proll

See also: Proll

English

Etymology

See prowl.

Verb

proll (third-person singular simple present prolls, present participle prolling, simple past and past participle prolled)

1. (intransitive, obsolete) To prowl or search after; to plunder, to rob.
   • 1579, Immeritô [pseudonym; Edmund Spenser], “September. Ægloga Nona.”, in The Shepheardes Calender: […], London: […] Hugh Singleton, […], →OCLC; reprinted as H[einrich] Oskar Sommer, editor, The Shepheardes Calender […], London: John C. Nimmo, […], 1890, →OCLC:

     They walke not widely as they were wont, / For feare of raungers and the great hunt, / But prively prolling to and froe

   • a. 1678 (date written), Isaac Barrow, “[The V. [Supposition] that the Bishops of Rome (According to God’s Institution and by Original Right Derived thence) should have an Universal Supremacy and Jurisdiction over the Christian Church]”, in J[ohn] Tillotson, editor, A Treatise of the Pope’s Supremacy. […], London: […] Miles Flesher, for Brabazon Aylmer, […], published 1680, →OCLC, page 271:

     VVhereas VVealth is a great ſinevv of Povver, he did invent divers vvays of dravving great ſtore thereof to himſelf. By hovv many tricks did he proll money from all parts of Chriſtendom?

   • 1795?, Henry Stebbing

     […] the image of a fierce and ravenous beast, prolling up and down for his prey […]

Derived terms

• proller

 

References

• “proll”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.