English Explanatory Dictionary

filch

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To illegally take possession of (something, especially items of low value); to pilfer, to steal.
noun
  1. Something which has been filched or stolen.
  2. An act of filching; larceny, theft.
  3. A person who filches; a filcher, a pilferer, a thief.
  4. A hooked stick used to filch objects.

Pronunciation

fĭlch /fɪlt͡ʃ/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-filch.wav

Word forms

filch filches filching filched

Etymology

From Middle English filchen (“to pilfer, steal”). The further origin of the word is uncertain, but it is likely from or related to Old English fylċian (“to marshal troops”) and Old English ġefylċe (“band of men, army, host”), which would make it also related to folk.

Synonyms

flog half-inch jack knock off lift nick pilfer pinch pocket rob steal thieve abduct abstract appropriate bag bandit bash and grab bone boost burgle burglarize borrow cheat chore commandeer confiscate convert cop cozen crib embezzle filch fleece gaffle gilravage heave heist kidnap kipe kyper liberate loot make off with mill misappropriate mooch moonlight requisition nip own peculate pickpocket pillage pirate plunder poach prig purloin raid ransack

Derived words

filched filcher filchery filchingly filching unfilched
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