camp robber

American  

noun

Chiefly Northern U.S. and Western Canada.

1. gray jay.

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Etymology

Origin of camp robber

First recorded in 1885–90; so called from its habit of pilfering food from campsites

Example Sentences

Canada jays are nicknamed camp robbers, and those at Rainier know when and where visitors congregate and how to cajole handouts.

From Seattle Times

A delicate lace-winged insect lights on my tablet, and a saucy "camp robber," or mutton bird, wonders at the unusual sight of me, the big man animal brother.

From Project Gutenberg

It is that which I am pondering while I am alone here in the desert; but my spirit is weak and that accursed camp robber made off with my volume of Plato.”

From Project Gutenberg

We had lunch, and the men covered the elk with pine boughs to keep the camp robbers from pecking it full of holes.

From Project Gutenberg

The other is the friendly camp robber, who, with encouragement, not only will share your camp luncheon, but will gobble the lion's share.

From Project Gutenberg