(1) A movement within the earth's crust or mantle, caused by the sudden rupture or repositioning of stressed subsurface rocks as they release those stresses. (The crusty definition.)
(2) The event formerly known as earthdin. What you feel whenever the earth rolls over in its sleep. Or it could be the snoring that does it.
An 1828 dictionary says "A shaking, trembling or concussion of the earth; sometimes a slight tremor; at other times a violent shaking or convulsion; at other times a rocking or heaving of the earth. Earthquakes are usually preceded by a rattling sound in the air, or by a subterraneous rumbling noise." Which about sums up earthdin. Also known as eorthequakynge, among the kinky.
Anyway, it's hard to stay on your feet during a typical earthquake, and hard to sleep through one, and all that.
One of these may temporarily rupture hiking trails, but hikers are a busy lot and nearly instantly get back to work like hordes of buzzing ants, tidying up our trails and restoring things, so overall earthquakes are only amusing entertainment. (Do ants buzz?)
Have anything worth adding? Then try sosayseff+eff@gmail.com
Me? Rumbling, gently for now, but look out.
Etc...
so says eff: sporadic spurts of grade eff distraction
definitions: outdoor terms
fiyh: dave's little guide to ultralight backpacking stoves
boyb: dave's little guide to backpacks
snorpy bits: nibbling away at your sanity
last seen receding: missives from a certain mobile homer
noseyjoe: purposefully poking my proboscis into technicals