Tru"ant, n. [F. truand, OF. truant, a vagrant, beggar; of Celtic origin; cf. W. tru, truan, wretched, miserable, truan a wretch, Ir. trogha miserable, Gael. truaghan a poor, distressed, or wretched creature, truagh wretched.]

One who stays away from business or any duty; especially, one who stays out of school without leave; an idler; a loiterer; a shirk.

Dryden.

I have a truant been to chivalry. Shak.

To play truant, to stray away; to loiter; especially, to stay out of school without leave.

Sir T. Browne

 

© Webster 1913.


Tru"ant, a.

Wandering from business or duty; loitering; idle, and shirking duty; as, a truant boy.

While truant Jove, in infant pride, Played barefoot on Olympus' side. Trumbull.

 

© Webster 1913.


Tru"ant, v. i. [Cf. F. truander.]

To idle away time; to loiter, or wander; to play the truant.

Shak.

By this means they lost their time and truanted on the fundamental grounds of saving knowledge. Lowell.

 

© Webster 1913.


Tru"ant, v. t.

To idle away; to waste.

[R.]

I dare not be the author Of truanting the time. Ford.

 

© Webster 1913.

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