Where does “vapor trail” come from?

vapor trail (English) comes from English trail, from Middle English trailen, from Old French trailler, from Vulgar Latin tragulare, from Latin trāgula — a javelin or dart having a throwing-strap (āmentum).

vapor trail (English): A contrail

Definitions

  1. A contrail

Ancestry of “vapor trail”, step by step

vapor trail traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English trail

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishtrailTo follow behind (someone or something); to tail (someone or something)
2Middle Englishtrailento hang loosely, drag along, drag away
3Old Frenchtraillerto tow; pick up the scent of a quarry
4Vulgar Latintragulareto drag
5Latintrāgulaa javelin or dart having a throwing-strap (āmentum)

via English vapor

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishvaporCloudy diffused matter such as mist, steam or...
2Middle EnglishvapourFumes or vapour; a visible gaseous emission;...
3Anglo-Normanvapour
4Old FrenchvaporAlternative form of vapeur
5Latinvapōrsteam, exhalation, vapour; smoke
Every word from Latin trāgulaEvery word from Vulgar Latin tragulareEvery word from Old French trailler