housebreaker
|house-break-er|
B2
🇺🇸
/ˈhaʊsˌbreɪkər/
🇬🇧
/ˈhaʊsˌbreɪkə/
illegal entry
Etymology
Etymology Information
'housebreaker' originates from Middle English, combining 'house' meaning 'dwelling' and 'breaker' from 'breken' meaning 'to break'.
Historical Evolution
'housebreaker' evolved from the Middle English term 'housbreker', which was used to describe someone who unlawfully entered a dwelling.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'someone who breaks into a house', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Last updated: 2025/01/31 02:35