trot

¹

[ trot ]

verb (used without object)

, trot·ted, trot·ting.

1. (of a horse) to go at a gait between a walk and a run, in which the legs move in diagonal pairs, but not quite simultaneously, so that when the movement is slow one foot at least is always on the ground, and when fast all four feet are momentarily off the ground at once.
2. to go at a quick, steady pace; move briskly; bustle; hurry.

verb (used with object)

, trot·ted, trot·ting.

1. to cause to trot.
2. to ride (a horse) at a trot.
3. to lead at a trot.
4. to travel over by trotting:

   to spend the day trotting the country byways.

5. to execute by trotting.

noun

1. the gait of a horse, dog, or other quadruped, when trotting.
2. the sound made by an animal when trotting.
3. the jogging gait of a human being, between a walk and a run.
4. Harness Racing. a race for trotters.
5. brisk, continuous movement or activity:

   I've been on the trot all afternoon.

6. Archaic: Disparaging. an old woman.
7. Slang. a literal translation used illicitly in doing schoolwork; crib; pony.
8. the trots, Informal. diarrhea.
9. Informal. a toddling child.

verb phrase

1. Informal.
   1. to bring forward for inspection.
   2. to bring to the attention of; introduce; submit:

      He trots out his old jokes at every party.

trot

²

[ trot ]

noun

1. a trotline.
2. a short line with hooks, attached to the trotline.

Trot

¹

/ trɒt /

noun

1. informal.
   a follower of Trotsky; Trotskyist

trot

²

/ trɒt /

verb

1. to move or cause to move at a trot
2. angling to fish (a fast-moving stream or river) by using a float and weighted line that carries the baited hook just above the bottom

noun

1. See sitting trot, rising trot, jog trot
   a gait of a horse or other quadruped, faster than a walk, in which diagonally opposite legs come down together See also jog trot rising trot sitting trot
2. a steady brisk pace
3. (in harness racing) a race for horses that have been trained to trot fast
4. angling
   1. one of the short lines attached to a trotline
   2. the trotline
5. informal.
   a run of luck

   a good trot

6. a small child; tot
7. slang.
   a student's crib
8. on the trot informal.
   on the trot
   1. one after the other

      to read two books on the trot

   2. busy, esp on one's feet
9. the trots informal.
   the trots
   1. diarrhoea
   2. trotting races

Sensitive Note

The meaning “old woman” is archaic, used with disparaging intent especially in contexts where the woman is regarded as mean, ugly, etc.

Other Words From

• un·trotted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of trot¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English verb trotten, trot(te), from Middle French trot(t)er, from Germanic; akin to Old High German trottōn “to tread,” Middle High German trotten “to run”; noun derivative of the verb

Origin of trot²

First recorded in 1880–85; short for trotline

Word History and Origins

Origin of trot¹

C13: from Old French trot , from troter to trot, of Germanic origin; related to Middle High German trotten to run

Idioms and Phrases

In addition to the idiom beginning with trot , also see hot to trot .

Example Sentences

While some longer Trots exist—up to half-marathon lengths—people who haven’t run in a while should avoid signing up for them.

From Popular-Science

Turkey Trots are set to return on Thanksgiving after a year hiatus, and at least one runner is ready to take his trot to the next level.

From Outside Online

Other athletes can get digestive issues, but they are usually much different than runner’s trots and are not as common.

From Popular-Science

The whole point of being a pageant queen is to trot around in your bikini to be ogled at while feigning sexual naiveté.

From The Daily Beast

And, of course, they trot out the Constitution to justify their actions, much as the slave holders did 150 years earlier.

From The Daily Beast

He had to urge his horse to a trot, and he went tagging alongside the funnel to see what it would do.

From The Daily Beast

Then I just have to “retrieve payload” from Coinapult, trot on back over to Blockchain and BAM!

From The Daily Beast

Oscar forecasters like to trot out old statistics when deciding who will win which awards.

From The Daily Beast

The truth is, it is not safe to trot down such mountains and hardly to ride down them at all.

From Project Gutenberg

But I have some more foul way to trot through still, in your Epistles and Satyrs, &c.

From Project Gutenberg

Soon he begins to trot, and, when he thinks himself out of sight, bounds off like a greyhound.

From Project Gutenberg

To the left of us a horse snorted nervously; we heard him trot with high, springy strides to the end of his rope, and snort again.

From Project Gutenberg

I don't want to go back into my life, I don't want to trot out the old 'more sinned against than sinning' cliché.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• amble
• hurry
• jog
• lope
• scamper