mooch

mooch  (mch) Slang

v. mooched, mooch·ing, mooch·es

v.tr.

1. To obtain or try to obtain by begging; cadge. See Synonyms at cadge.

2. To steal; filch.

v.intr.

1. To get or try to get something free of charge; sponge: lived by mooching off friends.

2. To wander about aimlessly.

3. To skulk around; sneak.

n.

1. One who begs or cadges; a sponge.

2. A dupe, as in a confidence game.

---

[Middle English mowchen, probably from Old French muchier, to hide, skulk.]

---

moocher n.

---

mooch

Verb

Slang

1. to loiter or walk aimlessly

2. to cadge or scrounge [perhaps Old French muchier to skulk]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	mooch - someone who mooches or cadges (tries to get something free) cadger, moocher, scrounger beggar, mendicant - a pauper who lives by begging schnorrer, shnorrer - (Yiddish) a scrounger who takes advantage of the generosity of others
Verb	1.	mooch - ask for and get free; be a parasite bum, cadge, grub, sponge obtain - come into possession of; "How did you obtain the visa?" freeload - live off somebody's generosity; "This young man refuses to work and is freeloading"