burglar

[bur-gler]

noun

1. a person who commits burglary.

burglar

/ ˈbɜːɡlə /

noun

1. a person who commits burglary; housebreaker

Word History and Origins

Origin of burglar¹

First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English, from Anglo-French burgler (compare Anglo-Latin burg(u)lātor ), perhaps from unattested Old French borgl(er) “to plunder, pillage” (from unattested Gallo-Romance būriculāre, equivalent to unattested būric(āre) (unattested Old Low Franconian būrj(an) “to dart at, pounce upon” + unattested Vulgar Latin -icāre verb suffix; compare Old French burgier “to strike, hit”) + -ulāre verb suffix) + Anglo-French -er -er ²; -ar ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of burglar¹

C15: from Anglo-French burgler , from Medieval Latin burglātor , probably from burgāre to thieve, from Latin burgus castle, fortress, of Germanic origin

Example Sentences

But, after a couple of weeks on display, on the 11 September during the middle of the night, the burglars struck.

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Two men who murdered a pair of e-bike riders they had mistaken for burglars have been jailed for life.

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Police said three burglars scaled a fence and broke into the actor’s home through a window.

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Organised crimes gangs including sheep rustlers and burglars are targeting farmers who have described "living in fear" of a new rural crime wave.

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McDonnell said burglars like this group had become increasingly smart in their crimes - planting surveillance cameras in nearby flowerbeds or across the street from homes they target to monitor a victim's routine.

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Related Words

• crook 
• robber 
• thief