second-story man

noun

: a burglar who enters a house by an upstairs window

Word History

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of second-story man was in 1881

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Cite this Entry

“Second-story man.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/second-story%20man. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.

Last Updated: - Definition revised
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