trot
trot
UK[trɒt]US[trɑːt]
v
(of a horse or other quadruped) proceed at a pace faster than a walk, lifting each diagonal pair of legs alternately.
v
(of a person) run at a moderate pace with short steps.
n
A trotting pace.
Etymology
The verb 'trot' entered Middle English from Old French 'troter', which itself derived from a common Germanic source. This Germanic root is thought to be onomatopoeic or imitative in nature, echoing the rhythmic sound of a horse's gait. The core meaning of moving briskly with a short, steady step has remained remarkably consistent from its medieval origins to its modern usage for both animals and humans. Its journey from a probable sound-imitative root to a standard term for a specific pace illustrates the sensory basis of many fundamental verbs of motion.
Analysis
The word 'trot' is a simplex word of Germanic origin. It functions as a single, unanalyzable morpheme in modern English.
Examples
The horse began to trot along the path.
She trotted down the stairs to answer the door.
They set off at a brisk trot.