| 释义 |
ˈhousebreaking
[Cf. housebreach.]
The crime of breaking open and entering a house with intent to commit robbery or other felony. (See quots.) Also attrib. Formerly usu. denoting such a crime committed by day, for which burglary was the equivalent at night; now applied to such an act committed by day or night.
1617Minsheu Ductor, Burglary,..the Common Law restraines it to robbing of a house by night...The like offence committed by daie they call house breaking or robbing. 1670Blount Law Dict. s.v. 1769Blackstone Comm. IV. xvi. (1809) 223 Burglary, or nocturnal housebreaking..has always been looked upon as a very heinous offence. 1838Dickens O. Twist xix, Producing his box of housebreaking tools. 1897Daily News 9 Dec. 10/7 Housebreaking, which means entry before nine o'clock at night, is commoner with these retail criminals than burglary. 19668th Rep. Crim. Law Rev. Comm. 85 in Parl. Papers 1966–7 (Cmnd. 2977) XXXIX. 1 The present offence of housebreaking, by day at least, is not regarded as within that class, for many cases are dealt with by fine. 1966New Statesman 7 Oct. 504/2 All this will be the result of abolishing a host of anomalies in the ancient law of burglary and housebreaking (a distinction which..will itself disappear). The Bill makes a bonfire of them. 1973‘J. Patrick’ Glasgow Gang Observed iii. 27 Under the law of Scotland ‘housebreaking’ covers the forced entry of ‘any roofed building’, i.e. shops, factories, garages, as well as private houses. |