traction

Where does the word "traction" come from? It comes from Latin trahere, and was adopted directly into English (1610s).

Traction’s story begins in Latin: trahere meant “to draw, to pull.” The root of 'tract', 'tractor' and 'trace'. It reached English by 1610s as traction. Settled as the English word for the grip or pulling force between surfaces. Today, traction means the grip of a surface allowing motion without slipping, or growing momentum.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient trahere "to draw, to pull", the root of 'tract', 'tractor' and 'trace'.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1610s traction "the grip or pulling force between two surfaces", settled as the English word for the grip or pulling force between surfaces.