Home UK English yegg

Meaning of yegg in English:

yegg

Pronunciation /jɛɡ/

noun

informal North American

  • A burglar or safe-breaker.

    • ‘It seems to him that he's a prisoner of his own success and that those yeggs out there are truly free.’
    • ‘They travel across the United States and the mythical world of the Yonder, facing down railroad bulls, yeggs and mythical creatures.’
    • ‘"Yegg" was believed to be the surname of a certain American burglar and safe- breaker; hence a Yeggman or Yegg being "a burglar or safe-breaker".’
    • ‘Common-sense tips on foiling burglars/yeggs/bad guys/home invaders.’
    criminal, lawbreaker, offender, villain, black hat, delinquent, malefactor, culprit, wrongdoer, transgressor, sinner

Origin

Early 20th century of unknown origin.