v. & n.
--v.
1. intr. a walk heavily and firmly (tramping about upstairs). b go on foot, esp. a distance.
2 tr. a cross on foot, esp. wearily or reluctantly. b cover (a distance) in this way (tramped forty miles).
3 tr. (often foll. by down) tread on; trample; stamp on.
4 tr. Austral. colloq. dismiss from employment, sack.
5 intr. live as a tramp.
--n.
1. an itinerant vagrant or beggar.
2 the sound of a person, or esp. people, walking, marching, etc., or of horses' hooves.
3 a journey on foot, esp. protracted.
4 a an iron plate protecting the sole of a boot used for digging. b the part of a spade that it strikes.
5 esp. US sl. derog. a promiscuous woman.
6 ocean tramp.
Derivatives:
tramper n. trampish adj.
Etymology: ME trampe f. Gmc