maraud

American  

[muh-rawd] / məˈrɔd /

verb (used without object)

1. to roam or go around in quest of plunder; make a raid for booty.

   Freebooters were marauding all across the territory.

   Synonyms:

   harry, ravage, attack, invade

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verb (used with object)

1. to raid for plunder (often used passively).

   At the war's end the country had been marauded by returning bands of soldiers.

   Synonyms:

   harry, ravage, attack, invade

noun

1. Archaic. the act of marauding.

maraud British  

/ məˈrɔːd /

verb

1. to wander or raid in search of plunder

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noun

1. an archaic word for foray

Other Word Forms

• marauder noun

Etymology

Origin of maraud

First recorded in 1705–15; from French marauder, derivative of maraud “rogue, vagabond,” Middle French, perhaps identical with dialectal maraud “tomcat,” of expressive origin

Explanation

As a verb maraud means to rove about the countryside looking for goods to steal and in general, to make mayhem and trouble. The Gilbert and Sullivan opera The Pirates of Penzance is about a band of marauding pirates, the daughters of Major-General Stanley, and a big misunderstanding. The word maraud comes from a Middle French word that means "rascal or rogue." A marauder is someone who marauds and marauding describes people who raid and plunder. As a noun, a maraud is a quick, short foray. As a teenager, you may have participated in a midnight maraud to festoon your friend's house with toilet paper or capture the mascot of your rival sports team.

Example Sentences

The "Padma stops by out of nowhere" trope is always fun and I liked seeing the cheftestants maraud through the halls letting their fellow competitors know that they should go downstairs.

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2023

And in some parts of Australia, flocks of hundreds or even thousands of the birds maraud in places where they are not desired, sometimes leaving a trail of property destruction in their wake.

From New York Times • Jun. 10, 2022

Instead, they went three-and-out, leaving Kansas City with ample time to maraud down the field.

From Slate • Feb. 3, 2020

Three times in the opening 15 minutes Hector Bellerín was able to maraud forwards into threatening positions without a hint of pressure.

From The Guardian • Jan. 2, 2016

So that I can maraud through human minds, like I’m doing right now in yours.

From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor