[f. STROLL v. + -ER1.] One who strolls.
1. A vagabond, vagrant; an itinerant beggar or pedlar. Now chiefly Sc.
1679. Oldham, Sat. Jesuits, II. (1681), 26. These are … Romes Strowlers, who survey each Continent, Its trinkets, and commodities to vent.
1694. N. H., Ladies Dict., 303/1. For she that is a Diver or Pick-pocket is an infallible Stroler or Night-walker.
1697. Vanbrugh, Relapse, IV. vi. I’m a Justice of the Peace, and know how to deal with Strolers.
1706. Swift, Baucis & Phil., 11. Where, in the Strolers canting Strain, They begg’d from Door to Door in vain.
1796. H. Hunter, trans. St.-Pierre’s Stud. Nat. (1799), I. 61. The Patagonian is perpetually a stroller, for he lives entirely by hunting and fishing.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., xxxii. Who are you, young woman?… and what do you do in this country, and in such company?—We allow no strollers or vagrants here.
1855. [J. D. Burn], Autobiog. Beggar Boy (1859), 16. I can well remember the marked difference in the etiquette of the English and Scottish beggars; at that time, the manners and habits of these strollers were as different as it is well possible to conceive.
1856. P. Kennedy, Banks Boro, xii. (1867), 48. We found the large fireplace provided with its retinue of labourers and servants, and a few of the half-witted strollers through the country.
transf. 1709. Swift, Advanc. Relig., 32. The Men of Pleasure … form their Idea’s of the Clergy from a few poor Strolers they often observe in the Streets.
2. An itinerant actor; a strolling player.
1608. Dekker, Lanth. & Candle Lt., G 1. When they trauell thus on foote, they are no more call’d Rancke-riders, but Strowlers, a proper name giuen to Country-players, that … trotte from towne to towne vpon the hard hoofe.
1681. Dryden, 2nd Prol. Univ. Oxf., 33. When Strollers durst presume to pick your purse, We humbly thought our broken Troop not worse.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 48, ¶ 5. A Company of Strolers, who are very far from offending in the impertinent Splendor of the Drama.
a. 1774. Goldsm., Scarron’s Com. Rom. (1775), I. 9. The strolers, after drinking a few glasses a-piece,… retired to dress.
1806–7. J. Beresford, Miseries Hum. Life, XV. Introd. 41. What are you at now?… spouting to yourself, like a mad stroller.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xx. IV. 423. Two strollers personated Killegrew and Delaval.
1886. Willock, Rosetty Ends, xi. (1887), 82. A puckle strollers reached oor place on their way to the toon frae some country fair they had been at.
attrib. 1840. Dickens, Old C. Shop, xix. Vagabond groups assembled round the doors to see the stroller woman dance.
3. One who walks at leisure, a saunterer.
1834. L. Ritchie, Wand. by Seine, 167. Nor are the Sunday strollers absent even here.
1868. B. J. Lossing, The Hudson, 222. A lovely shaded walk invites the strollers on warm afternoons.
b. transf. A parasitic insect.
1705. [E. Ward], Hudibras Rediv., IV. 5. Besides the Legeons that they wear, In matted Locks of uncomb’d Hair, And listed Troops of eight-leg’d Strolers, That march from Wrist-bands to their Collars.
4. A casual traveller or visitor.
1738. Warburton, Div. Legat., II. 222. Some Stroler out of Egypt into Greece.
1778. Engl. Gazetteer (ed. 2), s.v. Glastonbury, It was a receptacle for the strollers that came in pilgrimage to the abbey.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II. I. iii. Nay how many come as vacant Strollers, aimless, of whom Europe is full, merely towards something!
† 5. Of a plant: A ‘sport’ or new variety departing from the usual type. Obs. rare.
1723. P. Blair, Pharmaco-Bot., I. 16. These [varieties] may justly be called Sporters or Strollers, so many Lusus Naturæ sporting themselves from more simple Colours [etc.].
