from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Truant \Tru"ant\, n. [F. truand, OF. truant, a vagrant, beggar;
of Celtic origin; cf. W. tru, truan, wretched, miserable,
truan a wretch, Ir. trogha miserable, Gael. truaghan a poor,
distressed, or wretched creature, truagh wretched.]
One who stays away from business or any duty; especially, one
who stays out of school without leave; an idler; a loiterer;
a shirk. --Dryden.
[1913 Webster]
I have a truant been to chivalry. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
{To play truant}, to stray away; to loiter; especially, to
stay out of school without leave. --Sir T. Browne
[1913 Webster]