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. 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.
   1. one after the other

      to read two books on the trot

   2. busy, esp on one's feet
9. the trots informal.
   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

Four-legged animals that start walking and gradually pick up speed will automatically fall into a trot at some point.

From Science Daily

Audition reel sketches are really just an excuse to let the cast trot out their best celebrity impressions, particularly Chloe Fineman, who figures heavily into this one for the movie adaptation of “Wicked.”

From Los Angeles Times

Allow me to trot out a well-worn phrase that we hear just about every election, how this one is the most important of our lifetime.

From Los Angeles Times

But he still won there four times on the trot, from 1962-65.

From BBC

“You were gonna have to use everybody, we knew that. So we just started trotting guys out there.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• amble
• hurry
• jog
• lope
• scamper