Etymology Likely from French trépasser (“pass over or beyond”).
1
To walk in a messy or unattractively casual way; to trail through dirt.
Lo next two slipshod Muses traipse along, In lofty madness, meditating song, / With tresses staring from poetic dreams, / And never wash'd, but in Castalia’s streams [...].1728, [Alexander Pope], “Book the Third”, in The Dunciad. An Heroic Poem. […], Dublin; London: […] A. Dodd, →OCLC, lines 140-144:
2
Colloquial To walk about, especially when expending much effort, or unnecessary effort.
After traipsing about in the fog they found the grave sure enough.1922, James Joyce, Ulysses:
... if I was you, babylove, I wouldn't go traipsin [sic] over there.1948, Truman Capote, Other Voices, Other Rooms, Part One, 1:
3
Colloquial To travel with purpose; usually a significant or tedious amount.
While you were traipsing round Africa, I had to take care of mum and dad!
So after all that work, I traipsed down to the shop to grab something to eat.
4
Colloquial To walk (a distance or journey) wearily or with effort
She only got handy the Union-house on Sunday morning 'a b'lieve, and 'tis supposed here and there that she had traipsed every step of the way from Melchester.1874, Thomas Hardy, Far From the Madding Crowd:
5
Colloquial to walk about or over (a place) aimlessly or insouciantly.