estray

[ ih-strey ]

noun

1. a person or animal that has strayed.
2. Law. a domestic animal, as a horse or a sheep, found wandering or without an owner.

verb (used without object)

1. Archaic. to stray.

estray

/ ɪˈstreɪ /

noun

1. law a stray domestic animal of unknown ownership

Word History and Origins

Origin of estray¹

1250–1300; Middle English astrai < Anglo-French estray, derivative of Old French estraier to stray

Word History and Origins

Origin of estray¹

C16: from Anglo-French, from Old French estraier to stray

Example Sentences

And a health to the one away, Who drifts down careless Italy, God's wanderer and estray!

From Project Gutenberg

The smaller seemed a mere estray, a spray blown down by the recent gale.

From Project Gutenberg

A rescue party had come in search of the estray, and they were soon brought with rejoicing home.

From Project Gutenberg

Fred Godfrey was almost in sight of his home, when he was both pleased and alarmed by coming upon an estray horse.

From Project Gutenberg

Assuring himself that she was the estray, Fred looked at her bag to see the condition of that.

From Project Gutenberg