Street
gun moll
What does gun moll mean?
Originally a female pickpocket ('gun' = thief), 'gun moll' later came to mean a gangster's girlfriend or armed female accomplice.
"The papers called her a gun moll, but she'd been lifting wallets since she was twelve."
Origin
American, early 20th century; 'gun' (thief, from Yiddish gonif) plus 'moll' (woman).
Frequently asked questions
What does 'gun moll' mean?
Originally it meant a female pickpocket, since 'gun' was slang for a thief. It later came to mean a gangster's girlfriend or an armed female accomplice.
Where does 'gun moll' come from?
It is American slang from the early twentieth century, combining 'gun' (a thief, from Yiddish gonif) with 'moll' (a woman).
Does 'gun' in 'gun moll' mean a firearm?
Originally no. The 'gun' meant thief, from the Yiddish gonif. Only later, once 'gun moll' shifted to mean a gangster's woman, did the firearm sense colour it.
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