tractor

Where does the word "tractor" come from? It comes from Latin trahere, passing through Latin before entering English (1856).

Tractor’s story begins in Latin: trahere meant “to pull, to draw.” The root of 'tract', 'traction' and 'trace'. Within Latin, it grew into tractor by ancient. A puller, a dragger, from trahere. It reached English by 1856 as tractor. Adopted for a powerful vehicle used to pull farm equipment. Today, tractor means a powerful motor vehicle used to pull farm equipment or heavy loads.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient trahere "to pull, to draw", the root of 'tract', 'traction' and 'trace'.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient tractor "a puller, a dragger", a puller, a dragger, from trahere.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1856 tractor "a powerful vehicle used to pull farm equipment", adopted for a powerful vehicle used to pull farm equipment.