burgle
UK[ˈbɜːɡl̩]US[ˈbɜːrɡl̩]
v
To enter a building illegally and steal things from it.
Etymology
The word 'burgle' is a linguistic novelty, created in the 19th century by removing the '-ar' agent suffix from the much older noun 'burglar'. This process, called back-formation, filled a perceived gap for a verb form. 'Burglar' itself entered English from Anglo-Latin 'burgulator', a variant of 'burgator', which is rooted in Late Latin 'burgus' meaning "fortress, fortified town." This Latin term was borrowed from Proto-Germanic 'burgz', signifying a hill-fort or fortified place. Thus, the modern verb 'to burgle' carries the historical logic of committing theft against a dwelling, a concept embedded in the ancient idea of a secure, enclosed settlement.
Analysis
The word is a back-formation from the noun 'burglar'. It is not productively composed of separable morphemes in modern English.
Examples
The house next door was burgled while the family was on vacation.
He was arrested for attempting to burgle a jewelry store.
The neighborhood has seen a spike in homes being burgled.