1581. Lyly, Euphues, 29. What made the gods so often to trewant
from heaven, and mich here on earth.
1787. Grose, Prov. Glossary, s.v. Mooch.
3. (tramps’).—To hang about: for alms, a job, or a chance to pilfer.
Also on the mouch.
1888. Daily Telegraph, 27 Nov. Yet it might safely be wagered that,
while the poor street folk who pick up a precarious livelihood in
this way would not resent being called costermongers, they would be
bitterly offended at being stigmatised as mouchers, and would hotly
assert that they never mouched a penny from anybody.
1888. Indoor Paupers, i. Most of these people knew how to mouch or
beg with skill and effect, while I could not beg at all.
1888. Bulletin, Nov. 24. All the dead-beats and suspected
hen-snatchers plead when before the Bench that they were ‘only
mouching round to find out whether the family neglected its
religious dooties, yer washup.’