. See Theft.
There came a privy thief, men clepeth death.
Chaucer.
Where thieves break through and steal.
Matt. vi. 19.