crossman

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

A thief, forger, or other criminal.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

There is a house in Cherry street, not far from Catherine Market […]. A little to the north of its door stands an old-time tree; and for many a year it has been known to the “crossmen” and “knucks” of the town as “Jack Circle's watering place” and “fence.”

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “crossman” mean?

A thief, forger, or other criminal.

Is “crossman” formal or informal?

crossman is generally slang.