besteal

Meaning

Verb

• To steal, move stealthily.

Origin

• From Middle English bestelen, from Old English bestelan, from Proto-Germanic *bistelaną, corresponding to be- + steal. Cognate with Saterland Frisian besteele, Dutch bestelen, German Low German bestehlen, Luxembourgish bestielen, German bestehlen, Swedish bestjäla ("to rob").