prowl

[proul] /praʊl/
verb (used without object)
1.
to rove or go about stealthily, as in search of prey, something to steal, etc.
verb (used with object)
2.
to rove over or through in search of what may be found:
The cat prowled the alleys in search of food.
noun
3.
act of prowling.
Idioms
4.
on the prowl, in the act of prowling; searching stealthily:
The cat is on the prowl for mice.
Origin of prowl
1350-1400; Middle English prollen < ?
Related forms
prowlingly, adverb
unprowling, adjective
Synonyms
1. roam. See lurk.
Examples from the web for prowling
  • Why not pause, rest, and see if you can figure out who was prowling around before you.
  • Raccoons prowling campgrounds for unsecured human food are second only to bears in causing wildlife problems for visitors.
  • The next day the tiny mantises were performing gymnastics on the barberry bush branches and prowling on the ground.
  • These violations include, but are not limited to: illegal lodging, public intoxication and prowling.
  • Campers want to slide into their sleeping bag and not worry that a bear might come prowling around later that night.
  • Herman was convicted of vehicle prowling and six counts of forgery.
  • When someone suspicious is prowling around your house or neighbors house.
  • In short, better habitat equals better hiding places from prowling predators and parasites.
British Dictionary definitions for prowling

prowl

/praʊl/
verb
1.
when intr, often foll by around or about. to move stealthily around (a place) as if in search of prey or plunder
noun
2.
the act of prowling
3.
on the prowl
  1. moving around stealthily
  2. zealously pursuing members of the opposite sex
Derived Forms
prowler, noun
Word Origin
C14 prollen, of unknown origin
Word Origin and History for prowling
n.

mid-15c., verbal noun from prowl (v.).

prowl

v.

late 14c., prollen, "move about in search of something," of unknown origin, with no known cognates. Spelling with -w- is from 1500s (cf. bowl), but pronounced "prôll" till late 18c. Meaning "go stealthily in search of prey" is first recorded 1580s. Related: Prowled; prowling. The noun, in on the prowl, is attested from 1803.

Slang definitions & phrases for prowling

prowl

verb

To search by running the hands over the person; frisk: prowled me over carefully with his left hand (1914+)

Related Terms

on the prowl