[f. STRAY v.2 + -ING2.] That strays, in the senses of the verb. a. Of a person, animal, etc.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., III. XV. 99. Duryng these blind and straying peregrinations, they carry none other apparrell then a little cassock.
1593. A. Chute, Beautie Dishonoured (Budig, 1908), 95. Neuer did flocke to old Vlisses Queene, In wearie absence of her straying knight, Neuer more woers [etc.].
1681. Flavel, Meth. Grace, xxviii. 475. The straying bullock needs a heavy clog.
1831. Mary W. Shelley, Swiss Peasant Tales, x. (1891), 189. Or a straying cow would lead him far into the depths of the stormy hills.
b. Of a thing. † Straying star: a planet; cf. ERRANT a. 9 b.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., II. ix. 42 b. The seuen straying starres.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. xlv. I. 22. The straying starres or planets.
1612. Two Noble K., I. v. 15. This world’s a Citty full of straying Streetes, And Death’s the market place, where each one meetes.
c. fig.
1553. Short Catechism, 7 b. Hearin is debarred al kind of filthy & strayeng lust.
a. 1586. Sidney, Ps. i. 1. He blessed is who neither loosely treads The straying steps as wicked councel leads,… Nor yet [etc.].
c. 1600. Shaks., Sonn., xli. 10. And chide thy beauty, and thy straying youth.
1690. Norris, Beatitudes (1692), 9. To reduce straying man to his true Good and Happiness.
1867. Grant Duff, Notes from Diary, 1851–1872 (1897), II. 78. Mr. Talmadge himself evidently inclines to the views of the Anglo-Continental Society, but he writes of these straying sheep without bigotry, and in a fair spirit.
