traffic

Where does the word "traffic" come from? It comes from Italian traffico, passing through French before entering English (1500s).

Traffic’s story begins in Italian: traffico meant “trade.” An Italian merchants' word of uncertain origin. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in French as trafique. Commerce and trade goods. It reached English by 1500s as traffic. Road 'traffic' dates from the 1800s. Today, traffic means vehicles moving on roads; illegal trade.

1. Stage 1 · Italian · 1300s traffico "trade", an Italian merchants' word of uncertain origin.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1500s trafique "trade", commerce and trade goods.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s traffic "trade", road 'traffic' dates from the 1800s.