Etymology Dictionary

LARCENY,  theft, robbery.  (F.,—L.)   In Cotgrave, who explains O.F. larrecin by 'larceny, theft, robbery.'   An old law term; see Blount's Nomolexicon.—O.F. larrecin, larcin (both forms are in Cotgrave); mod. F. larcin.   The spelling larrecin occurs in the Laws of William the Conqueror, § xiv; in Thorpe's Ancient Laws of England, i. 472.   [The suffix -y appears to be an E. addition, to conform the word to forger-y, burglar-y, felon-y, and the like; but it is unnecessary].—Lat. latrocinium, freebooting, marauding, robbery; formed with suffix -cinium (occurring also in tiro-cinium) from latro, a robber.   β. Curtius (i. 453) considers latro as borrowed from Gk.   At any rate it is equivalent to Gk. λάτρις, a hireling, used in a bad sense.   The suffix -tro or -τρις denotes the agent, and the base is λαϜ, to get, seen in ἀπο-λαύ ειν, to enjoy, get; cf. ληίς, λεία, booty, spoil, lu-crum, gain.    See Lucre.   Der. larcen-ist.   The word burg-lar contains a derivative from latro.