Thief, n.

n.; pl. THIEVES. [A-S. theóf, thióf, thēf, O. Sax. theof, thiof, O. Fries. thiaf, tief, D. dief, Icel. thiófr, Sw. tjuf, Dan. tyv, Goth. thiubs, O. H. Ger. diup, diop, M. H. Ger. diep, N. H. Ger. dieb.]

1. One who is guilty of theft or larceny; one who secretly, unlawfully, and feloniously takes the goods or personal property of another.
2. An excrescence or waster in the snuff of a candle. May.