An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
English-French-Persian

To listen secretly to a private conversation.

Probably back-formation from → eavesdropper.

Gušârdan, from gušâr, → eavesdropper, + -dan infinitive suffix.

A person or thing that secretly listens to or monitors the private conversation or data of others.

From M.E. eavesdrop, from O.E. yfesdrype "place around a house where the rainwater drips off the roof," literally "one who stands on the eavesdrop in order to listen to conversations inside the house," from eaves "the lower border of a roof that overhangs the wall" + drip, drop "to fall in small portions."

Gušâr in Tabari "eavesdropper," from guš, → ear, + -âr probably contraction of dâr (as in dustâr/dustdâr) agent noun from dâštan "to hold, have, possess; appoint, erect," → property.

The monitoring and/or examining the data that is passed over the network without sender and receiver's permission and/or knowledge. For example, a user on the Internet could eavesdrop on someone's phone conversation or e-mail.

Noun from → eavesdrop.