mugger

US //ˈməɡɝ// UK //mˈʌɡɐ// mug·ger

Etymology 1

From mug + -er.

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Hindi मगर (magar) / Urdu مَگَر (magar, “crocodile, alligator”), from Sanskrit मकर (makara, “sea monster”), ultimately from Proto-Dravidian nek-V-ḷ- (“crocodile”) (DEDR 3732; reconstruction of Krishnamurti 2003) or Proto-Dravidian mokaray- (“crocodile”), a verbal noun from mok- / moṅku- (“to eat greedily in large mouthfuls, devour, gobble”) (DEDR 5127 + 4897).

Idioms1 entry

01
charity mugger
A person employed by a charity, or by an intermediary fundraising agency employed by the charity, who stands in the street and invites passersby to set up standing orders or direct debits to make regular donations to the charity.