tramp

Etymology

From Middle English trampen (“to walk heavily”), from Middle Low German trampen (“to stamp”) (trampeln (“to walk with heavy steps”), see trample), or Middle Dutch trampen (“to stamp”), from Proto-West Germanic *trampan (“to step”). Doublet of tremp. Cognate to Dutch trampen (“to stamp, kick, step”), dialectal German trampen (“to step, walk, tread”), whence commoner German trampeln (“to trample”). Probably related to trap.

noun

1. (sometimes derogatory) A homeless person; a vagabond.
2. (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.
3. 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
   Some of these are regular ocean liners; others are casual tramp ships. 1924, George Sutherland, Texas Transport Terminal Company v. New Orleans: Dissent Brandeis
   “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
4. (Australia, New Zealand) A long walk, possibly of more than one day, in a scenic or wilderness area.
   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
   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
5. Clipping of trampoline, especially a very small one.
6. (in apposition) Of objects, stray and intrusive and unwanted
   Your last delivery of copper ore contained half a hundredweight of tramp metal. 29 September 2015 (last accessed), Mining Magazine, archived from the original on 2016-03-07
7. A metal plate worn by diggers under the hollow of the foot to save the shoe.

verb

1. To walk with heavy footsteps.
2. To walk for a long time (usually through difficult terrain).
   We tramped through the woods for hours before we found the main path again.
3. To hitchhike.
4. (transitive) To tread upon forcibly and repeatedly; to trample.
5. (transitive) To travel or wander through.
   to tramp the country
6. (transitive, 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