prowl
- to rove or go about stealthily, as in search of prey, something to steal, etc.
- to rove over or through in search of what may be found: The cat prowled the alleys in search of food.
- act of prowling.
- on the prowl, in the act of prowling; searching stealthily: The cat is on the prowl for mice.
Origin of prowl
Synonyms for prowl
Related Words for prowled
skulk, slink, lurk, tramp, stroll, roam, scavenge, patrol, hunt, sneak, range, stalk, snake, rove, cruise, stealExamples from the Web for prowled
Contemporary Examples of prowled
Many boats ran into trouble with the Thai pirates who prowled the South China Sea at that time.
Dubbed the "Baseline Killer," he prowled the city from the summer of 2005 to the summer of 2006.
Historical Examples of prowled
Stevie prowled round the table like an excited animal in a cage.
The Secret AgentJoseph Conrad
I came back to my new hunting ground and all night long I prowled about.
The HarborErnest Poole
Eric prowled through the hall to his father's big work-room.
The Education of Eric LaneStephen McKenna
He and Mahon prowled soberly about hatches and ventilators, sniffing.
YouthJoseph Conrad
So I prowled about and got plenty, chipping off as much as I could conveniently carry.
The Book-HunterJohn Hill Burton
prowl
- (when intr, often foll by around or about) to move stealthily around (a place) as if in search of prey or plunder
- the act of prowling
- on the prowl
- moving around stealthily
- zealously pursuing members of the opposite sex
Word Origin for prowl
Word Origin and History for prowled
prowl
late 14c., prollen, "move about in search of something," of unknown origin, with no known cognates. Spelling with -w- is from 1500s (cf. bowl), but pronounced "prôll" till late 18c. Meaning "go stealthily in search of prey" is first recorded 1580s. Related: Prowled; prowling. The noun, in on the prowl, is attested from 1803.