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pilfer

[ pil-fer ]

/ ˈpɪl fər /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR pilfer ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with or without object)

to steal, especially in small quantities.

Origin of pilfer

1540–50; v. use of late Middle English pilfre booty < Middle French pelfre. See pelf

SYNONYMS FOR pilfer

thieve, purloin, filch, appropriate.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR pilfer ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM pilfer

pil·fer·er, noun un·pil·fered, adjective

Words nearby pilfer

piles, pileum, pileup, pileus, pilewort, pilfer, pilferage, pilgarlic, pilgrim, pilgrim bottle, pilgrim fathers

Example sentences from the Web for pilfering

Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, its former ally, on the pretext, never proven, that Kuwait was pilfering oil from Iraq.

Invaders and the Lies They Tell From Nazi Germany to Russia and the US |Malcolm Jones |March 7, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
I am afraid that there is much of this kind of pilfering among servants in these bad dayes of ours.

The Life and Death of Mr Badman |John Bunyan
The present picture is an instance of this practice, its subject being the baby Krishna pilfering butter.

The Loves of Krishna in Indian Painting and Poetry |W. G. Archer
Call it pilfering if you have the face to, but in return for this bit of refreshment I am going to give you some advice.

Two Wyoming Girls and Their Homestead Claim |Carrie L. Marshall

In some of their lighter moods and pilfering habits, they add to the gayety of life.

Hunting with the Bow and Arrow |Saxton Pope
For in that land all was done in those days by stealing; pilfering and robbing were among them from the beginning.

Continental Monthly, Vol. I. February, 1862, No. II. |Various

British Dictionary definitions for pilfering

pilfer

/ (ˈpɪlfə) /

verb

to steal (minor items), esp in small quantities

Derived forms of pilfer

pilferer, noun pilfering, noun

Word Origin for pilfer

C14 pylfre (n) from Old French pelfre booty; see pelf