The Only Use of
pilfer
in
Oliver Twist
- The Dodger had a vicious propensity, too, of pulling the caps from the heads of small boys and tossing them down areas; while Charley Bates exhibited some very loose notions concerning the rights of property, by pilfering divers apples and onions from the stalls at the kennel sides, and thrusting them into pockets which were so surprisingly capacious, that they seemed to undermine his whole suit of clothes in every direction.†
Chpt 10pilfering = stealing
Definition:
to steal small amounts or unimportant items -- often repeatedly or secretly