pilfer etymology

Etymology:

• Old French: "pilfer"
• Latin: "pilfare", meaning "to filch or steal"
• Proto-Indo-European: "pil-", meaning "to press or crush"

Meaning:

• To steal or take something in a small or sneaky way.
• To appropriate something without permission or without making proper payment.

Origin:

The word "pilfer" originally referred to the practice of stealing small items from a shop or market by pressing or crushing them. This method of theft was common among poor or desperate people who could not afford to purchase goods openly. Over time, the meaning of the word expanded to include any unauthorized taking of property.

pilfer relate terms

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• pilfer

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• pilferage

  Etymology Early 17th century from Middle French pilfer pelfrer steal of unknown

• pilfer

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• cabbage

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• purloin

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• abstract

  Etymology Origin Latin abstractus past participle of abstrahere meaning to draw away

• scrounge

  Etymology Middle English scroungen of uncertain origin Possibly from an Anglo Norman

• swipe

  Etymology The word swipe has two distinct etymologies depending on its usage 1 To t

• pick

  Etymology Pick comes from the Middle English word pikken which is derived from the

• flit

  Etymology of flit Middle English flitten from Old English fleotan to move float

• lift

  Etymology Lift derives from the Middle English word lyften which is itself derived fr