Mitch

Pronunciation

• IPA: /mɪtʃ/
• Rhymes: -ɪtʃ

Alternative forms

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

Origin

From Middle English michen, müchen (""), from Old English *myċċan ("to steal"), from Proto-Germanic *mukjaną ("to waylay, ambush, hide, rob"), from 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.

Full definition of mitch

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