Cŭl'prit, n.

n. [Probably for culpit, with r inserted, as often between consonants. Culpit is the ancient form of the participle for culped, accused, from a supposed O. Eng. verb to culpe, O. Fr. culper, colper, Lat. culpare, to charge with, from O. Eng. culpe, coulpe, O. Fr. culpe, colpe, Lat. culpa, fault. All the other etymologies—e. g., Johnson's, from the Fr. qu'il paroit, may it so appear, Blackstone's, from cul, for culpable, and the Fr. prit (?), ready to prove him so, Tyrwhitt's, from the Fr. cul, the posteriors, and Fr. prist, taken, from prendre, take (?), meaning one caught by the back—are erroneous and fantastical.]

1. A person accused of, or arraigned for, a crime, as before a judge.
2. A person convicted of crime; a criminal.