burgle (v.)

"commit burglary, be a burglar," 1869, humorous or erroneous back-formation from burglar (q.v.) as thought it were an agent noun. Related: Burgled; burgling. Compare burglarize.

Entries linking to burgle

burglar (n.)

"one who commits robbery by breaking into a house," 1540s, shortened from Anglo-Latin burglator (late 13c.), earlier burgator, from Medieval Latin burgator "burglar," from burgare "to break open, commit burglary," from Latin burgus "fortress, castle," a Germanic loan-word akin to borough.

The unetymological -l- is perhaps from influence of Latin latro "thief" (see larceny). Middle English had burgur (c. 1200), from Old French burgeor, burgur, also housbreker (c. 1400). Burglar-alarm is by 1840.

burglarize (v.)

1865, American English, from burglary + -ize. Damned as an American barbarism in England and Canada. Related: Burglarized; burglarizing.

We see in a telegraphic despatch from across the boundary line that a store was "burglarized" a short time ago. We are sorry that any thing so dreadful should have happened to any of our inventive cousins. Truly the American language is "fearfully and wonderfully made." [Upper Canada Law Journal, September 1865, p.228]

Burglarize, to, a term creeping into journalism. "The Yankeeisms donated, collided, and burglarized have been badly used up by an English magazine writer." (Southern Magazine, April, 1871.) The word has a dangerous rival in the shorter burgle. [Maximilian Schele De Vere, "Americanisms; The English of the New World," 1872]

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updated on August 30, 2017

Definitions of burgle from WordNet

burgle (v.)

commit a burglary; enter and rob a dwelling;

Synonyms: burglarize / burglarise / heist

From wordnet.princeton.edu, not affiliated with etymonline.

Dictionary entries near burgle

burgher

burglar

burglarious

burglarize

burglary

burgle

Burgundy

burial

burin

burka

Burke