Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • transitive verb To take (something, especially something of little value) in a furtive manner; snitch. synonym: steal.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To steal, especially in a small, sly way; pilfer; take from another on a petty scale, as for the supply of a present need, or in an underhand way, as by violation of trust or good faith.
  • noun A stick with a hook at the end, used in filching articles from windows, clothes-lines, etc.
  • noun An act of theft; also, the thing stolen.
  • noun One who filches or is given to filching; a filcher.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb To steal or take privily (commonly, that which is of little value); to pilfer.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb transitive To steal, to illegally take possession of.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb make off with belongings of others

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English filchen.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Middle English filchen ("to steal, pilfer"), of uncertain origin. Perhaps related to Old English fylcian ("to marshal troops"), Old English ġefylce ("band of men, army, host"). Related to folk.

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Examples

  • Les Synonyms: dérober = to purloin chiper = to swipe, filch piquer = to pinch, to nick

    tourism 2010

  • It would be the work of a minute to nip in and filch the goods.

    Earl of Durkness Alix Rickloff 2011

  • Les Synonyms: dérober = to purloin chiper = to swipe, filch piquer = to pinch, to nick

    choper - French Word-A-Day 2010

  • Whence the verb crib, which meant "to filch" under cover of wicker anything -- some liquor,

    Review of The Best of It by Kay Ryan 2010

  • Les Synonyms: dérober = to purloin chiper = to swipe, filch piquer = to pinch, to nick

    French Destinations 2010

  • They eat an insane number of carrots and raw lasagna noodles that they bought in bulk at Sam's Club 12 years ago, and they filch bananas from co-workers' lunch bags when they're not watching.

    The Secret World of Inflation Watchers Joe Queenan 2011

  • It would be the work of a minute to nip in and filch the goods.

    Earl of Durkness Alix Rickloff 2011

  • The clergy converted the simple teachings of Jesus into an engine for enslaving mankind ... to filch wealth and power to themselves.

    DeMint says Tea Party activists leading spiritual revival 2010

  • It would be the work of a minute to nip in and filch the goods.

    Earl of Durkness Alix Rickloff 2011

  • Les Synonyms: dérober = to purloin chiper = to swipe, filch piquer = to pinch, to nick

    Travel 2010

Comments

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  • ...he fell

    into the habitual practice of

    filching his Sunday supper from the fridge.

    This hebdomadary beano was quite

    contary to the expectations of

    the establishment...

    - Peter Reading, Inter-City, from Fiction, 1979

    June 26, 2008

  • Citation on craw.

    October 2, 2008

  • 'Now, who should there in Heaven be

    To fill your place, ma très-douce mie? 10

    To reach that spot I little care!

    There all the droning priests are met;

    All the old cripples, too, are there

    That unto shrines and altars cling

    To filch the Peter-pence we bring';— 15

    Said Aucassin to Nicolette.

    - Edmund Clarence Stedman, 'Provençal Lovers'.

    September 17, 2009