'trot' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'trotter', where the form was likely imitative of the short, quick steps of the gait.

'trot' changed from Old French 'trotter' and entered Middle English as 'trotte' or 'trot', eventually becoming the modern English word 'trot'.

Initially, it referred to the action 'to move at a brisk, short-stepped pace'; over time this core sense remained, while figurative and slang senses (e.g. 'the trots' for diarrhea) developed later.