Stray

v. i. [imp. & p. p. STRAYED; p. pr. & vb. n. STRAYING.] [O. Fr. estrayer, to stray, Pr. estraguar, It. stravagare, L. Lat. extravagare, from Lat. extra, on the outside, without, and vagare, vagari, to stroll about, to ramble. See ESTRAY and EXTRAVAGATE.] 1. To wander, as from a direct course; to deviate, or go out of the way. Thames among the wanton valleys strays. Denham. 2. To wander from company, or from the proper limits; to rove at large. A sheep doth very often stray. Shak. 3. To wander from the path of duty or rectitude; to err; to deviate; to rove. We have erred and strayed. Com. Prayer. Syn.—To deviate; err; swerve; rove; ramble; depart.

a. Having gone astray; strayed; wandering; as, a stray horse or sheep. [Colloq.]

n. 1. Any domestic animal that has left an inclosure or its proper place and company, and wanders at large, or is lost; an estray. Seeing him wander about, I took him up for a stray. Dryden. 2. The act of wandering. [Rare.] Shak.