PROWL

prowl

(noun) the act of prowling (walking about in a stealthy manner)

prowl

(verb) move about in or as if in a predatory manner; “The suspicious stranger prowls the streets of the town”

prowl, lurch

(verb) loiter about, with no apparent aim

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Verb

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

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

(intransitive) To idle; to go about aimlessly.

(transitive, obsolete) To collect by plunder.

Noun

prowl (plural prowls)

(colloquial) The act of prowling.

Source: Wiktionary

Prowl, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prowled; p. pr. & vb. n. Prowling.] Etym: [OE. prollen to search about; of uncertain origin, perh. for proglen, a dim. of prog to beg, or proke to poke. Cf. Proke.]

1. To rove over, through, or about in a stealthy manner; esp., to search in, as for prey or booty. He prowls each place, still in new colors decked. Sir P. Sidney.

2. To collect by plunder; as, to prowl money. [Obs.]

Prowl, v. i.

Definition: To rove or wander stealthily, esp. for prey, as a wild beast; hence, to prey; to plunder.

Prowl, n.

Definition: The act of prowling. [Colloq.] Smart.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition