burglar

Etymology

Middle English, shortened from Middle English burgulator, from Medieval Latin (Anglo-Latin) burglātor, from Old French burgeor (“burglar”), from Medieval Latin burgātor (“burglar”), from burgāre (“to commit burglary”), from Late Latin burgus (“fortified town”), probably from Frankish *burg (“fortress”), from Proto-Germanic *burgz, *burgiją (“borough, watch-tower”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerǵʰ- (“high, heights”). The -l- may have been inserted under influence from Latin latro (“thief”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈbɜːɡlə(ɹ)/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈbɝɡlɚ/, [ˈbɚɡlɚ]

Noun

burglar (plural burglars)

1. A thief who steals from premises.

   The burglar made off with a large diamond from the museum.