Etymology From Middle English trippen (“tread or step lightly and nimbly, skip, dance”), perhaps from Old French triper (“to hop or dance around, strike with the feet”), from a Frankish source; or alternatively from Middle Dutch trippen (“to skip, trip, hop, stamp, trample”) (> Modern Dutch trippelen (“to toddle, patter, trip”)). Akin to Middle Low German trippen ( > Danish trippe (“to trip”), Swedish trippa (“to mince, trip”)), West Frisian tripje (“to toddle, trip”), German trippeln (“to scurry”), Old English treppan (“to trample, tread”). Related also to trap, tramp.
beach trip, camping trip, fishing trip, school trip, shopping trip
I sold my horse and took a trip to Ceylon and back on an Orient boat as a passenger,1918, Ralph Henry Barbour, Lost Island:
We made an odd party before the arrival of the Ten, particularly when the Celebrity dropped in for lunch or dinner. He could not be induced to remain permanently at Mohair because Miss Trevor was at Asquith, but he appropriated a Hempstead cart from the Mohair stables and made the trip sometimes twice in a day.1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter V, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
Imperfect words, with childish trips.1671, John Milton, “(please specify the page)”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC:
Each seeming trip, and each digressive start.1767, Walter Harte, The amaranth; or, Religious poems:
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Colloquial A period of time in which one experiences drug-induced reverie or hallucinations.
He had a strange trip after taking LSD.
Unlike other accepted stimuli, from nicotine to liquor, the hallucinogens promise those who take the “trip” a magic-carpet escape from dull reality in which perceptions are heightened, sense distorted, and the imagination permanently bedazzled with ecstatic visions of teleological verity.1967, Joe David Brown, editor, The Hippies, New York: Time, Inc, page 2:
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We don't smoke marijuana in Muskogee / We don't take our trips on LSD1969, Merle Haggard, “Okie from Muskogee”:
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Broadly Intense involvement in or enjoyment of a condition.
ego trip
power trip
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nostalgia trip
guilt trip
Many of them admit to having suppressed any tendency toward homosexual behavior for the greater part of their lives—yet—denial becomes too heavy a trip after a period of time, and eventually curiosity wins out.1974 April 13, Heather Anderson, “Hustling”, in Gay Community News, page 2:
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A faux pas, a social error.
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Engineering, Natural sciences, Physical sciences A mechanical cutout device.
A quick, light step; a lively movement of the feet; a skip.
His heart bounded as he sometimes could distinctly hear the trip of a light female step glide to or from the door.1814 July 7, [Walter Scott], Waverley; or, ’Tis Sixty Years Since. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, →OCLC:
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The act of tripping someone, or causing them to lose their footing.
It is the sudden trip in wrestling that fetches a man to the ground.1661 December 10, Robert South, False Foundations Removed […] :
And watches with a trip his foe to foil.1697, Virgil, “Georgic II”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
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Nautical, Transport A single tack while beating (sailing to windward).
Etymology From Middle English trippen (“tread or step lightly and nimbly, skip, dance”), perhaps from Old French triper (“to hop or dance around, strike with the feet”), from a Frankish source; or alternatively from Middle Dutch trippen (“to skip, trip, hop, stamp, trample”) (> Modern Dutch trippelen (“to toddle, patter, trip”)). Akin to Middle Low German trippen ( > Danish trippe (“to trip”), Swedish trippa (“to mince, trip”)), West Frisian tripje (“to toddle, trip”), German trippeln (“to scurry”), Old English treppan (“to trample, tread”). Related also to trap, tramp.
To fall over or stumble over an object as a result of striking it with one's foot
Be careful not to trip on those tree roots. You tripped over the cat and fell downstairs just last week.
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Sometimes, Followed by "up" To cause (a person or animal) to fall or stumble by knocking their feet from under them.
A pedestrian was able to trip the burglar as he was running away.
Early in his boyhood he had learned to form ropes by twisting and tying long grasses together, and with these he was forever tripping Tublat or attempting to hang him from some overhanging branch.1912 October, Edgar Rice Burroughs, “Tarzan of the Apes”, in The All-Story, New York, N.Y.: Frank A. Munsey Co., →OCLC; republished as chapter 5, in Tarzan of the Apes, New York, N.Y.: A[lbert] L[evi] Burt Company, June 1914, →OCLC:
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To be guilty of a misstep or mistake; to commit an offence against morality, propriety, etc
And the Pharasay / Then durst nothynge say, / But let the matter slyp, / And made truth to tryp;c. 1503–1512, John Skelton, Ware the Hauke; republished in John Scattergood, editor, John Skelton: The Complete English Poems, 1983, →OCLC, page 66, lines 152–155:
[T]ill his Tongue trips1689 (indicated as 1690), [John Locke], “Remedies of the Imperfection and Abuse of Words”, in An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. […], London: […] Eliz[abeth] Holt, for Thomas Basset, […], →OCLC, book III, page 250:
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A blind will thereupon comes to be led by a blind understanding; there is no remedy, but it must trip and stumble.1692–1717, Robert South, “Discourse upon 2 Thessalonians ii.II”, in Twelve Sermons Preached upon Several Occasions, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London:
Virgil is so exact in every word that none can be changed but for a worse; he pretends sometimes to trip, but it is to make you think him in danger when most secure.1697, Virgil, translated by John Dryden, The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
"No, Mrs. Curzon-Bowlby," he said; "if I danced I should be tripping indeed, in Gleicester opinion."1897, Stanley John Weyman, “The Deanery Ball”, in For the Cause:
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Obsolete To detect in a misstep; to catch; to convict.
These her women can trip me if I err.1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene v]:
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To activate or set in motion, as in the activation of a trap, explosive, or switch.
When we get into the factory, trip the lights.
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To be activated, as by a signal or an event
The alarm system tripped, throwing everyone into a panic.
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Of an electrical circuit, to trip out (through overload, a short circuit).
From the evidence of witnesses and of the recorded passing times, including the time at which the circuit breakers were tripped when the wires were brought down, the train was travelling at a speed of not less than 70 m.p.h.1961 November, “Talking of Trains: Derailment near Holmes Chapel”, in Trains Illustrated, page 652:
The 25kV had repeatedly tripped and the two had split from a larger group to operate an overhead line isolating switch.2023 August 23, “Network News: CCTV helps save track workers from being struck by train”, in RAIL, number 990, page 10:
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To experience a state of reverie or to hallucinate, due to consuming psychoactive drugs.
After taking the LSD, I started tripping about fairies and colors.
So, I went to the doctor, see what he could give me / He said, "Son, son, you've gone too far / 'Cause smokin' and trippin’ is all that you do," / Yeeeeeeaaaaaah1970, Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi, Bill Ward, Ozzy Osbourne, “Fairies Wear Boots”, in Paranoid, performed by Black Sabbath:
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To journey, to make a trip.
Last summer, we tripped to the coast.
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Dated To move with light, quick steps; to walk or move lightly; to skip.
Come, and trip it, as ye go, / On the light fantastic toe.a. 1645, John Milton, “L’Allegro”, in Poems of Mr. John Milton, […], London: […] Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Mosely, […], published 1646, →OCLC:
She bounded by, and tripped so light / They had not time to take a steady sight.1687, [John Dryden], “(please specify the page number)”, in The Hind and the Panther. A Poem, in Three Parts, 2nd edition, London: […] Jacob Tonson […], →OCLC:
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A bright beautiful face glanced out at the window, and vanished—a light footstep was heard—and Mary came tripping forth to meet us.1819 June 23, Geoffrey Crayon [pseudonym; Washington Irving], “The Wife”, in The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., number I, New York, N.Y.: […] C[ornelius] S. Van Winkle, […], →OCLC, page 53:
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Nautical, Transport To raise (an anchor) from the bottom, by its cable or buoy rope, so that it hangs free.
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Nautical, Transport To pull (a yard) into a perpendicular position for lowering it.
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Slang To become unreasonably upset, especially over something unimportant; to cause a scene or a disruption.
African-American Vernacular; most commonly used in the form tripping; African-American Vernacular; most commonly used in the form tripping
If she ain't with it, I find another little chick / I'm quick to switch, even when I was six / I had a backup bitch, when my bitch would trip / I'd go play with my other girlfriend and get me a kiss / And at the age of thirty-six I'm to the same old tricks2003, “What's a Pimp?”, in Married to the Game, performed by Too $hort:
Etymology From Middle English trippen (“tread or step lightly and nimbly, skip, dance”), perhaps from Old French triper (“to hop or dance around, strike with the feet”), from a Frankish source; or alternatively from Middle Dutch trippen (“to skip, trip, hop, stamp, trample”) (> Modern Dutch trippelen (“to toddle, patter, trip”)). Akin to Middle Low German trippen ( > Danish trippe (“to trip”), Swedish trippa (“to mince, trip”)), West Frisian tripje (“to toddle, trip”), German trippeln (“to scurry”), Old English treppan (“to trample, tread”). Related also to trap, tramp.