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, adjectiveWords nearby prowl
British Dictionary definitions for on the 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
- moving around stealthily
- zealously pursuing members of the opposite sex
Derived forms of prowl
prowler, nounWord Origin for prowl
C14
prollen, of unknown origin
Idioms and Phrases with on the prowl
on the prowl
Actively looking for something, as in Their underpaid computer programmers are always on the prowl for better jobs. This idiom transfers an animal's search for prey to human pursuits that are usually less bloodthirsty. [c. 1800]