stray
adjective/streɪ/
/streɪ/
[only before noun]- (of animals normally kept as pets) away from home and lost; having no home
- stray dogs
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- separated from other things or people of the same kind
- A civilian was killed by a stray bullet.
- a few stray hairs
Word OriginMiddle English: shortening of Anglo-Norman French and Old French estrayer (verb), Anglo-Norman French strey (noun), partly from astray.
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