Definition of trip

The word "trip" has its origins in Old English and Middle English. In Old English, the word "trip" was spelled "tripp" and meant "a skipping or leaping motion" or "a sudden, quick movement". This sense of sudden movement is still reflected in modern English, where "trip" can mean "to cause to fall" or "to make a sudden, quick movement". In Middle English (circa 11th-15th centuries), the verb "trip" gained the sense of "to wander or stray from a path", which is now the primary meaning of the word. This sense of straying from a path or provoking a sense of detachment or disorientation is thought to have developed from the earlier sense of sudden movement. Over time, the word "trip" has evolved to take on various meanings related to travel, such as a journey or voyage, or a sudden failure or breakdown of equipment. Despite these changes, the core sense of sudden movement or straying remains a fundamental part of the word's meaning.