different between burglar vs housebreaker

English

Etymology

Middle English, shortened from burgulator, from British Medieval Latin burgl?tor, from Old French burgeor (“burglar”), from Medieval Latin burg?tor (“burglar”), from burg? (“to commit burglary”), from Late Latin burgus (“fortified town”), probably from Frankish *burg (“fortress”), from Proto-Germanic *burgz, *burgij? (“borough, watch-tower”). The -l- may have been inserted under influence from Latin latro (“thief”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?b???l?(?)/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?b??l?/, [?b??l?]

Noun

burglar (plural burglars)

1. A person who breaks in to premises with the intent of committing theft

Related terms

Translations

Verb

burglar (third-person singular simple present burglars, present participle burglaring, simple past and past participle burglared)

1. (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, […]

See also

• robber
• thief

English

Etymology

From house +? breaker.

Noun

housebreaker (plural housebreakers)

1. A criminal who breaks into and enters another's house or premises with the intent of committing a crime.
   • 1968 November 19, "‘Infuriated’ vicar's wife routs interloper," Montreal Gazette (Canada), page 9 (retrieved 21 Sep 2010):

     The vicar seized a sword and routed the housebreaker, but it was the vicar's wife in a nightgown and coat who caught up with the fleeing intruder, slapped his face and held him by the neck.

   • 2009 May 20, "Serial housebreaker nabbed," AsiaOne (Singapore) (retrieved 21 Sep 2010):

     A serial housebreaker who is believed to have stolen from several homes in Ang Mo Kio last month was nabbed on Tuesday.

Alternative forms

• house breaker
• house-breaker

Synonyms

• (Britain, slang) drummer

Translations

See also

• burglar