Word origins - 2ed. J. Ayto. 2005.
truant — [tro͞o′ənt] n. [ME < OFr, beggar, vagabond < Celt, as in Ir trōgán, dim. of truag, wretched] 1. Obs. a lazy, idle person 2. a pupil who stays away from school without permission 3. a person who neglects his or her work or duties adj. 1.… … English World dictionary
Truant — 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… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Truant — Tru ant, a. Wandering from business or duty; loitering; idle, and shirking duty; as, a truant boy. [1913 Webster] While truant Jove, in infant pride, Played barefoot on Olympus side. Trumbull. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
truant — (n.) early 13c., beggar, vagabond, from O.Fr. truant beggar, rogue (12c.), from Gaulish *trougant (Cf. Breton *truan, later truant vagabond, Welsh truan wretch, Gaelic truaghan wretched ). Cf. Sp. truhan buffoon, from same source. Meaning one who … Etymology dictionary
Truant — Tru ant, v. i. [Cf. F. truander.] To idle away time; to loiter, or wander; to play the truant. Shak. [1913 Webster] By this means they lost their time and truanted on the fundamental grounds of saving knowledge. Lowell. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
truant — I adjective absent, apathetic, dilatory, errant, flown, fugitive, idle, inattentive, indifferent, indolent, laggard, lazy, loitering, missing, neglectful, nonattendant, remiss, shiftless, shirking, slack, slothful, straying, unconcerned,… … Law dictionary
truant — [adj] absent absent without leave, astray, away, AWOL*, cutting class*, gone, hooky*, missing, no show*, not present, playing hooky*, skipping school*; concept 583 truant [n] absentee delinquent, deserter, draft dodger, hooky player, malingerer,… … New thesaurus
truant — ► NOUN ▪ a pupil who stays away from school without permission or explanation. ► ADJECTIVE ▪ wandering; straying. ► VERB (also play truant) ▪ (of a pupil) stay away from school without permission or explanation. DERIVATIVES truancy noun … English terms dictionary
Truant — Tru ant, v. t. To idle away; to waste. [R.] [1913 Webster] I dare not be the author Of truanting the time. Ford. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Truant — On rencontre ce nom essentiellement dans le Nord Pas de Calais. Il correspond au mot truand, mais avec un sens différent. Au XIIe siècle le truand était en effet un mendiant … Noms de famille
truant — n *vagabond, vagrant, tramp, hobo, bum … New Dictionary of Synonyms
