travel

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

Travel’s story begins in Late Latin: trepalium meant “torture instrument.” A three-staked torture device, from 'tres', three, and 'palus', stake. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as travailler. To torment, then to toil; modern French 'travailler' means to work. It reached English by 1300s as travel. A variant of 'travail'; medieval journeys were so arduous that toil came to mean journeying. Today, travel means to go from one place to another, especially over a distance.

1. Stage 1 · Late Latin · ancient trepalium "torture instrument", a three-staked torture device, from 'tres', three, and 'palus', stake.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval travailler "to toil", to torment, then to toil; modern French 'travailler' means to work.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s travel "to journey", a variant of 'travail'; medieval journeys were so arduous that toil came to mean journeying.