Burglar Definition

Origin of Burglar

• 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 *bhergh2- (“high, heights”). The -l- may have been inserted under influence from Latin latro (“thief”).

  From Wiktionary

• Anglo-Norman burgler (alteration of burgesur) (probably from Old French burg borough) Medieval Latin burgulātor (alteration of burgātor) (from burgāre to commit burglary in) (from Late Latin burgus fortified town) both of Germanic origin bhergh-² in Indo-European roots

  From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition