Truancy
/ˈtruː.ən.si/noun
The habit or state of being absent from school or other duties without permission.
Did you know?Truancy comes from an old word for a vagrant or idle person, and the modern meaning grew out of the idea of someone who just drifts away from where they’re supposed to be.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*deru-
“To be firm, solid, or true.”
Old English
OE
trēowe
“Faithful, trustworthy, true.”
Old French
OF
truant
“A beggar, vagrant, or idle fellow.”
Middle English
ME
truaunt
“An idle person, loafer, or beggar; later, a school-skipping absentee.”
Modern English
English
truancy
“Absence from duty, especially from school, without permission.”