prowl

[ proul ]
/ praʊl /

verb (used without object)

to rove or go about stealthily, as in search of prey, something to steal, etc.

verb (used with object)

to rove over or through in search of what may be found: The cat prowled the alleys in search of food.

noun

act of prowling.

Idioms for prowl

    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 < ?

OTHER WORDS FROM prowl

prowl·ing·ly, adverb un·prowl·ing, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for prowl

British Dictionary definitions for prowl

prowl
/ (praʊl) /

verb

(when intr, often foll by around or about) to move stealthily around (a place) as if in search of prey or plunder

noun

the act of prowling
on the prowl
  1. moving around stealthily
  2. zealously pursuing members of the opposite sex

Derived forms of prowl

prowler, noun

Word Origin for prowl

C14 prollen, of unknown origin