Wiktionary
vb. 1 (context literally of a pig English) To forage by poke the snout here and there. 2 (context figuratively English) To rummage; to look for something in a somewhat aimless fashion.
Usage examples of "root about".
The Ortus Sanitatis, printed in 1491, states: 'Where the root is in the house, Satan can do nothing and flies from it, wherefore it is blessed before all other herbs, and if a man carries the root about him no venomous beast can harm him.
And though there seems nothing improbable in the seed, it hath not succeeded by station in any manner of ground, wherein we had no reason to despair, since we reade of vegetable horns, and how Rams horns will root about Goa.
Often he had to root about for the spoor, and at times he raged in anger, roaring loudly in challenge, slashing the snow with his claws.
Small creatures had come into the new open space to root about in the disturbed soil.
Opening it, she hesitated over the contents before reaching in and removing a gnarled, forked root about the size of her hand.
Since it does not root about-or even move-it builds up no natural resistance to disease.
He gaped for a moment, then climbed out of the cabinet and turned to root about in it.
I stir up talk about the Trinavants and I root about up near the dam.
When we get more information about the man in question, we'll have the Security Service root about after him.