English▸ noun a short excursion or journey for pleasure:
her little jaunt in France was over.
▸ verb [no object] go on a short excursion or journey for pleasure:
they went jaunting through Ireland.
– ORIGIN late 16th century : of unknown origin. Originally depreciatory, early senses included ‘tire a horse out by riding it up and down’, ‘traipse about’, and (as a noun) ‘troublesome journey’. The current positive sense dates from the mid 17th century.