mugger

1
[ muhg-er ]
See synonyms for mugger on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a person who mugs, especially one who assaults a person in order to rob them.

Origin of mugger

1
An Americanism dating back to 1860–65; mug + -er1

Words Nearby mugger

Other definitions for mugger (2 of 2)

mugger2

or mug·gar, mug·gur

[ muhg-er ]

noun
  1. a broad-snouted crocodile, Crocodylus palustris, of southern Asia, that grows to a length of about 16 feet (4.88 meters).

Origin of mugger

2
First recorded in 1835–45, mugger is from the Hindi word magar

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use mugger in a sentence

  • But they were taking no steps for this purpose; they were content with social hugger-mugger.

  • Cugger-mugger; whispering, gossiping in a low voice: Jack and Bessie had a great cugger-mugger.

  • By the shaking of the chain he knew that the mugger was coming along, and he decided in a flash to take strong measures.

    The Romance of the Coast | James Runciman
  • He has jaws bigger than those of the largest mugger crocodile, and a tremendous array of fang-like teeth.

    More Science From an Easy Chair | Sir E. Ray (Edwin Ray) Lankester
  • "Three years, as men count years," said the mugger, close pressed to the earth.

    The Bridge-Builders | Rudyard Kipling

British Dictionary definitions for mugger (1 of 2)

mugger1

/ (ˈmʌɡə) /


noun
  1. informal a person who commits robbery with violence, esp in the street

  2. mainly US and Canadian a person who overacts

British Dictionary definitions for mugger (2 of 2)

mugger2

muggar or muggur

/ (ˈmʌɡə) /


noun
  1. a large freshwater crocodile, Crocodylus niloticus, inhabiting marshes and pools of India and Ceylon: Also called: marsh crocodile

Origin of mugger

2
C19: from Hindi magar

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012