Etymology
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tramp (v.)

late 14c., "walk heavily, stamp," from Middle Low German trampen "to stamp," from Proto-Germanic *tremp- (source also of Danish trampe, Swedish trampa "to tramp, stamp," Gothic ana-trimpan "to press upon"), from PIE *der- (1) "to run, walk, step" (see tread (v.)). Related: Tramped; tramping.

tramp (n.)

"person who wanders about, idle vagrant, vagabond," 1660s, from tramp (v.). Sense of "steamship which takes cargo wherever it can be traded" (as opposed to one running a regular line) is attested from c. 1880. The meaning "promiscuous woman" is from 1922. Sense of "a long, toilsome walk" is from 1786.

Entries linking to tramp

tread (v.)

Old English tredan "to tread, step on, trample; traverse, pass over" (class V strong verb; past tense træd, past participle treden), from Proto-Germanic *tred- (source also of Old Saxon tredan, Old Frisian treda, Middle Dutch treden, Old High German tretan, German treten, Gothic trudan, Old Norse troða), from PIE *der- (1) "assumed base of roots meaning 'to run, walk, step'" [Watkins]. Related: Trod; treading. To tread water in swimming, "to move the feet and hands regularly up and down while keeping the body in an erect position in order to keep the head above the water" is attested by 1764.

trample (v.)
late 14c., "to walk heavily," frequentative form of tramp (v.) + -el (3). Transitive sense "beat down by continuously treading on" is from mid-15c. Related: Trampled; trampling. As a noun from c. 1600.

updated on February 13, 2014

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Definitions of tramp from WordNet
1
tramp (n.)
a vagrant;
a homeless tramp
Synonyms: hobo / bum
tramp (n.)
a person who engages freely in promiscuous sex;
Synonyms: swinger
tramp (n.)
a foot traveler; someone who goes on an extended walk (for pleasure);
Synonyms: hiker / tramper
tramp (n.)
a heavy footfall;
the tramp of military boots
tramp (n.)
a commercial steamer for hire; one having no regular schedule;
Synonyms: tramp steamer
tramp (n.)
a long walk usually for exercise or pleasure;
Synonyms: hike / hiking
2
tramp (v.)
travel on foot, especially on a walking expedition;
We went tramping about the state of Colorado
tramp (v.)
walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or through mud;
Synonyms: slog / footslog / plod / trudge / pad
tramp (v.)
cross on foot;
We had to tramp the creeks
tramp (v.)
move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment;
Synonyms: roll / wander / swan / stray / roam / cast / ramble / rove / range / drift / vagabond
From wordnet.princeton.edu, not affiliated with etymonline.

Dictionary entries near tramp

traitor

traitorous

trajectory

tram

trammel

tramp

trample

trampoline

trance

tranche

trannie

© 2001-2022 Douglas Harper