different between snitch vs filch

English

Etymology

Origin uncertain. Perhaps an alteration of snatch, or a dialectal variant of sneak, from Middle English sniken, from Old English sn?can (“to creep; crawl”). More at sneak.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sn?t?/
• Rhymes: -?t?

Verb

snitch (third-person singular simple present snitches, present participle snitching, simple past and past participle snitched)

1. (transitive) To inform on, especially in betrayal of others.
2. (slang, transitive) To contact or cooperate with the police for any reason.
3. (dated, transitive) To steal, quickly and quietly.

Synonyms

• (to steal): filch, pilfer, pocket; See also Thesaurus:steal
• (to inform on): drop a dime, grass up, rat out; See also Thesaurus:rat out
• (cooperate with the police):

Translations

Noun

snitch (plural snitches)

1. A thief.
2. An informer, usually one who betrays his group.
3. (Britain) A nose.
   • 1897, W.S. Maugham, Lisa of Lambeth, chapter 1

     'Yah, I wouldn't git a second-'and dress at a pawnbroker's!'

     'Garn!' said Liza indignantly. 'I'll swipe yer over the snitch if yer talk ter me. [...] "
4. A tiny morsel.
   • 1963, Jack Schaefer, Monte Walsh, p 3

     "He pays for the food you eat," said the woman.

     "Yeah," said the boy. "And I earn every snitch doing everything ever gets done around here."

5. A ball used in the sports of Quidditch.

Synonyms

• (thief): filcher, pincher; See also Thesaurus:thief
• (informer): grass, mole, quisling, rat, stool pigeon; See also Thesaurus:informant
• (nose): schnozz, sneck; See also Thesaurus:nose
• (morsel): bite, snap, snippock

Derived terms

• snitches get stitches

• snitches get stitches and wind up in ditches

Translations

Anagrams

• chints

English

Etymology

From Middle English filchen (“to pilfer, to steal”). The further origin of the word is uncertain, but it is perhaps related to Old English fyl?ian (“to marshal troops”) and Old English ?efyl?e (“band of men, army, host”), which would make it related to folk.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, General American) enPR: f?lch, IPA^(key): /f?lt?/
• Rhymes: -?lt?

Verb

filch (third-person singular simple present filches, present participle filching, simple past and past participle filched)

1. (transitive) To illegally take possession of (especially items of low value); to pilfer, to steal.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:steal

Derived terms

• filched (adjective)
• filcher
• filching (noun)

Translations

Noun

filch (plural filches)

1. Something which has been filched or stolen.
2. An act of filching; larceny, theft.
3. (obsolete) A person who filches; a filcher, a pilferer, a thief.
4. (obsolete) A hooked stick used to filch objects.

Synonyms

• (act of filching): larceny, theft
• (person who filches): filcher, pilferer, thief