Home British & World English abactor

Definition of abactor in English:

abactor

noun

  • A person who steals livestock, especially herds of cattle, usually by driving the animals away.

Origin

Mid 17th century; earliest use found in Henry Hammond (1605–1660), Church of England clergyman and theologian. From classical Latin abactor cattle-thief (2nd cent. a.d. in Apuleius) from abact-, past participial stem of abigere to drive away, specifically to drive away cattle + -or.

Pronunciation

abactor

/əˈbaktə/