mooch English · revision 1100

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /muːt͡ʃ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It comes from Middle English ''mowchen'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) probably [[der|fro|muchier|t=to hide, skulk]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) of uncertain origin, perhaps Celtic or Germanic.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) Barnhart and Etymonline also mention Middle English ''michen'' “to pilfer” and ''mucchen'' “to hoard”.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To pilfer or steal (1440 as ''mychyn'' in Barnhart),^(Barnhart 1995) or to act the miser or pretend poverty (mid-15th century).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the 17th century the word meant to play truant, especially to pick blackberries (1622).^(OED 1989) From 1851 it meant to loaf, skulk or wander aimlessly,^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989) and from 1857 to sponge off others,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) probably from the sense of loafing.^(Barnhart 1995) The sense to beg or cadge is from 1899.^(OED 1989) ''Moocher'' as a noun is recorded from 1914.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1440 – ''mychyn'', to pilfer.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * about 1460 – to pretend poverty.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1622 – to play truant.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1851 – to loaf or skulk.^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1857 – to sponge off others.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1899 – to beg or cadge.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To get or try to get something free, at another's expense; to [[sponge]] or [[cadge]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To steal; to [[filch]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To wander about aimlessly; to skulk or sneak.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who mooches; a moocher.^(RHWU)^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An aimless stroll.^(Wiktionary)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[moocher]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mitch]]

+ * [[sponge]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}