məˈliŋgə(r) intransitive verb
( malingered ; malingered ; malingering -g(ə)riŋ ; malingers )
Etymology: French malingre sickly, ailing, from (assumed) Old French malingre, from Old French mal badly + haingre thin, lean, perhaps of Germanic origin; akin to Middle High German hager thin, lean; akin to Avestan kasu- little — more at mal-
1. : to pretend to be ill or otherwise physically or mentally incapacitated so as to avoid duty or work
a malingering soldier
2. : to deliberately induce, protract, or exaggerate actual illness or other incapacity so as to avoid duty or work
Synonyms: see dodge