different between housebreaker vs picklock

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

English

Etymology

pick +? lock

Noun

picklock (plural picklocks)

1. A device designed to pick locks.
   • 1623 (date of publication), William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure, Act III,

     Marry, sir, he hath offended the law; and, sir, we take him to be a thief too, sir, for we have found upon him, sir, a strange picklock, which we have sent to the deputy.

2. One who picks locks; a thief.
   • 1664-1667, Jeremy Taylor, Dissuasive from Popery

     a picklock of secrets

Synonyms

• lock pick
• pick

Translations

Anagrams

• lock pick, lock-pick, lockpick