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Definition of pilfer - 6 dictionary results

pil⋅fer

[pil-fer]
–verb (used without object), verb (used with object)
to steal, esp. in small quantities.

Origin:
1540–50; v. use of late ME pilfre booty < MF pelfre. See pelf


pil⋅fer⋅er, noun


thieve, purloin, filch, appropriate.
pil·fer   (pĭl'fər)   
v.   pil·fered, pil·fer·ing, pil·fers

v.   tr.
To steal (a small amount or item). See Synonyms at steal.
v.   intr.
To steal or filch.

[From Middle English pilfre, spoils, from Old French pelfre.]
pil'fer·age (-ĭj) n., pil'fer·er n.

Pilfer

Pil"fer\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Pilfered; p. pr. & vb. n. Pilfering.] [OF. pelfrer. See Pelf.] To steal in small quantities, or articles of small value; to practice petty theft.

Pilfer

Pil"fer\, v. t. To take by petty theft; to filch; to steal little by little.

And not a year but pilfers as he goes Some youthful grace that age would gladly keep. --Cowper.
Language Translation for : pilfer
Spanish: hurtar, robar,
German: stibitzen,
Japanese: 盗む

pilfer 
c.1400 (n.), from O.Fr. pelfre "booty, spoils" (11c.), of unknown origin, possibly related to pelf. The verb is first recorded 1548.

Main Entry: pil·fer
Pronunciation: 'pil-f&r
Function: intransitive verb
: to steal esp. in small amounts and often again and again pilfering from passenger luggage> transitive verb : to steal or steal from esp. in small quantities pilfering goods from a store he was guarding> —pil·fer·age /'pil-f&-rij/ noun
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