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housebreaker. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
housebreaker, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
housebreaker in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
housebreaker you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Etymology
From house + breaker.
Noun
housebreaker (plural housebreakers)
- A criminal who breaks into and enters another's house or premises with the intent of committing a crime.
- Synonym: (slang) drummer (British)
- Alternative forms: house breaker, house-breaker
1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “The Author’s Oeconomy and Happy Life among the Houyhnhnms. ”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. , volume II, London: Benj Motte, , →OCLC, part IV (A Voyage to the Houyhnhnms), page 301:[…] here were no Gibers, Cenſurers, Backbiters, Pick-pockets, Highwaymen, Houſebreakers, Attorneys, Bawds, Buffoons, Gameſters, Politicians, Wits, ſplenetick tedious Talkers, Controvertiſts, Raviſhers, Murderers, Robbers, Virtuoſo's; […]
1869 May, Anthony Trollope, “Miss Stanbury’s Generosity”, in He Knew He Was Right, volume I, London: Strahan and Company, , →OCLC, page 93:[H]e is dressed in such a rapscallion manner that the people would think you were talking to a house-breaker.
1968 November 19, “‘Infuriated’ vicar's wife routs interloper”, in Montreal Gazette, Canada, retrieved 21 September 2010, page 9: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”, in AsiaOne, Singapore, retrieved 21 September 2010:A serial housebreaker who is believed to have stolen from several homes in Ang Mo Kio last month was nabbed on Tuesday.
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