stowaway

American

[stoh-uh-wey] / ˈstoʊ əˌweɪ /

noun

a person who hides aboard a ship or airplane in order to obtain free transportation or elude pursuers.

stowaway British

/ ˈstəʊəˌweɪ /

noun

a person who hides aboard a vehicle, ship, or aircraft in order to gain free passage

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

(intr, adverb) to travel in such a way

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of stowaway

First recorded in 1850–55; noun use of verb phrase stow away

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The musical "brings the stowaway bear gorgeously to life", agreed Sarah Hemming of the Financial Times.

From BBC

“One could hardly fashion a disguise for a scullery maid or a stowaway out of these elegant fabrics. But for my purposes, they ought to do quite well.”

From Literature

Beejee pushed his way into the apartment, his head swiveling this way and that, as if he was looking for a stowaway.

From Literature

I was foolish to stowaway on this ship.

From Literature

The confused stowaway tried to hop away onto the freeway, but project overseer Robert Rock rescued the frog and released it at the top of the crossing.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023