prowler
|prow-ler|
🇺🇸
/ˈpraʊlɚ/
🇬🇧
/ˈpraʊlə/
someone who moves stealthily
Etymology
'prowler' originates from English, formed from the verb 'prowl' plus the agentive suffix '-er'; 'prowl' meant 'to roam stealthily.'
'prowler' developed when the Middle English verb 'prowl' (attested in late Middle English as 'prowlen'/'prollen') took the suffix '-er' to form an agent noun, giving the modern English 'prowler.'
Initially it meant 'one who prowls or roams stealthily'; over time the sense broadened to denote an intruder or someone suspected of criminal intent, and is also used for animals and figuratively.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person or animal that moves about stealthily, often at night, typically with suspicious or criminal intent (e.g., to spy, steal, or attack).
The neighbors reported a prowler circling the houses after midnight.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/10/28 01:00