petit larceny

English

Etymology

See petit.

Noun

petit larceny (countable and uncountable, plural petit larcenies)

1. Alternative form of petty larceny
   • 1949, Nelson Algren, The Man with the Golden Arm:

     The little petit-larceny punk from Damen and Division and the dealer still got along like a couple playful pups.

   • 1993, David W. Dunlap, "What's a Bollard? Police Call It Harbor Larceny", in The New York Times, July 17, 1993:

     After the two perform their service, the charge of petit larceny can be dismissed, said Paul Shechtman, counsel to District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau of Manhattan.

   • 2018, Nikita Stewart, "Selling MetroCard Swipes Remains Illegal, and a Way of Life", in The New York Times, June 17, 2018:

     The Police Department could not confirm the public advocate’s analysis because before 2010, swipers were charged with petit larceny, not unlawful sale of transportation services, said Phillip Walzak, a spokesman for the Police Department.