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

See Examples For:

cat burglar

“Death Prefers Blondes” follows a teenage glitteratus, Margo Manning, who moonlights as a cat burglar alongside a team of fabulous young drag queens.

From New York Times ● Feb. 17, 2023

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

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

Victor, dressed in black sneakers, pants, and hood, like a cat burglar, walked in, followed by his boys.

From "Tangerine" by Edward Bloor