EAVESDROP


Meaning of EAVESDROP in English

v.intr. (-dropped, -dropping) listen secretly to a private conversation. eavesdropper n.

[ eavesdropper orig. 'one who listens under walls' prob. f. ON upsardropi (cf. OE yf‘sdryp‘): eavesdrop by back-form. ]

Concise Oxford English dictionary.      Краткий оксфордский словарь английского языка.