As verbs the difference between moonlight and moonlighting
is that moonlight is to work on the side (at a secondary job), often in the evening or during the night[ while moonlighting is . ]
As a noun moonlight
is the light reflected from the moon[webster's college dictionary , random house, 2001].
moonlight
English
Noun
(-)
The light reflected from the moon.[Webster's College Dictionary , Random House, 2001]
(attributive) Illuminated by the light from the moon.[The Illustrated Oxford Dictionary , Oxford University Press, 1998]
Verb
(
en verb)
To work on the side (at a secondary job), often in the evening or during the night.[ ]
(by extension) To engage in an activity other than what one is known for.
Usage notes
In American English, to moonlight is simply to work at secondary employment;[Mish, Drederick C. (ed.). 1995. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary.'' 10th ed. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster.] in British English, it used to imply working secretly (i.e., not paying tax on the extra money earned), but more recent editions of some UK dictionaries no longer mention a difference to the US usage.[Treffry, Diana (ed.). 1999. ''Collins Paperback English Dictionary. ] 4th ed. Glasgow: HarperCollins.
Derived terms
* moonlighter
References