E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Miching Malicho.
Secret or underhand mischief; a veiled rebuke; a bad deed probed by disguised means. To mich or meech means to skulk or shrink from sight. Michers are poachers or secret pilferers. Malicho is a Spanish word meaning an “evil action;” as a personified name it means a malefactor. (Hamlet, iii. 2.)
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The “quarto” reads munching mallico; the “folio” has miching malicho. Qy. The Spanish mu’cho malhe’cho (much mischief)?
