cadge

UK: kædʒ | US: kædʒ

Definition
  1. vt. to beg or obtain something by imposing on others' generosity

  2. vi. to act as a beggar or scrounger

Structure

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Etymology

The word "cadge" likely originated in early 19th-century British slang, possibly derived from the dialectal term "cadger," meaning a traveling peddler or huckster who carried goods in a "cadge" (a woven basket). Over time, it evolved to describe the act of persistently begging or sponging off others, reflecting the peddler's reliance on public goodwill. Its spelling remained compact without separable morphemes in modern English.

Examples
  1. He tried to cadge a free meal from the restaurant owner.

  2. Tourists often cadge directions from locals.

  3. She cadged a ride to work when her car broke down.

  4. Stop cadging cigarettes from your coworkers.

  5. The stray dog learned to cadge scraps near the market.