traipse

Older Spelling, trapes

[treyps]

verb (used without object)

traipsed, traipsing 

1. to walk or go aimlessly or idly or without finding or reaching one's goal.

   We traipsed all over town looking for a copy of the book.

verb (used with object)

traipsed, traipsing 

1. to walk over; tramp.

   to traipse the fields.

noun

1. a tiring walk.

traipse

/ treɪps /

verb

1. (intr) to walk heavily or tiredly

noun

1. a long or tiring walk; trudge

Word History and Origins

Origin of traipse¹

First recorded in 1585–95; earlier trapse, unexplained variant of trape, of disputed origin; perhaps obscurely akin to tramp

Word History and Origins

Origin of traipse¹

C16: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

Pacific, he traipses the globe trying different breads and bread-related products while uncovering stories of how these staples relate to migration, labor and his own family history.

From Los Angeles Times

Youngsters making the transition to the seniors go left, to their own dressing room, saving them from traipsing across from the academy building on the other side of the complex for training.

From BBC

The pair traipses around seeking healing under romantic full moons and become involved in spycraft that reveals evidence that the outbreak is not what it seems.

From Los Angeles Times

Within hours of the mid-morning ribbon cutting, dozens of children traipsed through the play areas, seniors were deep into a bingo game and families lined up for a Little League baseball ceremony.

From Los Angeles Times

Next time you’re traipsing through LAX, take refuge in the beachy design and blue hues of Cartier’s first airport boutique on the West Coast.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• amble 
• lumber 
• meander 
• plod 
• prance 
• roam 
• stroll 
• strut 
• trudge 
• wander 

When To Use

Where does the word traipse come from?

Traipse generally means "to wander aimlessly or idly while never reaching one's goal," as in Last night, they traipsed all over town trying to find a store that was still open.Well, you'll certainly wander aimlessly if you try to find the origin of the word traipse.The word is first recorded around 1585–95. It could be related to the verb tramp, and one can definitely traipse, or "walk over," something, such as fields or flowers. An alternative theory connects traipse to trespass, which originates from French.Traipse isn’t alone: it finds lots of company in other English words that seem simple but whose origins are not. Discover more in our slideshow “‘Dog,’ ‘Boy,’ And Other Words That We Don’t Know Where They Came From."