'scrounger' originates from the English word 'scrounge', which is believed to have been derived from the dialectal word 'scrunge', meaning 'to search stealthily'.

'scrounge' evolved from the dialectal word 'scrunge' and eventually became the modern English word 'scrounge', with 'scrounger' as its noun form.

Initially, it meant 'to search stealthily', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to obtain something without intending to return it'.