slang. Obs. [Of doubtful origin; perh. (like FEAGUE, FIG v.4, FAKE) repr. Ger. fegen: see FAKE v. The spelling fegge (see FIG-BOY) seems to support this.] intr. To pick pockets. Hence Figger (see quot.). Figging vbl. sb. only in figging-law (see quot. 1785).
c. 1550. Dice-Play, B v a. Hyghe law robbery; Figginge law, picke purse crafte.
1611. Dekker, Roaring Girle, Wks. 1873, III. 220. All his traine study the figging law, that’s to say, cutting of purses and foysting.
1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tong., Figger, a little boy put in a window to hand out goods to the diver. Ibid., Figging law, the art of picking pockets.
