Etymology From Middle English trampen (“to walk heavily”), from Middle Low German trampen (“to stamp”) (trampeln (“to walk with heavy steps”), see trample) or from Middle Dutch trampen (“to stamp”), from Proto-West Germanic *trampan (“to step”). Doublet of tremp. Cognate with Dutch trampen (“to stamp, kick, step”), dialectal German trampen (“to step, walk, tread”), whence commoner German trampeln (“to trample”). Probably related to trap.
My dear sirs, did you actually imagine that one could not follow every clumsy move you made, with Joolby's low comedy tramp and the other two stealing in like a couple of hired assassins in a penny gaff melodrama?1934, Ernest Bramah, The Bravo of London:
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Derogatory, Sometimes A homeless person; a vagabond.
[S]he had expected to discover a burglar of one or another accepted type—either a dashing cracksman in full-blown evening dress, lithe, polished, pantherish, or a common yegg, a red-eyed, unshaven, burly brute in the rags and tatters of a tramp.1914 November, Louis Joseph Vance, “An Outsider […]”, in Munsey’s Magazine, volume LIII, number II, New York, N.Y.: The Frank A[ndrew] Munsey Company, […], published 1915, →OCLC, chapter III (Accessory After the Fact), page 382, column 2:
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Derogatory A disreputable, promiscuous woman; a slut.
I can't believe you'd let yourself be seen with that tramp.
Claudia is such a tramp; making out with all those men when she has a boyfriend.
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Any ship which does not have a fixed schedule or published ports of call.
I was so happy on board that ship, I could not have believed it possible. We had the beastliest weather, and many discomforts; but the mere fact of its being a tramp-ship gave us many comforts; we could cut about with the men and officers, stay in the wheel-house, discuss all manner of things, and really be a little at sea.1888, Robert Louis Stevenson, The Letters of Robert Louis Stevenson; Volume 2, chapter 9:
Then I think I conceive of other worlds and vast structures that pass us by, within a few miles, without the slightest desire to communicate, quite as tramp vessels pass many islands without particularizing one from another.1919, Charles Fort, The Book of the Damned, chapter 10:
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Some of these are regular ocean liners; others are casual tramp ships.1924, George Sutherland, Texas Transport Terminal Company v. New Orleans: Dissent Brandeis:
Shipping of every sort, from passenger liners to ferry steamers, tramps to tugs and trailing barges, feluccas to speedboats and yachts, from warships to caiques, chugs, hoots, glides or churns its way in all directions.1950 July, J. C. Mertens, “By the "Taurus Express" to Baghdad”, in Railway Magazine, page 435:
“Hrrumph,” said the Mate. “Get into uniform right away, we must have discipline here.” With that he stalked off as if he were First Mate on one of the Queens instead of just on a dirty, rusty old tramp ship.1960, Lobsang Rampa, The Rampa Story, chapter Six:
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Australia, New Zealand A long walk, possibly of more than one day, in a scenic or wilderness area.
I got in with the American Fur Company and set out for another tramp to trade with the Indians on the North and South Platte Rivers.1861, E. J. Guerin, Mountain Charley, page 40:
The starting place for the tramp is reached over a gravel road that begins on Route 3 about a mile south of Gorham spur.1968, John W. Allen, It Happened in Southern Illinois, page 75:
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Speaking of knockout panoramas, if you′re fit then consider doing the taxing, winding, 8km tramp up Mt Roy (1578m; five to six hours return), start 6km from Wanaka on Mt Aspiring Rd.2005, Paul Smitz, Australia & New Zealand on a Shoestring, Lonely Planet, page 734:
The 1½-hour tramp passes through banksia, gum, and wattle forests, with spectacular views of peaks and valleys.2006, Marc Llewellyn, Lee Mylne, Frommer′s Australia from $60 a Day, page 186:
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In apposition Of objects, stray, intrusive and unwanted.
Your last delivery of copper ore contained half a hundredweight of tramp metal.2015 September 29 (last accessed), Mining Magazine, archived from the original on 07 Mar 2016:
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A metal plate worn by diggers under the hollow of the foot to save the shoe.
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Shaking or juddering of a vehicle's driving axle under hard acceleration or braking, caused by the suspension not fully restraining it, and leading to reduction in tire traction.
Etymology From Middle English trampen (“to walk heavily”), from Middle Low German trampen (“to stamp”) (trampeln (“to walk with heavy steps”), see trample) or from Middle Dutch trampen (“to stamp”), from Proto-West Germanic *trampan (“to step”). Doublet of tremp. Cognate with Dutch trampen (“to stamp, kick, step”), dialectal German trampen (“to step, walk, tread”), whence commoner German trampeln (“to trample”). Probably related to trap.
To walk for a long time (usually through difficult terrain).
We tramped through the woods for hours before we found the main path again.
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To hitchhike.
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To tread upon forcibly and repeatedly; to trample.
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To travel or wander through.
to tramp the country
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Scotland To cleanse, as clothes, by treading upon them in water.
Soak them [blankets, etc.], add to the water in which the linens were washed some soap, and also some of the preparation to produce a strong lather; rub or tramp them, then rinse and dry.1842, Catherine Esther Beecher, A Treatise on Domestic Economy:
She hesitated, “be off—tramp, march,” he exclaimed, in a tone which the poor girl dared not disobey. She left the room, and Edward followed her to the door.1838 November, Francis Purcell [pseudonym; Sheridan Le Fanu], “Passage in the Secret History of an Irish Countess. […]”, in The Dublin University Magazine […], volume XII, number LXXI, Dublin: William Curry, Jun. and Company; London: Samuel Holdsworth, →OCLC, page 509, column 1:
Tramp, my lad. Bundle out of this, please, hand over hand, and double quick.1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, “Silver’s Embassy”, in Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC, part IV (The Stockade), page 164:
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To shake or judder under hard acceleration or braking, referring to the movement of a vehicle's driving axle caused by the suspension not fully restraining it, leading to reduction in tire traction.