鼠そ窃せつ

noun

sneak-thief

Rare literary term for a petty thief who steals by sneaking around, like a mouse. Not used in everyday speech; modern Japanese would use こそ泥 or 空き巣.

• 古ふるい小しょう説せつに「鼠そ窃せつ」という言こと葉ばが出でてきた。

  The word 鼠窃 appeared in an old novel.