filch

The story

1. Old English · derived fromġefylċe“band of men, army, host”
2. Old English · inherited fromfylċian“to marshal troops”
3. Middle English · inherited fromfilchen“to pilfer, steal”
4. English todayfilch

From Middle English filchen (“to pilfer, steal”). The further origin of the word is uncertain, but it is likely from or related to Old English fylċian (“to marshal troops”) and Old English ġefylċe (“band of men, army, host”), which would make it also related to folk.