prowl

present singular third person prowls · participle present prowling · participle past prowled · past prowled

1. ambitransitiveTo 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.

   3 more examples

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

   He prowls each place, still in new colours decked.

   The New Arcadia

   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

   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.

   2011 January 5, Mark Ashenden, “Wolverhampton 1 - 0 Chelsea”, in BBC

2. intransitiveTo idle; to go about aimlessly.

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

3. obsoletetransitiveTo collect by plunder.

   to prowl money

plural prowls

1. colloquialThe act of prowling.

   I'm going on a midnight prowl.