Trip, v. t. 1. To cause to stumble, or take a false step; to cause to lose the footing, by striking the feet from under; to cause to fall; to throw off the balance; to supplant; — often followed by up; as, to trip up a man in wrestling.
The words of Hobbes's defense trip up the heels of his cause. Abp. Bramhall.
2. Fig.: To overthrow by depriving of support; to put an obstacle in the way of; to obstruct; to cause to fail.
To trip the course of law, and blunt the sword. Shak.
3. To detect in a misstep; to catch; to convict.
These her women can trip me if I err. Shak.
4. (Naut.) (a) To raise (an anchor) from the bottom, by its cable or buoy rope, so that it hangs free. (b) To pull (a yard) into a perpendicular position for lowering it.
5. (Mach.) To release, let fall, or see free, as a weight or compressed spring, as by removing a latch or detent.