yomp, v. orig. Mil.
(jɒmp)
[Origin unknown.
The word came into prominence when used by the Royal Marines during the Falklands conflict of 1982. It was subsequently identified with yump v. by correspondents familiar with the terminology of rally driving, but whether correctly or not has not been confirmed.]
a. intr. To march with heavy equipment over difficult terrain. Also fig. b. trans. To cover (a certain distance) in this way.
| 1982 Daily Tel. 3 June 36/6 And always in the cold light of the Falklands dawn, the..Marines..have been ready to ‘yomp on’ for the next stage of the journey. 1982 Observer 20 June 3/2 Yomping round the sodden and trackless wastes of the constituency, I found the voters in less martial mood. 1983 Listener 20 Jan. 31/2 Mrs. Thatcher may begin yomping..around the hustings considerably sooner. 1983 Guardian 15 Apr. 10/1 Our boys..who yomped all those miles in the Falklands. 1984 Sunday Times 14 Oct. 9/3 So the sweaty soldier yomping to battle ends up with blisters and a pool of water inside the boot. |
So ˈyomping vbl. n. and ppl. a.; also ˈyomper.
| 1982 Daily Tel. 3 June 1/1 (heading) Yompers surprise the enemy. Ibid., Yomping they call it in the Royal Marine Commandos. It means marching, humping up to 120 lb. of equipment and all the arms needed for attack at the far end of the trek. 1982 Standard 6 Aug. 8/1 (Advt.), Yompers wanted..in teams of 3 for 40 mile mountain express 24-hour walk. 1983 Financial Times 28 Jan. 16/6 Will robots replace the ‘yomping’ soldier in the army of the future? |