Etymology Map
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Travel

3 stages from Late Latin to English.

Today it means to go from one place to another, especially over a distance

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

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

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.