[f. TRAMP v.1 + -ER1.] One who or that which tramps.
1. a. One who treads heavily, a stamping person. b. One who tramples or treads on clothes, etc., in water, as part of the process of washing them; see TRAMP v.1 3 b. c. pl. Heavy boots for walking. Sc.
a. 1892. Chamb. Jrnl., 11 June, 372. He is a quiet neighbour—no slammer or tramper.
b. 1725. T. Thomas, in Portland P., VI. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), 111. [Here] we had the first sight of the Scotch ‘trampers.’… These trampers are the women that wash their linen cloth … by putting it into a large tub, into which one or two of them … get in, and instead of making use of hands, trample it with their bare feet.
c. 1790. A. Wilson, Poems & Lit. Prose (1876), II. 76. Rotten stockings, soleless trampers.
1824. J. Wilson, Noct. Ambr., Wks. 1856, IV. 181. Hawick rig-and-fur stockins, and Thirlestane trampers a’ studded wi’ sparables.
2. A person who tramps or travels on foot, a pedestrian; spec. a tramp, a vagrant.
1760. in Earwaker, Manch. Constables’ Acc. (1892), III. 119. Pd three Trampers to Scotland.
1772. R. Graves, Spir. Quixote (1783), I. 119. Because Squire Fielding … pretends that Tom Jones was harboured here, we shall be pestered with all the trampers that pass the road.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., xxv[i]. D’ye think his honour has naething else to do than to speak wi’ ilka idle tramper that comes about the town?
1825. Brockett, N. C. Words, Trampers, beggars, who traverse extensive tracts of country, soliciting from door to door.
1829. E. Elliott, Vill. Patriarch, III. v. Behold the tramper, with his naked toes!
1832. Boston, Linc., etc., Herald, 31 July, 2/1. She never named the tramper woman to me again.
1848. Dickens, Old C. Shop., xix. Passing numerous groups of gipsies and trampers on the road.
1908. Sat. Rev., 30 May, 678/2. Tripper or tramper can get as much mountain air and walking as he wants without any Bill.
