leech
1. n. (Also `leecher'.) Among BBS types,
crackers and warez d00dz, one who consumes knowledge without
generating new software, cracks, or techniques. BBS culture
specifically defines a leech as someone who downloads files with
few or no uploads in return, and who does not contribute to the
message section. Cracker culture extends this definition to
someone (a lamer, usually) who constantly presses informed
sources for information and/or assistance, but has nothing to
contribute. See troughie. 2. v. [common, Toronto area]
v. To download a file across any kind of internet link. "Hop on
IRC later so I can leech some MP3s from you." Used to describe
activities ranging from FTP, to IRC DCC-send, to ICQ file requests,
to Napster searches (but never to downloading email with file
attachments; the implication is that the download is the result of
a browse or search of some sort of file server). Seems to be a
holdover from the early 1990s when Toronto had a very active BBS
and warez scene. Synonymous with snarf (sense 2), and
contrast snarf (sense 4).
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