traipse English · revision 1279

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /tɹeɪps/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Its origin is unknown.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995) Barnhart and Etymonline suggest dialectal French ''trepasser'' “to pass over or beyond”, from Old French ''trespasser'' “to cross”, the source of [[trespass]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) though the senses do not fit exactly.^(Barnhart 1995) Etymonline also mentions Middle Dutch ''trappen'' “to tread”,^(Etymonline) and Random House relates it obscurely to [[tramp]].^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To walk in a trailing or untidy way, as through mud (1593, implied in ''trapesing'').^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A noun ''trapes'' “a slovenly woman” is recorded from 1676.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The verb came to mean to walk about aimlessly or tiresomely,^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) and from 1885 to tramp over a place.^(OED 1989) The noun meaning a tiring walk is from 1862.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1593 – to walk in a trailing way.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1647 – Merriam-Webster's date.^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1676 – noun, a slovenly woman.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1862 – noun, a tiresome walk.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1885 – to tramp over.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To walk or wander about, often aimlessly or wearily; to [[gad]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To walk over or through a place.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A long or tiring walk.^(RHWU)^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[trespass]]

+ * [[tramp]]

+ * [[trudge]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}