n. [ F. proue (cf. Sp. & Pg. proa, It. prua), L. prora, Gr. &unr_;, akin to &unr_; before. See Pro-, and cf. Prore. ] The fore part of a vessel; the bow; the stem; hence, the vessel itself. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

The floating vessel swum
Uplifted, and secure with beaked prow
rode tilting o'er the waves. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. & OF. prou. See Prow, a. ] Benefit; profit; good; advantage. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

That shall be for your hele and for your prow. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Proa. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Compar. Prower superl. Prowest. ] [ OF. prou, preu, F. preux, fr. L. pro, prod, in prodesse to be useful. See Pro-, and cf. Prude. ] Valiant; brave; gallant; courageous. [ Archaic ] Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

The prowest knight that ever field did fight. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. proece, proesce, F. prouesse. See Prow, a. ] Distinguished bravery; valor; especially, military bravery and skill; gallantry; intrepidity; fearlessness. Chaucer. Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

He by his prowess conquered all France. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of prowling. [ Colloq. ] Smart. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To rove or wander stealthily, esp. for prey, as a wild beast; hence, to prey; to plunder. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Prowled p. pr. & vb. n. Prowling. ] [ OE. prollen to search about; of uncertain origin, perh. for proglen, a dim. of prog to beg, or proke to poke. Cf. Proke. ] 1. To rove over, through, or about in a stealthy manner; esp., to search in, as for prey or booty. [ 1913 Webster ]

He prowls each place, still in new colors decked. Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To collect by plunder; as, to prowl money. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One that prowls. Thomson. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Accustomed to prowl, or engaged in roving stealthily, as for prey. “A prowling wolf.” Milton. -- Prowl"ing*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]