schnorrer

or shnor·rer

[ shnawr-er, shnohr- ]

noun

, Slang.

1. a person who habitually borrows or lives at the expense of others with no intention of repaying; sponger; moocher; beggar.

schnorrer

/ ˈʃnɔːrə /

noun

1. slang.
   a person who lives off the charity of others; professional beggar

Word History and Origins

Origin of schnorrer¹

First recorded in 1890–95; from Yiddish shnorer “sponger, moocher,” equivalent to shnor(n) “to beg” (compare Middle High German snurren “to hum, buzz, whir”); sense “beg” from beggars' custom of playing a small pipe or whistle ( German Schnurrpfeife ) + -er -er ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of schnorrer¹

Yiddish, from German Schnurrer beggar (who played an instrument), from Middle High German snurren to hum