One who detects and captures a thief; spec. one of a company who undertook the detection and arrest of thieves.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot. (Rolls), I. 87. The theif takar suld haif the forder spald.
1700. T. Brown, Amusem. Ser. & Com., viii. (1709), 84. Serv’d the State in the Quality of Marshal’s Men, and Thief-Takers.
1718. C. Hitchin (title), A True Discovery of the Conduct of Receivers and Thief-takers in and about the City of London.
1761. Chron., in Ann. Reg., 76/2. Two thief-takers, in hopes of entrapping the highwayman…, set out … like travellers.
1840. Dickens, Barn. Rudge, lxi. A body of thief-takers had been keeping watch in the house all night.
So Thief-taking (in quot. attrib.).
1771. Smollett, Humph. Cl. (1815), 188. He had been for some time in the snares of the thief-taking society.
