Emily Dickinson Lexicon

REN'E-GADE, or REN-E-GA'DO, n. [Sp. and Port. renegado, from renegar, to deny; L. re and nego, to deny; It. rinegato; Fr. renégat; primarily an apostate.]

1. An apostate from the faith. – Addison.
2. One who deserts to an enemy; a deserter. – Arbuthnot.
3. A vagabond. [This is the sense in which this word is mostly used in popular language.]