n., adj., & v.
n. 1 a child who stays away from school without leave or explanation. 2 a person missing from work etc.
adj. (of a person, conduct, thoughts, etc.) shirking, idle, wandering.
v.intr. (also play truant) stay away as a truant. truancy n.
[ ME f. OF, prob. ult. f. Celt.: cf. Welsh truan, Gael. truaghan wretched ]