prowl

From Middle English prollen, of unknown origin.

• enPR: proul
• IPA^(key): /pɹaʊl/

  • Audio (Southern England):

    (file)

  • Rhymes: -aʊl
• IPA^(key): (obsolete) /pɹoʊl/

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

1. (ambitransitive) To rove over, through, or about in a stealthy manner; especially, to search in, as for prey or booty.

   Watch the lioness prowling in the shrubbery for zebras.

   It's easy to sneak vandalism into Wiktionary as there are few other users prowling the Recent Changes page.

   • a. 1587, Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “(please specify the folio)”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1590, →OCLC:

     He prowls each place, still in new colours decked.

   • 2011 January 5, Mark Ashenden, “Wolverhampton 1 - 0 Chelsea”, in BBC‎^[1]:

     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. (intransitive) To idle; to go about aimlessly.

   That dandy has nothing better to do than prowl around town all day in his pinstripe suit.

3. (transitive, obsolete) To collect by plunder.

   to prowl money

prowl (plural prowls)

1. (colloquial) The act of prowling.

   I'm going on a midnight prowl.