scrounge

English

Etymology

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

• IPA^(key): /skɹaʊnd͡ʒ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aʊndʒ

Verb

scrounge (third-person singular simple present scrounges, present participle scrounging, simple past and past participle scrounged)

1. (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.

2. (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

• (obtain from another): blag, cadge (UK), leech, sponge, wheedle

Derived terms

• on the scrounge
• scrounge up
• scrounger

Translations

Noun

scrounge (plural scrounges)

1. Someone who scrounges; a scrounger.

Translations

See also

• scringe
• scrooge
• scrouge
• scrunge

Anagrams

• congrues