Also 6 burgulary, 6–7 burglarie, burghlarie. [see BURGLAR.]
The crime of breaking by night into a house with intent to commit felony. Also attrib.
[1199–1216. Assize K. John, in Placit. Abbrev., 68. De burgaria & aliis latrociniis … De Burgeria & de ligatura & aliis latrociniis.
1516. in Fitzherbert, Graunde Abridgement, 268 b. Que il vient a son meson de faire burglarie.]
1532–3. Act 24 Hen. VIII., v. Any suche persoune, so attemptinge to committe suche murder or burgulary.
1581. Lambarde, Eiren., II. vii. (1588), 262. Burghlarie is the theft done by entrie into a dwelling house.
a. 1603. T. Cartwright, Confut. Rhem. N. T. (1618), 558. How like burglary theeues they break open all dores.
1649. Selden, Laws Eng., I. xl. (1739), 63. Burning of woods was finable … but Burglary was Felony.
1679. Jesuites Ghostly Ways, 3. Wounded his creditor, Hugh Hare, a Gentleman of the Temple, by committing burglary.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., IV. xvi. 226. Neither can burglary be committed in a tent or booth erected in a market or fair.
a. 1843. Southey, Nondescr., vi. There is a maggot there … it is his house, His castle … oh commit not burglary!
1855. Wharton, Crim. Law U.S., 598. Burglary is the breaking and entering the dwelling-house of another in the night. Ibid., 611. The breaking and entering must be in the night.
b. As an act: A felonious breaking into a house.
1609. Bp. Barlow, Answ. Nameless Cath., 308. The second comming of Christ is resembled to a theeues burghlarie.
1712. in Maidment’s Sc. Pasquils, 438. Like fearful women in burglaries they generally add bloodshed to theft.
Mod. The season for burglaries has commenced.
c. fig.
1636. Fitz-Geffrey, Blessed Birthday (1881), 155. To breake into Gods sealed secresie, This is … bold burglary.
a. 1677. Barrow, Serm., I. xxi. (R.). To break open the closet of a man’s breast … may well be deemed a worse sort of burglary … than to break open doors.
