Also 7 stroyle, 7–8 stroul, strowl(e, 8 strole. [Of uncertain origin.
Perh. this verb and the related STROLL sb. (which in our quots. appear early in the 17th c.) may be among the High German words introduced about that time by soldiers: cf. G. strolch vagabond, † strolchen, † strollen (18th c.) to wander as a vagrant.]
† 1. intr. To roam or wander from place to place without any settled habitation. Obs. (but cf. STROLLING ppl. a.).
1603. Dekker, Wonderfull Yeare, Wks. (Grosart), I. 100. He would … strowle (thats to say trauell) with some notorious wicked floundring company abroad.
1629. Massinger, Picture, II. i. (1630), D 4 b. You had a foolish itch to be an actor, And may strowle where you please.
1684–5. Wood, Life (O.H.S.), III. 123. He had been strouling beyond sea for some time to trail a pyke in the Low Countries.
1705. J. Philips, Blenheim, 369. Dismay’d, unfed, unhous’d, The Widow, and the Orphan Strole around The Desart wide.
1729. Swift, Modest Proposal, 3. These Mothers instead of being able to work for their honest livelyhood, are forced to employ all their time in Stroling, to beg Sustenance for their helpless Infants.
1756. J. Mair, trans. Sallust (1793), 20. The Trojans,… who flying their country, under the conduct of Æneas, strolled about, without any settled habitation.
1765. Pet., in McFarlane v. McNab, 4. Absent sometimes for weeks together…, strolling about the country selling brandy.
2. To walk or ramble in a careless, haphazard, or leisurely fashion as inclination directs, often simply to take a walk.
1680. Otway, Caius Marius, III. iii. Whilst Coxcombs strowl abroad on Holydays, To take the Air.
1703. trans. Lahontan’s Voy. N. Amer., I. 35. Unhappily one of the Iroquese that had a smattering of the French Tongue, having stroul’d in the Night-time towards our Tents, over-heard what we said, and so reveal’d the Secret.
1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 3, ¶ 2. After the Play, we naturally stroll to this Coffee-house.
1734. Pope, Hor. Sat., II. ii. 13. Your wine lock’d up, your Butler stroll’d abroad.
1782. Miss Burney, Cecilia, V. v. Cecilia … strolled to a window.
1827. Lytton, Falkland, II. 99. They … then strolled along the sands towards the cliff.
1860. Sala, Baddington Peerage, I. xvii. 299. A policeman had strolled up during this parley, too late, however, to see the knife.
1865. Trollope, Belton Est., xi. 121. He again strolled down to the bridge.
1876. Geo. Eliot, Deronda, I. xiv. 268. Some of the gentlemen strolled a little and indulged in a cigar.
transf. 1760. Inform. Dk. Gordon v. Earls Murray & Fife, 10. A vagrant stream strolling [t]hrough chingle, unconfined by any thing that can be called a bank.
† b. Conjugated with be. Obs.
1722. De Foe, Col. Jack (1840), 199. I was strolled away that day to see the country about.
† 3. trans. To walk or pace along (a path) or about (a place). Obs.
1693. R. Gould, Corrupt. Times by Money, 28. For thee the dirty Drab does strowl the Streets.
1720. Swift, Progr. Beauty, 87. So rotting Celia stroles the Street, When sober Folks are all a-bed.
1771–2. Ess. fr. Batchelor (1773), I. 249. After strolling the Green, arm in arm with L—d M—lt—on.
1810. Splendid Follies, III. 119. [He] had been strolling the solitary path of the elm-walk.
quasi-trans. 1847. Mrs. Gore, Castles in Air, xviii. II. 121. He left me to stroll my way back to my solitary dinner.
