scrounge
English edit
Etymology edit
1915, alteration of dialectal scrunge ("to search stealthily, rummage, pilfer") (1909), of uncertain origin, perhaps from dialectal scringe ("to pry about"); or perhaps related to scrouge, scrooge ("push, jostle") (1755, also Cockney slang for "a crowd"), probably suggestive of screw, squeeze. Popularized by the military in World War I.
Pronunciation edit
Verb edit
scrounge (third-person singular simple present scrounges, present participle scrounging, simple past and past participle scrounged)
- (intransitive, transitive) To hunt about, especially for something of nominal value; to scavenge or glean.
- scrounge for food
- 1965, Bob Dylan (lyrics and music), “Like a Rolling Stone”:
- Now you don't seem so proud about having to be scrounging your next meal.
- (intransitive) To obtain something of moderate or inconsequential value from another.
- As long as he's got someone who'll let him scrounge off them, he'll never settle down and get a full-time job.
Synonyms edit
Derived terms edit
Translations edit
To hunt about, especially for something of nominal value; to scavenge or glean
To obtain something of moderate or inconsequential value from another
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Noun edit
scrounge (plural scrounges)
- Someone who scrounges; a scrounger.
Translations edit
scrounger — see scrounger