stray etymology

Etymology:

"Stray" derives from Middle English "straien," meaning "to wander" or "to stray." It traces back to Old French "estraier," which ultimately comes from Vulgar Latin "extraviare," meaning "to lead astray."

Meaning:

• A person or animal that has wandered away from its home or group
• Something lost or misplaced
• A person or animal that is unconventional or eccentric
• A gambling term referring to a wild card that can represent any suit or rank

Origin:

The term "stray" first appeared in English around the 13th century. It was initially used to describe animals that had wandered away from their owners or flocks. Over time, its meaning expanded to encompass lost objects or people, as well as individuals with unconventional or unusual behaviors.

Examples:

• A stray dog roamed the streets in search of food.
• The missing hiker became a stray after getting lost in the wilderness.
• The student's unconventional ideas made him a bit of a stray among his peers.
• The stray bullet hit the innocent bystander.

stray relate terms

• astray

  Etymology Old English āstrēowian meaning to wander or to stray Cognate with D

• stray

  Etymology Stray derives from Middle English straien meaning to wander or to stra

• extravagant

  Etymology The word extravagant comes from the Late Latin word extravagans which mea

• vague

  Etymology Origin of the Word The word vague is derived from the Latin word vagus m

• street

  Street Etymology Street etymology refers to the informal folk explanation of the origin

• waif

  Etymology The word waif comes from the Middle English word waif which itself derives

• roll

  Etymology The Old English word rollen meant to roll or turn over It is derived from

• rove

  Etymology The word rove comes from the Middle English roven which in turn derives f

• mustang

  Etymology The word mustang has its origins in the Spanish language It is derived from

• vague

  Etymology Origin of the Word The word vague is derived from the Latin word vagus m

• wince

  Etymology The word wince comes from the Middle English word winchen which is a vari

• swan

  Etymology The word swan comes from the Middle English word swane which is derived f

• cast

  Etymology The word cast has several distinct etymologies As a verb From Middle En

• range

  Etymology The word range originates from the Old French word reng which means row o