A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1460, 1549-1650
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Trot, n. Also: trote. [ME and e.m.E. trott (Cursor M.), trot, trot(t)e (all Chaucer), F. trot; Trot v.]
1. The gait (of a quadruped) between walking and running; the action of trotting. Also, transf., at the trote, engaged in trotting (away), ? on the run.Cf. also Job-trot(t n., Jock-trot n. 1460 Hay Alex. 512.
In his trot was neuir hors moir abill 1632 Lithgow Trav. vi 298.
That the dromidory hath a quicke and hard-reaching trot and will ride above 80 miles in the daytransf. 1558-66 Knox II 59.
The greit battell was anis at the trote; bot quhen thay persevit that the greit force of the horsemen … chargeit not, thay returnit
b. A journey on horseback, a mounted expedition or raid. c1650 Spalding I 186.
The barronis … rydis fra Turreff to New Abirdein, about 800 horss … The covenanteris, heiring of this trot of Turref, … began to hyde thair goodis
2. As part of the name of a dance. 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 66/26.
In the fyrst thai dancit al Cristyn mennis dance, the Northt of Scotland, Huntis Vp … Schaik a trot [etc.]
3. transf. Pace, rhythm. c1590 Fowler II 29/1.
The … maister, thinking the verse to haue a good trot, & sophing them rather by thair sounding nor scansing them be iust measure, approuit them
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"Trot n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/trot_n>
