Burglary
/ˈbɜːr.ɡlər.i/noun
The crime of unlawfully entering a building with intent to commit a theft or other felony.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from a Germanic root for a fortified place, so its history is tied to the idea of a protected, enclosed settlement long before it became a legal term.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*burgz
“a fortified place, fort, or stronghold”
Old English
OE
burh
“a fortified town or stronghold”
Old French
OF
burglier / burgler
“to break into a building; a burglar”
Middle English
ME
burglarie
“the act of breaking into a house or building”
Modern English
English
burglary
“the crime of unlawful entry into a building with intent to commit a felony”