Main Entry:

²stalk

Function:

verb

Etymology:

Middle English, from Old English bestealcian; akin to Old English stelan to steal — more at steal

Date:

14th century

intransitive verb 1 : to pursue quarry or prey stealthily 2 : to walk stiffly or haughtily transitive verb 1 : to pursue by stalking 2 : to go through (an area) in search of prey or quarry <stalk the woods for deer> 3 : to pursue obsessively and to the point of harassment

— stalk·er noun