burglar

[ bur-gler ]
/ ˈbɜr glər /

noun

a person who commits burglary.

Origin of burglar

1225–75; Middle English < Anglo-French burgler (compare Anglo-Latin burg(u)lātor), perhaps < Old French *borgl(er) to plunder, pillage (< Gallo-Romance *būriculāre, equivalent to *būric(āre) (Old Low Franconian *būrj(an) to dart at, pounce upon + Vulgar Latin *-icāre v. suffix; compare Old French burgier to strike, hit) + -ulāre v. suffix) + Anglo-French -er -er2; see -ar2

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH burglar

burglar mugger robber thief (see synonym study at thief)

Example sentences from the Web for burglar

British Dictionary definitions for burglar

burglar
/ (ˈbɜːɡlə) /

noun

a person who commits burglary; housebreaker

Word Origin for burglar

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