mitch

See also: Mitch

English

Alternative forms

• mich, mych, myche, meech, meach
• miche (obsolete)

Etymology

From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Middle English michen, müchen (“to rob, steal, pilfer”), from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Old English *myċċan (“to steal”), from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Proto-Germanic *mukjaną (“to waylay, ambush, hide, rob”), from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Proto-Indo-European *(s)mūg- (“swindler, thief”). Cognate with Scots mich, myche (“to steal”), 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.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mɪtʃ/
• Rhymes: -ɪtʃ

Verb

1. (transitive, dialectal) To pilfer; filch; steal.
2. (intransitive, dialectal) To shrink or retire from view; lurk out of sight; skulk.
3. (Ireland, Wales) To be absent from school without a valid excuse; to play truant.

   John said he was going to mitch the last lesson today.

4. (intransitive, dialectal) To grumble secretly.
5. (intransitive, dialectal) To pretend poverty.

Synonyms

• bunk off
• skive

Derived terms

• mitcher
• mitchery
• mitching

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Translations to be checked

• French: ^{(please verify)} sécher (fr)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• German: ^{(please verify)} schwänzen (de)