[f. STROLL v. + -ING1.] The action of the verb STROLL.
1777. Prior, Alma, II. 163. The am’rous Eyes thus always go A-stroling for their Friends below.
1725. Pope, Odyss., XVIII. 409. Idly thus thy soul prefers to live, And starve by strolling, not by work to thrive.
c. 1755. in B. Ward, Hist. St. Edmund’s Coll. (1893), 303. All climbing of Trees,… all stroling out of Sight of ye Master are strictly forbid.
b. attrib.
1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 8, ¶ 5. A Day, spent in the strolling Manner, which is usual with Men of Pleasure in this Town.
1712. T. Brown, etc., Scarron’s Wks., 7. He would not suffer the miserable Remains of a scatter’d Company of Strollers to lodge in an Inn; but brought them to his own House, where the Carter having laid down the Strolling Furniture, return’d Home.
1817. Cobbett, Weekly Reg., 25 Jan., 126. How they came to prevail upon him to take a part on their strolling boards is really a great mystery to me.
1821. Scott, Pirate, xxxiv. What! you call yourself a gentleman … why — your eyes! a tailor would make a better out of the worst suit of rags in your strolling wardrobe.
