tramp

noun

1. The act of walking with heavy steps.

   “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?”

2. (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.”

3. (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.”

4. 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.”

   “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.”

   “Some of these are regular ocean liners; others are casual tramp ships.”

   “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.”

   ““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.”

5. (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.”

   “The starting place for the tramp is reached over a gravel road that begins on Route 3 about a mile south of Gorham spur.”

   “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.”

   “The 1½-hour tramp passes through banksia, gum, and wattle forests, with spectacular views of peaks and valleys.”

6. Of objects, stray, intrusive and unwanted.

   “Your last delivery of copper ore contained half a hundredweight of tramp metal.”

7. A metal plate worn by diggers under the hollow of the foot to save the shoe.
8. 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.
9. (abbreviation, alt-of, clipping)Clipping of trampoline, especially a very small one.

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. (Scotland, transitive)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.”

7. (colloquial, intransitive)To scram; begone.

   “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.”

   “Tramp, my lad. Bundle out of this, please, hand over hand, and double quick.”

8. (intransitive)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.