walkn.1
/wɔːk/, U.S. /wɔk/, /wɑk/ 1. Perhaps: the action of curling the hair; or a curl of hair. Only in walk-spindle n. curling iron. Obsolete.
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OE Harley Gloss. (1966) 47 Calamistrum, walcspinl.
OE Aldhelm Glosses (Royal 12 C.xxiii) in A. S. Napier Old Eng. Glosses (1900) 195/2 Calamistro : of wolcspinle.
2. The action of rolling or tossing (of waves); an instance of this. Also figurative (in collocation with win): struggle, contest. Obsolete.Only in Laȝamon.
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c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 204 Þar aros walc [c1300 Otho wale] & win & wiðer-heppes feola.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 1272 Þa heora fader wes dæd, þe sunen duden vuelne ræd; Bi-tweonen heom aræs walc & win.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 3103 We habbeð ihaued..moni hunger & moni þurst, moni walc, moni wind bi wilde þisse watere.
II. The action or an act of travelling or moving, esp. on foot.† 9. In plural. Ability to walk. Obsolete. rare.
3. Travelling, wandering, movement. Cf. walk v. II. † b. Esp. with reference to an army or chessman: a line or direction of marching or movement. Obsolete.† c. figurative. Mental or verbal digression; expatiation, extended discourse. Obsolete. rare.
a. The action of travelling or wandering; an instance of this, a journey. Now English regional (Cornwall).
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society > travel > [noun]
yongc950
gangOE
goinga1250
walka1300
journeyingc1330
travela1400
progressionc1450
wayfarec1450
travelling1489
wayfaring1536
gate-going?1555
thorough-faring?1575
faring1594
fidging1604
voyaging1611
voyage1626
winning1651
locomotion1759
itinerating1770
passing1821
trekking1850
trooping1888
a1300 (c1275) Physiologus (1991) l. 454 A tre he sekeð to fuligewis..& leneð him..ðer bi ðanne he is of walke weri.
a1460 Knyghthode & Bataile (Pembr. Cambr. 243) l. 594 An olde vsage it was To make walk thryes in euery mone.
c1475 (?c1300) Guy of Warwick (Caius) l. 11011 (MED) This gentyll Gye, of whome I talke, Thorough all the world hath he hys walke.
1508 Golagros & Gawane (Chepman & Myllar) sig. bii*v The warliest wane..That euer I vist in my walk in all this warld wyde.
1632 J. Vicars tr. Virgil XII Aeneids vi. 164 May they, till their bones do rest in grave, O're those rough streams, those banks have transportation, But make about those shores perambulation, And wandring walks, at least, an hundred yeares.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis vii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 423 For not the Gods, nor angry Jove will bear Thy lawless wand'ring walks, in upper Air.
1880 M. A. Courtney W. Cornwall Words in M. A. Courtney & T. Q. Couch Gloss. Words Cornwall 62/2 Walk, a journey. ‘Have you had a nice waalk?’ asked on a return from France.
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society > armed hostility > military operations > manoeuvre > [noun] > march > line of march
walkc1450
baseline1802
oblique1845
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > board game > chess > [noun] > move > line of movement
walk1589
c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) l. 3799 Þai droȝe furth be dissert & drinkles þai spill, Was nouthire waldis in þar walke ne watir to fynde.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. cclviii And so returned home by land,..burnyng and destroiyng euery pile, fortresse and village that was in their walke.
1589 Pappe w. Hatchet in Lyly's Wks. (1902) III. 395 He shall knowe what it is for a scaddle pawne, to crosse a Bishop in his owne walke.
1656 F. Beale tr. G. Greco Royall Game Chesse-play iv. 5 The Bishops walke is, alwayes in the same colour he is first placed in, forward and backward aslope as far as you please.
1674 C. Cotton Compl. Gamester v. 55 As for the Pawn..his walk is but to the next house forward in his own file at once when he marcheth, and to the next house side-long forward of the next file of either side, when he takes.
1784 P. Thicknesse Speaking Figure 18 The Queen's walk is more universal, as she takes all the steps of the fore-mentioned pieces, excepting that of the Knight.
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society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > copiousness > [noun] > expatiation
walk1553
enlargement1659
expatiation1816
1553 T. Wilson Arte of Rhetorique 16 b Now in speakyng of honestie, I may by deuision of the vertues make a large walke.
1664 R. Baxter Divine Life i. 172 It is a walk of the Mind, and not of the Body which we are treating of.
1802 W. Wordsworth Sonnet to Liberty i. iv And the talk Man holds with week-day man in the hourly walk Of the mind's business.
d. The course of a person's life, esp. in one's walk through life.
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1765 Memoirs Coquet 39 Did we not meet, sometimes, with a [Lady] Bountiful in our walk through life, we should grow out of humour with our species, and become soured with misanthropy.
1825 C. Lamb in London Mag. Apr. 512 Perhaps from the pure infelicity which accompanies some people in their walk through life.
1862 E. B. Browning Little Mattie 2 Short and narrow her life's walk.
1910 Times 18 Oct. 7/2 Although I have observed a good deal of poverty in my walk through life,..I never quite realized its poignancy until I came to administer the Old Age Pensions Act.
1999 Africa News (Nexis) 29 Aug. With that quiet determination, he took the first and every succeeding step of his walk through life, for 46 years.
4.
a. An act or spell of walking or going on foot from place to place; esp. a short journey on foot for exercise or recreation.
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society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > [noun] > a walk or journey on foot
walkc1405
walking1542
footwalk1599
travel1724
tramp1787
foot tramp1808
foot tour1841
c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Man of Law's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 461 And in hir walk this blynde man they mette.
1576 A. Fleming tr. C. Longolius in Panoplie Epist. 410 You haue your fine walkes, in places of pleasure, and therewithall communication seasoned with the leuen of learning.
1638 R. Baker tr. J. L. G. de Balzac New Epist. II. 48 See here the Decree of a Countrie Phylosopher, and matter of meditation for one of your walkes at Yssy.
1686 tr. J. Chardin Coronation Solyman 130 in Trav. Persia His most usual walks being upon Giulfa side.
1753 J. Collier Ess. Art of Tormenting ii. iv. 177 Strange disorders in her head, for which she is advised to walk long walks.
1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth I. Pref. p. iii If..a man should, in his walks, meet with an animal, the name..of which, he desires to know.
1837 C. Dickens Pickwick Papers xxviii. 292 At dinner they met again, after a five and twenty mile walk.
1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ Valerie's Fate i We have only ten minutes left for our walk back.
1910 A. Lang in Encycl. Brit. X. 135/1 A man, in fun, called to a goat to escort his wife on a walk.
1991 T. Marshall Changelings (1992) xiv. 200 Today we actually went for a walk in the park.
b. Baseball. = base on balls n. at base n.1 Phrases 3. Cf. walk v. 9k.
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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > baseball > [noun] > batting > walk
walk1891
base on balls1898
pass1899
1891 Daily Inter Ocean (Chicago) 3 July 2/2 He gave Cooney a walk to first base on balls.
1903 Lowell (Mass.) Sun 25 July 7/2 Eustace drew a walk.
1905 Sporting Life (Philadelphia) 16 Sept. 2/1 Taking the totals, or hits and walks, and such a famine in tallies would seem impossible, but there are the figures.
1909 Morning Herald (Uniontown, Pa.) 13 May 2/4 Both pitchers issued a walk to the first man up.
1948 Daily Ardmoreite (Ardmore, Okla.) 21 Mar. 4/6 Rice, on second from a walk and a sacrifice, crossed the home plate on a fly which Charley Gilbert misjudged.
1996 Japan Times 29 Apr. 17/3 Tokitaka Minamibuchi drew a walk to lead the bases.
2011 J. Kreis 1954: Baseball Season 389 Houttemann did not issue a walk and fanned five.
c. A sponsored walk. See sponsored adj. 2.
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1960 Times 14 Mar. 12/4 It was Musgrave who made the final 100-yard dash at 7.30 a.m.,..up to the back of the lorry whereon stood Mr. Billy Butlin, the sponsor of the walk.
1971 M. Lee Dying for Fun xliv. 213 You ought to get one of the newspapers to sponsor it. Walks and demonstrations and things.
1994 PR Newswire (Nexis) 22 Aug. More sponsors are sought for the walk which will begin at Cobo Hall and continue through Hart Plaza to Chene Park.
5.
a. An act of walking as distinguished from other more rapid modes of locomotion on foot (see walk v. 16); the slowest gait of a land animal, or the rate of progression which this gait affords; a walking pace.
(a) Of a human being (opposed to run).In quot. 1785 spec.: a firm and regular gait.
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the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > [noun] > an act of
walk1542
1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes ii. f. 240v Vatinius beeyng eiuil coumbreed with a spiece of the goute laboured to appere yt he had clene putte a waye that ympedimente, and made a proude braggue that he could now goo a whole myle at a walke.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Twelfth Night (1623) i. iii. 124 My verie walke should be a Iigge. View more context for this quotation
1785 W. Cowper Task iv. 639 He stands erect; his slouch becomes a walk; He steps right onward, martial in his air.
1799 E. King Munimenta Antiqua I. Pref. p. v The supposed Dances of the three groups; the one wheeling round in a circle, from the right hand to the left; and the other from the left hand to the right; with the slow walk of the third round a central altar.
1843 R. S. Surtees Handley Cross III. xii. 292 He..rounded the corner into Red Lion Street at something between a walk and a run.
1925 H. L. Foster Trop. Tramp with Tourists 137 The tourists..all came back to the train at a painfully slow walk,..and grouched all the way home.
1968 K. Weatherly Roo Shooter 37 They strode down the cattle pad at a fast walk.
2002 R. Murphy Kick (2003) 35 When she was in a hurry, and the man pulling the rickshaw slowed to a walk, she would call him a lazy devil.
(b) Of a horse or other quadruped.With reference to a horse, the walk is a four-beat gait in which each step with a forefoot is normally followed by a step with the diagonally opposite hind foot, and then by the same sequence starting on the opposite side; opposed to canter, trot, gallop, etc.
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the world > animals > by locomotion > locomotion of animals > [noun] > walk
walk1667
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > horse defined by speed or gait > [noun] > type(s) of gait > walk
pacec1450
walk1667
1667 Duke of Newcastle New Method to dress Horses 146 Of a Horse upon his Walk. The Action of his Leggs in that Motion, Is, Two Leggs in the Ayre, and Two Leggs upon the Ground.
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory ii. 150/1 Walk, is the sloest pace a Horse doth go; it is used to cool a Horse after hard Riding.
1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. at Chevaler A horse is said to chevaler when in passaging upon a walk, or a trot, his far fore-leg crosses or over-laps the other fore-leg every second time or motion.
1788 A. Hughes Henry & Isabella I. 50 If the road was in the smallest degree rough..the horses were never suffered to go off a walk.
1832 Proposed Regulations Cavalry ii. 15 The rate of walk not to exceed four miles an hour.
1847 C. Dickens Dombey & Son (1848) xlvi. 457 He rode near Mr. Dombey's house; and falling into a walk as he approached it, looked up at the windows.
1883 E. Ingersoll Knocking around Rockies 214 The mules have been well-behaved all day. Plodding along in front of you at a rapid walk.
1893 Times 11 July 11/4 The march past followed, first in column of squadrons at a walk,..next at a canter by squadrons.
1902 V. Jacob Sheep-stealers xiv He did not once let his horse go out of a sober walk.
1994 S. Butala Perfection of Morning i. 4 The memory is dreamlike: the men riding their horses at a walk through the tall green grass and wildflowers on the riverbank.
b. A walking race; a foot race in which running is not allowed.
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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > racing on foot > [noun] > walking race
walking match1751
walking go1802
walk1882
race walking1893
walkathon1930
1882 H. W. Becket Montreal Snow Shoe Club 114 As no gentleman won the ‘walk’ two years in succession, the medal was competed for in the above three mile running race.
1887 Sporting Life (Philadelphia) 2 July 3/5 Clarke should win the Walk, with Lange second, and Ockelford third.
1920 Times 22 Apr. 8/5 G. L. Williamson,..won the walk after a fairly hard struggle with two other boys of his own size.
1957 Times 14 Oct. 14/7 Marquis (Switzerland) won the walk in 1hr. 42min. 22.4sec.
1999 Courier Mail (Queensland) (Nexis) 26 Aug. 32 Canberra's Dion Russell conquered the searing Seville heat to finish 13th in the men's 50km walk last night.
c. Any dance modelled on or resembling a walk; chiefly as the second element in compounds, as cakewalk n. 1, camel-walk n. at camel n. Compounds 2, Lambeth Walk n. at Lambeth n. 3.
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1937 Dancing Times Nov. 170/1 The rage of the winter is the Big Apple and its related steps... Such steps as the Shag, the Flea Hop, the Strut, and the Walk, are combined with the new Big Apple notes.
1975 G. Howell In Vogue 9/2 In return we get syncopated music, and what to do to it—the Baleta..the Twinkle..the Missouri Walk.
1999 Linedancer Jan. 47/3 Favourite dance : Cajun Mambo Walk.
6.
a. A distance to be walked; esp. such a distance as defined by a specified length of time spent in walking.
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the world > space > distance > [noun] > distance (to be) travelled > (to be) walked
walk1546
stride1834
1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue ii. ix. sig. Lii v Dwellyng a good walke from hir at the townes ende.
1597 A. Hartwell tr. D. Lopes Rep. Kingdome of Congo ii. i. 109 On the East syde there runneth a Riuer, wherevnto the women doe descend by the space of a myles walke to washe their clothes.
1633 C. Farewell East-India Colation 17 I made a walke of sixe or 7. miles to speake with him at his house.
1714 Atlas Geographus IV. 110/2 [Cairo is] betwixt 3 and 4 French Leagues in Circuit, but not more than a Walk of two Hours and a quarter, and but half an Hour's Walk in Length.
1799 M. Robinson False Friend IV. lxxxiii. 33 It is only a pleasant walk of a mile to the next inn..but some kinds of people are fond of giving trouble.
1808 W. Scott in J. G. Lockhart Mem. Life Scott (1837) I. i. 59 I agreed to go every morning to his house, which, being at the extremity of Prince's Street, New Town, was a walk of two miles.
1875 J. Ruskin Mornings in Florence I. 5 A few hundred yards west of you, within ten minutes' walk, is the Baptistery of Florence.
1919 Honey Pot 1 14 The new Palais de Danse, which is to be opened on September 1st, is situated in Brook Green Road, two minutes walk from Hammersmith.
1997 P. Melville Ventriloquist's Tale (1998) iii. 319 Marietta..sent Bla-Bla straight out again on the fourteen-mile walk to the post office.
b. U.S. A walk undertaken to determine (by its duration) the extent of a purchase of land. Now historical.Chiefly with reference to a disputed land purchase contracted in 1737 between the colony of Pennsylvania and the Lenape people of the Delaware Valley, in which Pennsylvania was represented by skilled athletes who covered a far greater distance than expected by the Lenape.
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1759 C. Thompson Enq. Causes Alienation Delaware & Shawanese Indians 38 The Unfairness practised in the Walk, both in regard to the Way where, and Manner how, it was performed, and the Dissatisfaction of the Indians concerning it, were the common Subjects of Conversation.
1762 in Pennsylvania Arch. (1853) IV. 86 As to the Walk, you say you think it was not reasonably performed, and the Proprietary Commissioners on the contrary contend that it was.
1809 E. A. Kendall Trav. Northern Parts U.S. II. 282 Lands were sometimes to be measured by walks performed against time.
1854 Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc. 1848–53 5 128 It seems to have been expected by the Indians that this walk would not extend beyond the Lehigh hills, about 40 miles from the place where it was to begin.
1901 P. Fountain Deserts N. Amer. vii. 118 The Indians had a singular custom in parting with their land. They sold it by the ‘walk’.
7. † b. The official perambulation of a forester. Cf. sense 12a. Obsolete.
a. A procession, esp. one traditionally taking place at Whitsun; (also) a ceremonial perambulation such as that made by the proctors of the University of Oxford at a degree ceremony (cf. walk v. 12b(b)). Cf. walk v. 12 and Whit walk n. at Whit n.2 4.
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society > travel > [noun] > passage in a continuous stream > procession
processionOE
drightfarea1225
precessiona1400
processionc1400
walking1449
train1489
walk1563
processioning1593
band1611
solemnity1636
proceeding1660
cavalcade1670
parade1673
cortège1679
processionade1762
processional1820
crocodile1891
ram1912
processing1920
paseo1927
croc1948
1563 2nd Tome Homelyes sig. Ssss.i Yet haue we occasion secondarylye geuen vs, in our walkes on these dayes, to consider the olde auncient boundes and lymyttes belongyng to our owne Towneship.
1572 W. Kethe Serm. Blanford Forum f. 19 The sinnes committed betwene Easter, and Whytsontyde they were fullye discharged by the pleasaunt walkes, and processions in the rogyng, I should say, Rogation Weeke.
1610 Bp. J. Hall Sixt Decade v. 45 in Epist. (1611) III. You may as well challenge the Trumpets of Rammes~hornes, and seauen dayes walke vnto euery siedge.
1864 Times 19 Feb. 12/3 Time will be gained by..lessening the number of the Proctors' ‘walks’.
1888 J. M. Barrie Auld Licht Idylls ii. 23 It is nearly twenty years since the gardeners had their last ‘walk’ in Thrums.
1936 Jrnl. Higher Educ. 7 327/1 The frequent assertion that during the proctor's walk a tradesman may ‘pluck’ a student is untrue, because only a regent master can ‘pluck’ the proctor's gown.
1962 B. Jackson & D. Marsden Educ. & Working Class v. 170 You know what it's like..at Whitsuntide. They have the Walk, and the Brass Band.
1972 Scotland's Mag. May 14 The band leading the procession at the Fisherrow Fishermen's Walk.
1999 D. Haslam Manchester, Eng. iii. 58 Church processions, especially the Whit walks, were a favourite subject for the camera crews.
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society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > [noun] > walking round or about > official
walk1626
1626 N. Breton Fantasticks sig. C The Forresters now be about their walkes, and yet stealers sometimes cozen the Keepers.
1688 A. Behn Fair Jilt 31 About the Evening, the Forester going his Walks, saw the Horse richly caparison'd, without a Rider, at the Entrance of the Wood.
8. † b. to diminish one's walks: (perhaps) to walk mincingly. Obsolete. rare.
a. A manner of walking; esp. the characteristic manner in which an individual walks; a person's gait.
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the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > [noun] > manner of walking
stepOE
gangOE
pacec1300
goinga1382
gait1509
motion1531
gature?1548
walk1567
gait-trip1582
tread1609
go1635
démarche1658
1567 G. Fenton tr. M. Bandello Certaine Tragicall Disc. f. 64 There were fewe dayes in yt wherin he performed not his pale walke afore the lodging of his faire Ianiquette.
1592 T. Lodge Euphues Shadow sig. H4 Oh viperous brood full of vices, who in your greatest calmes lyke Dolphins threaten stormes: they like the Crab are crabbed, the one hauing a crooked walke, the other a cursed wit.
a1655 R. Cox Actæon & Diana (1656) 35 Who's this..? the clothes and walk of my dear husband.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis i, in tr. Virgil Wks. 218 In length of Train descends her sweeping Gown, And by her graceful Walk, the Queen of Love is known.
1705 tr. A. Cowley Plants in Wks. (1711) III. 382 The Mandrake only imitates our Walk And on two legs erect is seen to stalk.
1774 Pennsylvania Gaz. 28 Sept. Suppl. 1/1 Run away..an Irish servant man,..slender made, long visage, small legs, and hath a clumsy walk.
1837 R. H. Horne Cosmo de' Medici iii. iii. 50 You might know his walk a mile off. 'Tis exactly that of a gladiator who hath just killed His man.
1863 ‘G. Eliot’ Romola I. xiii. 223 It was impossible to mistake her figure and her walk.
1878 R. B. Smith Carthage 438 Who has a walk that can be named with that of the Arab?
1934 B. Lehmann Rumour of Heaven i. ii. 29 His walk became an old man's springless shuffle.
1991 S. Phillips Hot Shot i. xix. 262 His walk was cocky, as if he were a king instead of an arrogant upstart.
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the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > walk, tread, or step [verb (intransitive)] > affectedly with short steps
mince1562
to diminish one's walks1609
tittup1709
primp1943
1609 T. Dekker Guls Horne-bk. sig. D1 That true humorous Gallant that desires to powre himselfe into all fashions..must as well practise to diminish his walkes, as to bee various in his sallets, curious in his Tobacco, [etc.].
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the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > [noun] > power of
gangOE
goinga1387
foota1400
ganginga1400
walks1593
1593 R. Harvey Philadelphus 103 That God which giueth eyes to the blind, and walkes to the lame.
III. A place or path for walking.
10. † d. A circular pavement on which a horse walks when driving a mill. Obsolete.
a. A place suitable or set aside for walking; a path, esp. a broad path in a garden; a footway or sidewalk. Cf. footwalk n. 3, public walk n. at public adj. and n. Compounds 1b.In quot. 1874: pathways collectively.
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society > travel > means of travel > route or way > way, path, or track > path or place for walking > [noun] > foot(-)path > in a garden or pleasure-ground
alleyc1405
alurea1450
walk1533
lead1590
paddock1678
walkway1792
society > travel > means of travel > route or way > way, path, or track > path or place for walking > [noun] > promenade
maidan?1551
parado1612
promenade1648
mailc1660
esplanade1682
parade1697
outwalk1698
mall1710
alameda1717
paseo1832
walk1843
block1869
broadwalk1930
society > travel > means of travel > route or way > way, path, or track > path or place for walking > [noun] > foot(-)path > by side of street or road
plainstones1611
flanker1682
side pavement1685
footwalk1701
sideway1738
sidewalk1739
pavement1743
banquette1772
footpath1776
trottoir1789
walkway1792
parapet1795
causeway1796
flag-way1800
flags1801
pave1835
flagstone1840
flagging1851
walk1913
pedway1965
c1390 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Vernon A.) v. 113 Couetyse..was..In A toren Tabart of twelue Wynter Age; But ȝif a lous couþe lepe, I con hit not I-leue Heo scholde wandre on þat walk, hit was so þred-bare.
1440 in C. Innes Registrum Episcopatus Aberdonensis (1845) I. 241 Directe a dicta lapidea clausura in latitudine de communi passagio predicto vsque ad la grein valk directe sicut la valk se extendit et a superiori parte de la valk per spatium quatuor rudarum a dicto passagio.
1533 MS. Rawl. 776 lf. 171 b For that Chylderne shall not cast Rubbysh vnto the Kynges new Whalke.
1577 Hill's Gardeners Labyrinth xii. 25 Thus briefly haue I touched the benefites of walkes and Alleyes in any Garden ground.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Twelfth Night (1623) ii. v. 15 Get ye all three into the box tree: Maluolio's comming downe this walke . View more context for this quotation
?1677 S. Primatt City & Covntry Purchaser & Builder 153 It is decent to have fine gravel Walks in the Garden.
1693 J. Evelyn tr. J. de La Quintinie Compl. Gard'ner i. ii. xiv. 44 A Walk must be broad enough for two Persons to walk a-breast at least,..without which it would no longer be a real Walk, but a large Path.
1773 G. White Jrnl. 16 Apr. (1970) vi. 64 Thomas begins to mow the walks.
1785 W. Cowper Task i. 351 We tread the wilderness, whose well-roll'd walks..give ample space To narrow bounds.
1843 R. S. Surtees Handley Cross II. ix. 260 That's one of the few pulls we magistrates have—I keep my avenue in repair and my walks weeded by the vagrants.
1847 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair (1848) xxxix. 355 The library looked out on the front walk and park.
1874 Englishman's Guide Bk. U.S. 23 There are in it [sc. Central Park, New York] about 9 miles of carriage drive, 4 of bridle road, and about 25 miles of walk.
1913 G. Stratton-Porter Laddie (1917) xviii. 366 Mr. Pryor lay all twisted on the walk.
1994 C. Grant X-Files: Goblins viii. 90 He herded the team into the outer office, nodded to the sergeant..and didn't stop again until he was on the front walk.
b. In a church or other public building: a place where people can walk; an ambulatory, cloister, aisle, portico, or the like; esp. (in the Royal Exchange in London) each of the portions of the ambulatory formerly allotted to different classes of merchants and designated by special names, as East India, Virginia, Jamaica, Spanish walk, etc. (see diagram following the passage in quot. 1766).
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > means of travel > route or way > way, path, or track > path or place for walking > [noun] > ambulatory
walking placec1384
deambulatory1430
peramble1440
ambulatory1483
deambulatoura1522
walk1530
perambulatory1636
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 286/2 Walke to walke up and downe in, paruis.
1579 E. Hake Newes out of Powles Churchyarde newly Renued vi. sig. F3 Here, in this Church a walck there is where Papistes doe frequent To talke of newes among themselues.
1593 J. Norden Speculum Brit.: Middlesex 35 Royall exchange... The form of the building is quadrate, with walks round the mayne building supported with pillers of marble.
a1640 T. Risdon Chorogr. Surv. Devon (1811) (modernized text) §42 48 In one of the walks of the church there is a stone.
1661 in M. Sellers Eastland Co. (Camden) Introd. 75 Our deputies..will meet theirs at London upon the Exchange Munday and Tusday come senett at noone in the Eastlande Walke.
1710 London Gaz. No. 4708/4 Inquire at the..Royal Exchange East Country-Walk in Exchange Time.
1715 London Gaz. No. 5341/4 The Spanish Walk in the Royal Exchange.
1766 J. Entick Surv. London in New Hist. London IV. 102 In this area merchants..meet every day..and, for the more regular and readier dispatch of business, they dispose of themselves in separate walks, according to the following plan.
1858 N. Hawthorne Jrnl. 8 July in French & Ital. Notebks. (1980) vi. 364 The great cloister..has a walk of intersecting arches round its four sides.
1884 19th Cent. Jan. 104 The cloister arcade was said to have four walks.
1910 Notes & Queries 2 July 15/1 A monument to Edward Wortley Montagu, made of Coade's Lithodipyra, is in the west walk of the Cloisters of Westminster Abbey.
1988 ‘E. Peters’ Rare Benedictine (1990) 106 They crossed the court together at leisure, Brother Cadfael to return to his workshop in the herb garden, the steward to the north walk of the cloister.
2005 R. Gilchrist Norwich Cathedral Close iv. 77 The space over the east walk retains fragments of blind arcading, and over the west walk interlaced arcading survives.
c. An avenue bordered by trees.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > means of travel > route or way > way, path, or track > path or place for walking > [noun] > foot(-)path > in a garden or pleasure-ground > shaded or bordered by trees
alleyc1405
arbour1573
walk1596
porticus1617
frescade1656
pergola?1664
portico1666
cradle-walka1684
berceau1699
1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene iv. x. sig. Kv And all without were walkes and alleyes dight, With diuers trees, enrang'd in euen rankes. View more context for this quotation
1600 J. Pory tr. J. Leo Africanus Geogr. Hist. Afr. ii. 93 Quinces here are of an incredible bignes. Their vines dispersing themselves vpon the boughes of trees doe make most pleasant bowers and walkes.
1626 MS Accts.Toke Estate (Kent) f. 98 Quicksett for the further end of the wake in the new orchard.
1695 P. Motteux tr. F. Pidou de St. Olon Present State Morocco 8 A fiery Horse, that ran away with him..as he wheel'd about under a Walk of Orange Trees.
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 110. ¶1 There is a long Walk of aged Elms.
1829 R. L. Sheil in New Monthly Mag. 26 98 In a beautiful walk of trees, which ran down from the rear of the building through the play-ground, I saw several French boys playing at swing-swang.
1853 C. Dickens Bleak House xviii. 175 The old lime-tree walk was like green cloisters.
1936 Amer. Home Feb. 22/1 Often a walk of trees also lead from the highway up to the farm.
1989 Holiday Which? Mar. 84/4 Elsewhere a miniature water garden, a short hornbeam walk, and..a classic potager.
2002 P. Long Guide to Rural Wales i. 31 The large walled garden has been restored to its 18th century formal design and incorporates Victorian additions, notably a parterre and yew walk.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > means of travel > route or way > way, path, or track > track, trail, or path > [noun] > habitually used by animals > circular path used by a mill-horse
walk1735
race1833
mill-round1841
1735 Philos. Trans. 1733–4 (Royal Soc.) 38 403 Their Muscles and Tendons..are unequally strain'd, as the Duty is hardest on one Side, even tho' their Walk is large.
1744 J. T. Desaguliers Course Exper. Philos. II. 536 Those plain and simple Instruments used at the Coal-pits, call'd Barrel-Gins, where an Horse going round in a sufficiently large Walk draws round an Axis in Peritrochio.
1845 P. Barlow Manuf. in Encycl. Metrop. VIII. 91/1 The diameter of a walk for a horse mill ought to be at least 25 to 30 feet.
e. = ropewalk n. Now historical.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > workplace > place where specific things are made > [noun] > rope
ropery1329
rope-house1571
rope-yard1640
yarn-crofta1661
rope-work1663
rope-ground1665
ropewalk1671
walk1747
laying house1778
1747 R. Campbell London Tradesman lxxii. 299 The Spinner fastens one End of two threads to two Spindles of a Wheel; the Hemp is turned round his Middle, and he retires backward from the Wheel, spinning out both his Threads as he goes, till he reaches the farther End of the Walk.
1794 D. Steel Elements & Pract. Rigging & Seamanship I. 54 A Capstern..is fixed in the ground at the lower-end of the walk.
1794 D. Steel Elements & Pract. Rigging & Seamanship I. 56 Ropehouse-ground, or Walk, should be four-hundred yards long.
1839 A. Ure Dict. Arts 1070 at Rope-making As soon as he has reached the termination of the walk, a second spinner takes the yarn off the whirl, and gives it to another person to put upon a reel.
1984 J. Seymour Forgotten Arts (1985) 117/1 Many English seaports once had their rope-walks... Such walks would be at least 80 yards long and some up to 240 yards.
2002 L. G. Knapp Stratford & Sea ii. 42 The ropewalk was two rods wide and about a ship's cable—100 fathoms, or 600 feet—in length. Only the wheelhouse was sheltered: the walk itself stood in open air.
11. † a. The usual place in which a person or animal moves or is found; a haunt, a resort. Obsolete.† c. The region within which something moves. Also figurative. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > by habitat > habitat > [noun]
walka1425
seat of living1607
territory1774
habitat1796
stamping ground1821
personal space1937
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > dwelling place or abode > place of resort > [noun] > usual haunt
reseta1325
hauntc1330
walka1425
neighbourhood1637
topic1650
office1699
a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) (1891) l. 2505 Thus shalt thou..gete enchesoun to goone ageyne Vnto thi walke or to thi place Where thou biheelde hir fleshly face [Fr. d'aler Derechief encore en la rue Ou etc.].
a1500 (?a1390) J. Mirk Festial (Gough) (1905) 55 But þus he [sc. the hunter] woll spye wher hys [sc. the unicorn's] walk ys, and þer he settyþe a woman þat ys clene mayden.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 436/2 Beware, come nat in his walke lest he arrest the: gardes toy de te trouuer la ou il hante.
a1593 C. Marlowe Edward II (1594) sig. H3 Edmund away..Proud Mortimer pries neare into thy walkes.
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 300 If any male or other stone Horsse come within their walke, then presently they make force at him.
c1613 ( in T. Stapleton Plumpton Corr. (1839) 59 Sir, I wold advise your mastership cause William Scargell to take good regard to himselfe and not to use his old walkes; for and he doe, he wylbe taken.
1622 H. Peacham Compl. Gentleman x. 88 For with the weeds there are delicate flowers in those walkes of Venus [Ovid's Amores, etc.].
1702 N. Rowe Ambitious Step-mother (ed. 2) i. i With heedless steps they unawares Tread on the Lyons walk.
1719 E. F. Haywood Love in Excess: Pt. 2nd 60 Melantha, as soon as she saw the Count, put on an Air of Surprize, as if it were but by Chance, that she was come into his Walk.
1782 F. Burney Cecilia IV. iv. i. 18 She..allowed herself no time for dangerous recollection; strolled in her old walks, and renewed her old acquaintance, and by a vigorous exertion of active wisdom, doubted not compleating, before long, the subjection of her unfortunate tenderness.
a1821 R. Stuart Travelling Memoranda in Discov. Oregon Trail (1935) 128 Having determined..on taking his tract as less circuitous and more out of the walks of the Blackfoot Indians..we..parted with the Indians.
b. A flock (of snipes).One of many alleged group names found in late Middle English glossarial sources, but not otherwise substantiated. Apparently revived in the 19th cent.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > order Charadriiformes > family Scolopacidae (snipes, etc.) > [noun] > genus Gallinago > galinago gallinago (common snipe) > company of
walka1450
wisp1806
a1450 Terms Assoc. in PMLA (1936) 51 603 (MED) A Walke of snytes.
1801 J. Strutt Glig-gamena Angel-ðeod i. ii. 28 The tyro in the art of falconry is recommended to learn the following arrangement of terms as they were to be applied to the different kinds of birds assembled in companies..a walk of snipes.
1859 H. C. Folkard Wild-fowler i. 6 A walk of snipes.
1976 Lebende Sprachen 21 102/2 There were wisps or walks of snipes.
1999 Daily Mail (Nexis) 23 Nov. Among the many I have collected are: a conspiracy of ravens; a congregation of plovers; a muster of peacocks/storks; a walk of snipe.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > [noun] > defined or limited portion of space > within which something moves
walk1545
1545 R. Ascham Toxophilus i. f. 32 Meanynge therby, that no man..came in their [sc. the arrows'] walke, that escaped without death.
1597 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie v. lxxxi. 270 Those coulorable and suttle crimes that seldome are taken within the walke of humaine iustice.
1656 A. Cowley Praise of Pindar in Pindaric Odes iv Lo, how th' obsequious Wind, and swelling Ayr The Theban Swan does upwards bear Into the walks of Clouds, where he does play.
1692 J. Ray Misc. Disc. v. 87 The Middle Region of the Air, where the Walk of the Clouds is.
1733 A. Pope Ess. Man (rev. ed.) i. 102 Far as the Solar walk, or Milky way.
1818 Times 3 Feb. 2/2 (advt.) The man of business, relieved from the tedium of abstruse study, traverses with ease and freedom the solar walk.
1844 Amer. Biblical Repository Oct. 309 Hope and faith that look beyond the sun's walk to the face of the Invisible.
12.
a. A tract of forest land having as its extent the area regularly patrolled by a superintending officer (cf. sense 9); a division of a forest placed in the charge of a particular forester, ranger, or keeper. Now historical.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > land > landscape > fertile land or place > land with vegetation > [noun] > wooded land > part or division of
hag1410
speysa1425
ward1425
walk1534
regard1594
riding1755
hag wood1798
1534 W. Wayte Let. 9 July in Lisle Papers (P.R.O.: SP 3/8) f. 49 I scall desire your gud lordchyp to Commaunde your keeper to walke well hys Owne walke for I thynke he schall haue Inow wyth that.
1541 in J. W. Clay North Country Wills (1908) I. (Surtees 1908) 190 To poor hous~holders and other honest people within my walkes within the forest of Wyndesore.
1595 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 3 v. ii. 24 My parkes my walkes, my mannors that I had, Euen now forsake me.
1642 in W. H. Black Docquets Lett. Patent at Oxf. (1837) 338 The Offices of the foure Bayliwickes or eight walkes, and of Ranger and Launderer of the Forrest of Whichwood.
1679–88 in J. Y. Akerman Moneys Secret Services Charles II & James II (1851) 125 To Sr Eliab Harvey, Lieut. of Waltham forest,..for the repayres of Low-Layton Lodge, wherein he lives, being under-keeper of that walk.
1686 J. Evelyn Diary (1955) IV. 527 I went to Cranburne, a Lodge & walke of my Lord Godolphins, in Windsor parke.
1701 R. Morden New Descr. & State of Eng. 57 The famous New Forest..hath nine Walks, and as many Keepers; two Rangers, a Bow-Bearer; and Lord Warden.
1751 S. Whatley England's Gazetteer at New Forest There are 9 walks in it; and to every one a keeper under a Ld.-warden..besides 2 rangers, and a bow-bearer.
1819 W. Scott Ivanhoe III. ii. 41 If the Normans drive ye from these walks, Rowena has forests of her own, where her gallant deliverers may range at full freedom.
1854 Times 20 Mar. 5/4 The keepers of the respective walks in Whittlewood Forest, will show the trees to any person desirous of viewing the same.
1982 D. Hawkins Concerning Agnes i. 8 It stands within what were known as the Lesser Bounds of Cranborne Chase, when the deer preserves of the Chase were divided into Walks—each Walk having its Ranger's or Keeper's Lodge.
b. Caribbean. A plantation.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > farm > [noun] > estate or plantation
plantation1626
penc1695
walk1697
woodwork1712
estate1772
grass pen1774
fazenda1825
1697 W. Dampier New Voy. around World ii. 60 I am confident there is no place in the world where the Cacao grows, except those in Jamaica, of which there are now but a few remaining, of many and large Walks and Plantations.
1774 Descr. Spanish Islands W. Indies (ed. 2) 8 There are from 500 to 1000 or 2000 trees in a walk or cocoa plantation.
1793 Ann. Reg., Nat. Hist. 310 The usual method of forming a new piemento plantation (in Jamaica it is called a walk) is nothing more than to appropriate a piece of wood~land, [etc.].
1808 J. Stewart Acct. Jamaica ix. 117 Pastures shaded with lofty trees, plantain walks, ruinates, and extensive fields of sugar-canes, chequer and adorn the face of the country.
1854 Times 8 Apr. 4/6 (advt.) Jamaica.—Wanted, on lease, for five, seven, or 10 years, with option of purchase, a moderate-sized pen, with pimento walk.
1901 Westm. Gaz. 13 June 2/3 Many sugar estates in the West Indies have of late years been converted into banana walks.
1995 Sunday Times (Nexis) 8 Jan. The 15-acre grounds include two acres of tropical gardens, with the rest planted with fruit and pimento trees and a banana walk.
c. English regional (East Anglian). An unenclosed tract of land, spec. one used for growing corn.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > farm > farmland > land raising crops > [noun] > corn-land or -field
cornlanda1387
cornfield?1523
corn-ground1548
granary1570
milpa1648
kerning-ground1732
seeds1794
walk1797
corn belt1882
1797 in A. Young Agric. Suffolk 39 A walk that is laid down with plenty of seeds for two years, never grows so much corn as when first broke up again.
a1825 R. Forby Vocab. E. Anglia (1830) Walk, an uninclosed corn-field... A large extent of country so circumstanced is called ‘The Walks’. The name is, no doubt, from the ancient manorial right of sheep-walk over such lands.
1883 Cornhill Mag. Jan. 182 The church stands at the extremity of a fine sweep of heather-clad common. To the wanderer over these ‘walks’, as they are sometimes called,..it forms a bold and impressive object.
13.
a. An enclosure in which poultry or other birds are allowed to run freely; a poultry run. Also (in at walk: cf. sense 17): a place to which poultry birds are sent to give them more space in which to move than is possible where they have been bred. Cf. run n.2 15b. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping birds > poultry-keeping > [noun] > enclosure for poultry
walk1538
barton1552
poultry yard1715
runway1871
fowl-run1886
scratching ground1901
scratching-shed1902
1538 T. Elyot Dict. Viuarium, a place, where wylde beastes, byrdes, or fyshes be kepte. It may be callyd as welle a ponde, as a parke, a counnyngar, a walke for byrdes.
1600 R. Surflet tr. C. Estienne & J. Liébault Maison Rustique i. xvi. 107 Likewise you must not let them [sc. geese] lay out of their walke or fold.
1880 A. Jessopp Arcady (1887) i. 10 He eats the eggs for breakfast and the chickens for dinner, goes in for fancy breeds [of fowl], and runs up an ornamental ‘walk’ for them.
1920 Times 12 Jan. 9/5 Farmers are always ready to receive game fowl ‘at walk’, as they hold that they ‘pay their own rent’ by the destruction of injurious insects.
b. The place in which a fighting cock is kept. See also cock of the walk at cock n.1 and int. Phrases 2b(c). Now historical.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting or baiting animals > fighting between animals > [noun] > cock-fighting > pen for cock
walk1615
stive1688
1615 T. Savile in J. J. Cartwright Chapters Hist. Yorks. (1872) 350 I have..borowed my father's cocks... I go..to get walkes for them.
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory ii. 251/2 The Cocks Walk is the place where he is bred, which usually is a place that no other Cock comes to.
1758 T. Fairfax Compl. Sportsman 4 Let the cock chickens go with their hens, till they begin to fight one with another; but then separate them into several walks, and that walk is the best, that is freest from the resort of others.
1780 Direct. Breeding Game Cocks 11 Neither do think it a good walk for a cock, on account of the many hens..for it must be understood, by his having so great a variety he will debilitate himself.
1823 ‘J. Bee’ Slang Walk (in cocking)—the ground for keeping them.
?1928 A. Campbell in Hist. Game Strains (2005) 32 I had at one time more than 800 cocks on walks... Owned and operated two pits. Fought anywhere.
1937 Ireland To-Day Oct. 56 He even pointed out farms that would make great ‘walks’ for cocks.
14. Land, or a tract of land, used for the pasture of animals, esp. sheep. Now Scottish, and in sheep-walk n. Sc. National Dict. (at cited word) records this sense as still in use in Angus and Lanarkshire in 1973.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > farm > farmland > grassland > [noun] > pasture
leasowc950
leasea1000
pasturea1300
common pasturea1325
grassland1324
laund1340
lea1357
gang1413
feedingc1430
grassa1500
raika1500
beast-gate1507
pasturagec1515
grazing1517
average1537
pasture groundc1537
walk1549
grassing1557
pastural1575
browsing1577
feed1580
pastureland1591
meadow pasture1614
green side1616
range1626
pastorage1628
tore1707
graziery1731
pasturing1759
permanent pasture1771
sweet-veld1785
walk land1797
run1804
sweet-grass1812
potrero1822
pasturage land1855
turn-out1895
lawn1899
1549 H. Latimer 1st Serm. before Kynges Grace sig. Dv He had walke for a hundred shepe, & my mother mylked .xxx. kyne.
1573 T. Tusser Fiue Hundreth Points Good Husbandry (new ed.) f. 25v The housing of cattle, while winter doth holde..trimlye refresheth the walke of thy sheepe.
a1647 T. Habington Surv. Worcs. (Worcs. Hist. Soc.) (1895) I. ii. 254 A large walke for savage beastes, but nowe more commodyously chaunged to the civill habitations of many gentellmen.
1670 J. Evelyn Sylva (ed. 2) xxxiv. 220 Suppose, on every such Walk on which 500 Sheep might be kept, there were Plow'd up twenty Acres.
1739 F. Blomefield Ess. Topogr. Hist. Norfolk I. 620 There was a Wood for 30 Swine, a Walk for 137 Sheep, 24 Goats, and at the Confessors Survey 63 Mares, but now only 15.
1759 J. Barrow New Geogr. Dict. I. at Ardmeanach Yet this heath is not utterly barren, but makes a very good walk for cattle, particularly sheep.
1808 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. at Gang A pasture or walk for cattle.
15. A course or route chosen for walking.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > means of travel > route or way > [noun] > which may be chosen for walking
walk1591
1591 A. Fraunce Countesse of Pembrokes Yuychurch ii. sig. K3v Hills and dales farewell, you pleasant walks of Amyntas, Floods and wells farewell, sweete looking glasse of Amyntas.
1594 Willobie his Auisa lxxi. f. 59v Farewell that sweet and pleasant walke, The witnesse of my faith and wo, That oft hath heard our frendly talke.
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary i. 32 In the valley under this Mountaine of Goates, towards the City, is a pleasant walk, of the sweetnes called the Phylosophicall way.
1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot Trav. into Levant i. 28 Though the Countrey about Constantinople be not so delightful, nor so well peopled, as in France; yet it is not without pleasant Walks.
1757 C. Powys Passages from Diaries Mrs. Powys (1899) 32 I..thought myself most happy when I got into the grove, one of the sweetest walks in Matlock.
1786 W. Cowper Let. 9 Dec. (1981) II. 611 Weston is one of the prettiest villages in England, and the walks about it, at all seasons of the year, delightful.
1850 J. Martineau in J. Drummond Life & Lett. J. Martineau (1902) I. 337 We can find walks that will vie with the Thiergarten even in this desolate country.
1894 Times 26 May 6/3 (advt.) The surrounding country affords charming drives and walks.
1933 Times 7 July 11/6 It is claimed that Dover possesses more beautiful walks in its neighbourhood than any other town in the country.
1999 Evening Chron. (Newcastle) (Nexis) 13 Aug. 6 A circular walk which takes you through the Tyne Riverside Country Park.
16. The regular circuit of an itinerant official, tradesperson, beggar, etc.; the district within which a person is accustomed to work without interference from a rival. Now usually: a postal delivery round.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > [noun] > walk with specific purpose
walk1608
bird walk1887
hunger-march1908
protest march1914
padayatra1956
charity walk1983
society > occupation and work > workplace > [noun] > one's > area or district
walk1608
suckena1688
pitch1699
1608 T. Dekker Lanthorne & Candle-light sig. D3 Those wry-neck'd spirits should haue charge giuen them to haunt the Bel-man in his walkes, and so fright him out of his wittes.
1703 London Gaz. No. 3910/4 Making use of the Company's Pavior of that Walk to Dig the same.
1705 tr. W. Bosman New Descr. Coast of Guinea vii. 98 The last and most contemptible Office is that of Under-Fiscal, commonly called by us, Auditor, though in his Walks, Informer, as he really is no better.
1824 W. Scott Redgauntlet I. xii. 266 The old man [sc. the blind fiddler] struck the earth with his staff... ‘The whoreson fisher rabble! They have brought another violer upon my walk!’
1825 W. Hone Every-day Bk. (1826) I. 571 Milk-people of less profitable walks.
1848 Sinks of London laid Open 97 Beat, a watchman's walk.
1851 H. Mayhew London Labour II. 8/2 He had thoughts at one time of trying to establish himself in a cats'-meat walk.
1908 Chambers's Jrnl. Jan. 102/2 On arriving at the office of delivery letters are at once stamped and sorted to the ‘walks’ of the postmen.
1977 Times 12 July 8/4 A complaint by a postwoman..that she had been prevented from..obtaining a particular postal ‘walk’.
1999 CTV Television, Inc. (transcript) (Nexis) 13 July People on my walk were complaining about these cards and showing them to me. And they were outraged that Canada Post was delivering them.
17. A farm or cottage to which a young hound is sent in order to become accustomed to a variety of surroundings. Frequently in at walk, to put to walk.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping dogs or cats > [noun] > keeping or affinity with dogs > dog-training > training hounds
entering1714
walk1735
entry1845
1735 W. Somervile Chace iv. Argt. Of the litter of whelps..of setting them out to their several walks.
1781 P. Beckford Thoughts on Hunting v. 60 The distemper makes dreadful havoc with whelps at their walks.
1840 D. P. Blaine Encycl. Rural Sports iv. v. §3. 474 Hounds are usually named at the time they are sent out to their walks.
1856 ‘Stonehenge’ Man. Brit. Rural Sports ii. iv. §340 The Walks for the Young Hounds should be chosen in such situations as that they shall be accustomed to all sorts of company from children to horses.
1881 E. D. Brickwood Hound in Encycl. Brit. XII. 315/2 When about ten or twelve weeks old [foxhound] puppies are sent out to walk.
1921 Times 1 Nov. 11/4 There is reason to believe that there has been an increase in the number of puppies which have been sent out to walk.
1998 Journal (Newcastle) (Nexis) 14 Dec. 11 In the North-East there are: 111 puppies at walk.
IV. A course of conduct or action.† 19. Theatre. A course of action or conduct forming part of the plot of a drama. Obsolete.
18. † b. In non-religious contexts: a course of conduct. Obsolete.
a. In religious language (cf. walk v. 7a): (in early use as a mass noun) manner of behaviour, conduct of life; (later also) a particular choice or course of conduct, esp. in relation to spiritual or moral matters.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > [noun]
tightc888
workOE
laitsc1225
rule?c1225
guise1303
conditionsc1374
actiona1393
governancea1393
governailc1425
port?a1439
fashion1447
dressa1450
governinga1450
walkingc1450
abearing?1454
deport1474
behaving1482
dealing1484
guidinga1500
demeanoura1513
behaviour?1521
walk?1567
daps1582
courses1592
deportment1601
behave?1615
deportation1616
containment1619
conduct1673
haviour1752
daddyism1984
the world > life > source or principle of life > [noun] > manner of life
lifeeOE
walk?1567
?1567 M. Parker Whole Psalter lxxxix. 249 But if his sede: from me recede, and shall my law forsake: Or yet shall balke: in all theyr walke my iudgemente them to slake.
1592 N. Breton Pilgrimage Paradise (Grosart) 19/1 From care, and cost, fancy, and wisedomes folly, He tooke his walke vnto a waie more holly.
c1595 Countess of Pembroke Psalme cxix. 7 in Coll. Wks. (1998) II. 192 Whom in walke Gods way directeth, Sure them no sinnfull blott infecteth Of deede or word.
a1628 J. Preston New Covenant (1629) vii. 210 Let him not judge of himselfe, I say, by a few actions, but let a man consider, what his walke is.
a1658 J. Durham Blessedness Death (1713) 74 The want whereof [sc. of repentance]..kythes in the coldness of our duties of worship and in the carnalness of our walk.
1693 C. Mather Wonders Invisible World 63 It is at an Extraordinary Rate of Circumspection and Spiritual Mindedness, that we should all now maintain a Walk with God.
1713 T. Shepherd Guide to Charity 12 Thine own upright Walk before the Lord in the Faith and Obedience of the Gospel, will more tend to make thy Posterity rich, and happy, than large Portions laid up for them in a sinful Way.
1765 T. Hutchinson Hist. Colony Massachusets-Bay, 1628–91 (ed. 2) iv. 421 The irregular walk or demeanor of any one church.
1779 W. Cowper in J. Newton & W. Cowper Olney Hymns i. iii. 4 Oh! for a closer walk with God.
1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian ix, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. I. 255 In this proposal there was much that pleased old David,..the lassie would be under Mrs. Saddletree's eye, who had an upright walk.
1831 T. Carlyle Early German Lit. in Crit. & Misc. Ess. (1840) III. 186 Tauler..a man of antique Christian walk.
1846 R. C. Trench Christ Desire of All Nations vii. 145 What do they require of us but a walk corresponding?
1871 J. Morley Carlyle in Crit. Misc. 237 The most important question that we can ask of any great teacher, as of the walk and conversation of any commonest person, remains this, how far has he [etc.].
1907 Chinese Recorder & Missionary Jrnl. Apr. 183 The holy walk is the principal thing: to let the heathen behold in us the beauty of Christian graces, to show forth in our example the life of Christ.
1984 Christadelphian Aug. 311/1 With sorrow we have withdrawn fellowship from Sis. S. Philip for disorderly walk and absence from the Table of the Lord.
1990 Christianity Today 5 Feb. 65/3 Prepare your children for a fruitful Christian walk.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > [noun] > (a) course of conduct or action
wayeOE
pathOE
waya1225
tracea1300
line13..
dancea1352
tenor1398
featc1420
faction1447
rink?a1500
footpath1535
trade1536
vein1549
tract1575
course1582
road1600
country dance1613
track1638
steeragea1641
rhumb1666
tack1675
conduct1706
walk1755
wheel-way1829
1755 G. Colman & B. Thornton Connoisseur I. No. 67. 398 The generality of our writers wait until a new walk is pointed out to them by some leading genius, when it immediately becomes so hackney'd and beaten, that an author of credit is almost ashamed to appear in it among such bad company.
1772 E. Burke Let. 17 Nov. in Corr. (1844) I. 378 None of our friends are to blame for this rejection of that idea... It was impossible at that time to take a separate walk from them.
1786 F. Burney Diary 10 Dec. (1842) III. 240 I was ashamed to appear the leader in a walk so new as that of leaving the Lodge in an evening.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > drama > a play > [noun] > action as distinct from dialogue
business1637
walk1651
business of the stage1679
bus.1856
1651 W. Davenant Gondibert Pref. 17 The third [Act] makes a visible correspondence in the under-walks (or lesser intrigues) of persons.]
1651 W. Davenant Gondibert Pref. 17 To these Meanders of the English Stage I have cut out the Walks of my Poem.
?1663 T. Jordan Tricks of Youth Prol. The Author (as late custome hath thought fit) Makes me the Prologue to his wandring Wit; The Gate into his Walks, through which you may Behold a petty prospect of the Play.
1673 Bp. S. Parker Reproof Rehearsal Transprosed 10 You summ up your Charge in Six Heads, which you sometimes entitle Playes, sometimes Hypotheses, sometimes Aphorisms; and why not Plots, and Scenes, and Walks, and under-walks, &c.?
1698 E. Settle Farther Def. Dramatick Poetry 4 Is not here Lovelace, Amanda, Lord Foppington, all the whole Walks of the Play, &c. the full Contents of the Fabrick express'd in the Frontispiece?
20. A branch or variety of a specified activity or interest, as trade, literature, science, etc.; a speciality.Boswell (see quot. 1770) suggests that the sense may be theatrical in origin (cf. perhaps sense 19).
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > [noun] > regular occupation, trade, or profession > line of business or work
line1638
way1642
lay1707
walk1715
slang1789
métier1792
Fach1838
lark1934
line of work1957
1715 A. Pope in tr. Homer Iliad I. Pref. sig. B1v They find it easier for themselves to pursue their Observations through an uniform and bounded Walk of Art, than to comprehend the vast and various Extent of Nature.
1759 R. Jackson Hist. Rev. Pennsylvania 35 Two thirds were to be a Quorum in the upper Walk of Business, and one third in the lower.
1770 J. Boswell On Profession of Player in London Mag. Aug. 398/2 The more knowledge that he [sc. a player] acquires in the department, or, to use the stage phrase, the walk, for which nature has intended him, the more will he be distinguished.
1776 W. J. Mickle in tr. L. de Camoens Lusiad Dissert. 167/1 However superior Voltaire may be in the other walks of poetry, certain it is, no originality, no strength of colouring, shines in the Henriade.
1806 J. Beresford Miseries Human Life I. vi. 108 As you appear to have a peculiar kindness for Inns, I will treat you with a choice sample of satisfactions in that walk of enjoyment.
1838 W. H. Prescott Hist. Reign Ferdinand & Isabella II. i. xix. 205 A similar impulse was felt in the other walks of science.
1856 C. Dickens Little Dorrit (1857) ii. vi. 375 ‘Does Mr. Henry Gowan paint—ha—Portraits?’ enquired Mr. Dorrit. Mr. Sparkler opined that he painted anything, if he could get the job. ‘He has no particular walk?’.. ‘No speciality?’ said Mr. Dorrit.
1866 A. Crump Pract. Treat. Banking ii. 48 It is one of the most singular peculiarities in connection with men who have had much experience in other walks of trade, as merchants, &c.
1924 Peabody Jrnl. Educ. 2 170 Fuligo spendens..is the scientific name for soot... The latter may be suitable for use by the untrained,..the former is appropriate for those in the upper walks of the profession.
1987 Women's Art Jrnl. 8 20/1 There is a walk of art in which women may attain perfection, and excel the other sex; as there is another department from which they are excluded.
21. † b. = walk of life n. 2. Obsolete. rare.
a. = walk of life n. 1. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social class > [noun] > distinction of class > level or grade
mannishOE
placec1330
state1340
gree1382
conditionc1384
sectc1384
sortc1386
ordera1400
raff?a1400
degreea1425
countenancec1477
faction?1529
estate1530
race1563
calibre1567
being1579
coat1579
rang1580
rank1585
tier1590
classis1597
strain1600
consequence1602
regiment1602
sept1610
standinga1616
class1629
species1629
nome1633
quality1636
sort1671
size1679
situation1710
distinction1721
walk of life1733
walk1737
stage1801
strata1805
grade1808
caste1816
social stratum1838
station1842
stratum1863
echelon1950
1737 London Mag. May 264/2 Even our best and most celebrated modern Comedies consist, in a great measure, of what is call'd the upper Walk; that is, in ridiculing the Vices and Foibles of People in high life.
1847 H. Miller First Impressions Eng. xiii. 251 I met a funeral, the first I had seen in England. It was apparently that of a person in the middle walks.
1854 H. Miller My Schools & Schoolmasters (1858) 246 To those who move in the upper walks, the superiority in status of the village shop-keeper over the journeyman mason may not be very perceptible.
1925 Virginia Law Reg. 11 269 With all the deliberations, with all the declarations that crime is meant for the higher ups as well as those in the lower walks, the question could well have been asked at the conclusion of the proceedings, ‘Is guilt personal?’
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > [noun] > regular occupation, trade, or profession
workeOE
mysteryc1390
facultyc1405
business1477
industrya1500
roomc1500
trade1525
pursuit1529
function1533
calling1539
profession?1552
vocation1553
entertainment1568
station1574
qualitya1586
employment1598
way of lifea1616
state1625
cloth1656
avocation1660
setworka1661
employ1669
estate1685
walk of life?1746
walk1836
1836 C. Dickens Sketches by Boz 2nd Ser. 335 Certain dark insinuations..to the effect that children in the lower ranks of life were beginning to choose chimney-sweeping as their particular walk.
Phrases
P1. to take a walk: (a) also † fetch, rarely make a walk, and (somewhat archaic) to take one's walk(s), to make a short journey on foot for exercise or recreation; (b) to be dismissed, receive one's marching orders; frequently in imperative, and sometimes in humorous formulas of impatient dismissal and in extended use (North American slang); (c) to leave one's place of work as a form of industrial action; to walk out (cf. to walk out 3b at walk v. Phrasal verbs 1).
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > go on foot [verb (intransitive)] > for exercise or recreation
walka1375
to take a walk1581
to take one's walk(s)1581
to stretch one's legs1584
purmeinea1614
fetch, rarely make a walk1694
to streek one's shanks, wame1788
constitutionalize1852
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)] > go or move away specifically of things
forgoc950
worthOE
atgoc1175
alithec1275
withdraw1297
lenda1350
withgoa1400
to go farewellc1400
voidc1400
startc1405
overdrawa1450
recedec1450
sinkc1450
remove1481
regress1552
to-gang1596
elongate1646
abscede1650
discede1650
to take a walk1871
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > causing to go away > command to go away [verb (intransitive)]
scud1602
go scrape!1611
to push off (also along)1740
to go it1797
to walk one's chalks1835
morris1838
scat1838
go 'long1859
to take a walk1881
shoot1897
skidoo1905
to beat it1906
to go to the dickens1910
to jump (or go (and) jump) in the lake1912
scram1928
to piss offa1935
to bugger off1937
to fuck off1940
go and have a roll1941
eff1945
to feck off?1945
to get lost1947
to sod off1950
bug1956
to hit, split or take the breeze1959
naff1959
frig1965
muck1974
to rack off1975
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)] > be sent away or dismissed
to go to Hong Kong1849
go1858
to go hang1881
to take a walk1888
to get the gate1918
society > occupation and work > lack of work > [verb (intransitive)] > dismiss or discharge > be dismissed or discharged
to get the bag1804
to get the sack1825
swap1862
to get the boot1888
to take a walk1888
to get the run1889
to get (or have) the swap1890
to get the (big) bird1924
to get one's jotters1944
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)]
wendeOE
i-wite971
ashakec975
shakeOE
to go awayOE
witea1000
afareOE
agoOE
atwendOE
awayOE
to wend awayOE
awendOE
gangOE
rimeOE
flitc1175
to fare forthc1200
depart?c1225
part?c1225
partc1230
to-partc1275
biwitec1300
atwitea1325
withdrawa1325
to draw awayc1330
passc1330
to turn one's (also the) backc1330
lenda1350
begonec1370
remuea1375
voidc1374
removec1380
to long awaya1382
twinc1386
to pass one's wayc1390
trussc1390
waive1390
to pass out ofa1398
avoida1400
to pass awaya1400
to turn awaya1400
slakec1400
wagc1400
returnc1405
to be gonea1425
muck1429
packc1450
recede1450
roomc1450
to show (a person) the feetc1450
to come offc1475
to take one's licence1475
issue1484
devoidc1485
rebatea1500
walka1500
to go adieua1522
pikea1529
to go one's ways1530
retire?1543
avaunt1549
to make out1558
trudge1562
vade?1570
fly1581
leave1593
wag1594
to get off1595
to go off1600
to put off1600
shog1600
troop1600
to forsake patch1602
exit1607
hence1614
to give offa1616
to take off1657
to move off1692
to cut (also slip) the painter1699
sheera1704
to go about one's business1749
mizzle1772
to move out1792
transit1797–1803
stump it1803
to run away1809
quit1811
to clear off1816
to clear out1816
nash1819
fuff1822
to make (take) tracks (for)1824
mosey1829
slope1830
to tail out1830
to walk one's chalks1835
to take away1838
shove1844
trot1847
fade1848
evacuate1849
shag1851
to get up and get1854
to pull out1855
to cut (the) cable(s)1859
to light out1859
to pick up1872
to sling one's Daniel or hook1873
to sling (also take) one's hook1874
smoke1893
screw1896
shoot1897
voetsak1897
to tootle off1902
to ship out1908
to take a (run-out, walk-out, etc.) powder1909
to push off1918
to bugger off1922
biff1923
to fuck off1929
to hit, split or take the breeze1931
to jack off1931
to piss offa1935
to do a mick1937
to take a walk1937
to head off1941
to take a hike1944
moulder1945
to chuff off1947
to get lost1947
to shoot through1947
skidoo1949
to sod off1950
peel1951
bug1952
split1954
poop1961
mugger1962
frig1965
society > occupation and work > working > labour relations > participate in labour relations [verb (intransitive)] > walk out in labour dispute
to take a walk1946
1581 A. Hall tr. Homer 10 Bks. Iliades ii. 23 When as ye green eyed Goddesse thus had heard dame Iunoes talk, To finde the wilie Vlysses straight downe she tooke hir walke.
1660 F. Brooke tr. V. Le Blanc World Surveyed 79 The unfortunate Lady Agarida took a walk by a little Rivers side.
1694 P. A. Motteux tr. F. Rabelais Pantagruel's Voy.: 4th Bk. Wks. iv. xxi Some kind Wave will throw it [sc. my will] ashoar,..and some King's Daughter, going to fetch a Walk in the fresco on the Evening, will find it.
1737 Common Sense I. 205 I am not absurd enough, even to hint the usual rural Recreations, of fetching a Walk.
1765 G. Colman tr. Terence Self-Tormenter iii. v, in tr. Terence Comedies 268 Syrus..Go, take a walk. Clit. Walk! where? Syrus A pretty question! This, that, or any way.
1834 H. Taylor Philip van Artevelde i. i. vii. 61 My mistress, Sir, so please you, takes her walk Along the garden terrace, and desires [etc.].
1865 E. Burritt Walk to Land's End i. 32 I shouldered my knapsack again and made an evening walk to Kingston.
1871 ‘M. Twain’ Sketches New & Old (1875) 248 The first time he opened his mouth and was just going to spread himself, his breath took a walk.
1881 ‘M. Twain’ in Cent. Mag. Nov. 37 They ring out, ‘Oh, dry up!’ ‘Give us a rest!’.. ‘Oh, take a walk!’
1888 in J. S. Farmer Americanisms (1889) 550/2 The cash returns were so out of proportion to the sales, that Mr. Berry concluded to make a change and Tascott took a walk.
1937 Amer. Speech 12 4 The so-called Jeffersonian Democrats took a walk from their party allegiance.
1946 Sun (Baltimore) 19 Nov. 2 (caption) Miners ‘take a walk’—Black Diamond mine workers at Monongahela, Pa., are shown waiting for a car after quitting their jobs.
1961 Lebende Sprachen 6 99/2 Go take a long walk off a short pier... Go jump in the lake.
1987 R. Sarah in R. Sullivan More Stories by Canad. Women 137 Once they took a walk down a road in Vermont.
P2. walk in life: = walk of life n. 1. rare.
ΚΠ
1752 H. Fielding Covent-Garden Jrnl. 7 Dec. 1/2 Both of these [sc. characters of humour] will be almost infinitely diversified according to the different..natural Dispositions of each Individual; and according to their different Walks in Life.
1899 Church Times 13 Oct. 415/2 But according to the fashion of dress of to-day, it is not easy to tell from what walk in life women may come.
1914 V. de Cleyre Paris Commune in Mother Earth Mar. 15 The sons and daughters of the Commune were of all walks in life.
P3. walk of society: = walk of life n. 1.
ΚΠ
1796 J. Owen Trav. Europe II. 468 My fortune has at present thrown me into those walks of society, where higher incidents cannot occur.
1832 P. Egan Bk. Sports 66/2 Nature, enriched by art, had rendered the late Mr. Emery a man not often to be met with in the walks of society.
1918 F. J. C. Hearnshaw Democracy at Crossways xii. 430 There is need of a generous and assiduous cultivation and betterment of the mind and the heart of the individual citizen in every rank and walk of society.
2005 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 2 Aug. a5/6 Following the funeral, the new king will participate in a traditional coronation, called a baya, in which Saudis from all walks of society..will visit him and swear their allegiance to him.
P4. colloquial. to win in a walk: to win easily and without effort (originally in the context of horse racing). Also a win in a walk. Cf. walk v. 16e, 16f.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > succeed or be a success [verb (intransitive)] > win > win easily
to win in a canter1853
to win in a walk1858
romp1869
to walk over (the course)1903
to walk home1932
to coast home1934
walk1937
to romp it1967
1858 Irish Metrop. Mag. 2 477 The daughter of the First Pyrrhus won, in a walk, by ten lengths.
1896 G. Ade Artie xii. 106 ‘Does he stand a good chance of being elected?’ ‘That's what keeps me guessin'. Two years ago he win in a walk [etc.].’
1936 E. S. Gardner Case of Sleepwalker's Niece xiv. 130 The whole thing..gets back to Duncan. If I can break down Duncan's identification I can win the case in a walk.
1999 Chicago Tribune 22 Feb. i. 4/2 Former New York Mayor Ed Koch, a Democrat, predicted that Mrs. Clinton would win if she runs for the seat... But ‘it'll be a tough fight. It won't be a win in a walk’.
2005 G. Rowand Diary of Dream 208 He won in a walk, running a mile and a sixteenth in a sparkling 1 :39 4/5, two-fifths of a second off the course record.
P5. colloquial (originally U.S.). a walk in the park: (the type of) something easy, effortless, or pleasant.In quot. 1937 with some reference to the literal sense.
ΚΠ
1937 Amer. Speech 12 155/2 A walk in the park is their [sc. golf caddies'] facetious way of referring to a nine-hole round.
1963 Los Angeles Times 22 Jan. iii. 1/1 It's just a walk in the park this year... Crosby doesn't even have any hot water bottles in his overcoat pockets.
1971 Daily Kennebec Jrnl. (Augusta, Maine) 22 Sept. 11/6 Bushwhacking a typical woodcock cover is no walk in the park.
1991 AARP Bull. Nov. 20/1 To go by the conventional wisdom, the 1992 presidential election is going to be a walk in the park for President Bush.
2003 What Home Cinema Jan. 133/1 The flimsy remote control actually performs very well and makes setting up this budget-priced player a walk in the park.
P6. colloquial. a walk on the wild side: something daring, risky, or exciting. Frequently in to take a walk on the wild side: to take a risk, to engage in something daring, risky, or illicit.First used as the title of a novel by Nelson Algren set in the brothels and bars of New Orleans (see quot. 1956) and later popularized as the title of a song (written for a musical version, never staged, of the novel) by Lou Reed (see quot. 1972).
ΚΠ
1956 N. Algren (title) A walk on the wild side.
1957 Salina (Kansas) Jrnl. 28 June 4/4 Even now, when I hear a Gene Austin record I remember my first walk on the wild side.
1972 L. Reed Walk on Wild Side (song) in Pass thru Fire (2000) 125 New York City is the place where they said Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side.
1974 Times 1 Aug. 26/5 (advt.) Vacant now. Small single room in hectic Belgravia maisonette (take a walk on the wild side!).
1988 J. Burchill Sex & Sensibility (1992) 51 By domesticating sex, we do not encourage monogamy but promiscuity. The human animal is very prone to needing to take a walk on the wild side every so often.
2007 Baltimore Sun (Nexis) 8 Aug. (Taste section) 1 f The recipe called for tossing in several of these potent [serrano] peppers, as well as their firecracker seeds...Those seeds make this dish a walk on the wild side.
P7.
walk of shame n. slang (originally and chiefly U.S. College slang) (with the) an instance of walking back home on the day after an unplanned casual sexual encounter, typically wearing the same clothes as on the previous evening.
ΚΠ
1990 UNC-CH Campus Slang (Univ. N. Carolina, Chapel Hill: English 94A class) (typescript) Fall 9 Walk of shame, the walk home in the morning after spending the night out with a member of the opposite sex.
1997 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 5 Jan. 22/1 A one-night liaison after a party, followed by the ‘walk of shame’ back across campus in the same clothes worn the night before.
2006 Daily Star (Nexis) 4 Oct. 40 If you're at his and have to make the dreaded walk of shame home in last night's outfit, steel yourself.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
a. (In sense 4.)
walk companion n.
ΚΠ
1833 C. Lamb Lett. (1935) III. 371 I am about to lose my old and only walk-companion, whose mirthful spirits were the ‘youth of our house’.
2000 Chicago Daily Herald (Nexis) 16 June 6 ‘Cancer isn't in my family, but every step I take, I'm taking to help someone else now and in the future’, said..Fager's sister and walk companion.
walk shorts n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for legs > clothing for legs and lower body > [noun] > trousers > types of > short trousers or shorts > types of
panties1845
lederhosen1937
Bermuda shorts1938
walk shorts1944
Bermudas1954
knickers1954
skort1957
Jamaica shorts1959
baggies1962
cut-off1964
Jamaica1964
sleep-shorts1964
hot pants1970
batty riders1992
1944 Morning Herald (Uniontown, Pa.) 11 July 9/6 (advt.) Boy's walk shorts.
1965 Punch 17 Nov. 745 Then we equipped ourselves for our new surroundings [sc. Australia]. My wife..insisted on polished cotton walk shorts for a reluctant me.
1991 B. Anderson Girls High (1992) xvii. 217 Mr Gilchrist has two pairs of walk shorts, one blue and grey checked polyester, the other a hot brown which Bryce is rude about.
b. (In sense 10a.)† walk making n. Obsolete
ΚΠ
1822 J. C. Loudon Encycl. Gardening iii. 1198 Road and Walk making may frequently be contracted for.
1849 J. Forbes Physician's Holiday (1850) i. 1 They..indulge in farming, gardening, tree-felling, walk-making, or [etc.].
walk-side n.
ΚΠ
1657 J. Davies tr. H. D'Urfé Astrea II. 176 These two Shepherdesses desiring no other company but themselves,..finding a thick Bush by the walk side, they sat themselves down in it.
1893 R. L. Stevenson Catriona iii. 30 A pleasant gabled house set by the walkside among some brave young woods.
1986 College Eng. 48 846/2 The salesmen with their small stalls on little carts crowded in, each trying to occupy the superior place along the walk-sides.
c. (In sense 14.)† walk land n. Obsolete
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > farm > farmland > grassland > [noun] > pasture
leasowc950
leasea1000
pasturea1300
common pasturea1325
grassland1324
laund1340
lea1357
gang1413
feedingc1430
grassa1500
raika1500
beast-gate1507
pasturagec1515
grazing1517
average1537
pasture groundc1537
walk1549
grassing1557
pastural1575
browsing1577
feed1580
pastureland1591
meadow pasture1614
green side1616
range1626
pastorage1628
tore1707
graziery1731
pasturing1759
permanent pasture1771
sweet-veld1785
walk land1797
run1804
sweet-grass1812
potrero1822
pasturage land1855
turn-out1895
lawn1899
1797 A. Young Gen. View Agric. Suffolk 108 Ten loads..an acre upon good land, a middling crop; but upon walk-land (poor sheep-walks ploughed up) less.
1817 Times 2 Aug. 4/1 (advt.) A leasehold farm, situate at Leiston,..consisting of 873 acres of arable, pasture, heath, and walk land.
d. (In sense 16.)
walk-rotation n.
ΚΠ
1901 Daily Chron. 8 June 7/7 The alleged attempts of the [Post Office] department to reduce the value of Christmas boxes by the introduction of a system of ‘walk-rotation’.
C2.
walk-clerk n. now historical a banker's clerk whose duty it is to collect payment of cheques in a particular district.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > financial dealings > banking > [noun] > one conducting banking business > bank-clerk
bank clerk1742
bank teller1766
walk-clerk1865
1865 Times 3 May 11/6 The prisoner was employed there [sc. the East London Bank] as a ‘walk clerk,’ and had what they called the upper west walk.
1906 G. R. Sims Living London (rev. ed.) III. 90/2 A stream of ‘walk clerks’ is continually arriving, each man carrying a portfolio which in most cases is securely chained to him.
1996 M. Campbell-Kelly & W. Aspray Computer 16 As the use of checks gained in popularity in the middle of the eighteenth century, each of the London banks employed a ‘walk clerk’.
walksman n. now historical an officer charged with the care of a certain length of the banks of a river or canal.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > office > holder of office > public officials > [noun] > official in charge of banks or embankments
wall-reeve1316
walker1613
walksman1799
1799 Ann. Reg. 1794 (Otridge ed.) ii. Nat. Hist. 311/2 For the care of the banks [of the New River], a walksman is appointed to every two miles.
1903 Daily Chron. 17 Mar. 9/5 A ‘walksman’ in the service of the New River Company.
walk test n. a test involving walking; (Medicine) a test of fitness, heart or lung function, etc., in which a subject is made to walk for a specified time.
ΚΠ
1969 Physiologist 12 156 (title) The effect of age upon cardiorespiratory response to a multistage treadmill walk test.
2002 Philadelphia Inquirer (Nexis) 3 Nov. j11 Test these materials by walking on them after they dry. If they survive the walk test now, they will look good once painted.
2007 Globe & Mail (Toronto) (Nexis) 26 June l5 One year after contracting SARS,..about one-third of the survivors had slowed considerably in a six-minute walk test.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
† walkn.2
Scottish. Obsolete.
Cloud or clouds, esp. in under walk: behind cloud.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > cloud > [noun] > a cloud
welkinc825
clouda1300
skya1300
nebulec1450
walka1522
a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) iii. viii. 155 The moyn was vndir walk and gave na lycht.
1578 J. Rolland Seuin Seages 73 Sa as thir twa togidder was at talk The Mone wox dark, and hid was vnder walk.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online September 2021).
walkv.
/wɔːk/, U.S. /wɔk/, /wɑk/α. Old English wealcan, Old English wealcian, Old English wealkan, Middle English wake, Middle English wakke, Middle English walc, Middle English wauke, Middle English wawe (transmission error), Middle English–1600s walke, Middle English–1600s wallke, Middle English– walk, 1500s walck, 1500s walcke, 1600s whalk; Scottish pre-1700 valk, pre-1700 wak, pre-1700 walke, pre-1700 1700s– walk, 1700s–1800s wa'k, 1700s–1800s wauk, 1800s– waak, 1900s– waalk (Shetland), 1900s– wakk (Orkney); English regional 1800s– waak (Northumberland), 1800s– wauk (Cheshire).
β. early Middle English wolche (south-western), early Middle English wolchi (south-western), Middle English wolke.
2. Past tense. a. Strongα. Old English–early Middle English weolc, early Middle English weolk, Middle English welc, Middle English welk, Middle English welke; Scottish pre-1700 woik, pre-1700 wolk, pre-1700 wouk, pre-1700 woyk.
β. late Middle English walk, late Middle English walke.
γ. late Middle English wilke, late Middle English wylke.
b. Weakα. Old English wealcede, Middle English valkyt, Middle English walkede, Middle English walkid, Middle English walkide, Middle English walkit, Middle English welkide, Middle English–1500s walkyd, Middle English– walked, 1500s walckt, 1500s walckte, 1600s walkt; Scottish pre-1700 valkit, pre-1700 waked, pre-1700 walkit, pre-1700 walkt, pre-1700 walkyt, pre-1700 1700s– walked; N.E.D. (1921) also records a form late Middle English walkude.
β. early Middle English wolched (south-western), early Middle English wolchede (south-western).
3. Past participle. a. Strong Old English gewealcen, early Middle English iwalke, early Middle English iwalken, Middle English walke. b. Weak Old English gewalcud, Middle English walkude, Middle English ywalked, Middle English– walked, 1500s walkd; Scottish pre-1700 walkit, pre-1700 walkyt, pre-1700 1700s– walked. 1.
a. transitive. To toss (something) about. Also: to work with the hand, roll up. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
eOE Bald's Leechbk. (Royal) (1865) ii. xxxiii. 238 Heorotes horn gebærned to ahsan, gegniden on mortere, & þonne asift & mid hunige gewealcen to snædum.
OE Riddle 2 4 Gifen biþ gewreged, fam gewealcen.
OE Rune Poem (transcript of lost MS) 26 [Hægl] byþ hwitust corna; hwyrft hit of heofones lyfte, wealcaþ hit windes scura[s], weorþeþ hit to wætere syððan.
b. transitive. figurative. To turn over, esp. in the mind; to consider. Obsolete.
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OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Royal) (1997) xxx. 435 Sum man wæs mid drycræfte bepæht, swa ðæt he Criste wiðsoc... He þa eft syððan hine beþohte, & þa hellican pinunge on his mode weolc.
OE Byrhtferð Enchiridion (Ashm.) (1995) i. i. 16 Ic ne swigie..for þæra gelæredra manna þingum þe þas þing ne behofiað betweox heom to wealkynne.
2.
a. intransitive. Of water, waves, the sea, etc.: to roll, toss, heave, surge. Also figurative: to fluctuate. Obsolete.
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OE [implied in: Aldhelm Glosses (Brussels 1650) in L. Goossens Old Eng. Glosses of MS Brussels, Royal Libr. 1650 (1974) 305 Feruentis oceani : wealcendre sæ. (at walking adj. 1)].
a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 143 (MED) Hali boc nemmeð þes woreld sæ, for þan þe mistliche gelimpeð, hwile of wele and wile of wawe, walkeð þar-onne, alse doð þe uðe in þar sæ.
c1300 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Otho) 5990 Þe see was wonderlichche wod and þe see wraþþede and þe see [c1275 Calig. scipen] walkede in þare see wilde.
c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Trin. Cambr. B.15.17) (1975) B. viii. l. 40 The goodes..arn like þe grete wawes, That as wyndes and wedres walkeþ aboute.
c1410 G. Chaucer Miller's Tale (Harl. 7334) l. 3616 Him þenkeþ verrayly þat he may se Noes flood come walkyng [c1405 Hengwrt walwyng] as þe see.
b. intransitive. Of a person or thing: to roll or toss about. Of a floating object or sea creature: to be tossed about, to bob up and down. Obsolete.
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the world > movement > restlessness > [verb (intransitive)]
fikec1220
walka1225
shrugc1460
friga1500
fridgea1550
toss1560
fidge1575
trifle1618
figglea1652
jiffle1674
nestle1699
fidget1753
rummage1755
fissle1786
a1225 (?c1175) Poema Morale (Lamb.) l. 240 in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 175 Ho [sc. those in hell] secheð reste þer nis nan..Ac walkeð weri up and dun, se water deþ mid winde.
c1225 (?OE) Soul's Addr. to Body (Worcester) (Fragm. A) l. 12 [D]eaþ mid his pricke pineþ þene licame; he walkeþ and wendeþ and woneþ [oftes]iþes; he sæiþ on his bedde: ‘wo me þet ic libbe.’
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 6007 Sellic heom þuhten..whæt weoren þa ȝemere scipen þa ȝeond þa sæ weolken [c1300 Otho walkede].
c1300 St. Brendan (Laud) l. 411 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 231 (MED) A gret fisch huy seiȝen..after þe schipe he drouȝ..he cam wolchi [?a1425 Julius wolcheþe; a1350 Ashm. wolched; a1325 Corpus Cambr. wolchede] after ase an hous.
c1390 (c1350) Proprium Sanctorum in Archiv f. das Studium der Neueren Sprachen (1888) 81 302 (MED) Off a fisch þat euere slepeth: Þer is a ffisch, wiþ-oute lesynge, þat in þe see is walkynge.
c1450 (c1398) in C. Horstmann Sammlung Altengl. Legenden (1878) 394 Fyve daies..Sche welkide þerin [sc. an oven] to & froo.
?a1475 Lessons of Dirige (Douce) l. 329 in J. Kail 26 Polit. Poems (1904) 131 Allas, I walke in a lake Of dedly synne that doth me tene.
3. transitive. To wind or wrap round. Obsolete. rare.
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OE Aldhelm Glosses (Brussels 1650) in L. Goossens Old Eng. Glosses of MS Brussels, Royal Libr. 1650 (1974) 373 Liciis..palmarum pollices obuoluerent : hefeldþrædum..handa þuman wealcedan.
II. To move about, journey, circulate. In most senses now taken as an extended use of Branch IV.† 6. figurative.
4. † a. intransitive. Of a person: to go from place to place; to journey, wander. Also transitive: to go (one's way), travel across or over (a country, etc.). Obsolete (in later use rare (English regional (Cornwall))). † b. intransitive. Followed by a (a prep.1 11b) and verbal noun: = go v. 30d. Obsolete.
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society > travel > aspects of travel > travel from place to place > [verb (intransitive)]
scritheOE
walka1200
fizgig1594
itinerate1600
to go round1636
to travel it1687
to go around1742
flitch1787
a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 51 Þat israelisshe folc was walkende toward ierusalem on swinche and on drede and on wanrede.
c1200 Glosses to Homilies of Ælfric (Corpus Cambr. 303) in J. C. Pope Homilies of Ælfric (1967) I. 263 Woriend : walconde [OE Corpus Cambr. 188 Þonne færð he worigende on unwæterigum stowum].
a1275 St. Margaret (Trin. Cambr.) l. 195 in A. S. M. Clark Seint Maregrete & Body & Soul (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Michigan) (1972) 66 Muchel ic abbe iwalken bi water ant bi londe.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 58 Heuede Eneas þe duc mid his driht-folcke. widen iwalken.
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Ezek. xxxix.15 After seuen monethis thei shuln bygynne for to seeke, and shuln cumpas walkynge the lond.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 22063 [The] angel..in þe pitt him [sc. the devil] sperd fast..For to be laised at þe last Quen þat thousand ȝere war past, To walk his wai [Coll. Phys. to walc his waiis forþe] fra þat quile.
c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. viii. l. 14 (MED) Þei ben men on þis molde þat moste wyde walken.
a1450 Rule St. Benet (Vesp.) (1902) l. 1893 Þai þat sal walk bi way, or wirk, And may not cum to haly kirk,..Þeir seruyse sal þai not for-gete.
c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) l. 519 Þere sall borne be a barne of þi blithe lady, Þat driȝtyn efter þi day has destaned to regne, Þe quilke sall walke all þe werd & wyn it him selfe.
a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) v. x. 29 And for ilk menȝe A capitane walkis rewland al hys rowt.
1577 R. Robinson Certain Select Hist. Christian Recreations sig. Aiiiv Confused he shall walke his waie.
1880 M. A. Courtney W. Cornwall Words in M. A. Courtney & T. Q. Couch Gloss. Words Cornwall 62/2 Walk (pron. waalk), to make a journey or visit, not a walk.
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1533 T. More Answere Poysened Bk. i. ii. f. cxvi Lyke as yf a ryght greate man wolde wantonly walke a mummynge, and dysguyse hymselfe.
5. Of a thing.† b. intransitive. Of time: to pass, elapse. Obsolete.† c. intransitive. Of crime, vice, or virtue: to be rife, to spread abroad. Obsolete.† e. intransitive. Of a vehicle: to make regular journeys. Obsolete. rare.† f. intransitive. Of the tongue (also occasionally the jaws): to move briskly. Obsolete.† g. intransitive. Of drink, etc.: to circulate, be handed round. Obsolete.† h. Nautical. Of a ship.
a. intransitive. Of various material things, as a pen, a weapon, an instrument, a celestial object: to move, be in motion. Of leaves: to come out. Now rare (chiefly Scottish in later use).
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the world > plants > part of plant > leaf > be a leaf [verb (intransitive)] > grow
lance1393
walk?c1450
the world > movement > move [verb (intransitive)]
stira1000
icchec1175
wag?c1225
movea1325
routa1325
to-wawea1375
removea1400
sway?a1400
trotc1430
ayrec1440
quinch1511
walk1533
twitch1542
shift1595
jee1727
to get around1849
c1225 (?c1200) St. Margaret (Bodl.) (1934) 22 (MED) Þe mone & te steorren, þe walkeð bi þe lufte, ne stutteð ne ne studegið, ah sturieð aa mare.
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Baruch vi. 61 Cloudis, to whiche when it shal be comaundid of God for to walke thorou al the world, don what thing is comaundid to hem.
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. viii. xvii. 491 Þe mone..bycause of schortnesse of hire cours..passiþ and walkiþ now vndir þe sonne,..now bihinde and aftir þe sonne.
?c1450 in Anglia (1896) 18 325 At euery knot ij lewys owt walke.
1533 J. Heywood Play of Wether sig. Ciiv Whan the wynde doth blow the vttermost Our wyndmylles walke a mayne in euery cost.
1548 H. Latimer Notable Serm. sig. B.iiiiv And then both ploughes not walkyng, nothyng should be in the common weale but hounger.
1550 H. Latimer Serm. Stamford sig. C.viii I hearde a penne walkynge in the chymney, behind the cloth. They hadde appoynted one there to wryte all myne aunswers.
1565 J. Hall Courte of Vertue 150 The great Beare..Whych wyth the small Beare euermore Doth walke the pole about.
1575 G. Gascoigne Certayne Notes Instr. in Posies sig. T.ijv I would..finde some supernaturall cause wherby my penne might walke in the superlatiue degree.
1587 G. Turberville Tragicall Tales f. 88v The arrowes flewe from side to side, The bullot stones did walke.
1622 M. Drayton 2nd Pt. Poly-olbion xxii. 41 Now English Bowes, and Bills, and Battle-axes walke, Death vp and downe the field in gastly sort doth stalke.
1686 tr. J. Chardin Trav. Persia 115 They did not like working, so that the Cudgel was forc'd to walk now and then to quick'n their Laziness.
1727 J. Thomson Summer 74 Low walks the Sun, and broadens by degrees, Just o'er the Verge of Day.
1815 W. Scott Guy Mannering II. 39 [They] got me down, and knevelled me sair aneuch, or I could gar my whip walk about their lugs.
1936 Pop. Sci. Monthly Jan. 64/1 If you tilt the board to the left, the top walks away from you (that is, if you have spun it in a clockwise direction).
1976 Sc. National Dict. X. (at cited word) Of a shoe; to move about on the foot, because it is too big. Caithness 1973, waak.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > [verb (intransitive)]
overgoeOE
agoeOE
goOE
forthgoOE
runOE
overdrivea1275
farea1325
overmetea1325
walka1325
passc1330
slidec1374
yern1377
to pass overa1382
wastec1385
waive1390
to pass awaya1400
overseyc1400
drive?c1450
to drive ona1470
slevea1510
to roll awaya1522
to roll overa1522
to wear out, forth1525
flit1574
to pass on1574
to run on1578
overhie1582
wear1597
overslip1607
spend1607
travel1609
to go bya1616
elapsea1644
to come round1650
efflux1660
to roll round1684
lapse1702
roll1731
to roll around1769
to roll by1790
transpire1824
to come around1829
tide1835
elabe1837
tick1937
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 568 An hundred winter..Welken or it was ended wel.
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the world > space > extension in space > spreading or diffusion > [verb (intransitive)] > be widespread or rife
walka1350
ragea1522
enrage1560
propagate1640
a1350 in R. H. Robbins Hist. Poems 14th & 15th Cent. (1959) 7 (MED) Þus wil walkeþ in lond, & lawe is forlore.
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1869) II. 169 Þese men..beeþ i-woned to haue the victorie..in euerich fiȝt wher no treson is walkynge [L. ubi fraus abfuerit].
c1450 in C. L. Kingsford Chrons. London (1905) 140 Ther whas so moch treson walkyng that men wist not what to do.
1567 Compend. Bk. Godly Songs (1897) 101 Thair violence and wrang walkis full wyde.
?1573 L. Lloyd Pilgrimage of Princes 53 Then luste knew no way to the pallace of Cæsars, then abstinence walked in the market place, then all Rome was chast.
1626 N. Breton Pasquils Mad-cap (Grosart) 8/2 Wealth is a witch that hath a wicked charme, That in the mindes of wicked men doth walke.
a1685 A. Killigrew Poems (1686) 9 How dares bold Vice unmasked walk, And like a Giant proudly stalk?
1740 J. Dyer Ruins of Rome 11 Ever disguis'd, Shall Treason walk? Shall proud Oppression yoke The neck of Virtue?
1857 T. De Quincey in Titan July 68/1 In those streets murder walks undisguised.
d. † (a) intransitive. Of a report, a letter, or fame; also of money: to circulate, spread, pass from one person to another; also with about. Also said of the person whose fame circulates. Obsolete.
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society > communication > information > publishing or spreading abroad > publish or spread abroad [verb (intransitive)] > spread or be current
springOE
spreadc1300
to go abouta1325
quicka1400
risea1400
runa1400
walkc1400
stir1423
voice1429
fly1480
to go abroad1513
to come abroad1525
wandera1547
divulge1604
to get abroad1615
to take aira1616
to make (also do) the rounds1669
to get about1740
reach1970
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 1521 Your worde & your worchip walkeȝ ay-quere.
a1425 (c1333–52) L. Minot Poems (1914) 28 (MED) Þe word of him walkes ful wide.
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) iii. l. 252 The worde of him walkit baith fer and ner.
1532 (c1385) Usk's Test. Loue in Wks. G. Chaucer i. f. cccxxxiii Loke nowe what people haste thou serued, whiche of hem al in tyme of thyne exile euer the refresshed, by the valewe of the leste coyned plate that walketh in money.
1549 H. Latimer 2nd Serm. before Kynges Maiestie 4th Serm. sig. Liij Ther was brybes walking, money makynge, makynge of handes.
a1566 R. Edwards Damon & Pithias (1571) sig. Biv And I vp and downe, Go seekyng to learne what Newes here are walkyng.
1583 P. Stubbes Second Pt. Anat. Abuses sig. C5 If any man that hath freends and mony..chance to haue committed neuer so..flagicious a deed,..then letters walke, freends bestir them, and mony carieth all away.
1616 B. Jonson Poëtaster (rev. ed.) iii. v, in Wks. I. 310 For he shall weepe, and walke with euery tongue Throughout the citie, infamously song.
a1626 F. Bacon Considerations War with Spain (1629) 42 A wonderfull erroneous obseruation that walketh about.
1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 1089 I..now am come to see of whom such noise Hath walk'd about. View more context for this quotation
1687 R. L'Estrange Answer to Let. to Dissenter 22 There may be Mony Walking on the One Side as well as on the Other.
(b) transitive. Of fame or another immaterial thing: to pervade (a country). Now only as extended use of sense 15.
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society > communication > information > publishing or spreading abroad > publish or spread abroad [verb (transitive)] > be spread throughout a place
walka1425
a1425 N. Homily Legendary (Harl. suppl.) in C. Horstmann Altengl. Legenden (1881) 2nd Ser. 35 (MED) Þe word of him welk al þe land.
1757 H. Brooke Songs Jack Giant Queller 19 To see Mirth with Innocence walking the Land.
1806 W. Wordsworth Char. Happy Warrior 77 Whether praise of him must walk the earth For ever, and to noble deeds give birth, Or he must fall, to sleep without his fame.
1989 Barron's 24 Apr. 55/4 The headlines mourned 20 million unemployed, and depression walked the land.
2007 C. Forbes Under Volcano 145 Once, when drought ruined the crop and hunger walked the land, a king called his people together at the temple to pray to the gods for rain.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > movement of vehicles > move or go along [verb (intransitive)] > go regularly between places
walka1475
ply1738
a1475 in A. Clark Eng. Reg. Godstow Nunnery (1906) ii. 671 (MED) ij cartis, the which they had every day walkyng to busshyng in his wode of Shottore.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > speak [verb (intransitive)]
matheleOE
speakc888
spellc888
yedc888
i-quethec900
reirdOE
meldOE
meleOE
quidOE
i-meleOE
wordOE
to open one's mouth (also lips)OE
mootOE
spellc1175
carpa1240
spilec1275
bespeakc1314
adda1382
mella1400
moutha1400
utter?a1400
lalec1400
nurnc1400
parlec1400
talkc1400
to say forthc1405
rekea1450
to say on1487
nevena1500
quinch1511
quetch1530
queckc1540
walk1550
cant1567
twang1602
articulate1615
tella1616
betalk1622
sermocinate1623
to give tongue1737
jaw1748
to break stillness1768
outspeaka1788
to give mouth1854
larum1877
to make noises1909
verbal1974
1550 R. Crowley One & Thyrtye Epigrammes sig. Cvii No man shal fynde a tyme to speake, so faste theyr tonges shal walke.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii. iv. sig. P6 And euer as she went, her toung did walke In fowle reproch, and termes of vile despight.
1608 T. Dekker Lanthorne & Candle-light sig. H4v If then..his chappes begin to walke as if hee were chewing downe a horse-loafe.
1609 T. Dekker Guls Horne-bk. sig. D4v It will adde much to your fame to let your tongue walke faster then your teeth.
1673 F. Kirkman Unlucky Citizen 231 He could make but little defence with his Hands; but his tongue walked, he stormed, raged and threatned.
1710 E. Ward Nuptial Dialogues & Deb. II. xvii. 330 Whene'er you reading sit, my Tongue shall walk, And when most silent you, I'll loudest talk.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > providing or serving drink > [verb (intransitive)] > be circulated
reela1500
walk1563
troll-the-bowl1575
trolla1627
go1698
circle1725
circulate1882
1563 J. Foxe Actes & Monuments 1254/1 My Lorde mayre being set with the bishop and one of the shriues, wine was walking on euery syde, I standing before them as an outcast.
1567 T. Harman Caueat for Commen Cursetors (new ed.) sig. Biii How the pottes walke about, their talkig tounges talke at large.
1594 T. Lodge & R. Greene Looking Glasse sig. H2v Frolicke my Lord[s], let all the standerds walke. Ply it till euery man hath tane his load.
1622 R. Hawkins Observ. Voiage South Sea lxi. 150 The pott continually walking, infused desperate and foolish hardinesse in many.
1691 A. Wood Athenæ Oxonienses II. 157 This Hicks..was also Author..of other little trivial matters meerly to get bread, and make the pot walk.
a1746 M. Leapor Poems upon Several Occasions (1748) 43 When the Cups had walk'd about, Some surly Bards began to pout.
(a) intransitive. To make progress. Obsolete.
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society > travel > travel by water > action or motion of vessel > [verb (intransitive)] > make progress
enforcec1340
halec1400
to make way1490
heave1626
forge1769
walk1806
1806 J. Davis Post-Captain iv. 18 ‘There she walks through it!’ exclaimed captain Brilliant, looking over the side. ‘Glory! glory! Blow, my sweet breeze!’
1884 ‘H. Collingwood’ Under Meteor Flag 159 Seeing us walking ahead, he hailed us to keep back in line with him.
1891 W. C. Russell Marriage at Sea I. iii. 87 If..it lies in my power to keep this here Spitfire [sc. the ship's name] awalking.
(b) transitive. To move through (a body of water); to ply. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
1814 Ld. Byron Corsair i. iii. 5 She [sc. the ship] walks the waters like a thing of life.
a1861 T. Winthrop Life in Open Air (1863) 3 At five p.m. we found ourselves..on board the Isaac Newton, a great, ugly, three-tiered box that walks the North River.
1918 Glasgow Herald 15 May 5/2 Through all this..blaze of conflict the old Vindictive, still unhurrying, was walking the lighted waters towards the entrance.
a. intransitive. Perhaps: to be successful. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > succeed or be a success [verb (intransitive)]
speedc1175
fayc1300
provec1300
flourishc1400
passc1425
prosper1434
succeedc1450
to take placea1464
to come well to (our) pass1481
shift?1533
hitc1540
walka1556
fadge1573
thrive1587
work1599
to come (good) speedc1600
to go off1608
sort1613
go1699
answer1721
to get along1768
to turn up trumps1785
to come off1854
pan1865
scour1871
arrive1889
to work out1899
to ring the bell1900
to go over1907
click1916
happen1949
a1556 N. Udall Ralph Roister Doister (?1566) iii. iii. sig. E.jv I doubt not but this geare shall on my side walke.
b. intransitive. To be a substitute, pass for. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > change > exchange > substitution > be a substitute [verb (intransitive)]
to stand for ——OE
to stand in a person's stead?a1515
to be in any one's coat1530
walk1558
to serve the turn of1565
succenturiate1647
commute1653
to hand the saw1654
substitute1675
surrogate1681
to be in (another person's) shoes1767
substitute1888
pinch-hit1911
1558 T. Phaer tr. Virgil Seuen First Bks. Eneidos v. sig. O.iv One only man shall be, whome lost in depe seas he shall seke, One poll shall walke for all [L. unum pro multis dabitur caput].
1627 W. Sclater Briefe Expos. 2 Thess. 299 And wee..are..quite changed from the temper of our peaceable fore-fathers. That now, writtes walk for words.
III. To pass one's life, conduct oneself, live, be in a certain condition. In most senses now taken as an extended use of Branch IV.
7. figurative.† d. intransitive. With upon. To proceed on, act on the basis of. Obsolete.
a. intransitive. Chiefly after biblical usage: to pass one's life; to conduct oneself, behave (well, badly, wisely, unwisely, etc.). Often with reference to a metaphorical ‘path’ or ‘way’. Also occasionally transitive with the path or way as object. to walk with God [after post-classical Latin ambulare cum Deo (Vulgate), itself after Hebrew hālaḵ eṯ-ha'ĕlōhīm , lit. ‘to walk with God’ (Genesis 5:22, 5:24: see quots. 15301 and 15302)] : to lead a godly life; to have intimate communion with God. to walk (in) the way of the Lord [after post-classical Latin ambulare in via Domini (Vulgate), itself after Hebrew hālaḵ bĕ-dereḵ 'ădōnāy] : to lead a life of righteousness.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > behave, conduct, or bear oneself [verb (intransitive)]
i-bereeOE
workeOE
makeOE
fere1154
walka1200
steera1250
to take onc1275
fare1340
to fare with oneself1340
containa1375
to let latesa1400
usea1400
dealc1400
rulea1425
act1593
comport1616
carry1650
deport1667
demean1678
behave1721
conduct1754
to carry on1828
society > faith > aspects of faith > piety > be pious [verb (intransitive)]
liquefy1483
to walk with God1530
a1200 (?OE) MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 147 (MED) Seint iame..and oðre holie apostles..ȝeden..fro wureld wele to lichamliche wowe..and on þis reuliche wei hie weren walkinde forte þat hie comen to þe lichamliche deaðe.
a1300 (c1275) Physiologus (1991) l. 310 Walke..mildelike among men.
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Baruch iv. 26 My delicatis, or nurshid in delicis, walkiden sharp weies [L. ambulaverunt vias asperas]; sotheli thei weren led as a floc rauyshide with enmyes.
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 1 Macc. x. 38 Walke thei in her lawis [L. ambulent legibus suis], as the kyng comaundide in the lond of Juda.
?a1425 tr. Catherine of Siena Orcherd of Syon (Harl.) (1966) 235 (MED) Þei walken as wode men, and depriuen hemsilf fro þe good of charite and of heuenly vertues.
c1460 Tree & 12 Frutes (McClean) (1960) 78 (MED) Oure blissid lord..is with vs al þe dayes of oure lif in oure wayes þat we walke beyng wery for the gret labour of his passioun.
c1460 Tree & 12 Frutes (McClean) 121 Yif þou wilt þat vertu encrese, adde þerto mo vertues and walke forth right; stonde neuer stille, turne neuer bakward ayen, go not oute of þe way.
1509 S. Hawes Pastime of Pleasure vi. iii Who that walketh the waye of derkenes..shall have payne nothyng extinguyssible.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) Luke i. f. lxxjv Booth..walked [Gk. πορευόμενοι] in all the lawes and ordinacions of the lorde.
1530 Bible (Tyndale) Gen. v. 22 Henoch walked wyth god after he had begot Mathusala .iij. hundred yere.
1530 Bible (Tyndale) Gen. Table exp. Words (at cited word) To walke with god is to lyve godly and to walke in his commaundementes.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) 2 Kings xvii. 15 They despysed his ordinaunces..and walked in their awne vanities.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) 4 Kings xxi. 22 He..forsoke our Lorde the God of his father, and walked not in the waye of the Lorde.
1581 J. Hamilton Catholik Traictise Epist. f. 8v To..trauell to reduce yame to ye treu vay quhairin all yair forbearis valkit yir mony hundreth zeris bygane.
1599 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet iv. i. 79 Or walke in theeuish wayes. View more context for this quotation
a1629 W. Hinde Faithfull Remonstr. (1641) xliv. 140 It was the desire and delight of his soule to walke with God.
1653 Duchess of Newcastle Poems & Fancies 85 O Ignorance, how foolish thou dost talk! I'st happinesse in Ignorance to walk?
1681 J. Flavell Method of Grace xxx. 523 When a man walks suitably to his place and calling in the world, we say he acts like himself.
?1769 ‘P. Christiania’ Let. from Lady to Bishop London 51 She lies open to the Power of Satan, whose delight it is to destroy: He therefore blinds her, so that she walks in Ignorance.
1853 F. D. Maurice Prophets & Kings Old Test. vi. 93 If he walked in God's ways he would establish a sure house.
1856 M. Mead Almost Christian Discovered 182 None but the redeemed of the Lord walk in the way of the Lord.
1872 J. Morley Voltaire i. 10 Those do best who walk most warily.
1914 Times 22 June 12/4 He had walked with God.
1945 Times 15 Dec. 6/4 Wisdom is the moral insight which preserves a man from the folly of going after evil things,..and enables him to walk in God's way.
1995 J. A. Wallace Imaginal Preaching 115 All the holy men and women who have walked the way of the Lord.
1999 Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram (Nexis) 14 Dec. 3 He was a man with a very good heart, and he was trying to walk with God his whole life.
b. intransitive. To be associated, work or get along together, act harmoniously with. Now rare.In later use chiefly with reference to an individual's or group's relationship with a church.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social relations > association, fellowship, or companionship > associate together or with [verb (intransitive)]
mingc1275
company1387
joinc1390
meddlec1390
herd?a1400
fellowshipc1430
enfellowship1470
to step in1474
accompany?1490
yoke?a1513
to keep with ——c1515
conjoin1532
wag1550
frequent1577
encroach1579
consort1588
sort1595
commerce1596
troop1597
converse1598
to keep (also enter, come into, etc.) commons1598
to enter common1604
atone1611
to walk (also travel) in the way with1611
minglea1616
consociate1638
associate1644
corrive1647
co-unite1650
walk1650
cohere1651
engage1657
mix1667
accustom1670
to make one1711
coalite1735
commerciate1740
to have nothing to say to (also with)1780
gang?1791
companion1792
mess1795
matea1832
comrade1865
to go around1904
to throw in with1906
to get down1975
society > society and the community > social relations > association, fellowship, or companionship > associate with [verb (transitive)]
seeOE
drawc1275
mella1300
meeta1325
fellow1340
usec1384
conjoinc1386
joinc1390
knitc1400
accompany1461
enfellowship1470
frequent1477
haunt1477
mixa1513
encompanya1533
combinea1535
contract1548
to take with ——1562
associate1581
to have a saying toa1593
cope1594
sort1594
to take in1597
consort1600
herd1606
factionate1611
to keep company (with)a1616
accost1633
solder1641
converse1649
walk1650
consociate1653
coalite1734
to get with ——a1772
forgather1786
unionize1810
to go rounda1867
to mix in1870
cop1940
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Amos iii. 3 Maye twaine walk together excepte they be agreed amonge them selues?
1600 T. Dekker Old Fortunatus sig. H4 Ile sell this pride for helpe to beare me thither, So pride and beggerie shall walke together.
1620 J. Taylor Jack a Lent Ep. A 3 b And though it be written in a mery stile, yet I dare presume that mirth and truth walke together in it.
1650 H. Ellis Pseudochristus 7 After this, he walked sometime in fellowship with that Congregation.
1657 Docum. S. Paul's (Camden) 155 The congregation yt wallke wth Mr John Symson.
a1709 J. Lister Autobiogr. (1842) 50 My wife and myself, were admitted into the church at Kipping, with which we walked satisfyingly many years.
1753 S. Pike Zeal & Charity United 16 Members of the same Gospel-Church, and knowing each other's Faith and Experience, walk together in Love and Unity.
1841 S. S. Arnold Diary 5 Jan. in Proc. Vermont Hist. Soc. (1940) 8 149 It was a friendly interview; but she said that she could not walk with the Ch[urc]h, and wished to be out.
1985 N.Y. Times 21 Mar. a18/1 I prefer to walk with the church rather than to walk alone with my theology.
c. intransitive. To direct one's conduct by, after a rule, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > a standard of conduct > direct one's conduct by a rule [verb (intransitive)]
walk1574
1574 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Serm. on Job (new ed.) ciiij. 542/2 When a man walketh as hauing none other record but god, [etc.]... When a man walketh by that rule: it is all one as if he should banish all worldly respects too gather himselfe vnto God.
1588 W. Lambarde Eirenarcha (new ed.) ii. ii. 113 Many other wayes there bee, after which the Iustice of Peace may walke in taking of this kind of Recognusance.
1611 Bible (King James) Jer. xviii. 12 We will walk after our own deuices. View more context for this quotation
1644 R. Williams Blovdy Tenent xciv. 141 It is an evill speech of some, that in some things the will of the Law, not the ratio of it, must be the Rule of Conscience to walke by.
1662 S. Pepys Diary 1 Mar. (1970) III. 39 I am now resolved..to think upon some rules and obligacions upon myself to walk by.
1707 E. Ward Wooden World Dissected 39 He is the great Exampler they walk by.
1736 T. Carte Hist. Life Duke Ormonde II. vi. 221 The Declaration being only an Act of State was no warrantable rule to walk by in the disposing of men's estates.
1821 W. Scott Kenilworth II. xiii. 338 I give thee way, good imp, and will walk by thy counsel.
1884 W. C. Smith Kildrostan 46 We judge a stranger by our home-bred ways, Who, may be, walks by other rule of right.
1910 Times 12 Mar. 11/5 It is certainly not his duty to stickle about trifles, to walk by rules applicable to all cases,..or shirk the bare possibility of responsibility.
1995 T. Schlossberg & E. Achtemeier Not my Own v. 68 The church dedicates itself at its eucharist, its covenant renewal ceremony, to walk by God's commandments alone.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > doing > a proceeding > proceed or carry on an action [verb (intransitive)]
workeOE
doOE
proceedc1390
movec1400
precedec1425
deal1470
plough furrow1597
walka1653
process1835
a1653 H. Binning Serm. in Wks. (1735) 166 If the most holy Man comes not in among ungodly Sinners, if he do not walk upon the Grounds of his own extream Necessity, and Christ's Sufficiency, he cannot come to Jesus Christ.
1828 Marly: Planter's Life in Jamaica 252 What grounds of probability have we to walk upon that the present negroes..would act otherwise.
8. † b. intransitive. With adjectival complement or phrase denoting a state or condition in which one (habitually) finds oneself or puts oneself in (in later use esp. with regard to clothing): to go about. Cf. go v. 5. Obsolete.† c. intransitive. To be, live in a certain condition of health. Obsolete.† d. intransitive. To busy oneself, be active about something. Obsolete. Cf. wake v. 4b.
a. intransitive. Of a person: to go about in public, be alive, live (in a certain place or region). Also of an animal: to range, be found (in a certain place).
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > [verb (intransitive)]
wonc725
erdec893
siteOE
liveeOE
to make one's woningc960
through-wonOE
bigc1175
walkc1225
inwonea1300
lenda1300
lenga1300
lingera1300
erthec1300
stallc1315
lasta1325
lodge1362
habit?a1366
breeda1375
inhabitc1374
indwella1382
to have one's mansionc1385
to take (up) one's inn (or inns)a1400
keepc1400
repairc1400
to have (also hold, keep, make) one's residencec1405
to hold (also keep, make, take, etc.) one's mansiona1425
winc1425
to make (one's) residence1433
resort1453
abidec1475
use1488
remaina1500
demur1523
to keep one's house1523
occupy1523
reside1523
enerdc1540
kennel1552
bower1596
to have (also hold, keep, make) residence1597
subsist1618
mansiona1638
tenant1650
fastena1657
hospitate1681
wont1692
stay1754
to hang out1811
home1832
habitate1866
society > inhabiting and dwelling > [verb (intransitive)] > among or in
walkc1225
converse1340
c1225 (?c1200) St. Katherine (Royal) (1981) l. 423 He [sc. God] schawde us his nebscheft ant weolc [a1250 Titus welc] hwil his wil wes bimong worldliche men.
c1300 (?c1225) King Horn (Cambr.) (1901) l. 1088 (MED) He lokede in eche halke; Ne seȝ he nowhar walke Aþulf his felawe.
c1390 (c1350) Proprium Sanctorum in Archiv f. das Studium der Neueren Sprachen (1888) 81 302 Þer is a ffisch..Þat in þe see is walkynge, Euere he slumbreþ and eke slepeþ.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 17800 In mi cite of aramathi, þar ar þai [sc. the risen dead] walkand witerli.
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) i. l. 4688 Þritti þousand hyndes, wilde walkand bi wod lyndes.
a1425 St. Lucy l. 121 in C. Horstmann Altengl. Legenden (1881) 2nd Ser. 18/1 Whils he welk in þis werld here, He said to his appostels in-fere.
c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 230 Men suld nocht lichtly traist jn na sauf conditis, And namely jn the warld yat walkis now.
a1535 T. More Hist. Richard III in Wks. (1557) 40/1 Robbers and riuers walking at libertie vncorrected.
1559 Bp. Scot in J. Strype Ann. Reformation (1709) I. App. x. 32 Upon the which Place St. Augustine wryteth thus, Christe tooke Fleshe of the blessed Virgin his Mother, and in the same he did walke.
1648 W. Cradock Glad Tydings 15 The Gospel tells us that,..Christ after he had walked among men for many yeares together,..did lay downe his life, and die for our sins.
1760 R. Clarke Spiritual Voice to Christian Church 21 These wonderful Powers, which were openly brought to Light in him, while he walked in our Flesh, the Form of a Slave on Earth.
1825 W. Scott Betrothed vi, in Tales Crusaders II. 128 She became pensive, absent,..and walked in the world of reality like one who is still in a dream.
1856 W. E. Aytoun Bothwell i. v And yet—he bandies texts with Knox, And walks a pious man!
1878 W. W. Story Ode on Fifth Half Cent. Landing J. Endicott iv. 7 Those who but fifty years ago Walked in the flesh with us.
1974 Indian Lit. 17 No. 3. 38 To most people of my generation Gandhi is only a name and we sometimes find it hard to believe that such a man ever walked on earth.
2004 S. Cleveland Basenji Revelation 62 The time when gods walked among men and when myth was reality.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > state or condition > be or remain in specific state or condition [verb (intransitive)] > be habitually in a state or condition
goOE
walkc1250
movea1382
wade1576
c1250 in K. Reichl Relig. Dichtung im Eng. Hochmittelalter (1972) 390 Þe riste wise kinc wituten roust..iborim was in an asse bose..in worlde he welk wit ute s[coes].
a1300 in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 14 Mulch sorw I walke with.
a1425 Shrewsbury Fragm. in N. Davis Non-Cycle Plays & Fragm. (1970) 6 Went he is, and we ne wot how... With wo now walk we, wil of red.
1604 King James VI & I Counterblaste to Tobacco sig. B2 Why doe we not as well imitate them [sc. the Indians] in walking naked as they doe?
a1640 J. Fletcher & P. Massinger Custome of Countrey ii. iii, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Aa4v/1 How long might I have walkt without a cloake, Before I should have met with such a fortune?
1769 Batchelor I. 180 I would much rather see them going to be hanged with their cloaths-on, than to see them only walk naked.
1847 H. Greeley in S. C. Edgarton Rose of Sharon 253 A realization of the full ideal of manhood..—he need not walk naked or in fantastic garb to gather all eyes upon him.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > state or condition > be or remain in specific state or condition [verb (intransitive)] > fare or get on
farec1000
chevec1300
timea1325
do1340
hapc1350
thrive?a1366
ferea1375
walka1400
chevise14..
fortunea1513
tidec1540
fend1781
go1920
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 755 (MED) Adam ȝode walkand in þat welth þat halden was in micul elth.
1493 Will of Edward Bonde (P.R.O.: PROB. 11/9) f. 215v I Edward Bonde in hole mynde walking & some what syke.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > be occupied or busy (in or at something) [verb (intransitive)]
playOE
wendc1325
wallowc1380
busyc1384
plya1393
walka1400
stickle1566
to ply it1582
bebusied1603
to work overtime1938
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 7530 Dauid..tok bot a staf and a sling þat he was wont to bere in hand Abute his flock o scep walcand.
a1500 (?a1390) J. Mirk Festial (Gough) (1905) 84 And þi[l]ke folke þat han ben bysy erly and late to walke aboute worldely good, now schuld be bysy, alsoo, to vyset pore and seke.
IV. To move about on foot, and related senses.† 17. transitive. To attend, frequent (a market or exchange). Obsolete.† 18. intransitive. = to walk in one's sleep at Phrases 4. Obsolete. rare.† 20. intransitive. With together, with. = to walk out 2 at Phrasal verbs 1. Obsolete.
9. To move or travel at a regular and fairly slow pace by lifting and setting down each foot in turn, so that one of the feet is always on the ground.† c. intransitive. In extended use: to ride a horse; (also) to take air and exercise on horseback. Obsolete.† e. transitive (reflexive) = sense 9a. Obsolete.† j. intransitive with weight as complement. Horse Racing. Of a jockey: to weigh when going on foot. Cf. ride v. 1f. Obsolete. rare.
a. intransitive. Chiefly with adverb or adverbial phrase (as about, along, †forth, home, on, past, up and down, etc.) or with preposition and following noun indicating the manner, direction, or location of such movement. to walk with a stick: to use a stick as a partial support in walking. to walk on crutches: to support oneself on crutches when walking.
ΚΠ
a1300 (c1275) Physiologus (1991) l. 448 Elpes arn in Inde riche..Hu he resteð him, ðis der, ðanne he walkeð wide, herkne wu it telleð her.
c1300 (?c1225) King Horn (Cambr.) (1901) l. 953 Ich habbe walke [c1300 Laud, a1350 Harl. walked] wide Bi þe se side; Nis he nowar ifunde.
a1400 Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 986/127* Þese thre maries come þiderward, for drede þai stynted oft For ferd of þe Iews, and sithen welk ful soft.
1449 M. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 229 Þan we welk forthe and desyryd an answere of hem.
a1450 (?1420) J. Lydgate Temple of Glas (Tanner) (1891) l. 550 I saugh a man, þat welke al solitarie.
a1500 (c1477) T. Norton Ordinal of Alchemy (BL Add.) 550 This monk had walkide a-bowte in france, Rangyng apostata in his plesance.
a1535 Frere & Boy (Ritson) 63 An olde man came hym tyll, Walkynge by the waye.
1557 T. North tr. A. de Guevara Diall Princes (1568) iii. xlii. 71 Thow walkest by the thornes: and wylt not that thy gown bee torne.
1584 A. Barlowe in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations (1889) XIII. 284 He walked vp and downe vpon the point of the land next vnto vs.
1614 Bp. J. King Vitis Palatina 30 They that walk side to side, and cheeke to cheeke, walke as companions.
1665 S. Pepys Diary 15 Nov. (1972) VI. 299 My Lady Batten walking through the dirty lane with new spick-and-span white shoes, she dropped one of her Galloshes in the dirt.
1693 Humours & Conversat. Town 114 A Throng of Fools, of both Sexes, walking up and down to shew their new Cloaths.
1695 J. Collier Misc. upon Moral Subj. 94 To walk always upon Crutches, is the way to lose the Use of our Limbs.
1710 J. Swift Lett. (1767) III. 35 I have been walking, and..concerting where to see Mr. Harley.
1768 L. Sterne Sentimental Journey II. 137 The poor notary..lamented himself as he walk'd along in this manner.
1796 E. Inchbald Nature & Art I. xi. 62 He walked into the room, not with a dictated obeisance, but with a hurrying step.
1836 C. Dickens Sketches by Boz 1st Ser. I. 82 They all walked on together, talking, and laughing.
1862 A. J. Munby Diary 18 Jan. in D. Hudson Munby (1972) 114 I walked past the South Kensington Museum and along the Cromwell Road.
1883 Harper's Mag. Mar. 538/2 Crowds were walking in the middle of the roadway—merry and well-tempered.
1902 V. Jacob Sheep-stealers viii He carried a stick, but he did not use it to walk with.
1939 J. Fante Ask the Dust xii. 137 I walk on and on, and still the land goes stretching away to the horizons.
1957 J. Braine Room at Top (1960) 225 Five minutes later he walked past again; so there was nothing else to do but go into the nearest pub.
1984 V. S. Naipaul Finding Centre iv. 66 She walked with a stick, and passed for a witch.
2001 R. Nicoll White Male Heart (2002) 375 A large horse-fly landed and walked around.., wanting his blood.
b. intransitive. To move about or go from place to place on foot for exercise or recreation; to take a walk or walks. Also with abroad.†Formerly in perfect tense conjugated with to be (obsolete). In quot. 1819 as past participle in intransitive sense.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > go on foot [verb (intransitive)]
treadc897
stepc900
goeOE
gangOE
walka1375
wanderc1380
foota1425
to take to footc1440
awalkc1540
trade1547
beat it on the hoof1570
pad1610
to be (also beat, pad) upon the hoofa1616
trample1624
to pad (also pad upon) the hoof1683
ambulate1724
shank1773
stump it1803
pedestrianize1811
pedestrianate1845
tramp it1862
ankle1916
society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > go on foot [verb (intransitive)] > for exercise or recreation
walka1375
to take a walk1581
to take one's walk(s)1581
to stretch one's legs1584
purmeinea1614
fetch, rarely make a walk1694
to streek one's shanks, wame1788
constitutionalize1852
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 777 (MED) William..wold..walke, and go into þe gardyn his greves for to slake.
c1390 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Vernon) (1867) A. ix. l. 54 (MED) As I wente bi a wode walkyng myn one, Blisse of þe Briddes made me to Abyde.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 4778 Iacob yode walcand be þe nile.
c1400 Parce Mihi 1 in 26 Pol. Poems 143 By a forest syde, walkyng as I went..in o mornyng A place I fonde.
c1405 (c1385) G. Chaucer Knight's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 1510 Arcite vn to the temple walked [c1425 Petworth ywalked] is Of fierse Mars, to doon his sacrifise.
c1430 (c1380) G. Chaucer Parl. Fowls (Cambr. Gg.4.27) (1871) l. 297 Forth welk I tho myn seluyn to solace.
?a1475 G. Banester Guiscardo & Ghismonda (BL Add.) 516 in H. G. Wright Tales from Decameron (1937) 30 They send hyr fadder worde off hyr tribulacioune, Vhich that was walked on hys recreacioune.
a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara Golden Bk. M. Aurelius (1546) sig. O.viij Sometyme on the daie, and nowe and than by nyght, they would walke abrode.
1569 E. Spenser tr. Petrarch Epigr. in T. Roest tr. J. van der Noot Theatre Worldlings sig. Bviv On hearbs and floures she walked pensiuely.
1573 T. Tusser Fiue Hundreth Points Good Husbandry (new ed.) f. 20 Saue sawe dust, & brick dust, & ashes so fine: for alley to walke in, with neighbour of thine.
1617 tr. H. Ronsovius De Valetundine Conseruanda 41 in J. Harington tr. Englishmans Doctor (new ed.) When you arise in the morning.., remember to powre foorth your praiers vnto God... Then walk yee gently.
1653 W. Ramesey Astrologia Restaurata 192 And as touching walking abroad, some of the Ancients have been large.
1685 in W. Mure Select. Family Papers Caldwell (1854) I. 153 [At Spa] There is a pleasant garden of the Capuciners, where drinkers of the waters generallie walk.
1718 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 10 Mar. (1965) I. 384 She ask'd me to walk in her Garden.
1745 E. Haywood Female Spectator II. xii. 374 That monarch being walking in the Mall one day, was infinitely charmed with the beauty of a young lady who happened to be there.
1770 C. Jenner Placid Man II. vi. v. 202 Mrs. Stapleton inquired after Lady Clayton; Miss Clayton said she was walked out.
1788 C. Smith Emmeline I. iv. 48 Miss Mowbray was walked out, as was her custom, very early, no one knew whither.
1798 C. B. Brown Wieland v. 46 The evening was somewhat advanced when he invited the latter to walk abroad with him.
1819 W. Scott Bride of Lammermoor v, in Tales of my Landlord 3rd Ser. III. 62 I shall never forget how frightened I was when I took him for the picture of old Sir Malise walked out of the canvass.
1830 Portugal; or The Young Travellers 239 As he spoke, Mr. Grey rose from table and invited them to walk.
1869 A. J. Evans Vashti xxi ‘Stay, Salome! Where are you going?’ ‘To walk.’
1907 J. Conrad Secret Agent (2004) 61 Often while walking abroad, when he happened also to come out of himself, he had such moments of dreadful and sane mistrust of mankind.
1925 W. Cather Professor's House i. ix. 102 After breakfast he went out to walk in the soft rainfall.
1978 A. Maupin Tales of City 105 I used to walk on the beach looking for carnelians.
2000 Stuff Dec. 72/2 If you prefer to run or walk in the country rather than inhale lead-filled fumes jogging on the city streets, put these on your Chrimble list.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > ride a horse (or other animal) [verb (intransitive)] > ride across country for exercise
walka1450
lark1813
school1868
a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Hist. Holy Grail xiii. 86 (MED) Aftyr theke Rowte Cam A seriaunt walke, Faste preking vppon A destrere.
a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) I. 228 Sir Gawayne..was..ware of a man armed walkynge a paase by a woodis ease..and he on a stronge horse rydys withoute man wyth hym.
1541 T. Wyatt Defence in K. Muir Life & Lett. (1963) 205 There be maynie nunnes in the towne and moste of [them] gentellwomen which walke vpone there horses and [men] here and there tawlke with those ladies.
d. transitive. To traverse or cover (a distance) on foot. Also occasionally with semantically related object, as journey, walk. See also to walk the extra mile at mile n.1 Phrases 2a.In proverbial use in quot. 1605. to walk a turn: to walk once up and once down; to go for a short walk (now rare).
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > [verb (transitive)] > traverse a distance or ground
runeOE
overcomeOE
meteOE
through-gangOE
passc1300
to pass over ——c1300
overpassc1325
tracec1381
travela1393
traverse?a1400
travelc1400
measure?a1425
walkc1450
go1483
journey1531
peragrate1542
trade1548
overspin1553
overtrace1573
tract1579
progress1587
invade1590
waste1590
wear1596
march1606
void1608
recovera1625
expatiate1627
lustrate1721
do1795
slip1817
cover1818
clear1823
track1823
itinerate1830
betravel1852
to roll off1867
society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > go on foot [verb (intransitive)] > once up and down
to walk a turn1597
c1450 J. Capgrave Solace of Pilgrims (Bodl. 423) 79 We..walk a grete myle or we come at þe cherch of seynt laurens.
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. xxviii. 381 With Lucas and with Cleophas He welke a day iurnee.
1597 N. Breton Wits Trenchmour sig. E I espied Don Felio all alone, walking a turne or two in the long walke.
1605 P. Erondelle French Garden M 6 b After Dinner sit a while: After Supper walke a mile.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) iv. i. 162 A turne or two, Ile walke To still my beating minde. View more context for this quotation
1653 H. Holcroft tr. Procopius Persian Wars i. 6 in tr. Procopius Hist. Warres Justinian They prayed the King to walk some turns with Arsaces in their presence, to be witnesses of what passed.
1753 J. Collier Ess. Art of Tormenting ii. iv. 177 Strange disorders in her head, for which she is advised to walk long walks.
1819 W. Scott Ivanhoe III. iv. 106 They walked a turn through the hall.
1822 A. Cunningham Sir Marmaduke Maxwell v. iii. 121 He would walk fifteen rough miles about, Rather than ride along the nearer way.
1836 C. Dickens Sketches by Boz 2nd Ser. 263 I've walked all the way from Stamford-hill this morning.
1837 C. Dickens Sketches by Boz 2nd Ser. 55 They walked a few paces, and paused.
1895 J. Winsor Mississippi Basin 239 The extent of the concession was dependent on the distance a man could walk in a day and a half by an honest tramp.
1937 J. Thurber Let. 24 Nov. (2002) 269 There came up a cloudburst and no cabs were available, so we had to walk at least a mile.
1976 W. Katiyo Son of Soil ii. 29 Tendayi and Rugare came out of their sleeping-hut and walked the few paces to Sekuru's hut.
2002 K. Jamie Among Muslims v. 209 I walked a few miles, then rested the weight of my rucksack against a boulder and looked at the villages downstream.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > go on foot [verb (reflexive)]
walka1475
a1475 (?1445) J. Lydgate Minor Poems (1911) i. 367 (MED) I wil now me walke from sege to sege, And pray to help me now euery saynt.
1509 S. Hawes Pastime of Pleasure (1928) xxvii. 118 As I went walkynge my selfe to and fro Full sodaynly Venus wrought me suche wo.
1589 J. Melville Spirituall Propine 142 As I me walked in a morning faire, I saw a ship preclaire.
f. intransitive. With in, up; also with into, this way, etc. In invitations to enter a room, approach, etc. (implying absence of hesitation).There has been an increasing tendency to substitute come or go since the 16th–17th centuries. N.E.D. (1921) notes: ‘Similarly in the showman's ‘Walk up! walk up!’ when the show is on a raised platform.
ΚΠ
1599 T. Heywood 1st Pt. King Edward IV sig. D4 Sir wil you walk in, my Lord wil take aduise, And so dispatch you backe againe vnto the Earle.
1614 J. Cooke Greenes Tu Quoque B 2 Pre thee, walke in, what you bargaine for, Ile discharge.
1638 P. Godwin tr. F. de Calvi Hist. Theeves 25 I pray you walke up said the Chyrurgion, at which words the boy..followeth the Chyrurgion directly to the Chamber.
1697 J. Vanbrugh Relapse iv. 77 If your Lordship please to walk in, we'll help you to some Brown Sugar-Candy.
1700 E. Ward London Spy II. v. 9 Down comes Nurse to desire us to walk up.
1751 T. Smollett Peregrine Pickle II. lx. 176 Jolter, with great ceremony, complimented his reverence with the pas, beseeching him to walk in.
1796 R. Bage Hermsprong I. xxii ‘Miss Campinet,’ said her father, ‘walk in, and wait my permission to go out again.’
1834 Universal Songster III. 156/1 Walk up now, each lady and gent, My show is the best, I assure ye... Now, walk up, ladies and gentlemen, walk up, be in time, to see that wonderful wonder of all wonders, the learned pig.
1834 M. Howitt Sketches Nat. Hist. 123 ‘Will you walk into my parlour?’ said the Spider to the Fly.
1841 C. Dickens Old Curiosity Shop ii. xlviii. 62 Close here sir, if you please to walk this way.
1858 Tait's Edinb. Mag. 25 213/2 There he stands, pointing things out like a clever showman, and gabbling away—‘Walk up, ladies and gentlemen!’.
1890 Acrobats & Mountebanks 72 ‘Walk in, walk in! ladies and gentlemen’, cries the showman... ‘Walk in, walk in! Hurry up!’
1898 Fort Wayne (Indiana) News 10 Sept. 3 (caption) Landlord—Good evenin', gentlemen. Bed and breakfast? Certainly. Please walk right in, gentlemen.
1927 Winnipeg Free Press 16 Apr. (Story section) 3/1 Tap, tap, tap, came a knock on Mrs. Knight's door. ‘Please walk in.’
1971 J. Aiken Cuckoo Tree v. 101 Walk up, walk up, ladies and gentlemen: watch M-Miles M-Mystery's amazingly m-mysterious Mannikins; what m-makes them move about?
1998 T. S. Gross Outrageous! xiii. 184 The hostess asked how many were in our party and our smoking preferences... She said, predictably, ‘Walk this way.’
g. intransitive. To move in a manner similar to walking, or walk in a modified fashion, on or upon a specified part of the body (other than the foot).
ΚΠ
1612 J. Boys Autumne Part 217 To make thy sonne a trades-man, if hee be most apt for learning..is as much as if a man should applie his toes to feeling and not his fingers, and to walke on his hands and not on his feete.
1728 M. McDermot Trip to Moon 18 I desir'd to know in what manner I was to approach his Majesty; and was told, that since I was a Foreigner, the most proper Method wou'd be to walk upon my Hands.
1756 Mem. Young Lady of Quality I. 185 I..was but too easily convinced some-body was got into my Room, walking on Tip-toes.
c1855 ‘L. Carroll’ Rectory Umbrella & Mischmasch (1932) 140 Head erect: mouth like a shark: the fore legs curved out so that the animal walked on its knees.
1925 L. Hart & D. Diggs Stage Managers' Chorus in Compl. Lyrics (1986) 48/2 Walk upon your toes. If you make the slightest sound We'll biff you on the nose.
1988 E. Lovelace Brief Conversion 21 At football, he is the goalkeeper. He makes flips and walks on his hands.
2003 India Abroad (Electronic ed.) 25 Apr. m14 Young women walk on their knees from the door to the altar.
h. transitive. With adjectival complement, adverb, or phrase. To cause (a person or thing) to be affected by walking. to walk down: to counteract (poison) by walking; to exhaust (a companion) by walking; to walk out a sermon: to walk around until a sermon has ended; to walk (a message or the like) through: to take it in person. Cf. to walk off 2 at Phrasal verbs 1, leg n. Phrases 1a(b).
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > weariness or exhaustion > weary or exhaust [verb (transitive)] > with walking or running
forchasea1510
forwalk1513
trachlea1578
surbate1590
walk1622
overmarch1670
the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > walk, tread, or step [verb (intransitive)] > for the duration of a sermon
to walk out a sermon1622
the world > health and disease > healing > medical treatment > types of treatment generally > apply type of treatment [verb (transitive)] > counteract by walking
to walk off1737
to walk down1884
the world > movement > transference > [verb (transitive)] > convey or transport > carry > convey in person
to walk (a message or the like) through1981
1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán Rogue ii. 303 Then began he to enter into Discourse, telling vs, that he had walked himselfe weary, and that he had seene that night many faire women, but none that came neere my wife.
1669 S. Pepys Diary 2 May (1976) IX. 541 Thence with them to White-hall, and there walked out the sermon with one or other.
1773 G. A. Stevens Trip to Portsmouth i. 14 I have walked myself out of breath, to overget you.
1823 W. Scott Quentin Durward I. iii. 58 I have walked my clothes dry, or nearly so.
1872 W. Black Strange Adventures Phaeton xix He would have liked..to have..walked himself dead with fatigue.
1884 Harper's Mag. Jan. 302/2 A walker who gives promise of great things if he doesn't walk his short legs off within the next two or three years.
1884 Ld. Tennyson Cup ii. 260 I pray you lift me And make me walk awhile. I have heard these poisons May be walk'd down.
1894 F. P. Cobbe Life I. 341 I do believe I could walk down anybody and perhaps talk down anybody too!
a1940 J. Buchan Sick Heart River (1941) i. ii. 17 He drove himself to take exercise, but now a walk round the Park exhausted one who only a few years back could walk down any Highland gillie.
1981 C. Potok Bk. of Lights (1982) v. 144 ‘How did the major get that memo so quickly, Roger?’ ‘I walked it through to his desk.’
i. intransitive and transitive. In express or implied opposition to ride, drive, etc. Also with it as object.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > go on foot [verb (intransitive)] > in contrast with 'ride'
to walk on footc1390
to take to one's feet (or foot)1508
to walk afoot1565
walk1631
to hoof it1652
peripateticate1793
foot-slog1897
society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > traverse on foot [verb (transitive)] > in contrast with riding
walka1764
1631 T. Drue Life Dutches of Suffolke ii. sig. D2 Still I looke backe, still starte my tyred feet, Which never till now measur'd London street, My honors scornd that custome, they would ride, Now forc't to walke, more weary paine to bide.
1668 S. Pepys Diary 16 Sept. (1976) IX. 307 Walking it to the Temple; and in my way observe that the Stockes are now pulled quite down.
1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 454. §6 When I resolved to walk it out of Cheapness.
a1764 R. Lloyd Poet. Wks. (1774) II. 60 Whether they ride or walk the street, Their heads are always on their feet .
1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield I. x. 96 I therefore walked back by the horse-way.
1805 T. Holcroft Mem. Bryan Perdue III. 185 I was obliged to walk the journey.
1853 C. Dickens Bleak House vi. 44 We alighted and walked up all the hills.
1864 Good Words 5 516/2 Devonshire, to be properly seen, should be walked.
1883 C. Howard Roads Eng. & Wales (ed. 3) 3 The very steep ascent of Chatham Hill, which most riders will walk.
1921 E. Ferber Girls i. 7 Beck Schaefer had taken the others home in her electric [automobile]. Lottie..had elected to walk, though she knew it would mean being late.
1964 Mind 73 519 I chose to walk home rather than ride.
1988 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 9 July 27/1 We drove over to the shopping center to eat, rather than walk it. Everybody should walk it, of course.
2002 Independent 4 Jan. 8/7 Parents were aware that children would prefer to walk, but gave risks from increased traffic and ‘stranger danger’ as reasons for insisting on the car.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > horse racing > engage in horse racing [verb (intransitive)] > be weighed > weigh on foot
walk1856
1856 ‘The Druid’ Post & Paddock v. 83 He was about 5 ft. 5 in. in height, walked about 9 st. 5 lbs. in the winter months, and could ride, if required for a great race, 7 st. 12 lbs. to the last.
k. intransitive. Baseball. Of a batter: to reach first base automatically after not hitting at four balls pitched outside the strike zone. Cf. base on balls n. at base n.1 Phrases 3, walk n.1 4b, 25a.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > baseball > play baseball [verb (intransitive)] > walk
walk1866
1866 Daily National Intelligencer (Washington) 17 Oct. National Intelligencer Brown had three balls called on him, and walked to first base.
1895 Press (N.Y.) 5 July 6/1 The champions harvested a pair of tallies in the second inning. Clarke did not get them over for Kelly, and Joe ‘walked’.
1948 Chicago Tribune 7 Mar. ii. 1/4 Baker walked, filling the bases.
1979 Arizona Daily Star 5 Aug. c2/5 Alfredo Griffin singled and Bob Bailor walked to start the eighth-inning burst against Rich Wortham, 11–11.
1991 N.Y. Times 21 Apr. viii. 6/4 He walked six times and he was hit by pitches three times.
l. intransitive. Originally U.S. In imperative as Walk or in Don't Walk, referring to lights or signals at a pedestrian crossing that indicate whether it is safe or permissible to cross the road. Frequently attributive, as (don't) walk signal, (don't) walk sign, etc.
ΚΠ
1930 Tyrone (Pa.) Daily Herald 17 Mar. 8/1 There is hardly any use having the amber or walk signal in the traffic lights [for motorists].]
1935 Man. Uniform Traffic Control Devices (Amer. Assoc. State Highway Officials) 70 It is recommended, however, that red be shown in all directions to stop vehicular movement and that a special WALK signal be provided for pedestrians.
1948 Los Angeles Times 25 Oct. ii. 1/1 Signs say ‘walk’ and ‘don't walk’ and light up, and go out and do it all in Technicolor.
1976 C. James in Observer Rev. 27 June 17/3 The Sydney traffic signs..now say ‘Walk/Don't Walk.’
1990 N. Baker Room Temperature ii. 11 Buttons that infrequent pedestrians could press to suspend the ideal timing with a walk sign.
2006 Calgary (Alberta) Sun (Nexis) 28 May 32 ‘Don't Walk’ signals..change from flash to solid..to indicate a yellow light is imminent.
m. intransitive. slang (originally and chiefly U.S.). = to walk free at Phrases 14.
ΚΠ
1958 J. M. Murtagh & S. Harris Cast First Stone vii. 105 This is a good judge sitting today... He's liable to call you a tramp, but if he can, he'll let you walk.
1986 L. Sanders Eighth Commandm. xxxii. 282 ‘Havistock is going to walk, isn't he?’ ‘Sure he is... What could we charge him with?’
2002 Nation (N.Y.) 11 Mar. 4/2 He was sentenced to six months in prison. But he walked... The Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia overturned..[his] convictions.
10.
a. transitive. To travel on foot over or through (an area, country, city, etc.). Also figurative.In quot. 1898 of a stallion: †to travel over (a tract of country) serving mares (obsolete rare).
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > traverse on foot [verb (transitive)]
treadOE
walka1400
overwalk1533
pad1553
stroll1693
cruise1948
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > horse defined by gender or age > [verb (transitive)] > serve mares (of stallion) > try or travel to
try1811
walk1898
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3155 (MED) He welk þat fell ner dais thre To sek þe sted quar he wald be.
a1577 G. Gascoigne Princelie Pleasures Kenelworth sig. B.iii, in Whole Wks. (1587) Beware (I say) least whiles we walke these woods... Some harmfull hart entrap your harmlesse moodes.
1607 L. Machin Three Eglogs in W. Barksted Mirrha sig. E3 Then vp I start my selfe, I did array, And walkt the fieldes before the breake of day.
1684 J. Bunyan Pilgrim's Progress 2nd Pt. 98 He loved also to walk these Medows, for he found the Air was pleasant. View more context for this quotation
1712 Spectator No. 437. ⁋4 Were you to see Gatty walk the Park at high Mall.
1749 S. Johnson Vanity Human Wishes 6 The needy Traveller..Walks the wild Heath.
1869 R. Browning Ring & Bk. IV. x. 17 When man walks the garden of this world For his own solace.
1871 J. J. Simpson Recit. 9 Hundreds of diggers daily then were walking Melbourne town with their pockets filled with gold.
1898 Daily News 9 Mar. 4/4 The judging yesterday began with stallions that are to walk the Eastern and Midland counties.
1974 A. Rich in Fact of Doorframe (1984) 210 Walking the City of Love, so cold we warmed our nerves with wine at every all-night café.
1993 Sci. Amer. Dec. 98/1 Kathy Wankel and her ranching family in eastern Montana often walk the badlands nearby looking for fossils.
b. transitive. To travel on foot on or along (a road or path). See also to walk the street(s) at street n. and adj. Phrases 3.
ΚΠ
c1450 in Notes & Queries (1979) Dec. 506 (MED) Y wandryng ful wery and walkyng þe wayes..þe selkowth Y syȝt [read syȝe].
c1475 Wisdom (Folger) (1969) l. 799 (MED) Wen I com lat to þe cyte, I walke all lanys and weys to myn affynyte.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 770/2 In dede you walke the stretes.
1577 J. Grange Garden in Golden Aphroditis sig. Pj They onely walke the streates, to see and to be seene.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. x. sig. I6v All..take delight With many rather for to goe astray..Then with a few to walke the rightest way.
1653 H. More Antidote against Atheisme iii. ii. (heading) A strange Example of one Death-strucken as he walked the Streets.
1733 B. Franklin Slippery Sidewalks 11 Jan. in Papers (1959) I. 318 Walking the Street one of these late slippery Mornings, I caught two terrible Falls, which made me..get my Shoes frosted.
1824 W. Irving Tales of Traveller I. 207 I cannot tell you how vain-gloriously I walked the streets.
1849 W. Irving Oliver Goldsmith (rev. ed.) xxv. 225 Walking the Strand in grand array with bag-wig and sword.
1887 Harper's Mag. June 108 He walked the streets under the thinly misted moon.
1908 S. E. White Riverman xvii The remainder of the time he spent walking the streets and reading in the club rooms.
1962 V. C. Hall Dreamtime Justice 138 This water country would hold no tracks for the eyes of any men who walked the Kadaitja trail.
1995 Kindred Spirit Autumn 84/3 Walking the songlines with the aborigines the narrator comes to understand the essential spiritual truth of oneness with everything.
2003 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 7 Dec. iv. 13/6 Bravo Company troops..walk the broad boulevards and narrow alleyways spread out as if they're walking a jungle trail.
11. intransitive. Of a ghost, spectre, or fiend: to be seen moving about; to appear. Also of a dead person: to return as a ghost. †Also with out.Cf. walking n. 5, and theatrical slang the ghost walks at ghost n. and adj. Phrases 3.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > supernatural being > ghost or phantom > [verb (intransitive)] > appear
walka1400
spook1871
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 22611 Quen sal scine [sc. chine] þe heuennes open, þaa warlaus all sal walk þan vte.
a1500 (?a1450) Gesta Romanorum (BL Add. 9066) (1879) 408 All the chambres were take vp, safe oon, in the which was a sperite walkyng.
a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) I. clxxix. f. ciiiv He also for Monkes of Wynchester, that sayd yt his Fader Alured walkyd caused hym to be remoued vnto the newe Abbey.
1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 111v Sore subiecte to the terrours of buggues, and spyrytes, or goblyns, that walken by night and in places solitarie.
?1573 L. Lloyd Pilgrimage of Princes 101 We reade in Lucan how that the soules of Silla and Marius..were alwayes walking and appearing vnto men before they were purged by sacrifice.
1603 W. Shakespeare Hamlet i. v. 10 I am thy fathers spirit, doomd for a time To walke the night.
a1625 J. Fletcher Humorous Lieut. iii. v, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Rrr3v/1 I make your Grace my executor, and I beseech ye See my poore will fulfill'd: sure I shall walke else.
a1640 J. Fletcher & P. Massinger Lovers Progres iv. ii, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Lll3/2 Ghosts never walke till after mid-night, if I may believe my Grannam.
1722 W. Sewel Hist. Quakers (1795) I. iv. 244 It was much talked of, that spirits haunted this dungeon, and walked there.
1727 D. Defoe Ess. Hist. Apparitions x. 201 Such a Courage..would..lay all the Devils that ever walk'd.
1801 W. Scott Glenfinlas in M. G. Lewis Tales of Wonder I. 132 Alone I dare not venture there, Where walks, they say, the shrieking ghost.
1882 A. Jessopp in 19th Cent. Nov. 737 Everybody knows that it's an awful thing for a dead man to walk.
1888 R. L. Stevenson Black Arrow Prol. 12 Would ye rob the man before his body? Nay, he would walk!
1928 J. M. Peterkin Scarlet Sister Mary 278 A ghost must be walking around under the house... Maybe a plat-eye was outside, screech owls and whippoorwills had both been crying.
1998 D. Pool What Jane Austen ate & Charles Dickens Knew (new ed.) 230 If you were a suicide, until 1823 you were required to be buried by law at a crossroads with a stake through your heart... The stake was to prevent the ghost from walking.
12.
a. transitive. To follow or go over (a prescribed route) in the course of official duty (cf. to go (also walk, march, etc.) one's round (also rounds) at round n.1 24); to walk guard, said esp. of a sentinel. Also intransitive: to go on foot in procession; to follow a prescribed route in the course of official duty. Also in extended use.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > traverse on foot [verb (transitive)] > in the course of official duty
walka1430
pound1890
society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > go on foot [verb (intransitive)] > round > in the course of duty
round?1533
to go (also make, pace, walk, etc.) the rounds (also round)1580
walk1594–1600
society > travel > [verb (intransitive)] > go in procession
to go, walk (etc.) in (formerly also on, to, with) processionOE
procession1706
processionize1774
process1814
walk1863
society > armed hostility > defence > action or duty of sentry or picket > act as sentry or picket [verb (intransitive)]
sentinel1593
to stand sentry1728
picket1775
sentry1910
to walk guard1930
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > watching or keeping guard > watch or keep guard [verb (intransitive)] > act as or go on patrol
round?1533
patrol1648
to walk guard1930
punt1970
to have a punt around1974
a1430 in M. Sellers York Memorandum Bk. (1915) II. 180 (MED) A man of the a crafte and a man of the tother crafte suld walke to gyder yerely, and gedyr uppe thair pageant sylver of men of bathe craftes.
c1430 De statutis Typerarie in E. G. Stanley & T. F. Hoad Words: for Robert Burchfield's 65th Birthday 42 Ther shall no Keheryn tye [i.e. household troops] walke þe countre.
1449 in J. C. Tingey Rec. City of Norwich (1910) II. 288 (MED) It is ordeyned..that þt crafte in which þe Mayr..is inrolled shall ryde and walke next afore the Mayr at the tyme of his ridyng, and at all oþer rydynges and walkynges to the worshipp of the said crafte.
1509 S. Hawes Pastime of Pleasure (1845) viii. v. 30 That he walke not..The perambulat waye.
1580 A. Saker Narbonus i. 136 There must thou watch at thy Warde, and stand thy sentinell: bee one in the still watch, or walke thy Round.
1594–1600 Min. Archdeaconry Colchester (MS.) 99 b 19 Apr. 1596. Our perambulacion was not walked through the defalte of our vicar.
a1599 E. Spenser View State Ireland 112 in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) The Sheriffe of the Shire, whose peculiar Office it is to walke up and downe his Bayli-wicke,..to snatch up all those Runnagates [etc.].
1630 P. Massinger Picture sig. D2v Dreames, and phantasticke visions walke the round About my widdowed bed.
1639 S. Du Verger tr. J.-P. Camus Admirable Events 102 Octavian coms accompanyed with his friend Leobell to walke his accustomed round.
c1660 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1641 (1955) II. 58 I was permitted to walke the round, and view the Workes.
1706 Cerealia 125 Whilst black pots walk the round with laughing Ale Surcharg'd.
1716 B. Grosvenor Health p. i The pestilential Diseases that have..walked their Rounds in Germany, Poland..and some Parts of France.
1718 E. Settle Lady's Triumph iii. 23 Lie close till he has walk'd his Round, and the Coast will be clear again presently.
1821 J. Baillie Malcolm's Heir in Metrical Legends iii The Swathed Knight walks his rounds.
1831 W. Scott Count Robert vii, in Tales of my Landlord 4th Ser. II. 264 If the lovers have agreed, Agelastes, it is probable, walks his round, to prevent intrusion.
1835 H. Miller Scenes & Legends N. Scotl. xxi. 364 He continued to walk the round of his duties.
1863 ‘G. Eliot’ Romola II. ii. 18 He..was to walk in procession as Latin Secretary.
1930 F. A. Pottle Stretchers 51 In France we always wore large automatics when we walked guard.
1992 Jrnl. Social Hist. 26 324 In this decentralized era of American history, the fundamental unit of urban government, politics, and society was the neighborhood where the patrolman walked his rounds.
2003 J. T. Hartman Tank Driver viii. 54 I was walking guard when we received orders to move to a point northeast of Neufchateau, Belgium, and prepare to enter battle.
b. intransitive. Oxford University (a) Of a proctor or pro-proctor: to patrol the streets at night; also transitive (now historical). (b) Of the proctors: to march to and fro in Convocation House as part of the ceremony of conferring degrees.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > go on foot [verb (intransitive)] > round > in the course of duty > specific at Oxford
walk1530
society > education > educational administration > university administration > taking degree or graduation > take degree [verb (intransitive)] > walk in ceremony
walk1906
1530 in W. H. Turner Select. Rec. Oxf. (1880) 77 It was proved that the ij Proctors servaunts walkyd wt other persons as plesyd them, and theyr maisters walkyd not nor noe other for them.
1677 in A. Wood Life & Times (1892) II. 384 I [sc. a Pro-proctor] walk by the authoritie of the vicechancellour.
1677 A. Wood Life & Times (1892) II. 390 Dr. Nicholas..verie active in walking and hauling taverns.
1714 L. Eusden Verses Cambr. 9 No Proctor's Staff yet walk'd its awful Round, Nor Mid-night Purple startl'd at the Sound.
1906 J. Wells Oxf. Degree Cerem. 8 Within living memory it was necessary for each ‘grace’ to be taken separately, and the Proctors ‘walked’ for each candidate.
1906 J. Wells Oxf. Degree Cerem. 9 It is currently believed that the Proctors walk in order to give any Oxford tradesman the opportunity of ‘plucking’ their gown and protesting against the degree of a defaulting candidate.
1935 L. H. D. Buxton & S. Gibson Oxf. Univ. Ceremonies 67 To-day the Proctors walk at the degree ceremony, but formerly they also walked, according to their Manuals, on the reappointment of the bedels.
1957 D. Balsdon Oxf. Life 103 The proctors ‘walk’..in case there is..an Oxford tradesman to whom one of the candidates is a debtor and who wishes to ‘pluck’ the Proctor and prevent the man's degree.
1985 J. R. Venables & P. Moss in D. R. Venables & R. E. Clifford Acad. Dress Univ. of Oxf. (ed. 6) 10 Both Proctors..walk down the House and back in front of the Deans, which is the method of voting in the Ancient House.]
13. To go away, leave, depart.† b. intransitive. Simply or with †away, forth. Formerly often in imperative in sense ‘begone’, with a vocative of some term of opprobrium (sometimes retained in indirect narration). In later use colloquial: to be turned out, leave against one's will; (slang) to die. Cf. walk n.1 Obsolete.
a. intransitive. †Of an animal: to be stolen (obsolete). Of a thing: to be got rid of; to be carried off; (in later colloquial use) to go missing and be presumed to have been borrowed or stolen. †to let (something) walk: to dismiss (something) from attention (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > inattention > ignoring, disregard > ignore, disregard [verb (transitive)] > dismiss from consideration
to put out of ——a1250
to lay awaya1400
to set asidec1407
to lay by1439
to lay asidec1440
to let (something) walkc1450
to set apart?1473
reject1490
seclude?1531
to let go1535
to put offc1540
to set by1592
sepose1593
to think away1620
to look over ——a1640
prescind1650
seposit1657
decognize1659
inconsider1697
to set over1701
shelf1819
sink1820
shelve1847
eliminate1848
to count out1854
discounta1856
defenestrate1917
neg1987
the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > stealing animals > [verb (intransitive)] > be stolen (of animals)
walk1570
the world > space > place > removal or displacement > become displaced [verb (intransitive)] > be got rid of
walk1611
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > invisibility > be or become invisible [verb (intransitive)] > vanish or disappear
formeltc893
wendOE
witea1000
aworthc1000
fleec1200
fleetc1200
withdraw1297
vanish1303
voidc1374
unkithea1400
startc1405
disappearc1425
disparishc1425
to fall awayc1443
evanish?a1475
vade1495
sinka1500
vade1530
fly1535
fadea1538
melt?1567
dispear1600
relinquish1601
foist1603
dispersea1616
to vanish (melt, etc.) into thin aira1616
dissipate1626
retire1647
evaporate1713
merge1802
illude1820
to foam off1826
dislimn1833
furl1844
to step out1844
evanesce1855
shade1880
wisp1883
to go to the winds1884
walk1898
to do a disappearing act1913
to go west1916
to do (or take) a fade1949
to phase out1970
c1450 J. Capgrave Life St. Katherine (Arun. 396) (1893) iii. l. 672 Lete argumentys walke, þei arn not to our behoue.
1570 T. Tusser Hundreth Good Pointes Husbandry (new ed.) f. 23v There horse beinge tayed on a balke, is ready with theefe for to walke.
a1599 E. Spenser View State Ireland 18 in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) When he comes forth, he will make their Cowes and Garrons to walke, if he doe no other harme to their persons.
1611 G. Chapman May-day i. ii Nay, they [sc. houses] shall walke, thats certaine, Ile turne 'em into money.
1653 W. Blith Eng. Improver Improved (new ed.) xiii. 89 Their Horse being ty'd on a Balk, Is ready with Thief for to walk.
1898 J. D. Brayshaw Slum Silhouettes 125 A sack o' taters, or a sieve o' cherries sometimes goes awalkin' if yer don't keep yer eyes skinned.
1978 A. Melville-Ross Blindfold xiv. 87 ‘Get much theft?’ ‘Lord yes, but only the sort of stuff you'd expect to “walk” anyway.’
1989 Times 21 Sept. 13/6 Such commissions could never extend to cutlery, which, if interesting, tended to ‘walk’.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)]
wendeOE
i-wite971
ashakec975
shakeOE
to go awayOE
witea1000
afareOE
agoOE
atwendOE
awayOE
to wend awayOE
awendOE
gangOE
rimeOE
flitc1175
to fare forthc1200
depart?c1225
part?c1225
partc1230
to-partc1275
biwitec1300
atwitea1325
withdrawa1325
to draw awayc1330
passc1330
to turn one's (also the) backc1330
lenda1350
begonec1370
remuea1375
voidc1374
removec1380
to long awaya1382
twinc1386
to pass one's wayc1390
trussc1390
waive1390
to pass out ofa1398
avoida1400
to pass awaya1400
to turn awaya1400
slakec1400
wagc1400
returnc1405
to be gonea1425
muck1429
packc1450
recede1450
roomc1450
to show (a person) the feetc1450
to come offc1475
to take one's licence1475
issue1484
devoidc1485
rebatea1500
walka1500
to go adieua1522
pikea1529
to go one's ways1530
retire?1543
avaunt1549
to make out1558
trudge1562
vade?1570
fly1581
leave1593
wag1594
to get off1595
to go off1600
to put off1600
shog1600
troop1600
to forsake patch1602
exit1607
hence1614
to give offa1616
to take off1657
to move off1692
to cut (also slip) the painter1699
sheera1704
to go about one's business1749
mizzle1772
to move out1792
transit1797–1803
stump it1803
to run away1809
quit1811
to clear off1816
to clear out1816
nash1819
fuff1822
to make (take) tracks (for)1824
mosey1829
slope1830
to tail out1830
to walk one's chalks1835
to take away1838
shove1844
trot1847
fade1848
evacuate1849
shag1851
to get up and get1854
to pull out1855
to cut (the) cable(s)1859
to light out1859
to pick up1872
to sling one's Daniel or hook1873
to sling (also take) one's hook1874
smoke1893
screw1896
shoot1897
voetsak1897
to tootle off1902
to ship out1908
to take a (run-out, walk-out, etc.) powder1909
to push off1918
to bugger off1922
biff1923
to fuck off1929
to hit, split or take the breeze1931
to jack off1931
to piss offa1935
to do a mick1937
to take a walk1937
to head off1941
to take a hike1944
moulder1945
to chuff off1947
to get lost1947
to shoot through1947
skidoo1949
to sod off1950
peel1951
bug1952
split1954
poop1961
mugger1962
frig1965
society > travel > aspects of travel > departure, leaving, or going away > depart, leave, or go away [verb (intransitive)]
to come awayeOE
wendeOE
i-wite971
ashakec975
shakeOE
to go awayOE
witea1000
afareOE
agoOE
awayOE
dealc1000
goOE
awendOE
rimeOE
to go one's wayOE
flitc1175
depart?c1225
partc1230
to-partc1275
atwitea1325
withdrawa1325
to turn one's (also the) backc1330
lenda1350
begonec1370
remuea1375
removec1380
to long awaya1382
twinc1386
to pass one's wayc1390
trussc1390
to turn awaya1400
returnc1405
to be gonea1425
recede1450
roomc1450
to come offc1475
to take one's licence1475
issue1484
walka1500
to go adieua1522
pikea1529
avaunt1549
trudge1562
vade?1570
discoast1571
leave1593
wag1594
to go off1600
troop1600
hence1614
to set on one's foota1616
to pull up one's stumps1647
quit1811
to clear out1816
slope1830
to walk one's chalks1835
shove1844
to roll out1850
to pull out1855
to light out1859
to take a run-out powder1909
to push off (also along)1923
the world > life > death > [verb (intransitive)]
forsweltc888
sweltc888
adeadeOE
deadc950
wendeOE
i-wite971
starveOE
witea1000
forfereOE
forthfareOE
forworthc1000
to go (also depart , pass, i-wite, chare) out of this worldOE
queleOE
fallOE
to take (also nim, underfo) (the) deathOE
to shed (one's own) blood?a1100
diec1135
endc1175
farec1175
to give up the ghostc1175
letc1200
aswelta1250
leavea1250
to-sweltc1275
to-worthc1275
to yield (up) the ghost (soul, breath, life, spirit)c1290
finea1300
spilla1300
part?1316
to leese one's life-daysa1325
to nim the way of deathc1325
to tine, leave, lose the sweatc1330
flit1340
trance1340
determinec1374
disperisha1382
to go the way of all the eartha1382
to be gathered to one's fathers1382
miscarryc1387
shut1390
goa1393
to die upa1400
expirea1400
fleea1400
to pass awaya1400
to seek out of lifea1400–50
to sye hethena1400
tinea1400
trespass14..
espirec1430
to end one's days?a1439
decease1439
to go away?a1450
ungoc1450
unlivec1450
to change one's lifea1470
vade1495
depart1501
to pay one's debt to (also the debt of) naturea1513
to decease this world1515
to go over?1520
jet1530
vade1530
to go westa1532
to pick over the perch1532
galpa1535
to die the death1535
to depart to God1548
to go home1561
mort1568
inlaikc1575
shuffle1576
finish1578
to hop (also tip, pitch over, drop off, etc.) the perch1587
relent1587
unbreathe1589
transpass1592
to lose one's breath1596
to make a die (of it)1611
to go offa1616
fail1623
to go out1635
to peak over the percha1641
exita1652
drop1654
to knock offa1657
to kick upa1658
to pay nature her due1657
ghost1666
to march off1693
to die off1697
pike1697
to drop off1699
tip (over) the perch1699
to pass (also go, be called, etc.) to one's reward1703
sink1718
vent1718
to launch into eternity1719
to join the majority1721
demise1727
to pack off1735
to slip one's cable1751
turf1763
to move off1764
to pop off the hooks1764
to hop off1797
to pass on1805
to go to glory1814
sough1816
to hand in one's accounts1817
to slip one's breatha1819
croak1819
to slip one's wind1819
stiffen1820
weed1824
buy1825
to drop short1826
to fall (a) prey (also victim, sacrifice) to1839
to get one's (also the) call1839
to drop (etc.) off the hooks1840
to unreeve one's lifeline1840
to step out1844
to cash, pass or send in one's checks1845
to hand in one's checks1845
to go off the handle1848
to go under1848
succumb1849
to turn one's toes up1851
to peg out1852
walk1858
snuff1864
to go or be up the flume1865
to pass outc1867
to cash in one's chips1870
to go (also pass over) to the majority1883
to cash in1884
to cop it1884
snuff1885
to belly up1886
perch1886
to kick the bucket1889
off1890
to knock over1892
to pass over1897
to stop one1901
to pass in1904
to hand in one's marble1911
the silver cord is loosed1911
pip1913
to cross over1915
conk1917
to check out1921
to kick off1921
to pack up1925
to step off1926
to take the ferry1928
peg1931
to meet one's Maker1933
to kiss off1935
to crease it1959
zonk1968
cark1977
to cark it1979
to take a dirt nap1981
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. ii. 15 (MED) Leif brother, let vs be walkand.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. BBBviii If than the porter wolde come forthe sodeynly & all to beet vs, and bydde vs walke forthe vnthryftes wt sorowe.
a1529 J. Skelton Poems against Garnesche in Poet Wks. (1843) I. 128 Sche praiid yow walke, on Goddes halfe!
1530 W. Tyndale Pract. Prelates sig. Gvv The Cardinall bad him walcke a vilayne.
1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue ii. iv. sig. Giiii Walk drab walke. Nay (quoth she) walk knaue walk.
1607 T. Middleton Michaelmas Terme ii. sig. Dv It stands vpon the losse of my credit to Night, if I walke without money.
1667 A. Bailey Spightful Sister v. ii. 54 Bids him walk away, when he see me, That it might in time abate my Jealousie.
1712 J. Swift Jrnl. to Stella 26 Dec. (1948) II. 589 Ld Bol—— told me I must walk away to day when dinner was done, because Ld Tr and he and anothr were to enter on Business.
1858 A. Trollope Dr. Thorne I. iv. 85 If the governor were to walk, I think Porlock would console himself with the thirty thousand a-year.
1902 S. E. White Blazed Trail xxviii. 195 If I want to discharge a man, he walks without any question.
c. intransitive. Cricket. Of a batter: to dismiss oneself voluntarily by walking towards the pavilion without waiting to be given out by the umpire; also with out.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > batting > bat [verb (intransitive)] > be out
to run out1756
fall1829
go1831
walk1960
1878 Times 25 June 10/4 On renewal of play Mr. Gilbert took up the bowling at Woof's wicket, and several batsmen on whom Sussex relied did little more than walk in and out.]
1960 J. Fingleton Four Chukkas to Austral. v. 48 Three runs later..Graveney should have walked but O'Neill dropped him at third slip.
1964 D. Sheppard Parson's Pitch vi. 107 I never saw him not walk out immediately he was caught at the wicket. He never waited for the umpire's decision.
1973 Advocate-News (Barbados) 11 Dec. 14/2 Brian Close, captain of the Robins XI, said: ‘A batsman who knows he is out should walk. That is the way we play the game.’
1998 Birmingham Post (Nexis) 1 Aug. 9 Mark Ramprakash spooned one up to extra cover, Jacques Kallis lurched forward to scoop up the catch, yet Ramps didn't walk.
d. intransitive. = to walk out 3a at Phrasal verbs 1, to walk out 3b at Phrasal verbs 1. Also: to quit a job. Cf. also to walk away at Phrasal verbs 1.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > working > labour relations > participate in labour relations [verb (intransitive)] > strike > suddenly or unofficially
to walk out1881
walk1976
1976 National Observer (U.S.) 14 Aug. 16/3 Our baby sitter founded the Sitters' Union. They get TV, cookies, and root beer, or they walk.
1976 National Observer (U.S.) 28 Aug. 16/1 The sentry in the lobby was a representative of Universal Pictures. His mission: to keep an anxious eye out for ‘walkers’ and try, if he could, to find out why they walked, since there was still time to do some patching on the film.
1978 S. Brill Teamsters v. 180 Carey called a strike, and all four thousand of his UPS members walked.
1983 W. F. Nolan Hammett, Life at Edge i. 6 He would not lie to keep a job. And he walked.
1995 Sat. Night (Toronto) Nov. 59/1 ‘The client is going to walk.’..There's nothing anyone can do.
2007 M. G. Brown Beyond Balanced Scorecard iv. 81 After multiple bad experiences..the vast majority [of customers] do not fill out a survey or complain—they just walk.
14. transitive. To walk along (a line); to perambulate (a boundary), sometimes in an official capacity (cf. sense 12).to walk the chalk: see Phrases 10.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > traverse on foot [verb (transitive)] > round > a boundary or the boundaries of
perambulate1450
peramble1480
walk1569
1569 Bp. J. Jewel Injuntions sig. B.iiij You the Churchwardens and sworn men, with certaine others of the substanciall men of your Parishe, doe yearelye walke the accustomed boundes of your Parish.
1602–5 Min. Archdeaconry Colchester (MS.) 104, 1604. They did not walke the bounds of ther parishe.
1708 E. Hatton New View London I. 316/2 The Parish contains (as I had it from the Clerk, who yearly walks the Boundaries) as follows: Holywell str., [etc.].
1876 F. W. Farrar In Days of Youth xxiii. 226 You cannot walk the dim borderland between vice and virtue without knowing it.
1912 R. B. Booth Five Years N.Z. 26 A shepherd resides at some convenient place on the boundary, whence it is his duty to walk or ride this boundary at least once a day, and see that no sheep have crossed it.
1987 D. Hall Seasons at Eagle Pond iv. 83 Before heavy snow it was time for fencing, to walk the perimeters of the two pastures for cattle and sheep.
1988 Harrowsmith Jan. 41/3 When North America had lots of farmers, lots of people knew how to get up at night to nurse a sick calf or put in a long day haying or patiently walking a fence line.
15. transitive. To move on foot upon (a surface, the ground, the sea, etc.); to tread. Cf. to walk on water at Phrases 18.to walk the deck: see Phrases 7. to walk the plank: see plank n. Phrases 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > walk upon or tread [verb (transitive)]
to step (up)on ——OE
beatOE
treadc1384
betread1495
overwalk1533
foot1557
walk1574
trample1595
reiterate1648
to step foot in1864
pound1890
society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > traverse on foot [verb (transitive)] > walk on or over
betread1495
foot1557
walk1574
trample1595
1574 R. Robinson Rewarde of Wickednesse sig. I3 In the market place, sometime where I with pryde, More like a Prince then otherwise had walkd the stones, [etc.].
1638 J. Milton Lycidas in Obsequies 25 in Justa Edouardo King Through the dear might of him that walk'd the waves.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost v. 200 Yee that in Waters glide, and yee that walk The Earth, and stately tread, or lowly creep. View more context for this quotation
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vii. 503 Aire, Water, Earth, By Fowl, Fish, Beast, was flown, was swum, was walkt . View more context for this quotation
1774 Misc. & Fugitive Pieces I. 336 The Muse of Moliere..would still be walking the Stage, if the Desire of Novelty did not in Time make us weary of that which we have too frequently admired.
1885 R. L. Stevenson & F. Stevenson Dynamiter xiii. 197 He continued to walk the pavements.
1967 B. Harper Kettle on Fuchsia 92 Systematically he walked the woolshed floor, saw that every sheep was thoroughly shorn, not a tuft left, and kept an account of the tallies.
1991 J. Diski Happily ever After xii. 142 He was back in his cloister, walking the weathered stone in solemn measured steps.
16. With emphasis on the gait or pace.† c. intransitive. Of a vehicle, a ship, a stream: to go very slowly. Obsolete.
a. intransitive. Of a horse, dog, or other quadruped. †Also with rider as subject (obsolete).When walking, quadrupeds always retain two feet on the ground, and during a part of the step three or (in slow walking) four feet. With reference to a horse's gait, opposed to canter, trot, gallop, etc.: see also note at walk n.1 5a(b).
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > ride a horse (or other animal) [verb (intransitive)] > ride with an easy pace > at a walk
walk1607
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > horse defined by speed or gait > [verb (intransitive)] > walk
walk1607
1607 G. Markham Cavelarice ii. xiii. 123 If hee bee more willing to trott then to walke, to gallopp then to trot, or more willing to bound and leape, then either walke, trott or gallop.
1681 London Gaz. No. 1639/4 Lost.., a bright Bay Gelding, 14 hands high,..Walks, Trots, and Gallops, something dull in going, but will leap very well.
1764 T. Harmer Observ. Passages Script. xxvii. vi. 284 Horses..walking in state and running in full career.
1819 W. Scott Bride of Lammermoor vi, in Tales of my Landlord 3rd Ser. III. 86 Ravenswood walked on with equal deliberation until he reached the head of the avenue... When he had passed the upper gate, he turned his horse.
1863 W. C. Baldwin Afr. Hunting vii. 252 It was only the dogs walking among the dead leaves.
1930 Times 24 Mar. 4/2 It is almost impossible to tell by watching a horse walk in the parade ring whether he is plated, or whether he is carrying, to use a racing term, ‘the heavies’.
1999 A. Levy Fruit of Lemon 179 As I got out of the car a large black dog walked slowly up to me and nuzzled its head onto my hand.
b. intransitive. Of a human being or other biped, contrasted with run, hop, etc. Cf. walk n.1 8.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > walk, tread, or step [verb (intransitive)]
stepOE
bistepa1250
to set footc1300
treada1400–50
foota1425
trade1547
stride1596
ambulate1598
purmeinea1614
walka1628
conculcate1657
to tread the ground1691
toddle1819
sashay1878
a1628 J. Preston Breast-plate of Faith (1631) 163 A childe may runne, and another man may walke..the child should have it [sc. the prize], though he that walkes come to the goale before him.
1657 R. Ligon True Hist. Barbados 60 They are a kind of Stares, for they walk, and do not hop as other birds.
1735 J. Atkins Voy. Guinea 49 Straining in their Infancy to walk; for they are never taught, but creep upon a Matt on all Fours, till they have Strength to erect themselves.
1760 R. Griffith & E. Griffith Lett. Henry & Frances (ed. 2) II. ccxxi. 144 Why shall a Man practise Coupees, who only means to walk?
1815 J. F. Stephens Shaw's Gen. Zool. IX. i. 65 The progressive motion of this bird is not by walking but hopping.
1871 J. Burroughs Wake-robin 222 Among the land-birds, the grouse, pigeon, quails, larks, and various blackbirds, walk.
1894 Daily News 10 Aug. 5/3 A bluejacket never walks, when an order is given, but does everything at the double.
1937 J. C. Powys Maiden Castle ii. iii. 112 This..baby..could just walk.
1992 Newsweek 18 May 60/3 When neurologically damaged monkeys were injected with a substance found in nerve cells, they recovered their ability to walk and climb.
2007 Eye Spy No. 48. 17/1 Other exhibits..including..an ‘artificial leg’ that could help the user run or walk more quickly.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > rate of motion > slowness > move or go slowly [verb (intransitive)] > go very slowly (of inanimates)
walk1673
1673 T. Shadwell Epsom-Wells i. i. 9 Let the Coach walk up the Hill, we'll follow it.
1796 W. Gilbert Hurricane 42 The distant sleeping stream, that walks With slow and measured lapse, his round of ages In the circling mead.
1827 R. Pollok Course of Time I. i. 27 Round his sacred hill, a streamlet walked, Warbling the holy melodies of heaven.
1852 G. C. Mundy Our Antipodes III. ii. 80 Our steamer ran, or rather walked—for she could make no running—plump upon a rock off Bradley's Head.
1865 R. W. Emerson Let. in Harper's Mag. (1884) Feb. 464/1 The train walked all the way.
1900 W. S. Churchill London to Ladysmith 54 The speed was reduced—the engine walked warily. The railway officials scanned the track.
d. transitive. To go through (a dance, esp. a minuet) at a walk. Cf. to walk through —— at Phrasal verbs 2. Also figurative.
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society > leisure > dancing > style or manner of dancing > [verb (transitive)]
walk1742
hobble1762
to walk through ——1824
traipse1835
1742 H. Fielding Joseph Andrews II. iii. iii. 30 I comforted myself, with regard to Dancing, that I had learned a little in my Youth, and could walk a Minuet genteelly enough. View more context for this quotation
1810 A. Boswell Edinburgh 27 To walk a minuet with becoming grace.
1828 E. Bulwer-Lytton Pelham II. iii. 14 They just walk a quadrille or spin a waltz..hang dancing, 'tis so vulgar.
1859 Habits Good Society v. 207 I do not attempt to deny that the quadrille, as now walked, is ridiculous.
1863 C. C. Clarke Shakespeare-characters xiv. 362 He walked his minuet in life, and he danced out of it with a caper.
1997 Sydney Morning Herald (Nexis) 26 Apr. 29 She walked a minuet, her head moving from side to side like a turtle.
e. intransitive. To win a contest easily or without effort, in various phrases. to walk over (the course): (literal, of a horse) to go over the course at a walking pace, so as to be accounted the winner of a race in which there is no opposition; (in extended use) to win a race or other contest with little or no effort; also to walk over (an opponent), to be declared the winner of a contest because of the opponent's failure to compete; to walk away from, to outdistance easily in a race (in quot. figurative). Also to walk away with, to win (a prize), steal (a show), with ease; to walk home, to win a contest with ease; to walk round (U.S. colloquial): to beat (an opponent) easily. to walk in: to win an election easily. Cf. to win in a walk at walk n.1 Phrases 4.
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the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > hold in contempt [verb (transitive)] > treat with contempt
unworthc950
to make scorn at, toc1320
to take in vainc1330
despise1377
rebuke?a1400
despite1481
indign1490
to make a mumming of1523
flock1545
scandalize1566
to make coarse account of1578
misregard1582
overpeer1583
to make a pish at (also of)1593
to make a push at1600
to bite by the nose1602
blurta1625
to piss ona1625
to make wash-way of, with1642
trample1646
huff1677
snouch1761
to walk over (the course)1779
to run over ——1816
snoot1928
shaft1959
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > horse racing > engage in horse racing [verb (intransitive)] > win > by default of competition
to walk over (the course)1779
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > have or gain mastery or superiority over [verb (transitive)] > overcome or defeat > easily
to eat (also have) (a person or thing) for breakfast1693
to walk over (the course)1823
to run (also make) rings round (also around)1875
to shut out1881
to walk away from1883
to walk round1901
to roll over1937
to walk (all) over (a person)1976
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > make a success of [verb (transitive)] > win (any contest or prize) > win easily
to walk over (the course)1862
to walk away with1951
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > succeed or be a success [verb (intransitive)] > win > win easily
to win in a canter1853
to win in a walk1858
romp1869
to walk over (the course)1903
to walk home1932
to coast home1934
walk1937
to romp it1967
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > succeed or be a success [verb (intransitive)] > achieve success (of persons) > succeed against expectations
to walk in1977
1779 J. Warner in J. H. Jesse G. Selwyn & his Contemp. (1844) IV. 245 A little on this side the park is Sir John Thorold's, who, you see by the papers, is walking over the course for the county.
1796 in Newcastle Memorandum-book 1797 sig. S2v/1 Boroughbridge. Wednesday, Oct. 5... Mr G. Crompton's Dolphin walked over.
1823 ‘J. Bee’ Slang (at cited word) ‘To walk over’ another, is..to set him at naught, as a racer which is so vastly superior to other cattle that none dare start, and he walks over the course.
1832 P. Egan Bk. Sports 117/2 At Knutsford..he won the Gold Cup..; and walked over for the Pengwern Stakes at Holywell.
1862 Cornhill Mag. Jan. 26 I was promptly assured that..I should be elected without opposition..: in short, I should walk over the course.
1883 R. Broughton Belinda III. iv. iii. 204 ‘Beaten by a banjo!’ says she tragically; ‘if it had not been for the banjo I should have walked away from her.’
1890 Rules of Racing in Encycl. Sport (1898) II. 227 When one horse pays forfeit for a match the other need not walk over.
1901 Westm. Gaz. 29 June 9/3 To use a colloquial expression, they ‘walked round’ Gamble and Davies.
1903 P. G. Wodehouse Prefect's Uncle ix. 136 If you'd been there to bowl we should have walked over.
1932 Sun (Baltimore) 21 Dec. 12/1 Jack Biener ‘Walks’ Home... Jack Biener, favorite at $5 for $2, simply spreadeagled the field and won in a common canter by eight lengths.
1951 N. Coward Star Quality 139 It had been the..play's provincial try-out..and..Leonora had unquestionably walked away with the show.
1958 Times 11 Aug. 2/7 Treorchy—a magnificent choir—walked away with the prize for big choirs.
1977 P. Hill Fanatics 125 If the Christian Democrats put enough candidates up at the next election they'll walk in.
1998 Today's Golfer May 29/2 Do you think Tiger Woods will walk away with it again this year?
2007 Nation (Kenya) (Nexis) 25 Feb. Clancy from the Simon Wachira stable walked home easily with Calendar Girl left over six lengths.
f. intransitive, and transitive with it. colloquial. Esp. in a sporting contest: to win easily; (more generally) to achieve (one's aim) with little effort.
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the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > succeed or be a success [verb (intransitive)] > win > win easily
to win in a canter1853
to win in a walk1858
romp1869
to walk over (the course)1903
to walk home1932
to coast home1934
walk1937
to romp it1967
1937 E. Partridge Dict. Slang 935/2 Walk, to win easily: Public Schools' coll.: from ca. 1895.
1976 Times 12 Feb. 10/2 I went to the British [championship] thinking I'd walk it... This was a mistake... It was a close shave.
1988 Athletics Weekly 30 Sept. 15/3 He still managed to take almost 17 seconds off the Olympic record, ‘walking’ to the fastest time of the year.
1999 Gloucester Citizen (Nexis) 16 Mar. 10 Lennox Lewis should have walked it. 336 of his punches landed to Holyfield's 120.
2005 L. Kellaway Who moved my Blackberry? (2006) i. 10 He's doing Common Entrance this year—we've put him down for Eton, and according to his head teacher, he's expected to walk it.
g. intransitive. Jazz. To play a walking bass or walking beat. See walking bass n., walking beat n. at walking adj. Compounds. Also occasionally transitive.
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society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > perform music [verb (intransitive)] > specific style or technique > in jazz
go1926
ride1929
swing1931
tear1932
to play (it) straight1933
groove1935
riff1935
give1936
jumpc1938
to beat it out1945
walk1951
cook1954
move1955
wail1955
stretch1961
1951 L. Hughes Montage of Dream Deferred 12 Down in the bass That steady beat Walking walking walking Like marching feet.
1952 Mademoiselle Dec. 118 Up here in the north all the jazzmen are playing too fast or too slow—nobody walks.
1956 M. W. Stearns Story of Jazz (1957) xvii. 205 The string-bass began to ‘walk’, or play melodic figures instead of pounding away at one or two notes.
1970 New Yorker 23 May 88/2 Then Hall soloed, while Gomez ‘walked’ behind him.
1988 G. Lees Meet me at Jim & Andy's viii. 127 The ‘legit’ technique..freed the bass from its rudimentary function of walking simple lines, usually made up of roots and fifths.
2002 L. Underwood Blue Melody i. 3 If you want to learn how to walk a bass line and really swing, you have to get that feeling in your fingers.
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society > trade and finance > [verb (transitive)] > frequent for purpose of trade
traffic1547
trade1554
walk1608
1608 H. Parrot Epigrams lxviii. sig. D2 Tis done the time whiles you but walk the'xchange.
1622 H. Peacham Compl. Gentleman i. 15 In Uenice likewise, every Mechanique is a Magnifico, though his magnificenza walketh the Market but with a Chequin.
1649 W. Bullock Virginia impartially Examined 43 Let him then enquire of the principallest straights and Spanish Merchants, walking the Exchange.
1750 S. Johnson Rambler No. 182. ⁋6 To walk the exchange with a face of importance.
1854 2nd Ann. Rep. N.Y. Young Men's Christian Assoc. 46 in Christian Pamphlets VIII. After only a few years, he is one of the heaviest fellows who walk the Exchange.
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the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > sleep > [verb (intransitive)] > sleep-walk
to walk in one's sleep1596
walka1616
somnambulize1832
somnambulate1833
sleepwalk1923
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of internal organs > stupor or coma > have stupor or coma [verb (intransitive)] > sleep-walk
to walk in one's sleep1596
walka1616
somnambulize1832
somnambulate1833
sleepwalk1923
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) v. i. 3 When was it shee [sc. Lady Macbeth] last walk'd ? View more context for this quotation
19. transitive. Shooting. To start (game birds) by beating the ground with pointers or setters. Usually with up.
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the world > food and drink > hunting > fowling > hunt birds [verb (transitive)] > cause birds to rise
flush1450
to set up1496
spring1531
to tread up1808
walk1847
1847 Spirit of Times 4 Dec. 484/2 One must walk up much game in going to where a dog has set at a distance.
1873 G. S. Baden-Powell New Homes for Old Country 255 A good dog for putting them [sc. quail] up would be very valuable, but [etc.]... Walking up quail, even with the help of a chain, is equally unsatisfactory.
1900 G. C. Brodrick Mem. & Impr. 8 Year in and year out they lived at home,..walking up their own game with the aid of pointers.
1940 J. Colville Diary 5–15 Sept. in Fringes of Power (1985) 240 We walked partridges most days, played tennis and gambled.
1987 New Yorker 3 Aug. 31/1 I'd hunted for birds with my father, walked them up out of the rosebush thickets.
2003 P. F. Blakeley Successful Shotgunning vii. 109 The way the gun is carried when walking up birds can have a dramatic influence on the outcome of the shot.
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the mind > emotion > love > courtship or wooing > court or engage in courtship [verb (intransitive)] > walk out with person as lover > keep company as lovers
walk1849
to go together1871
twos1920
1849 C. Dickens David Copperfield (1850) v. 48 No sweethearts, I b'lieve?.. No person walks with her.
1876 C. M. Yonge Womankind xxiii. 195 There is a semi~engaged state of ‘walking’ with a man on trial.
1886 T. Hardy Mayor of Casterbridge I. xx. 246 She..no longer said of young men and women that they ‘walked together’, but that they were ‘engaged’.
1896 A. E. Housman Shropshire Lad xxv. 36 Rose Harland on her Sundays out Walked with the better man.
V. Causative uses.
21. transitive. To lead, drive, or ride (a horse) at a walk; to exercise an animal (esp. a horse or dog) by causing it to walk. Also with out, and in extended use. Cf. to walk hots at hot adj. and n.1 Phrases 16.
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society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > ride (a horse or other animal) [verb (transitive)] > ride at a walk
walk1485
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping or management of horses > [verb (transitive)] > exercise a horse
walk1485
to exercise the great horse1644
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping dogs or cats > [verb (transitive)] > exercise dog
walk1485
1485 Malory's Morte Darthur (Caxton) v. ix. sig. i.viiv A man armed walkynge his hors easyly by a wodes syde.
1562 in F. J. Furnivall Child-marriages, Divorces, & Ratifications Diocese Chester (1897) 82 This deponent scarslie rested walkinge the horses at the doore, half or quarter of an howre, when one callid hym in to his Mistris.
1575 G. Gascoigne Noble Arte Venerie xiii. 30 When you haue thus walked them [sc. hounds] in the morning..the Hunte must go into some fayre medow, and call all his dogges about him.
1583 B. Melbancke Philotimus (new ed.) sig. Si If you be chafed you shal be walked, if you be hot you may be cooled.
1615 G. Markham Countrey Contentments i. vii. 103 Touching ayring or walking of grey-hounds,..it must dewlie be done euerie morning before sunne-rise, [etc.].]
a1648 W. Percy Cuck-queanes & Cuckolds Errants (1824) iv. ii. 48 Sirrha Rooke, take my Nagge, and see you walk him faire and soft to Colchester.
1681 Heraclitus Ridens 6 Sept. 1/1 Let's walk them a little; for they have run their heats, and must be rubb'd down well.
1707 J. Mortimer Whole Art Husbandry 152 The first Year Saddle Colts should be only walked.
1753 Country Gentleman's Compan. I. ii. 29 Keeping your first large Circumference, walk your Horse about on your Left-hand, as oft as you did on your Right.
1833 T. Hook Parson's Daughter I. vii. 139 As he walked his cob [he was riding] back from the fields.
1866 C. Kingsley Hereward the Wake I. xvii. 319 You may walk your bloodhound over his grave to-morrow without finding him.
1872 W. Black Strange Adventures Phaeton vi We had walked the horses nearly to the end of the pleasant stretch of beechwood.
1902 A. E. T. Watson Hunting in Encycl. Brit. XXIX. 365/2 The kennel huntsman is generally called the ‘feeder’. It is his business to look after the pack which is not hunting, to walk them out, to prepare the food for the hunting pack.
1958 D. S. Daniell Hunt Royal (1962) i. 15 He snapped his fingers and an aide-de-camp walked his horse forward.
1994 M. Gee Crime Story (1996) ii. 21 Gwen walked the dog each day as a favour to Olivia.
22.
a. transitive. To force or help (a person) to walk by holding the arms or pushing from behind.Cf. to walk Spanish at Spanish adv.
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the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > walk upon or tread [verb (transitive)] > compel to walk
walk1578
to walk Spanish1838
to shank off1848
to march off1884
sashay1928
1578 J. Rolland Seuin Seages 240 Thair was a Law than maid in the Cietie, Gif ony man was condampnit to die On the Gallous,..Than the Schiref suld walk him all that nicht In his harnes, the morne quhill it war day.
1809 R. K. Porter Travelling Sketches Russia & Sweden II. xxviii. 21 The poor wretch, attended by..the police, had been walked through the streets; in order to shew him to the populace.
1847 C. Dickens Dombey & Son (1848) xii. 112 Mr. Feeder himself held a glass of water to his [sc. the boy's] lips, and the butler walked him up and down several times between his own chair and the sideboard.
1853 C. Dickens Bleak House xxii. 222 Thirdly, Mr. Bucket has to take Jo by the arm a little above the elbow and walk him on before him.
1918 F. Hackett Ireland viii. 230 Good bewildered people who never knew they were deemed blameworthy until they were walked out to the guillotine.
1996 M. Burgess Junk (1997) xxiii. 207 The door opened and two ambulancemen came out. They had Col between them. He was in a state, gauching out as they walked him along.
b. transitive. To guide, accompany, or escort (a person) on foot, esp. in a specified direction. Also with adverbs, as off, out, etc. †walk your body (imperative) (Scottish): take yourself off, begone (obsolete).
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society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > traverse on foot [verb (transitive)] > cause to walk or conduct on a walk
walk1607
society > travel > aspects of travel > departure, leaving, or going away > [phrase] > exhortation to depart or go away
begonec1370
hence with —— !1534
via1600
show your shapes1699
walk your bodyc1730
run along (with you)!1803
to jump (or go (and) jump) in the lake1912
imshi1916
1607 E. Grimeston tr. S. Goulart Admirable & Memorable Hist. 332 One of them..was desired to lead the Bride a dance. He tooke her by the hand, and walked her a turne or two.
1630 J. Taylor Great Eater of Kent in Wks. i. 144 Now Gentlemen, as I haue walked you amongst the Trees, and thorow the Wood, I pray set downe, and take a taste or two more of this Banquet.
1667 S. Pepys Diary 14 July (1974) VIII. 338 Then I carried them to see my Cosen Pepys's house..and then I walked them to the wood hard by.
1717 G. Berkeley in Life & Lett. (1871) 547 He walked us round the town.
c1730 A. Ramsay To Æolus 11 Pray wauk your body, if you please, Gae gowl and tooly on the seas.
1818 T. Jefferson Writings (1830) IV. 448 He walked me backwards and forwards before the President's door for half an hour.
1848 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair lvii. 515 She slaved, toiled..for old Sedley, walked him out sedulously into Kensington Gardens.
1884 C. M. Yonge Armourer's Prentices I. ii. 38 Stephen and Ambrose found themselves walked out of the cloister of St. Grimbald, and the gates shut behind them.
1912 J. S. Fletcher in Throne 7 Aug. 224/2 He soon drew me out of the office to walk me off in the direction of Gray's Inn Road.
1975 N.Y. Times 14 Oct. 50/5 We walked her out to the car.
1998 T. Clancy Rainbow Six v. 97 The floor director walked him off the set to the makeup room, where the powder was removed, then let him walk himself out to where his car was parked.
23. With a thing as object.† a. transitive. To send round (drink). Cf. sense 5g. Obsolete. rare.† b. transitive. Campanology. To ring (a change) in such a way that the sequence of bells is repeated several times (see quot. 1671). Obsolete. rare.† c. transitive. Cribbage. To move (the pegs) illegally (see quots.). Obsolete.
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the world > food and drink > drink > providing or serving drink > [verb (transitive)] > circulate drink
troll1575
walk1581
to push the bottle about1697
send1770
birlea1800
1581 A. Hall tr. Homer 10 Bks. Iliades i. 14 A seemely sight it was to see the seamen plye their teeth, Wherewith the Cups apace they walke.
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society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > playing instruments > bell-ringing > [verb (transitive)] > change ringing
walk1671
to bring round1883
1671 Tintinnalogia 53 All changes are to be Rang either by walking them (as the term is) or else Whole-pulls, or Half-pulls. By walking them, is meant, that the bells go round, four, six, eight times or more, in one change, which is commonly used by young Practisers.
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society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > cribbage > [verb (intransitive)] > cheat
walk1803
1803 Sporting Mag. 21 326 Walking the pegs—at cribbage, means either your adversary putting his own pegs forward, or those of your's back.
1864 J. C. Hotten Slang Dict. (new ed.) ‘Walking the pegs’, a method of cheating at the game of cribbage by a species of legerdemain, the sharper either moving his own pegs forward, or those of his antagonist backward, according to the state of the game.
d. transitive. Nautical. To cause (something) to move or turn by walking; spec. to turn (a capstan) by walking round it; to haul in or let out (an anchor) by walking round the capstan, by walking away with a rope, or (in later use) by using a windlass with or without mechanical assistance. Also: to haul (an airship) by walking. Frequently with adverb, as up, back.
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society > travel > travel by water > other nautical operations > [verb (transitive)] > turn capstan
walk1882
society > travel > air or space travel > ballooning > carry in or as in balloon [verb (transitive)] > haul by walking
walk1933
1806 J. Davis Post-Captain xii. 74 The sailors were making a run of the tackle-falls, and Mr. Hurricane..was heard to exclaim,..‘Step out, men! step out! Walk away with him, cheerly!’]
1834 C. Martelli Naval Officer's Guide 195 Man the falls, and walk the anchor up.
1882 G. S. Nares Seamanship (ed. 6) 118 Walk the yard up to the derrick head with the hawser.
1882 G. S. Nares Seamanship (ed. 6) 203 Walk the anchor up the bow.
1882 G. S. Nares Seamanship (ed. 6) 172 Walk back the capstan.
1908 Man. Seamanship (1915) I. viii. 215 The falls are then walked back until the life-lines have the weight of the boat.
1933 Sun (Baltimore) 27 Oct. 7/2 The..passengers disembarked..before the huge dirigible was ‘walked’ into the hangar.
1938 Times 7 Sept. 9/1 He watched a crew ‘walk’ a balloon out of a shed and connect it to a winch for hoisting.
1965 Basic Machines (U.S. Navy Educ. & Training Program Devel. Center) (rev. ed.) i. 1/1 Each machine used aboard ship has made the physical work load of the crew lighter; you don't walk the capstan to raise the anchor, or heave on a line to sling cargo aboard.
1998 Balloons & Airships July 19/3 There was a pleasing crowd eager to watch and/or help so it was all hands on to walk the balloon away from the huge hangar and into the open field.
2007 D. J. House Ship Handling 230 A large vessel with heavy anchors would generally not contemplate ‘Letting the Anchor Go’, but walk the anchor back all the way under the power of the windlass.
e. transitive. To wheel or push (a bicycle, motorcycle, etc.), as opposed to riding it.
ΚΠ
1891 San Antonio (Texas) Daily Light 4 Dec. The officer went back and walked the bicycle over to the police station.
1916 Jrnl. Hygiene 15 378 He walked his bicycle some 200 yards to where fly boys were awaiting him.
1968 F. Exley Fan's Notes v. 184 How did you get the bicycle up the hill? Ride it up? Walk it up?
1980 Washington Post (Nexis) 5 May (Metro section) c5 He and a friend were walking their mopeds east-bound across the bridge.
1998 S. E. Ely In Jewish Texas xx. 179 We started walking the motorbike towards Stanhope.
f. transitive. Of a ship: to tow (another ship) into harbour. rare.
ΚΠ
1932 E. R. Cooper Mardles from Suffolk xx. 179 The Lowestoft took our towrope and walked us home at about ten knots.
g. transitive. To swing (a gun) so as to describe a straight line on the target with successive hits.
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society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of propelling missile > discharge of firearms > fire (a gun) [verb (transitive)] > aim (gun) > in specific manner
weather1588
lead1892
poke1898
walk1944
1944 Sun (Baltimore) 15 June 2/5 I..aimed for his groin and walked my tommy gun right up his middle and blew him 90 feet away.
1969 I. Kemp Brit. G.I. in Vietnam xi. 187 ‘Charlie’ really seemed to be walking that mortar up behind me; he was right on target with his shots.
1987 Internat. Combat Arms Sept. 80/1 Both SMGs can be ‘walked’ accurately onto targets up to 100 meters away.
h. transitive. To cause to move as though walking.
ΚΠ
1949 W. L. Gresham Limbo Tower 191 She walked her fingers across the upholstery toward his knee.
1991 New Internationalist Mar. 29/1 Louisa, aged five and also adopted, was walking her doll.
2005 Ottawa Citizen (Nexis) 12 Jan. b6 You spend all that money and you can't walk the puppets properly.
24.
a. transitive. To train and look after (a young hound). Cf. at walk at walk n.1 17.
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the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping dogs or cats > [verb (transitive)] > train dog > train gun dog or hunting dog
stoop1781
walk1845
to shoot over or to (a dog)1868
1845 W. Youatt Dog iii. 75 Whelps walked, or taken care of, at butchers' houses..are apt to be heavy-shouldered and throaty.
1887 Field 19 Feb. 229/1 The practice of walking puppies is not quite so prevalent as it used to be.
1907 Times 3 Oct. 4/4 Defendant said he had walked puppies for the Southwold Hunt for 25 years.
1972 Times 11 Nov. 16/1 Costs are kept down by ‘walking’ both puppies and adult hounds.
1983 Duchess of Gloucester Mem. ii. 18 Affections were transferred to the two foxhound puppies which were sent each year to be ‘walked’.
b. transitive. To keep (a gamecock) in a walk (walk n.1 13b).
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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting or baiting animals > fighting between animals > fight between animals [verb (transitive)] > keep fighting cock
walk1854
1854 Poultry Chron. 1 474 Formerly when cock-fighting was more practised, every farm-yard walked a game cock or two.
1889 Archaeologia Aeliana New Ser. 13 314 ‘Walking a cock’ was the feeding and tending of a game cock.
1990 T. Ownby Subduing Satan iv. 82 The most important step in developing gameness was walking a cock.
25. Baseball. Of a pitcher. Cf. walk n.1 4b.
a. transitive. To give up a walk to (a batter). See sense 9k.
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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > baseball > play baseball [verb (transitive)] > actions of pitcher
pitch1848
curve1877
to put over1891
scatter1892
save1899
to put across1903
walk1905
fan1909
plunk1909
southpaw1911
whiff1914
sidearm1921
sidearm1922
outpitch1928
blow1938
hang1967
wild pitch1970
1905 Oakland (Calif.) Tribune 12 Aug. 10/1 In the five innings he pitched he walked eight men.
1913 Chicago Record-Herald 20 Mar. 10/5 Lange walked Kores in the hostile part, then disposed of the next pair on easy infield flies.
1952 B. Malamud Natural 78 With two out Schultz weakened, walking one man and handing the next a good enough throw to hit for a sharp single.
1991 Times (Florence, Alabama) Daily 16 Apr. b2/5 He allowed four runs on 13 hits and walked just four batters in 17 innings.
b. transitive. With in. To force in (a run) by giving up a walk with the bases loaded. Also to walk home.
ΚΠ
1894 Washington Post 21 Apr. 6/1 Walked in with a run... The winning run was forced across the plate by a base on balls.]
1908 Cambr. City (Indiana) Tribune 20 Aug. Scott, the pitcher for the locals, was somewhat wild in the initial round and walked in two runs.
1974 Post-Standard (Syracuse, N.Y.) 2 Oct. 29/2 Marshall walked home two more runs with the bases loaded.
2003 M. Gallagher Yankee Encycl. (ed. 6) 170/1 Joe came into the game in the third inning with the bases loaded and walked in two runs.
26. transitive. Angling. To draw (a hooked fish) through the water by walking upstream or (occasionally) downstream with the rod, esp. in order to escape a current or obstruction. Frequently with up.
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the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > type or method of fishing > [verb (transitive)] > draw in fish by reeling
reel1868
walk1913
1885 D. Webster Angler & Loop-Rod xi. 275 If you can prevail upon him [sc. a fish] to walk a little way down-stream with you, you will have no difficulty..persuading him to let you have the pleasure of seeing him at dinner.]
1913 F. M. Halford Dry-Fly Man's Handbk. i. ix. 206 (heading) Walking a hooked fish up or downstream.
1965 R. V. Righyni Salmon Taking Times 108 ‘Walking a fish up’..is a common practice.
1972 Shooting Times & Country Mag. 27 May 12/2 As soon as the fish settled a bit I walked it back up from the tail.
2001 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 30 July d8/1 She had walked the salmon up and down the pool a couple of times before the hook pulled out.
Phrases
P1. to walk on foot (also now rarely to walk afoot): = sense 9a. Also of something liquid: †to flow slowly (obsolete).In quot. 1548 transitive, with journey as object (cf. sense 9d).
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > go on foot [verb (intransitive)] > in contrast with 'ride'
to walk on footc1390
to take to one's feet (or foot)1508
to walk afoot1565
walk1631
to hoof it1652
peripateticate1793
foot-slog1897
the world > matter > liquid > liquid flow > action or process of flowing > flow [verb (intransitive)] > slowly
to walk afoot1747
c1390 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Vernon) (1867) A. vi. l. 1 (MED) Now riden þis folk & walken on fote to seche þat seint in selcouþe londis.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) l. 18548 Þa iewes sagh þis ilk man..a-pon þe see wiþ-outen wete dry to walke a-pon his fete [Vesp., Gött. Gangand als apon a strete].]
1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. John xii. 12–16 Where as before he was wunte to walke his iourneyes on foote.
1565 T. Stapleton tr. Bede Hist. Church Eng. iv. iii. f. 114v The said..bishop Chadde was wonte alwaies to..doo the worke of the ghospell more walking a fote wher he went, than on horsebacke.
1621 Bp. H. King Serm. 37 But Kings haue walkt afoote whilest the Pope hath rode.
c1660 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1641 (1955) II. 62 We were forced to walke on foote very wett, and discompos'd.
1681 London Gaz. mdclxi/3 His Royal Highness walked a Foot.
1747 Fool (1748) II. 252 When it [sc. the blood] walks a Foot, in an even, regular Peace, every Faculty coincides.
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones III. ix. vi. 356 How comes it..that such a great Gentleman walks about the Country afoot? View more context for this quotation
1774 O. Goldsmith Grecian Hist. II. iii. 221 The king walked on foot among the infantry.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. v. 561 The prisoner..walked on foot, bareheaded, up the whole length of that stately street which..leads from Holyrood House to the Castle.
1875 Times 28 Sept. 7/2 The time is coming when it will be cheaper for a working man to travel on a railway than to walk on foot.
1943 Slavonic & East European Rev. 2 143 Taylor then tells of his journey, in company with his brother, from Gravesend to Rotterdam and hence to Leipzig and Chemnitz, whence they had to walk on foot through the Bohemian forest.
1999 Zimbabwe Standard (Nexis) 8 Aug. He had no car and would walk on foot.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > misinterpretation > misunderstand [phrase]
to take amissa1425
to walk wide in words1529
to have (also take, catch) the wrong pig by the ear (also tail)1536
to be out of the story1649
to be at cross-purposes1688
I beg your pardon1806
to lose track of1894
to get (someone) wrong1927
to speak past ——1952
to lose the thread1956
1529 T. More Dialogue Heresyes i. xviii. 23 Wythout whych we were lyke to walke wyde in wordys.
P3. Scottish. †to walk will of one's way: to go astray, lose oneself. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > travel in specific course or direction > direct one's course [verb (intransitive)] > miss one's way > be lost
maska1387
willc1390
mara1450
to lose one's way1530
to walk will of one's way1572
wilder1658
maroon1699
to get slewed1929
1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 73 Or ony vther gude fallow that I heir fand Walkand will of his way.
1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 106 In wickit wedderis and weit walkand full will.
P4. to walk in one's sleep = sleepwalk v.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > sleep > [verb (intransitive)] > sleep-walk
to walk in one's sleep1596
walka1616
somnambulize1832
somnambulate1833
sleepwalk1923
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of internal organs > stupor or coma > have stupor or coma [verb (intransitive)] > sleep-walk
to walk in one's sleep1596
walka1616
somnambulize1832
somnambulate1833
sleepwalk1923
1596 W. Warner Albions Eng. (rev. ed.) xii. lxxvii. 312 Least she feare, the day before had made to her report, In Merriment, that oftentimes he walked in his Sleepe, And then nor Lock, nor Let, could him from Place, or Person, keepe.
1607 T. Dekker & J. Webster North-ward Hoe iii. sig. D4v My mistris makes her husband belieue that shee walkes in her sleepe.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) v. i. 57 Yet I haue knowne those which haue walkt in their sleep, who haue dyed holily in their beds. View more context for this quotation
1720 D. Manley Power of Love ii. 162 Persons who walk in their Sleep, and do those several Acts of which they have no Remembrance when they wake.
1774 G. Colman Man of Business ii. Here he is—walking in his sleep for aught I know—for I am sure, I am hardly awake yet.
1847 C. Dickens Dombey & Son (1848) xxxix. 396 Some uneasy ideas that he must be walking in his sleep, or that he had been troubled with phantoms,..beset the Captain at first.
1887 Sat. Rev. 15 Jan. 80 To walk in her sleep and to poison herself while in a somnambulant condition.
1926 S. T. Warner Lolly Willowes iii. 165 She walked home unheedingly, almost as though she were walking in her sleep.
1995 K. Atkinson Behind Scenes at Museum (1996) vi. 172 I still walk in my sleep and she's petrified that I'm going to do something nasty to her when she's fast asleep.
P5. to walk on (also upon, †in) air: to be in an exultant state of mind.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > joy, gladness, or delight > be joyful or delighted [verb (intransitive)] > be elated
to walk on (also upon, in) air1632
to tread on air1874
1632 P. Massinger Maid of Honour iv. iii. sig. H4 Now me thinkes I walke in ayre! divine Camiola, But words cannot expresse thee. I'll build to thee An altar in my soule.
1787 E. Bonhote Olivia III. xxxii. 83 Methinks I walk in air:—the world is become enchanting, the people entertaining.
1887 R. L. Stevenson Memories & Portraits iv. 72 I went home that morning walking upon air.
1928 N. Coward Mad About You in B. Day N. Coward: Compl. Lyrics (1998) 93/3 When you are inclined to be Encouraging and kind to me I simply walk on air.
1945 C. Beaton Diary in Self Portrait with Friends (1979) xv. 167 As I walked upon air with Gielgud up the Haymarket late that night, I kept pumping him with a stream of suggestions as to how the production should look.
1998 Cosmopolitan (U.K. ed.) Sept. 259/2 Some films are heavenly—you leave the cinema feeling so uplifted you're walking on air.
P6. to walk the hospitals (also a hospital): (of a medical student) to receive clinical instruction and gain experience by assisting in the work of doctors or surgeons. Similarly to walk the wards: to perform rounds in a hospital, either as a doctor or as a medical student. Now historical.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > art or science of medicine > medical training > receive medical training [verb (intransitive)] > specific
to walk the hospitals (also a hospital)1705
intern1906
1705 R. Pitt Frauds Common Pract. Physick 60 Our modern Physicians make a little Voyage over Sea,..hear a scanty Set of Lectures, pass a Course of Anatomy and Chymistry by the Eye,..walk the Hospitals two or three days, and bring home the purchas'd Degrees.
1773 Sentimental Spy II. v. 92 For whilst he walked the hospitals, his time was chiefly employed in picking up idle stories of his acquaintance.
1781 G. White Let. to S. Barker 26 Nov. I have not yet heard—whether he will walk the hospitals in town.
1800 J. Bell Answer Junior Members Royal Coll. Surgeons i. 31 There was a rotation of surgeons..; there were groups of young men walking the wards, paying fees to the hospital.
1807 J. Feltham Picture of London (ed. 8) 235 The combined method of walking the hospitals and attending lectures.
1851 Freeman's Jrnl. (Dublin) (Electronic text) 3 Nov. As you walk the wards of an hospital you are at one time engaged with a case of thoracic, at another with a case of abdominal disease.
1886 J. Ruskin Præterita II. ix. 333 He became..a..medical student, came up to London to walk the hospitals.
1928 Science 21 Sept. 262/1 A hundred years ago the common portal of entry into the medical profession was by a preliminary apprenticeship... This lasted for five years, after which it was usual for the student to ‘walk the hospitals’.
1964 J. Bernstein Analyt. Engine ii. 23 William read medicine, took a medical degree and had ‘walked the hospitals’ before he decided to earn his living as a computer.
1999 M. Bliss William Osler viii. 310 By the 1890s it was possible to get a decent training in the preclinical medical sciences at Oxford, walk the wards for a year or two in London, and, upon examination..get an Oxford medical degree.
P7. Nautical. to walk the deck (also to walk the quarter-deck): to walk up and down the deck of a ship, esp. (of an officer) as a privilege of rank.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > hostilities at sea > operations or manoeuvres > perform operation or manoeuvre [verb (intransitive)] > walk about on quarterdeck
to walk the quarter-deck1707
1707 E. Ward Wooden World Dissected 7 It must be a great Change of Weather indeed, when he deigns to walk the Quarter-Deck.
1815 W. Scott Lord of Isles iv. xvi. 149 Edward, who walk'd the deck apart.
1849 W. E. Aytoun Heart of Bruce in Poems v The good Lord Douglas walk'd the deck.
1986 N. A. M. Rodger Wooden World (1988) ii. 65 Many of those with an unquestioned right to walk the quarter deck, such as the master and his mates, had no uniform to put on.
2001 J. Ellroy Cold Six Thousand cxi. 631 Castoff—9:16 p.m. Light wind. Course south-southeast... Pete walked the deck.
P8. to walk before one can run: see run v. Phrases 4b(b).
P9. slang. to walk (all) over (a person): to treat (a person) with contempt; (also) to defeat (an opponent) decisively.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > have or gain mastery or superiority over [verb (transitive)] > overcome or defeat > easily
to eat (also have) (a person or thing) for breakfast1693
to walk over (the course)1823
to run (also make) rings round (also around)1875
to shut out1881
to walk away from1883
to walk round1901
to roll over1937
to walk (all) over (a person)1976
1786 J. Burgoyne Heiress ii. ii. 35 Nay its worse, if I am carried among my great neighbours in Miss Alscrip's suite, as she calls it. My Lady looks over me; my Lord walks over me; and sets me in a little tottering cane chair, at the cold corner of the table.
1851 National Era 25 Sept. 1/5 St. Clare wouldn't raise his hand if every one of them walked over him.
1884 ‘M. Twain’ Adventures Huckleberry Finn xxii. 190 In the North he lets anybody walk over him that wants to, and goes home and prays for a humble spirit to bear it.
1909 R. E. Knowles Attic Guest viii. 105 They won't let a pack of negroes walk all over 'em.
1951 N. Mitford Blessing i. vi. 65 A woman who lets her husband do exactly as he likes..lets him walk over her, in fact, would never lose him.
1976 E. Dunphy Only a Game? i. 34 We played QPR in a public practice game at our place today. And won easily. We walked all over them.
1991 S. Faludi Backlash ii. v. 121 She..walked all over this guy, who was far less successful and powerful than her.
P10. slang. to walk the chalk: to walk along a chalked line as a proof of being sober. Now historical.to walk one's chalks (slang): see chalk n. 6b. to walk a chalk-line: see chalk-line n. c.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > thirst > moderation in drinking > [verb (intransitive)] > become sober > prove oneself sober
to walk the chalk1823
1823 ‘J. Bee’ Slang (at cited word) ‘To walk the chalk’—a military manœuvre to discover which is drunkest.
1951 Independent (Long Beach, Calif.) 13 Oct. 12/1 (caption) In the 19th century, it was an actual test whereby a chalk line was drawn across the deck of a ship and those sailors failing to walk the chalk accurately were put in the brig for being intoxicated.
P11. to walk on eggshells: see eggshell n. Additions.
P12. to walk the dog (frequently forming the noun phrase walking the dog).
a. To perform a jazz dance that mimics the movements of a person walking a dog in a haughty manner.
ΚΠ
1916 S. Brooks (heading of sheet-music) Walkin' the dog... The latest metropolitan dance craze!
1917 Variety 30 Nov. 19/1 The opening number was programed as a combination of ‘Strutter's Ball’, ‘Shimme-Sha-Wabble’ and ‘Walking the Dog’.
1945 S. Brown in F. J. Brown & J. S. Roucek One Amer. (rev. ed.) xxxiii. 600 Some of the earlier dances invented by Negroes are the Pas Mala, the Strut, the Palmer House, Walking the dog, [etc.].
1999 S. Rushdie Ground beneath her Feet (2000) xvii. 535 She can do the twist, the stomp,..and the locomotion, and if you don't know how to do it, she'll show you how to walk the dog.
b. To perform a trick with a yo-yo in which the spinning yo-yo rolls along the ground away from the person performing the trick, who holds the string like a dog's lead.
ΚΠ
1931 Lowell (Mass.) Sun 8 Aug. Each contestant would be given three chances to perform the various Yo-Yo feats... The line remained intact for the next trick, ‘Walking the Dog’.
1975 Newsweek (Nexis) 20 Jan. 71 For a dime or a quarter, every kid in the neighborhood could afford the twin wooden disks that rose and fell on a cotton string and, with a little skill, could perform prodigious feats like ‘walking the dog’.
1986 D. A. Dye Platoon (1987) v. 82 He could usually do cat's cradle and walk-the-dog.
2007 San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News (Nexis) 8 Sept. Forget walking the dog or going around the world. In Han's hands, the simple string and disc come alive.
P13. colloquial (originally U.S.). to walk the (also that) walk: to behave in a manner consistent with the image one projects or the values one advocates; to back up rhetoric with action. Frequently collocated or contrasted with to talk the (also that) talk at talk v. Additions a.
ΚΠ
1921 Mansfield (Ohio) News 27 June 9/3 Although he has no gilded medals upon his bosom, Howard Herring of the North American Watch company, walks the walk, and talks the talk, of a hero today.
1972 N.Y. Times 29 May 17/4 I've talked that talk, and now I'm ready to walk that walk.
1991 Rolling Stone 28 Nov. 9/2 Tyner, more than anyone, walked the walk and talked the talk.
2002 POW Mag. Mar. 72/1 After taking a real beating from McMahon during the Street Fight, ‘The Dirtiest Player in the Game’ proved that he could still walk the walk as he eventually defeated McMahon with his trusty figure-four leglock.
P14. Originally U.S. to walk free: to be released from a criminal charge without punishment; not to receive expected or deserved punishment. Cf. free adj. 6.
ΚΠ
1925 Bridgeport (Connecticut) Telegram 21 Dec. 1/7 She walked free today after her fourth arrest in as many months.
1989 in R. Graef Talking Blues ix. 302 You'll get far more murderers walking free if the jury thinks they're going to be topped.
2004 Sunday Herald Sun (Melbourne) (Nexis) 5 Dec. 83 A virtually impromptu rally..was prompted by judges' decisions to let two rapists walk free.
P15. Caribbean. walk good (imperative): farewell, good luck.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > courteous act or expression > courteous expressions [interjection] > expressions of farewell > and good luck
walk good1929
go well1948
1929 M. W. Beckwith Black Roadways xiii. 199 ‘Walk good, me love’, says one to another setting out on a journey.
1953 R. Mais Hills were Joyful Together ii. i. 147 You going further, walk good then; walk good, hear?
1997 O. P. Adisa It begins with Tears v. 235 Walk good now, and don't come lookin fah nutten.
P16. colloquial. to walk off the shelves (also to walk out of the shop and variants): (of a product) to sell rapidly or without effort on the part of the retailer.In quot. 1940 used punningly of shoes.
ΚΠ
1940 Daily Gleaner (Kingston, Jamaica) 31 May 18/6 (advt.) Men's shoes are walking off the shelves at Hanna's.
1948 Winnipeg Free Press 1 Oct. 2/8 [Costs of doing business] were higher than during the war ‘when merchandise just walked off the shelves’.
1986 O. Clark Diary 12 Oct. (1998) 197 She loves the clothes and reckons they would walk out of the shop.
1998 Independent 20 Apr. ii. 4/2 We asked the shops..to give us the low-down on what's walking out of their stores right now.
2000 Math. Gaz. 84 372 This book walked off the shelves so rapidly that a reprint was necessary before this review could be published.
P17. U.S. colloquial. to walk and chew gum at the same time and variants: to perform two simple tasks at the same time. Chiefly in negative contexts, implying lack of ability, competence, or wherewithal.
ΚΠ
1956 Denton (Maryland) Record-Chron. 24 Dec. ii. 2/2 He can't walk and chew gum at the same time.
1976 SubStance 32 5 Its [sc. the law's] authenticity..is best confirmed when the task of executing it falls on the one you would least expect (on someone born in a log cabin, for example, or on a man who can't walk and chew gum at the same time).
1984 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 21 June a22/4 We all know those business executives who find it difficult to walk and chew gum simultaneously.
2001 New Republic 1 Oct. 23/1 Being a superpower means being able to walk and chew gum at the same time.
P18. to walk on water: to do something seemingly impossible; to be perfect.An allusion to the miracle described in Matthew 14:25, ‘And in the fourth watch of the night, Iesus went vnto them, walking on the Sea’ (King James Bible).
ΚΠ
1956 J. Kubeck Calendar Epic v. 68 I never yet seen a B.R. who didn't act like he could walk on water. How in hell does he get the idea he can walk in here without us givin' the word?
1975 Listener 6 Feb. 163/2 [The CID's] members behaving as if they could walk on water, and looking down on the ‘woollies’ who had to plod the beat in uniform.
1991 D. Lucie Fashion (rev. ed.) ii. i, in Fashion, Progress, Hard Feelings, Doing the Business 49 Good God. A fault. At last. I was beginning to think she could walk on water.
2001 New Republic 2 July 18/2 Our customers think we walk on water, and we do.
P19. colloquial. to walk on the wild side: (of a person or thing) to be different, daring, or exciting. Also: to engage in a risky, dangerous, or illicit activity. Cf. a walk on the wild side at walk n.1 Phrases 6.
ΚΠ
1963 Salt Lake Tribune 2 Apr. 7/2 (heading) Concert walks on the wild side.
1969 Times Record (Troy, N.Y.) 4 Dec. 11/2 (advt.) Only the fashion-adventuress need apply!.. A woman who walks on the wild side.
1988 Sun Herald (Sydney) (Nexis) 15 May (Television section) 57 Admitting to having walked on the wild side in every sense.
1991 J. Phillips You'll never eat Lunch in this Town Again 48 It is not an era of neutering, so Caesar [sc. a cat] walks on the wild side... He goes out and gets laid.
2007 Mail on Sunday (Nexis) 11 Mar. (You Mag.) 40 A period when [he]..walked on the wild side... ‘I took a lot of drugs years ago’, he confides.
Phrasal verbs
PV1. With adverbs in specialized senses. to walk about to walk in to walk off to walk on to walk out to walk up
Australian.
to walk around intransitive. Of an Aboriginal person: = to go (on) walkabout(s) at walkabout n. 2c.
ΚΠ
1828 Sydney Gaz. 2 Jan. 3/3 When the executioner had adjusted the rope, and was about to pull the cap over his eyes..he said, in a tone of deep feeling, which it was impossible to hear without strong emotion, ‘Bail more walk about’, meaning that his wanderings were all over.
1863 J. Bonwick Wild White Man 86 Ah! all gone now, all gone; only me left to walk about.
1894 Bulletin (Sydney) 5 May 9/3 The Bananaland free Kanaka waxes in years and in wisdom. If asked to take under 10s. a week..he smiles and says, ‘Me walk about one week.’
1908 E. J. Banfield Confessions of Beachcomber ii. i. 265 This for Johnny Tritton, before alonga Cooktown; now walk about somewhere down here. Might be catch 'em alonga mainland.
1965 R. Ottley By Sandhills 38 ‘Me walk-about’... His voice hissed... ‘Bye an' bye, maybe two, t'ree weeks, come back.’
2005 D. McKnight Of Marriage, Violence & Sorcery v. 103 His wife..started scolding him and told him that he should be attending to his bark paintings instead of always walking about.
Now historical and rare.
to walk away intransitive. To perform the walk-around (walk-around n. (a) at Compounds).
ΚΠ
1888 Cent. Mag. Jan. 468 The dancer held her dress back and ‘walked around’, turning her toes in.
1942 D. Gilbert Lost Chords (1970) 13 The walk around was the invariable finale to the first part of the early-day minstrels... As the orchestra began a lively tune in 2/4 time, one of the company would step down stage from the semicircle, walk around for sixteen bars of the music and do one step of a reel, finish with a break, then resume his place in the semicircle.
1. intransitive. to walk away from, to walk away with. See sense 16e.
2. intransitive.
a. to walk away from: to fail to deal with (something); to refuse to become, or cease to be, involved with.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from (action) [verb (transitive)] > avoid or shun
overboweOE
bibughOE
fleea1000
forbowa1000
ashun1000
befleec1000
beflyc1175
bischunc1200
withbuwe?c1225
waive1303
eschew1340
refuse1357
astartc1374
sparec1380
shuna1382
void1390
declinea1400
forbeara1400
shurna1400
avoidc1450
umbeschewc1485
shewe1502
evite1503
devoid1509
shrink1513
schew?a1534
devite1549
fly1552
abstract1560
evitate1588
estrange1613
cut1791
shy1802
skulk1835
side-slip1930
to walk away from1936
punt1969
1936 Times 11 June 9/3 Surely the Government cannot walk away from its responsibility?
1963 Life 8 Feb. 4/1 The Kennedy proposals walk away from most of the tax reform problems.
1983 Times 6 May 15/4 No parent which itself took deposits..could expect to walk away from a subsidiary in trouble without risking a loss of confidence on the part of its own depositors.
1994 Voice 18 Oct. (24 Hrs. Mag.) 11/5 Frustration seems inevitable and it would be easy to throw in the towel and walk away from current problems.
b. To refuse to become, or cease to be, involved with something.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ceasing > cease activity [verb (intransitive)] > quit or give up
to give offa1616
quita1642
to tie up1760
that'll be the day1916
to turn in1918
to go through1933
to walk away1950
1950 W. A. Ganoe My Heart Remembers xxi. 219 When you meet both ignorance and stupidity, just walk away as gracefully as you can.
1981 Times 7 Dec. 13/3 Libya and Nigeria started the year trying to maintain prices at a wide premium over the marker, but instead saw buyers walk away.
1993 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 15 June a1/3 There's still an opportunity to reach an agreement... We're not going to turn our backs and walk away.
2006 Inside Edge June 7/2 Don't play with scared money. If you sit down at a cash game and you're not ‘happy’ to lose 100% of it, just walk away.
3. intransitive. To go away (from the scene of an accident or the like) on one's feet, instead of being carried on a stretcher. Cf. walking wounded n. at walking adj. Compounds.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > walk upon or tread [verb (transitive)] > be able to walk after an accident
to walk away1936
1936 Frederick (Maryland) Post 30 Sept. 1/1 He also sustained lacerations about the right arm but was able to free himself after the crash and walk away from the wreck before he was taken to the hospital.
1966 M. Woodhouse Tree Frog vi. 50 I had a..cut..but that was all. Walking away from it, they call it.
1999 Associated Press State & Local Wire (Nexis) 23 Dec. As the century closes, drivers usually walk away unharmed from crashes at speeds far in excess of those that once proved fatal.
1. intransitive. See sense 9f.
2.
a. intransitive. To enter a room or building on foot; spec. to arrive unexpectedly; to enter premises, etc., with unusual ease.The use of walk in this context instead of the less specific come or go may sometimes imply an additional notion of absence of pausing or hesitation.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > reaching a point or place > reach a point or place [verb (intransitive)] > arrive
comeOE
to come to townOE
yworthOE
lend11..
lightc1225
to come anovenonc1275
wina1300
'rivec1300
repaira1325
applyc1384
to come ina1399
rede?a1400
arrivec1400
attainc1400
alightc1405
to come to handc1450
unto-comec1450
apport1578
to be along1597
to drop in1609
to come ona1635
to walk in1656
land1679
engage1686
to come along1734
to get in1863
to turn up1870
to fall in1900
to lob1916
to roll up1920
to breeze in1930
to rock up1975
1656 A. Cowley Poems iv. ii. 61 With sober pace an heav'enly maid walks in, Her looks all fair.
1726 J. Swift Gulliver II. iv. ii. 20 We went through the second Room towards the third, here the Gray [horse] walked in first, beckoning me to attend.
1763 A. Murphy Citizen i. ii. 9 (stage direct.) Walks in on tip-toe.
1800 M. Edgeworth Castle Rackrent 153 One opens the door and walks in, and who should it be but Judy M'Quirk herself.
1811 J. Austen Sense & Sensibility II. viii. 128 Mrs. Jennings..opened the door and walked in with a look of real concern. View more context for this quotation
1872 R. D. Blackmore Maid of Sker I. vi. 48 Just as I had made up my mind to lift up the latch, and to walk in freely, as I would have done in most other houses, but stood on scruple with Evan Thomas.
1881 R. C. Praed Policy & Passion I. 294 The various ministers, the Oppositionists, and officials walked in.
1909 in I. G. Sieveking Francis W. Newman vi. 126 The door opened and the Professor walked in.
1934 D. Thomas Let. 2 May (1987) 121 The girl who thinks me jolly would be very much surprised if, tousled and red-eyed, livered and lachrymose, I was to walk in now.
1975 A. P. Cowie & R. Mackin Oxf. Dict. Current Idiomatic Eng. I. 356/2 The security is so bad here that anyone could simply walk in and take what he wanted.
1982 H. Engel Murder on Location 22 We just walked in this minute. I haven't even taken off my coat.
2007 Independent 6 Feb. (Extra section) 12/1 If a middle-aged neighbour were to walk in, the words ‘orgy’ and ‘swinging’ would spring to mind.
b. intransitive. to walk in on: to visit unexpectedly; to surprise or intrude upon (a person), now esp. at an inconvenient or embarrassing moment.
ΚΠ
1858 Irish Metrop. Mag. 3 542 ‘But if my nephew should happen to walk in on us, what shall we do?’ asked the fluttered lover.
1898 Scribner's Mag. Apr. 481/1 He wondered if he should suddenly turn, and walk in on them with a reminder of that old time, how they would receive him.
1930 N. Coward Private Lives ii. 53 What shall we do if they suddenly walk in on us?
1978 M. Duke Death of Dandy Dinmont iv. 39 I couldn't think of anything else to do. I was almost relieved when Hamilton walked in on me.
1993 Newsweek 6 Sept. 33/1 On a primetime edition of ABC's ‘Good Morning America’, the actor aired charming anecdotes such as the time he says he walked in on Loni and another man.
2004 A. Vona Bad Girl 51 She went to the bathroom and somehow accidentally walked in on him jerking off.
3. intransitive. See sense 16e.
1. intransitive.
a. To depart, esp. suddenly or abruptly.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)] > go away suddenly or hastily
fleec825
runOE
swervea1225
biwevec1275
skip1338
streekc1380
warpa1400
yerna1400
smoltc1400
stepc1460
to flee (one's) touch?1515
skirr1548
rubc1550
to make awaya1566
lope1575
scuddle1577
scoura1592
to take the start1600
to walk off1604
to break awaya1616
to make off1652
to fly off1667
scuttle1681
whew1684
scamper1687
whistle off1689
brush1699
to buy a brush1699
to take (its, etc.) wing1704
decamp1751
to take (a) French leave1751
morris1765
to rush off1794
to hop the twig1797
to run along1803
scoot1805
to take off1815
speela1818
to cut (also make, take) one's lucky1821
to make (take) tracks (for)1824
absquatulize1829
mosey1829
absquatulate1830
put1834
streak1834
vamoose1834
to put out1835
cut1836
stump it1841
scratch1843
scarper1846
to vamoose the ranch1847
hook1851
shoo1851
slide1859
to cut and run1861
get1861
skedaddle1862
bolt1864
cheese it1866
to do a bunkc1870
to wake snakes1872
bunk1877
nit1882
to pull one's freight1884
fooster1892
to get the (also to) hell out (of)1892
smoke1893
mooch1899
to fly the coop1901
skyhoot1901
shemozzle1902
to light a shuck1905
to beat it1906
pooter1907
to take a run-out powder1909
blow1912
to buzz off1914
to hop it1914
skate1915
beetle1919
scram1928
amscray1931
boogie1940
skidoo1949
bug1950
do a flit1952
to do a scarper1958
to hit, split or take the breeze1959
to do a runner1980
to be (also get, go) ghost1986
1604 J. Marston Malcontent iii. v. sig. E4v I am heauie, walke of, I shall talke in my sleepe, walke of. Exeunt Pages.
1705 J. Vanbrugh Mistake iv. i Jacin. Have a care he don't rally, and beat you yet tho'; pray walk off.
1777 F. Burney Early Diary (1889) II. 193 Richard,..after fine speechyfying, walked off.
1846 C. Dickens Dombey & Son (1848) ii. 10 Mr. Chick..said no more, and walked off.
1889 A. Conan Doyle Sign of Four ix Wait a bit, my friend,..You have important information, and you must not walk off.
1925 L. O'Flaherty Informer ii. 32 He walked off at his habitual slouch, with his head hanging slightly forward, hung on the pivot of his neck like a punchball.
1973 ‘D. Shannon’ No Holiday for Crime (1974) iv. 58 If he started to get fresh, threw a pass, she could just walk off.
2003 R. Gervais & S. Merchant Office: Scripts 2nd Ser. Episode 2. 83 (stage direct.) He leaves this hanging in the air and walks off.
b. to walk off with: to carry away as a prize or plunder; to steal.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > robbery > sacking, raiding, or looting > sack, raid, or loot [verb (transitive)] > carry off as loot or plunder
skeckc1325
ravisha1382
ransackc1460
ravena1513
distruss1548
harry1579
rapine1580
sack1590
harrage1655
to walk off with1727
loot1847
jay-hawk1866
1727 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 23 June (1966) II. 78 All the little money they had..they put into the hands of a rogueish Broker who has fairly walk'd off with it.
1836 P. Hawker Diary (1893) II. 107 A green sub...had walked off with my portmanteau.
1840 W. M. Thackeray Barber Cox in Comic Almanack 16 I gave Master Baron, that day, a precious good beating, and walked off with no less than fifteen shillings of his money.
1939 Oakland (Calif.) Tribune 15 Sept. 32/8 Mrs. M. Folkins of Redlands, Calif., walked off with the women's international singles lawn bowling championship yesterday at Golden Gate Park.
1990 W. Stewart Right Church Wrong Pew (1991) i. 4 The thieving buggers around here would walk off with a hot stove if they owned oven-mitts.
2. transitive. To get rid of (the effects of alcohol, overeating, an ailment) by taking exercise on foot.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > medical treatment > types of treatment generally > apply type of treatment [verb (transitive)] > counteract by walking
to walk off1737
to walk down1884
the world > food and drink > drink > thirst > moderation in drinking > [verb (transitive)] > make sober > get rid of effects of drink
settle1639
to shift off1660
to walk off1860
1737 H. Fielding Hist. Reg. 1736 i. i. 1 Our Beer and Beef sat but ill on my Stomach, so I got up to try if I could not walk it off.
1741 S. Richardson Pamela III. xxxvii. 372 ‘I fear you have sprain'd your Foot—Shall I help you to a Chair?’ ‘No, no, Sir, I shall walk it off, if I hold by you.’
1860 G. A. Sala Baddington Peerage I. vii. 131 Perhaps he wished to walk off the fumes of the punch and tobacco.
1956 Science 18 May 887/1 I feel better, but I still feel like I want to walk it off.
2001 N.Y. Times 15 Apr. v. 9/2 After dinner, you can walk off your meal in the winding cobblestone streets.
1. intransitive. Of a theatrical performer: to go on stage with few if any lines to say. Cf. walk-on n. 1.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > drama > acting > act [verb (intransitive)] > types of part
to play the foolc1426
to walk on1863
supe1888
super1895
miscast1927
1863 M. E. Braddon Aurora Floyd I. 20 He would give her fifteen shillings a week to ‘walk on’, as he technically called the business of the ladies who wander on to the stage,..and stare vaguely at whatever may be taking place in the scene.
1893 H. F. McLelland Jack & Beanstalk 35 She used to walk on in the comic scenes.
1913 Confessions of Dancing Girl vii. 127 I obtained an engagement to ‘walk on’ in a musical comedy... I had no lines and no part.
1974 B. Bainbridge Bottle Factory Outing (1975) ii. 13 She walked on in television serials very occasionally.
1994 R. Abel Ciné goes to Town (1998) v. 236 He alternated between performing as the lead and simply walking on as an extra.
2. intransitive. U.S. Sport. To try out for a college sports team without having been recruited or given an athletic scholarship. Cf. walk-on n. 2.
ΚΠ
1972 Washington Post 17 Mar. d2/1 Of 54 students now competing in track, about half hold no athletic scholarship, having ‘walked on’ at Rienzo's invitation.
1981 Sports Illustr. 11 May 72/3 I would've been scared to death to walk on at Oregon or Oregon State.
2006 M. Babcock Heart of Husker iii. 114 Even though he had scholarship offers from smaller schools, Jeff Jamrog walked on at Nebraska.
1. intransitive. See sense 11.
2. intransitive. To court, ‘keep company’, with a view to marriage. Frequently with together, with. Cf. sense 20 and to step out 6 at step v. Phrasal verbs 1. Now somewhat archaic.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > courtship or wooing > court or engage in courtship [verb (intransitive)] > walk out with person as lover
to walk out1827
to step out1936
1827 A. Moore Let. in N. E. Eliason Tarheel Talk (1956) 303 [He] has requested to let him have the supreme pleasure of walking out with her. I fear the poor little fellow is pretty far gone, if I may judge from the frequency of his visits.
1896 A. E. Housman Shropshire Lad xxv. 36 When Rose and I walk out together.
1905 J. K. Jerome Idle Ideas xx ‘You are not engaged, I 'ope?’ ‘Walking out, ma'am, do you mean?’ says Emma.
1939 J. B. Morton Bonfire of Weeds ii. 86 A policewoman who used to walk out with my brother Fred once said to me, ‘Long winter evenings and cosy cricket-talks round the fire—that's my idea of a happy marriage’.
1984 A. N. Wilson Hilaire Belloc (1986) ii. 46 Marie was walking out with a young Times journalist called Freddie.
3. intransitive.
a. Originally Theatre. To leave a gathering or place without warning; (also) to withdraw from an agreement or arrangement, esp. in protest or disapproval. Also figurative. Occasionally with on.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)] > in protest or disapproval
to walk out1840
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > disapprove [verb (intransitive)] > express disapproval by walking out
to walk out1840
1840 W. C. Macready Diary 19 Feb. (1912) II. 45 Very much disgusted and irritated by Mr Elton walking out in the last scene.
1896 Typographical Jrnl. (Indianapolis) 9 232 The Review, Republican daily, ‘walked out’ on the St. Louis platform.
1897 Daily Tel. 24 Feb. 10/3 New York did not take kindly to his new play... I am delighted to find, on the assurance of the author, that though New York ‘walked out’, Washington ‘walked in’ and received it warmly.
1936 H. G. Wells Anat. Frustration vi. 55 Suicide..may be represented very attractively as a proud and passionate refusal to drink the cup to the dregs. You ‘walk out’ as they say in the film world.
1937 M. Levin in A. Cooke Garbo & Night Watchmen 124 I rarely walk out on a picture, and never want to walk out on a simple programme picture.
1953 Sun (Baltimore) 31 Aug. (B ed.) 14/3 The Southern Conference digs in Tuesday for its first football practice since seven of its greatest powers walked out to form a league of their own.
1969 H. Perkin Key Profession iii. 103 The A.U.T. delegates to the International Conference walked out the day before Hitler arrived.
1981 O. Chadwick Popes & European Revol. ii. v. 386 Parts of the text were so offensive to the Pope that a few of the audience walked out.
2004 New Yorker 31 May 51/3 But the dispositive fact of Camp Davis is this: Barak made an offer, and Arafat walked out without making a counter-offer.
b. Originally U.S. Of an employee: to leave a place of work at short notice as a form of industrial action; to go on strike.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > working > labour relations > participate in labour relations [verb (intransitive)] > strike > suddenly or unofficially
to walk out1881
walk1976
1881 Printer’s Bull. 20 Aug. 1/1 There were, after the ‘walk-out’..several compositors in the employ of the Republican who..were members of the Union.
1894 W. H. Carwardine Pullman Strike iv. 37 The men passed the word from one to another to ‘walk out’, which they did orderly and deliberately.
1937 Irish Press 11 Feb. 1/2 (caption) Photo shows the nursing and boiler house staffs ‘walking out’.
1951 E. Paul Springtime in Paris (U.K. ed.) v. 95 Gas workers were about to walk out, and hamstring home cooking to a certain extent.
1995 D. McLean Bunker Man 28 Get the..heaters on pronto, or the staff'll be walking out.
c. To desert a partner, esp. a spouse. Chiefly with on.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > reversal of or forsaking one's will or purpose > reverse or abandon one's purpose or intention [verb (transitive)] > desert or deny a person
forsakea1300
refusec1350
nitec1390
swerve1390
relinquish1472
relinque1483
renounce1582
to fling off1587
derelicta1631
relapse1633
plant1743
to throw over1835
chuck up (the sponge)1878
ditch1899
ruck1903
to run out on1912
to walk out1921
squib1938
1921 P. G. Wodehouse Indiscretions of Archie xii. 127 ‘Has she walked out on you?’ ‘Left us flat!’
1937 Sunday Times 2 May 7/4 Father Donelly..is a fairy godfather to her after she has walked out on her guardians.
1962 New Statesman 7 Dec. 829/1 What surprises is the famous malleability of the two women: did neither one dream of walking out?
1995 Minnesota Monthly Jan. 132/2 Someone who was supposed to love her walked out on her.
4. intransitive. Of a soldier: to leave base on pass when off duty.Cf. walking out n. Compounds.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > [verb (intransitive)] > be on leave > of a soldier: go into town on pass
to walk out1857
1857 S. F. Holbrook Threescore Years xi. 254 While Weems was walking out in undress uniform, having on a white jacket and white pantaloons..he met Captain H—l.
1918 A. Mills My Story 46 As was his habit when walking out, General Scott wore all the gaudy uniform to which he was entitled.
1955 Times 27 July 5/1 In Western Command..young soldiers are now forbidden to ‘walk out’ when off duty in plain clothes of unorthodox pattern.
1998 T. Geraghty Irish War (2000) i. iii. 40 On 10 March, three young Scottish soldiers of the Royal Highland Fusiliers, one aged seventeen, were ‘walking out’, off-duty, in civilian clothes and unarmed.
1. intransitive. To approach, come nearer (to). Also (esp. in early use): to live up to (cf. perhaps the notion of good conduct in sense 7).
ΚΠ
1632 A. Townshend Albions Triumph 16 (stage direct.) When the Maskers are all come downe the steps, the High Priests and Sacrificers, treading a grave Measure walke vp toward the Queene singing.
1652 A. Burgess Spiritual Refining vii. lvii. 356 Although many of them did walk up to this rule, yet this natural righteousness was not grace, because the end of all their actions was not the glory of God.
1686 R. Blome Gentlemans Recreation ii. i. ix. 5/2 Let him that is to Mount, walk up to the Horse, not directly before him, lest if the Horse be fearful of him he put him in disorder.
1734 Mrs. J. C. Mother's Catech. 75 By blessing God, if on some Measure we are enabled to walk up to our Engagements.
1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1763 I. 257 We went and looked at the church..and walked up to the altar.
a1804 J. Tobin Honey Moon (1805) i. i. 12 Of as tried a courage As ever walk'd up to the roaring throats Of a deep-rang'd artillery.
1847 A. Helps Friends in Council I. i. viii. 149 Men walk up composedly to the most perilous enterprises.
1876 S. R. Whitehead Daft Davie 351 It's to be hoped you would walk up to your preaching if you were tried.
1907 J. H. Patterson Man-eaters of Tsavo ix. 101 Rather foolishly, I at once scrambled down from the tree and walked up towards him [sc. the lion].
1966 R. Sheckley Mindswap vii. 49 Silent and disdainful, scorning to spiel, the little man stood with arms folded as Flynn walked up to the booth.
1972 T. Kochman Rappin' & Stylin' Out 249 What do you do when you ditch school and..a truant officer walks up.
2004 R. Dew & P. Pape No Backup v. 52 My startle reaction was so strong that my flailing arms sent files flying from my desk if anyone walked up behind me at work.
2. intransitive. See sense 9f.
PV2. With prepositions in specialized senses. to walk into —— to walk through ——
colloquial.† 2. intransitive. To make large inroads into a supply of food or drink; also occasionally a stock of money, to ‘make a hole in’. Obsolete.
1. intransitive. To make a vigorous attack upon someone or something. Also in extended use. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > attack > attack [verb (transitive)]
greetc893
overfallOE
riseOE
assail?c1225
to lay on or upon?c1225
onseekc1275
to set on ——c1290
infighta1300
saila1300
to go upon ——c1300
to turn one's handc1325
lashc1330
annoyc1380
impugnc1384
offendc1385
to fall on ——a1387
sault1387
affrayc1390
to set upon ——1390
to fall upon ——a1398
to lay at?a1400
semblea1400
assayc1400
havec1400
aset1413
oppressa1425
attachc1425
to set at ——c1430
fraya1440
fray1465
oppugn?a1475
sayc1475
envaye1477
pursue1488
envahisshe1489
assaulta1500
to lay to, untoa1500
requirea1500
enterprise?1510
invade1513
assemblec1515
expugn1530
to fare on1535
to fall into ——1550
mount1568
attack?1576
affront1579
invest1598
canvass1599
to take arms1604
attempt1605
to make force at, to, upon1607
salute1609
offence1614
strikea1616
to give a lift at1622
to get at ——1650
insult1697
to walk into ——1794
to go in at1812
to go for ——1838
to light on ——1842
strafe1915
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > hostile action or attack > make attack [verb (intransitive)]
onreseeOE
onslayc1275
entera1425
to be upon (also on) a person's jack1588
endeavour?1589
to fall aboard1591
to let fly1611
strikea1616
to lift (up) the hand(s, (occasionally one's arm)1655
to fall on board (of)1658
tilt1708
to walk into ——1794
to run in1815
to peg it1834
to sail in1856
to wade in1863
to light in1868
to roll into ——1888
to make for ——1893
1794 Ld. Hood Let. 14 July in Ld. Nelson Disp. & Lett. (1844) I. 438 (note) From your rapid firing last night I flattered myself it was intended to walk into the Mozelle as this night.
1846 T. De Quincey Syst. Heavens in Tait's Edinb. Mag. Sept. 573/2 A voice was heard, 'Let there be Lord Rosse!' and immediately his telescope walked into Orion; destroyed the supposed matter of stars; but, in return, created immeasurable worlds.
1852 C. B. Mansfield Paraguay, Brazil, & Plate (1856) 20 Some small spermaceti whales, which came in for a lark (luckily for them, after the American and French vessels had left, who would assuredly have walked into them).
1859 J. Lang Wanderings in India 399 His Excellency ‘walked into’ the President, and recommended him to study some catechism of the Law of Courts Martial.
1861 T. Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. I. ix. 161 He walks into us all as if it were our faults.
1930 E. E. Leisy in J. F. Dobie Man, Bird & Beast (1965) 152 My indignation was so great, that on collaring him, I walked into him with my club without pausing for explanation or to learn his name.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > management of money > expenditure > spend [verb (transitive)] > spend large amount of
to walk into ——1836
1836 C. Dickens Pickwick Papers (1837) xxii. 225 I wish you could ha' seen the shepherd walkin' into the ham and muffins.
1850 F. E. Smedley Frank Fairlegh xiv. 127 I must walk into old Coleman's champagne before I make a fresh start.
1859 H. Kingsley Recoll. G. Hamlyn xv ‘And you've got her money?’ ‘Yes,’ he said; ‘but I've been walking into it.’
1871 M. Collins Marquis & Merchant III. iii. 78 He..with most voracious swallow Walks into my mutton chops.
1907 P. G. Wodehouse White Feather iii. 29 ‘Where's that cake?’ ‘Finished. My brother simply walked into it.’
3. intransitive. to walk into (a person's) affections: to win the love of (a person) immediately and without effort. Also ironically: to attack (cf. sense 1).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > loved one > win the affection of [verb (transitive)] > endear > endear effortlessly and immediately
to walk into (a person's) affections1840
1840 New Sporting Mag. Sept. 184 Oh, ho! Mr. Vulpes!.. If we don't do our best to ‘walk into your affections’ before we have done with you, our name is not ‘Master Harry!’
1858 J. Hampton Let. 14 Jan. in K. Young Delhi—1857 App. D. 328 Major Erskine was fearful that the jolly 50th would have walked into the affections of the Madrassees, and then all would have gone a regular smash.
1910 Galveston (Texas) Daily News 27 Mar. 32/2 He had more charm than anything I've ever met, and so it is only natural that he should have walked into our affections.
1978 New Eng. Q. 51 573 With the daring boldness of Murat, he walked into his affections, by seizing his gun and letting him have the charge in his face!
4. intransitive. To obtain or achieve something, esp. a job, easily or undeservedly.
ΚΠ
1872 F. W. Robinson Bridge of Glass III. vii. 164 I think that in your place I should have been more elated!.. It's a devilish cool manner of walking into a fortune.
1943 D. Goldring South Lodge xii. 158 If he got sacked from one bar, he simply walked into a job at a rival establishment, and took all his customers with him.
1999 Artists & Illustrators Sept. 38/2 Clearly not every art graduate is going to walk straight into a contract with a major gallery.
2005 Vancouver Sun (Nexis) 29 Aug. e1 Twenty years ago if you had a liberal arts degree you could walk into a good job.
5. intransitive. To get into an awkward situation, fall for a trick as a result of one's own unwariness.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > of difficulty: beset (a person) [verb (transitive)] > get into difficult situation
to walk into ——1911
the world > action or operation > manner of action > carelessness > incautiousness > enter into incautiously or rashly [verb (transitive)]
to go it blind1840
to go bald-headed (into, for, at)1848
to walk into ——1911
1911 G. B. Shaw Doctor's Dilemma iii. 60 Ridgeon: I don't so much mind your borrowing £10 from one of my guests and £20 from the other—Walpole: I walked into it, you know. I offered it.
1942 J. Sweeney in W. Murdoch & H. Drake-Brockman Austral. Short Stories (1951) 384 No sooner does the gong go for the third than Irish walks into a haymaker.
1978 M. Birmingham Sleep in Ditch 188 I had walked into this with my eyes wide open. No one could taunt me with being always right.
2001 P. Theroux Hotel Honolulu (2002) v. 22 I leaned over and looked... As I did so..Buddy pushed me into the pool. ‘You walked straight into that one!’ Buddy said.
1. intransitive. To rehearse a dance at a walking pace (cf. sense 16d); (of an actor) to rehearse a part or scene slowly; (hence) to give a lacklustre performance of a role on the stage. Also figurative. Cf. walkthrough n. 1.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > dancing > style or manner of dancing > [verb (transitive)]
walk1742
hobble1762
to walk through ——1824
traipse1835
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > drama > acting > act [verb (intransitive)] > in specific manner
to tear a (the) cat1600
to top one's part1672
to walk through ——1824
corpse1874
sketch1888
underplay1896
to play for laughs (also a laugh)1900
register1913
scene-steal1976
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > drama > acting > act [verb (transitive)] > act in specific manner
misact1609
tragedize1755
overact1760
overplay1767
to walk through ——1824
underact1847
to play down to ——1880
routine1897
underplay1897
milk1921
ham1933
hoke1935
to camp it up1957
to play for laughs (also a laugh)1963
undercharacterize1970
1824 W. Scott Redgauntlet III. vi. 187 That caprice which so often tempts painters and musicians, and great actors, in the phrase of the latter, to walk through their part, instead of exerting themselves with the energy which acquired their fame.
1848 H. Tudor Domest. Mem. Christian Family Cumberland v. 73 Being taught, for example, to walk through the steps of this dance is calculated to form a graceful carriage.
1857 C. M. Yonge Dynevor Terrace I. xii. 195 Her grave, pensive character only attained to walking through her part [in society].
1859 Habits Good Society v. 206 ‘Steps,’ as the chasser of the quadrille is called, belong to a past age, and even ladies are now content to walk through a quadrille.
1899 C. Scott Drama of Yesterday & To-day II. xiv. 442 Often when she is tired to death,..her strength fails her. She walks through the part, as it is called.
1901 M. Beerbohm Around Theatres (1924) I. 320 The long-run system is often deplored on the ground that the mimes ‘walk through’ their parts.
1922 Mrs. P. Campbell Let. 11 June in Bernard Shaw & Mrs. P. Campbell (1952) 256 I would like you to come and see Hedda Gabler—it would be nice to hear all the abominable things you might say. Some say I ‘walk through’.
1985 J. A. Crow Spain (rev. ed.) iii. 73 The gypsies still perform their dances, but within the past few years the procedure has become so commercialized that they now just walk through the steps.
2003 S. Sloyer From Page to Stage viii. 131 All of the pupils had an opportunity to read their lines and walk through their parts.
2. transitive. To guide (a person) through a process step by step. Cf. sense 22b.
ΚΠ
1977 Chicago Tribune 13 Oct. iv. 6/2 He was utterly confused. So (assistant coach) Jimmy Rodgers walked him through (the plays) a few more times.
1987 N. Spinrad Little Heroes (1989) 354 Red Jack himself, manifested in sound and pixels, walked them through it.
1991 Consumers Digest Dec. 76/2 A menu of printed commands walk you through the set-up procedure.
2002 Chesapeake Life June 38/2 This unconventional video features noted boatbuilder John Harris, who walks the viewer through the process of assembling the kit for the Chesapeake 16 sea kayak.
Compounds
See also walk-on n. and adj., walkout n. and adj., walkover n.† walk-along-Joe n. U.S. Obsolete rare a type of dance; cf. walk-around n. (a).† walk-street n. Obsolete a person who walks the streets.
ΚΠ
1862 ‘E. Kirke’ Among Pines xvii. 283 And then Jim danced breakdowns, ‘walk-along-Joes’, and other darky dances.
walk-around n. (a) U.S. a dance in which the participants go round in a large circle; a song or piece of music to accompany such a dance (now historical); †(b) Caribbean a kind of rotary mill turned by oxen (obsolete rare).
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > preparation of grain > milling or grinding > [noun] > corn-mill > other types of mill
water corn mill1327
watermill1371
quern mill1590
water grist mill1636
tide-mill1640
parish mill1676
whin-mill1793
roller mill1828
saddle quern1867
walk-around1869
kibbler1882
1869 Atlantic Monthly July 72/2 In company with others [I] performed the Virginia Walk-around.
1886 Colonial & Indian Exhib.: Official Catal. (ed. 2) 462 Their sugar plots are confined to one or two small green pieces in Tortola, worked by a ‘walk-around’ or cattle-mill.
1888 B. Matthews Pen & Ink 153 ‘Dixie’ was composed in 1859, by Mr. Dan D. Emmett, as a ‘walk-around’ for Bryant's minstrels.
1956 J. Barth Floating Opera xxviii. 276 The Wonderful Panithiopliconica, it turned out, was not more nor less than a grand old-fashioned minstrel walk-around.
1990 Amer. Music 8 450 Syncopated melodies of cake-walks, walk-arounds, ‘coon songs’, and ragtime.
walk-away n. a race in which the winner leaves the competitors far behind (cf. to walk away from at sense 16e and runaway n. 5a); also in extended use and as adj. (cf. runaway n. 5b, runaway adj. 3).
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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > [noun] > types of race
quarter-mile1611
dead1635
diaulos1706
quarter1779
dead heat1796
match race1804
dash1836
sprint race1836
mile1851
road race1852
time trial1857
decider1858
all-ages1864
rough-up1864
hippodrome1867
distance running1868
team race1869
run-off1873
relay race1878
walk-away1879
title race1905
tortoise race1913
procession1937
stage1943
pace1968
prologue1973
the world > action or operation > easiness > [adjective] > doing effortlessly > done easily > done with great ease
walkover1908
walk-away1926
1879 E. Harrigan Mulligan Guard Ball (typescript) i. iii. 4 Oh, he's a walk away for Buck.
1888 Daily News 16 July 3/6 The final heat was of course a walk away for Thames, who won by three lengths.
1926 Amer. Mercury Dec. 465/2 It [sc. Variety] has developed..the following new terms for a [Broadway] success: ‘zowied 'em’,..‘walk-away hit’ and ‘clicked heavy’.
1958 Time (Atlantic ed.) 6 Oct. 16 Turning from a Democratic walkaway into a neck-and-neck sprint.
1978 Detroit Free Press 5 Mar. c 4/1 For UCLA, the walkaway winner of the Pac-8 title, the game against U-M will be a final tuneup before going into the NCAA tournament.
1987 Newsweek 18 May 27/3 The general election is not going to be the walkaway it was in 1983.
walk-back n. U.S. colloquial (now rare) a rear apartment.
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society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > dwelling place or abode > a dwelling > a house > types of house > [noun] > flat or apartment > type of
studio flat1882
studio apartment1884
mansard1886
penthouse1892
single end1897
walk-up1907
railroad flat1908
simplex1912
service flat1913
studio1918
kitchenette1920
duplex1922
garden flat1922
flatlet1925
show flat1929
quadruplex1939
council flat1941
garden apartment1942
walk-back1945
multilevel1959
tower apartment1961
condominium1962
triplex1962
condo1984
1945 L. Shelly Hepcats Jive Talk Dict. 35 Walk back, rear apartment.
1973 ‘H. Howard’ Highway to Murder vii. 80 One-o-four Platt Street was a rooming house... The Royales lived in a walk-back at the rear of the lobby.
walk-march n. the action or an act of marching at a walking pace, or (now chiefly historical) of proceeding on horseback at a walk; (also) this pace.
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society > armed hostility > military operations > evolution > [noun] > marching > rate of marching > specific
quick march1606
double march1661
slow time1763
ordinary time1792
quick time1802
double time1833
double1860
walk-march1874
1874 S. J. MacKenna At School with Old Dragoon 210 The brigade accordingly went at the ‘walk-march’ to the attack.
1946 D. Barr Warrigal Joe 20 Poor country; but worse lay ahead of them—‘wogoit’ land. It was walk-march for the horses, from the time the outfit left camp.
a1977 D. Wheatley Time has Come (1978) xiii. 157 We had to move at a sedate walk-march.
2007 E. Kiester Incompl. Hist. World War I xvii. 150 Horses five metres apart from each other, the first advanced at a walk-march, then a trot.
walk-march v. to march at a walking pace; (of mounted cavalry) to proceed at a walk; frequently in imperative (now chiefly historical).
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society > armed hostility > military operations > evolution > [verb (intransitive)] > march > at prescribed pace
to step off1802
walk-march1814
double1890
1814 W. Duane Hand Bk. for Cavalry xii. 126 When arrived in the alignment of the first platoon the commanders of the second platoon will command, walk..march; resume the walk with the platoon on the right.
1829 Syst. Exercise & Instr. Field-artillery (U.S. War Dept.) 39 (note) In horse-artillery, when the rear sections have arrived within four paces of the line of the first section, their chiefs command, Walk—march, and they take the pace from the first.
1892 Times 21 Jan. 7/4 The coffin was strapped to the gun carriage, the officer gave the order—‘Walk march,’ and the simple procession started on its way.
1926 T. E. Lawrence Seven Pillars (subscribers' ed.) cii. 540 Buxton a moment later called ‘Walk-march!’ to his men, and the four-hundred camels..started off for Jefer.
1942 C. Barrett On Wallaby iv. 88 We flushed many birds as we walk-marched among rocks and stones.
1986 O. Bland Royal Way of Death viii. 200 The lieutenant in charge never gave the command ‘Walk march’.
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society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > prostitution > [noun] > a prostitute
meretrixOE
whoreOE
soiled dovea1250
common womanc1330
putec1384
bordel womanc1405
putaina1425
brothelc1450
harlot?a1475
public womanc1510
naughty pack?1529
draba1533
cat1535
strange woman1535
stew1552
causey-paikera1555
putanie?1566
drivelling1570
twigger1573
punka1575
hackney1579
customer1583
commodity1591
streetwalker1591
traffic1591
trug1591
hackster1592
polecat1593
stale1593
mermaid1595
medlar1597
occupant1598
Paphian1598
Winchester goose1598
pagan1600
hell-moth1602
aunt1604
moll1604
prostitution1605
community1606
miss1606
night-worm1606
bat1607
croshabell1607
prostitute1607
pug1607
venturer1607
nag1608
curtal1611
jumbler1611
land-frigate1611
walk-street1611
doll-common1612
turn-up1612
barber's chaira1616
commonera1616
public commonera1616
trader1615
venturea1616
stewpot1616
tweak1617
carry-knave1623
prostibule1623
fling-dusta1625
mar-taila1625
night-shadea1625
waistcoateera1625
night trader1630
coolera1632
meretrician1631
painted ladya1637
treadle1638
buttock1641
night-walker1648
mob?1650
lady (also girl, etc.) of the game1651
lady of pleasure1652
trugmullion1654
fallen woman1659
girlc1662
high-flyer1663
fireship1665
quaedama1670
small girl1671
visor-mask1672
vizard-mask1672
bulker1673
marmalade-madam1674
town miss1675
town woman1675
lady of the night1677
mawks1677
fling-stink1679
Whetstone whore1684
man-leech1687
nocturnal1693
hack1699
strum1699
fille de joie1705
market-dame1706
screw1725
girl of (the) town1733
Cytherean1751
street girl1764
monnisher1765
lady of easy virtue1766
woman (also lady) of the town1766
kennel-nymph1771
chicken1782
stargazer1785
loose fish1809
receiver general1811
Cyprian1819
mollya1822
dolly-mop1834
hooker1845
charver1846
tail1846
horse-breaker1861
professional1862
flagger1865
cocodette1867
cocotte1867
queen's woman1871
common prostitute1875
joro1884
geisha1887
horizontal1888
flossy1893
moth1896
girl of the pavement1900
pross1902
prossie1902
pusher1902
split-arse mechanic1903
broad1914
shawl1922
bum1923
quiff1923
hustler1924
lady of the evening1924
prostie1926
working girl1928
prostisciutto1930
maggie1932
brass1934
brass nail1934
mud kicker1934
scupper1935
model1936
poule de luxe1937
pro1937
chromo1941
Tom1941
pan-pan1949
twopenny upright1958
scrubber1959
slack1959
yum-yum girl1960
Suzie Wong1962
mattress1964
jamette1965
ho1966
sex worker1971
pavement princess1976
parlour girl1979
crack whore1990
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Bateur de pavez, an idle or continuall walke-street..a lasciuious, or vnthrifty, night~walker.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.1OE
n.2a1522
v.eOE