Forms: 5 trewaundrie, trwandrye, truantrye, 6 trewantrie, 7– truantry. [a. F. truanderie (13th c. in Godef., Compl.), f. truand TRUANT: see -RY.]
† 1. Fraudulent begging; knavery, roguery. Obs.
1426. Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 17828. Thys dyssh that I holde in myn hond, (In ffrenche callyd ‘Coquynerye’ And in ynglyssh ‘Trwandrye’).
c. 1430. Pilgr. Lyf Manhode, III. xxii. (1869), 147. This hand heere is cleped coquinerie; Trewaundrie bi name j cleyme it.
2. Idleness, truancy; the practice, or an act, of playing truant.
1481. Caxton, Reynard, iv. (Arb.), 8. Yf the scolers were not beten … and reprised of their truantrye, they shold neuer lerne.
1581. Mulcaster, Positions, xl. (1887), 225. In the maisters house … children may … be lesse subiect to loytering and trewantrie.
1685. Cotton, trans. Montaigne, I. 301. An understanding Tutor, who … knew discreetly to connive at this and other truantries.
1811. L. M. Hawkins, C’tess & Gertr., I. 166. Her frequent … truantries from the place where she ought to have been.
1887. Stevenson, Mem. & Portraits, ii. 27. Infinite yawnings during lecture and unquenchable gusto in the delights of truantry.
