Scrounging

/ˈskraʊndʒɪŋ/ verb

Definition

Searching or begging for something you need, especially by asking others or looking through discarded items.

Etymology

From scrounge, likely dialectal English, possibly from 'scrounge' related to scrounging about. The word entered standard use in military slang during World War II.

Kelly Says

Military personnel coined 'scrounge' as both a noun and verb during WWII—it described the resourceful, unofficial acquisition of supplies that kept operations running when official channels failed.

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