mooch

UK: /muːtʃ/ US: /mutʃ/ ,(mo̅o̅ch)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

mooch /mutʃ/   [Slang.]
v. 

1. Slang Terms to borrow without intending to return or repay: [no object]
   always mooching off his friends.
   [~ + object]
   Stop mooching cigarettes and just buy your own.
2. Slang Terms to loiter or wander about:
   [no object] mooching around her old neighborhood.

n. [countable]

3. Also, ˈmooch•er. a person who mooches.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

mooch  (mo̅o̅ch), [Slang.]
v.t. 

1. Slang Terms to borrow (a small item or amount) without intending to return or repay it.
2. Slang Terms to get or take without paying or at another's expense;
   sponge:
   He always mooches cigarettes.
3. Slang Terms to beg.
4. Slang Terms to steal.

v.i. 

5. Slang Terms to skulk or sneak.
6. Slang Terms to loiter or wander about.

n. 

Also, mooch′er. a person who mooches. Also, mouch. 

• Old French muchier to skulk, hide
• late Middle English, apparently variant of Middle English michen 1425–75

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

mooch / muːtʃ/ verb

1. (intransitive) often followed by around: to loiter or walk aimlessly
2. (intransitive) to behave in an apathetic way
3. (intransitive) to sneak or lurk; skulk
4. (transitive) to cadge
5. (transitive) to steal

Etymology: 17th Century: perhaps from Old French muchier to skulk

ˈmoocher noun