prowl etymology

Etymology:

• Middle English prowlen, from Anglo-Norman prouler, from Old French pro(u)ler, from Medieval Latin pro(u)lare, from Late Latin pro(u)lium "battle," from Latin pro "for" or "before" + manducare "to eat" (originally meant "to eat before a battle").

Meaning:

1. To move about stealthily or without a definite purpose.
2. To search for prey or something to steal.
3. To roam, wander, or loiter.

Origin:

The word "prowl" has its origins in the late Latin term "proelium," which meant "battle" or "meal before a battle." The root of this word is the Latin verb "manducare," which means "to eat." Over time, the word "proelium" came to be used figuratively to describe any type of activity that involved stalking or searching for something, such as prey or treasure.

By the 14th century, the word "prowl" had entered the English language, where it was initially used to describe the act of roaming or wandering. However, by the 16th century, the word had taken on its more sinister connotations, and it was often used to describe the actions of thieves or other criminals who were lurking about in search of something to steal.

In modern English, the word "prowl" is still used to describe both harmless and sinister activities. For example, we might say that a cat is prowling through a field of grass, or that a thief is prowling through a neighborhood looking for a house to rob.

prowl relate terms

• bowls

  Etymology The word bowl originated from the Middle English word bole which is derive

• bull

  Etymology The word bull comes from the Middle English word bulle which in turn came

• prowling

  Etymology The word prowling comes from the Middle English word prowlen which is der

• prowl

  Etymology Middle English prowlen from Anglo Norman prouler from Old French pro u ler

• prowler

  Etymology Middle Low German prōler meaning roamer vagrant German prollen me

• prowl

  Etymology Middle English prowlen from Anglo Norman prouler from Old French pro u ler

• lurch

  Etymology Late 18th century probably related to lurch a nautical term from the 16th c

• busk

  Etymology From Middle English busk busken from Old Norse búa to make ready prepar

• rave

  Etymology Old English rafan to rage rave Proto Germanic rafōn Proto Indo Europe

• roam

  Etymology of roam The word roam originates from the Old English word romen which

• loiter

  Etymology Middle English loitren from Old French loiter loisir leisure Latin lic

• tarry

  Etymology Middle English tarien from Old English tergan to hinder impede German

• loaf

  Etymology of Loaf The word loaf originally comes from the Old English word hlāf w

• walk

  Etymology The word walk derives from the Proto Germanic word walkaną meaning to roll

• footle

  Etymology The word footle is believed to have originated in the 18th century Its exac