verb / noun

prowl

PROWL/praʊl/

Stealthy movement while searching or hunting.

The cat prowls through the tall grass in search of mice.

A domestic cat prowls beside a small clump of grass, moving in a low, cautious stance with one front paw lifted and its gaze fixed ahead as it searches for prey.

Etymology

The word already meant wandering stealthily in search of something in Middle English. Its earlier origin is unknown, but searching for prey or plunder is an established use.

In context

Wild Lives17:07

Eyes constantly [music] scanning for the unseen dangers that prowl the edges of the cving grounds. Wolves, grizzlies, [music] and wolverines linger in the distance, drawn by instinct to the vulnerable.

THE GREAT MIGRATION IN ALASKA | The Epic March of the Arctic Caribou – Wildlife Documentary

More examples

A burglar prowls the alley, looking for an unlocked door.
A fox is on the prowl near the chicken coop.
The tiger prowled along the riverbank, searching for prey.

Forms

prowl · prowls · prowled · prowling

prowler noun — A person who moves about stealthily.

Similar words

stalk: Emphasizes quietly following a particular target rather than searching around.
hunt: Emphasizes searching for prey without necessarily moving stealthily.