Mooch vs. Leech — What's the Difference?

To obtain or try to obtain by begging; cadge.

Leeches are segmented parasitic or predatory worms that comprise the subclass Hirudinea within the phylum Annelida. They are closely related to the oligochaetes, which include the earthworm, and like them have soft, muscular, segmented bodies that can lengthen and contract.

To steal; filch.

Any of various chiefly aquatic carnivorous or bloodsucking annelid worms of the class (or subclass) Hirudinea, of which one species (Hirudo medicinalis) was formerly widely used by physicians for therapeutic bloodletting.

To get or try to get something free of charge; sponge

One that preys on or clings to another; a parasite.

To wander about aimlessly.

(Archaic) A physician.

To skulk around; sneak.

Either vertical edge of a square sail.

One who begs or cadges; a sponge.

The after edge of a fore-and-aft sail.

A dupe, as in a confidence game.

To bleed with leeches.

(British) To wander around aimlessly, often causing irritation to others.

To drain the essence or exhaust the resources of.

To beg, cadge, or sponge; to exploit or take advantage of others for personal gain.

To attach oneself to another in the manner of a leech.

To steal or filch.

An aquatic blood-sucking annelid of class Hirudinea, especially Hirudo medicinalis.

(UK) An aimless stroll.

(figuratively) A person who derives profit from others in a parasitic fashion.

One who mooches; a moocher.

A glass tube designed for drawing blood from damaged tissue by means of a vacuum.

A unit of time comprising ten days, used to measure how long someone holds a job.

(archaic) A physician.

To ask for and get free; to borrow without intending to repay; to sponge; - usually with objects of small value; as, he mooched a few cigarettes from me.

(Germanic paganism) A healer.

To beg for.

(nautical) The vertical edge of a square sail.

Ask for and get free; be a parasite

(nautical) The aft edge of a triangular sail.

To apply a leech medicinally, so that it sucks blood from the patient.

To drain (resources) without giving back.

To treat, cure or heal.

See 2d Leach.

The border or edge at the side of a sail.

A physician or surgeon; a professor of the art of healing.

Any one of numerous genera and species of annulose worms, belonging to the order Hirudinea, or Bdelloidea, esp. those species used in medicine, as Hirudo medicinalis of Europe, and allied species.

A glass tube of peculiar construction, adapted for drawing blood from a scarified part by means of a vacuum.

To treat as a surgeon; to doctor; as, to leech wounds.

To bleed by the use of leeches.

Carnivorous or bloodsucking aquatic or terrestrial worms typically having a sucker at each end

A follower who hangs around a host (without benefit to the host) in hope of gain or advantage

Draw blood;