From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
errand
n 1: a short trip that is taken in the performance of a
necessary task or mission
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Errand \Er"rand\, n. [OE. erende, erande, message, business, AS.
[ae]rende, [ae]rend; akin to OS. arundi, OHG. arunti, Icel.
eyrendi, ["o]rendi, erendi, Sw. [aum]rende, Dan. [ae]rende;
perh. akin to AS. earu swift, Icel. ["o]rr, and to L. oriri
to rise, E. orient.]
A special business intrusted to a messenger; something to be
told or done by one sent somewhere for the purpose; often, a
verbal message; a commission; as, the servant was sent on an
errand; to do an errand. Also, one's purpose in going
anywhere.
[1913 Webster]
I have a secret errand to thee, O king. --Judg. iii.
19.
[1913 Webster]
I will not eat till I have told mine errand. --Gen.
xxiv. 33.
[1913 Webster]
2. Any specific task, usually of a routine nature, requiring
some form of travel, usually locally. An errand is often
on behalf of someone else, but sometimes for one's own
purposes.
[PJC]
3. A mission.
[PJC]
To run an errand, To perform an errand[2].
[PJC]