mitch

Meaning

Verb

• To pilfer; filch; steal.
• To shrink or retire from view; lurk out of sight; skulk.
• To be absent from school without a valid excuse; to play truant.
• To grumble secretly.
• To pretend poverty.

Related

Similar words

• bunk off
• skive

Origin

• From Middle English mychen, muchen, from Old English *myċċan ("to steal"), from Proto-Germanic *mūk- ("to waylay, ambush, hide, rob"), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)mūg- ("swindler, thief"). Cognate with Scots mich, myche, Saterland Frisian mogeln ("to act secretively and deceitfully"), Dutch mokkelen ("to flatter"), Alemannic German mauchen ("to nibble secretively"), German mogeln ("to cheat"), German meucheln ("to assassinate"), Norwegian i mugg ("in secret, secretly"), Latin muger ("cheater"). Related to mooch.