burglar
English edit
Etymology edit
Borrowed from British Medieval Latin burglātor, from Old French burgeor (“burglar”), from Medieval Latin burgātor (“burglar”), from burgō (“to commit burglary”), from Late Latin burgus (“fortified town”), probably from Frankish *burg (“fortress”), from Proto-Germanic *burgz, *burgiją (“borough, watch-tower”). The -l- may have been inserted under influence from Latin latro (“thief”).
Pronunciation edit
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈbɜːɡlə(ɹ)/
- (General American) IPA(key): /ˈbɝɡlɚ/
Audio (Southern England) (file) - Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)ɡlə(ɹ)
Noun edit
burglar (plural burglars)
- A person who breaks in to premises with the intent of committing theft.
- The burglar made off with a large diamond from the museum.
Synonyms edit
- burglarizer (rare)
- housebreaker
Derived terms edit
Translations edit
Translations
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Verb edit
burglar (third-person singular simple present burglars, present participle burglaring, simple past and past participle burglared)
- (transitive, intransitive) To commit burglary; to burgle.
- 1901, Emma Orczy, The Robbery in Phillimore Terrace:
- The latter, with another constable, remained to watch the burglared premises both back and front, […]