Yegg: meaning, definitions and examples
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yegg
[ jɛg ]
slang term
The term 'yegg' refers to a person who is a burglar or a safecracker, often used in American slang since the late 19th century. It is primarily associated with criminals who specialize in breaking into houses or stealing from safes. The usage of 'yegg' has evolved over time, but it remains a colloquial term mainly within criminal contexts. Its roots lie in the criminal underworld, indicating a clever or skilled type of thief.
Synonyms
burglar, robber, safecracker, thief
Examples of usage
- The yegg broke into the mansion last night.
- He was known as a yegg, always planning his next job.
- The police caught the yegg attempting to crack a safe.
- In the old days, a yegg might have worked with a crew.
- The story revolves around a yegg and his heist.
Translations
Translations of the word "yegg" in other languages:
🇵🇹 ladrão de caixas eletrônicos
🇮🇳 बैंक डाकू
🇩🇪 Bankräuber
🇮🇩 perampok bank
🇺🇦 грабіжник банку
🇵🇱 rabunek bankowy
🇯🇵 銀行強盗
🇫🇷 braqueur de banque
🇪🇸 ladrón de bancos
🇹🇷 banka soyguncusu
🇰🇷 은행 강도
🇸🇦 لص البنك
🇨🇿 bankovní lupič
🇸🇰 bankový lupič
🇨🇳 银行抢劫犯
🇸🇮 ropar banke
🇮🇸 bankaræningi
🇰🇿 банк тонаушы
🇬🇪 ბანკის ყაჩაღი
🇦🇿 bank soyğunçusu
🇲🇽 ladrón de bancos
Etymology
The term 'yegg' has its origins in the late 19th century, emerging within the vernacular of American criminals. It is believed to have derived from the combination of various slang terms that signify a thief or burglar. One theory suggests that it may have roots in the word 'egg', symbolizing something to crack open, which aligns with the idea of breaking into a safe or a home. Over the decades, 'yegg' has been employed in literature and media to depict cunning and skilled thieves, reflecting the romanticized view of criminals during that era. The term has appeared in various works of fiction and reports, often associated with the adventurous yet risky life of those on the fringes of society. The association of 'yegg' with a specific type of criminal has helped it persist as a recognizable term even in modern slang, retaining its ties to burglary and theft.