— ransacker , n.
/ran"sak/ , v.t.
1. to search thoroughly or vigorously through (a house, receptacle, etc.): They ransacked the house for the missing letter.
2. to search through for plunder; pillage: The enemy ransacked the entire town.
[ 1200-50; ME ransaken rannsaka to search, examine (for evidence of crime), equiv. to rann house + saka search (var. of soekja to SEEK) ]