-g(ə)lə(r) noun
( -s )
Etymology: straggle (I) + -er
: one that rambles without settled direction: as
a. obsolete : vagabond , tramp
b. : one that is separated by wandering off in some irregular manner from others
crop the stragglers in the hedge
c. : one that departs from the company to which he belongs or from the direct or proper course (as a bird that strays out of its usual range)
sent a crew to round up the stragglers from the herd
d.
(1) : a soldier who wanders from his unit on the march or from the area assigned his unit
(2) : a man who has been an unauthorized absentee from naval service for more than 72 hours but who has not been absent long enough to have been declared a deserter