鼠そ賊ぞく

noun

petty thief; pilferer; sneak thief

Literary term for a small-time thief who steals stealthily, like a rat. Rare in modern conversation; more common words are こそ泥 or 泥棒.

• 鼠そ賊ぞくが店みせから小こ銭ぜにを盗ぬすんだ。

  A petty thief stole some small change from the shop.

• 彼かれは鼠そ賊ぞくのようにこそこそと動うごいた。

  He moved stealthily like a sneak thief.