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.
Derivatives:
truancy n.
Etymology: ME f. OF, prob. ult. f. Celt.: cf. Welsh truan, Gael. truaghan wretched