Trip (v)  stumble

Trip (n)  excursion

Today’s words seemed to coordinate well with Monday’s blog post, TSA.  In looking up the origin of trip, the verb form comes from Middle English or Old French, trippen or triper, to hop, skip, strike with the feet or dance.  When I have tripped, it definitely has not looked like a dance, although some of my stumbles have been very creative!

The noun usage of trip has indications that it came from the early 14^th century meaning a short excursion or voyage. The word or the meaning has not deviated from its original usage.  There is also record from 1959 when the word trip was referenced with a psychedelic drug experience.  I am always amazed how beginnings of word usage can be pinpointed to specific dates.  How do they do that?

I find it humorous that the stumble version of trip is linked to an excursion.  Have you ever tripped over an uneven sidewalk?  Hopefully, that trip was not one resulting with a body meeting pavement destination.  How about tripping up a stair rather than coming down.  Creative trips are not only the ones you pack your bags for – they are the interjection to your day when you least expect it!

With summer drawing to a close in a few weeks, it might be a good time to plan an adventurous trip.  It doesn’t need to be long – even a day or two can make all the difference in the world to the usual routine.  Pack the good walking shoes and stay watchful to avoid the other trippin’ possibilities!