Definition of "tramp"

[S]he had thought to discover a burglar of one or another accepted type—either a dashing cracksman in full-blown evening dress, lithe, polished, pantherish, or a common yegg, a red-eyed, unshaven burly brute in the rags and tatters of a tramp.

1914, Louis Joseph Vance, chapter III, in Nobody, New York, N.Y.: George H[enry] Doran Company, published 1915

I was so happy on board that ship, I could not have believed it possible. We had the beastliest weather, and many discomforts; but the mere fact of its being a tramp-ship gave us many comforts; we could cut about with the men and officers, stay in the wheel-house, discuss all manner of things, and really be a little at sea.

1888, Robert Louis Stevenson, The Letters of Robert Louis Stevenson; Volume 2, chapter 9

Then I think I conceive of other worlds and vast structures that pass us by, within a few miles, without the slightest desire to communicate, quite as tramp vessels pass many islands without particularizing one from another.

1919, Charles Fort, The Book of the Damned, chapter 10

Some of these are regular ocean liners; others are casual tramp ships.

1924, George Sutherland, Texas Transport Terminal Company v. New Orleans: Dissent Brandeis

Shipping of every sort, from passenger liners to ferry steamers, tramps to tugs and trailing barges, feluccas to speedboats and yachts, from warships to caiques, chugs, hoots, glides or churns its way in all directions.

1950 July, J. C. Mertens, “By the "Taurus Express" to Baghdad”, in Railway Magazine, page 435

“Hrrumph,” said the Mate. “Get into uniform right away, we must have discipline here.” With that he stalked off as if he were First Mate on one of the Queens instead of just on a dirty, rusty old tramp ship.

1960, Lobsang Rampa, The Rampa Story, chapter Six

I got in with the American Fur Company and set out for another tramp to trade with the Indians on the North and South Platte Rivers.

1861, E. J. Guerin, Mountain Charley, page 40

The starting place for the tramp is reached over a gravel road that begins on Route 3 about a mile south of Gorham spur.

1968, John W. Allen, It Happened in Southern Illinois, page 75

Speaking of knockout panoramas, if you′re fit then consider doing the taxing, winding, 8km tramp up Mt Roy (1578m; five to six hours return), start 6km from Wanaka on Mt Aspiring Rd.

2005, Paul Smitz, Australia & New Zealand on a Shoestring, Lonely Planet, page 734

The 1½-hour tramp passes through banksia, gum, and wattle forests, with spectacular views of peaks and valleys.

2006, Marc Llewellyn, Lee Mylne, Frommer′s Australia from $60 a Day, page 186

Your last delivery of copper ore contained half a hundredweight of tramp metal.

2015 September 29 (last accessed), Mining Magazine‎, archived from the original on 7 March 2016

Soak them [blankets, etc.], add to the water in which the linens were washed some soap, and also some of the preparation to produce a strong lather; rub or tramp them, then rinse and dry.

1842, Catherine Esther Beecher, A Treatise on Domestic Economy

Tramp, my lad. Bundle out of this, please, hand over hand, and double quick.

1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, London, Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883