'To play truant' definitions:

Definition of 'To play truant'

From: GCIDE

Truant \Tru"ant\, n. [F. truand, OF. truant, a vagrant, beggar; of Celtic origin; cf. W. tru, truan, wretched, miserable, truan a wretch, Ir. trogha miserable, Gael. truaghan a poor, distressed, or wretched creature, truagh wretched.] One who stays away from business or any duty; especially, one who stays out of school without leave; an idler; a loiterer; a shirk. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
I have a truant been to chivalry. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
To play truant, to stray away; to loiter; especially, to stay out of school without leave. --Sir T. Browne [1913 Webster]