We have erred and strayed from thy ways.
&?;&?;&?; of Com. Prayer.
While meaner things, whom instinct leads, Are rarely known to
stray.
Cowper.
Syn. -- To deviate; err; swerve; rove; roam; wander.
Stray, v. t. To cause to stray. [Obs.] Shak.
Stray, a. [Cf. OF. estraié, p. p. of estraier. See Stray, v. i., and
cf. Astray, Estray.] Having gone astray; strayed; wandering; as, a
strayhorse or sheep.
Stray line (Naut.), that portion of the log line which is veered from
the reel to allow the chip to get clear of the stern eddies before the
glass is turned. -- Stray mark (Naut.), the mark indicating the end of
the stray line.
Stray, n. 1. Any domestic animal that has an inclosure, or its proper
place and company, and wanders at large, or is lost; an estray. Used
also figuratively.
Seeing him wander about, I took him up for a stray.
Dryden.