英文英文字典

Goods found of which the owner is not known; originally, such goods as a pursued thief threw away to prevent being apprehended, which belonged to the king unless the owner made pursuit of the felon, took him, and brought him to justice.

Hence, anything found, or without an owner; that which comes along, as it were, by chance.

A wanderer; a castaway; a stray; a homeless child.