camp robber

noun

Chiefly Northern U.S. and Western Canada.

1. gray jay.

Word History and Origins

Origin of camp robber¹

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.

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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.

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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.”

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

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

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