Etymology Map
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Train

3 stages from Vulgar Latin to English.

Today it means a line of railway carriages; to teach a skill

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

1
Stage 1 of 3
traginare
Vulgar Latin · ancient
"to drag"
from 'trahere', to draw, the root of 'tractor'
2
Stage 2 of 3
trahiner
Old French · medieval
"to drag"
a trailing part of a gown
3
Stage 3 of 3
train
English · 1300s
"a trailing thing"
railway 'trains' date from 1820s
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Read the full story

Train’s story begins in Vulgar Latin: traginare meant “to drag.” From 'trahere', to draw, the root of 'tractor'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as trahiner. A trailing part of a gown. It reached English by 1300s as train. Railway 'trains' date from 1820s. Today, train means a line of railway carriages; to teach a skill.