Other forms: larcenies
Larceny is the crime of taking somebody else's property. Petty larceny, grand larceny, charged with larceny.
It is the old common-law name for theft, split into grand and petty by the value taken. England abolished the term in 1968 and now says theft; several American states keep it, which is why the word survives mainly in news from the United States.
1nounlarcenyThe crime of taking somebody else's property.
“He was charged with larceny after stealing tools from his employer.”
larceny is a crime.
Anglo-Norman larcin comes from Latin latrocinium, robbery, from latro, a robber or mercenary.
Ancient Greek
λάτρον — pay, hire
Latin
latrocinium — robbery
Anglo-Norman
larcin — theft
English, today
larceny
Built from
Coined in Middle English - (as larceni) between 1425 and 1475 from Anglo-Norman larcin (“theft”), from Latin latrocinium (“robbery”), from latro (“robber, mercenary”), from Ancient Greek λάτρον (“pay, hire”). a doublet of latrociny.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA