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Added 9 October 2026

scrounge

/ˈskɹaʊ̯nd͡ʒ/ verb

verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about scrounge at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

To hunt about, especially for something of nominal value; to scavenge or glean.
scrounge for food
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.

noun

Someone who scrounges; a scrounger.
An act of scrounging; a trip taken for the purpose of scrounging.

Origin

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.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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