cat burglar

American  

noun

1. a burglar who breaks into buildings by climbing through upstairs windows, across roofs, etc., especially with great stealth and agility.

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cat burglar British  

noun

1. a burglar who enters buildings by climbing through upper windows, skylights, etc

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Etymology

Origin of cat burglar

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

He is a cat burglar - a kleptomaniac kitty who apparently cannot be reformed.

From BBC • Dec. 25, 2022

They are worse than the solitary crooks who occasionally slink past our homes because they are ubiquitous, invisible and more elusive than even the wiliest cat burglar.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 20, 2022

The story of Bunton, a mischievous taxi driver, failed playwright and possible cat burglar from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, has given Broadbent another eccentric character.

From New York Times • Apr. 22, 2022

A cat burglar adversary to Batman, the role has shifted over the years to love interest and love interest/adversary.

From Salon • Apr. 1, 2022

The aboatia jimmies the trophy case open like a cat burglar and hops onto one of the doorknobs.

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer