yegg

n. Slang
A thief, especially a burglar or safecracker.

[Origin unknown.]

(yeg)

noun
A thug or burglar, especially a safecracker.

Etymology
Of unknown origin.

Usage
"The book will end with [Victor Ribe], too, but only after he repeatedly disappears for chapters at a stretch, upstaged by a sadistically overpopulated ensemble of sundry grifters, grafters and hard-boiled yeggs." — David Kipen; Channeling Hammett, Sort of; San Francisco Chronicle; Apr 14, 2002.

"With their millions in underwriting fees they were the true winners of the great bull market's endgame - they and the dazzling assortment of con artists, bucket shop crooks, mafia figures, and two-bit yeggs who emerged from the woodwork in the late nineties, hearing in the populist call a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fleece the suckers." — Thomas Frank; One Market Under God; Doubleday; Oct 17, 2000. I'll be traveling and speaking in Hong Kong, Thailand, and India during the six weeks beginning late September. Detailed info later. A.Word.A.Day will continue as usual. -Anu anu@wordsmith.org

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a criminal, esp a safecracker or burglar