Truant — Defs

01 n. One who stays away from business or any duty; especially, one who stays out of school without leave; an idler; a loiterer; a shirk.

1.
One who stays away from business or any duty; especially, one who stays out of school without leave; an idler; a loiterer; a shirk.
“I have a truant been to chivalry.” — Shak.

Phrases & compounds

To play truant — to stray away; to loiter; especially, to stay out of school without leave.

02 a. Wandering from business or duty; loitering; idle, and shirking duty; as, a truant boy.

1.
Wandering from business or duty; loitering; idle, and shirking duty; as, a truant boy.
“While truant Jove, in infant pride, Played barefoot on Olympus' side.” — Trumbull.

03 v. i. To idle away time; to loiter, or wander; to play the truant.

1.
To idle away time; to loiter, or wander; to play the truant.
“By this means they lost their time and truanted on the fundamental grounds of saving knowledge.” — Lowell.

04 v. t. To idle away; to waste.

1.
To idle away; to waste.[R.]
“I dare not be the author Of truanting the time.” — Ford.