Where does “semitrailer” come from?

semitrailer (Norwegian Nynorsk) comes from English semi-trailer, from English trailer, 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).

semitrailer (Norwegian Nynorsk): a semi-trailer

Definitions

  1. a semi-trailer

Ancestry of “semitrailer”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishsemi-trailerA trailer without a front axle and with wheels...
2EnglishtrailerSomeone who or something that trails; Part of an...
3EnglishtrailTo follow behind (someone or something); to tail (someone or something)
4Middle Englishtrailento hang loosely, drag along, drag away
5Old Frenchtraillerto tow; pick up the scent of a quarry
6Vulgar Latintragulareto drag
7Latintrāgulaa javelin or dart having a throwing-strap (āmentum)
Every word from Latin trāgulaEvery word from Vulgar Latin tragulareEvery word from Old French trailler