Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Prowl

Prowl

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Prowled
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Prowling
.]
[OE.
prollen
to search about; of uncertain origin, perh. for
proglen
, a dim. of
prog
to beg, or
proke
to poke. Cf.
Proke
.]
1.
To rove over, through, or about in a stealthy manner; esp., to search in, as for prey or booty.
He
prowls
each place, still in new colors decked.
Sir P. Sidney.
2.
To collect by plunder;
as, to
prowl
money
.
[Obs.]

Prowl

,
Verb.
I.
To rove or wander stealthily, esp. for prey, as a wild beast; hence, to prey; to plunder.

Prowl

,
Noun.
The act of prowling.
[Colloq.]
Smart.

Webster 1828 Edition


Prowl

PROWL

,
Verb.
T.
[I know not the origin of this word, nor from what source it is derived. It may be derived from the root of stroll, troll, with a different prefix.] To rove over.
He prowls each place, still in new colors deck'd.

PROWL

,
Verb.
I.
To rove or wander, particularly for prey, as a wild
beast; as a prowling wolf.
1.
To rove and plunder; to prey; to plunder.

PROWL

,
Noun.
A roving for prey; colloquially, something to be seized and devoured.

Definition 2024


prowl

prowl

English

Verb

prowl (third-person singular simple present prowls, present participle prowling, simple past and past participle prowled)

  1. To rove over, through, or about in a stealthy manner; especially, to search in, as for prey or booty.
    • Sir Philip Sidney
      He prowls each place, still in new colours decked.
    Watch the lioness prowling in the shrubbery for zebras.
    It's tough to sneak vandalism into Wikipedia as there are plenty of other users prowling the Recent Changes page.
    • 2011 January 5, Mark Ashenden, “Wolverhampton 1 - 0 Chelsea”, in BBC:
      While McCarthy prowled the touchline barking orders, his opposite number watched on motionless and expressionless and, with 25 minutes to go, decided to throw on Nicolas Anelka for Kalou.
  2. To idle; to go about aimlessly.
    That dandy has nothing better to do than prowl around town all day in his pinstripe suit.
  3. (obsolete) To collect by plunder.
    to prowl money

Derived terms

Translations

Derived terms

Noun

prowl (plural prowls)

  1. (colloquial) The act of prowling.
    I'm going on a midnight prowl.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Smart to this entry?)