sneak adj.
1. (UK Und.) working as a sneak-thief.
Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 85/1: That was no drawback to Granny Dixon’s ‘sneak’ hen – she gave a jump, and in a whiff she stood noiseless on the top edge of the half door. | ||
Nat. Police Gaz. (NY) 5 Oct. n.p.: Fred Louther [...] the sneak robber. | ||
Thirty Years a Detective 136: I will relate the incidents of a daring and successful robbery, by sneak thieves, which took place in the city of New York during the month of January, 1878. | ||
Lockstep and Corridor 174: Sneak work—house robbery while the inmates are at a meal. |
2. (Aus./US) secret, surreptitious.
Cannibals 81: Her roommate was a sneak junkie. | ||
Mud Crab Boogie (2013) [ebook] ‘This [i.e. a boat] is his sneak go. Not many people know he owns it’. | ||
(con. 1962) Enchanters 400: ‘Give me a sneak peak’. |