trail

Where does the word "trail" come from? It comes from Vulgar Latin tragulare, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Trail’s story begins in Vulgar Latin: tragulare meant “to drag.” From 'tragula', a dragnet or sledge. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as trailler. Dragging something behind. It reached English by 1300s as trail. The noun, a track left behind, dates from the 1400s. Today, trail means a track or path; to drag behind.

1. Stage 1 · Vulgar Latin · ancient tragulare "to drag", from 'tragula', a dragnet or sledge.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval trailler "to tow", dragging something behind.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s trail "to drag", the noun, a track left behind, dates from the 1400s.