A passing thought from the mind of my inquisitive German partner encourages me to investigate the word ‘Train’. For in the world of infrastructure the meaning seems so clear, but her observation brings with it the realisation that Train is used for purposes apparently quite unrelated to the workhorse of the transport industry.
Train of thought
Train in a subject
Train of the gown
Train the climbing rose
Train your sights on a subject
Those interested in etymology instinctively know that our beloved means of transport is either related to these other meanings or has evolved into a similar form from quite another root.
I would have thought the latter, but Google tells me it’s the former.
Train of thought
Train in a subject
Train of the gown
Train the climbing rose
Train your sights on a subject
Those interested in etymology instinctively know that our beloved means of transport is either related to these other meanings or has evolved into a similar form from quite another root.
I would have thought the latter, but Google tells me it’s the former.
Train is from late Middle English: from Old French train (masculine), traine (feminine), from trainer (verb), from Latin trahere 'pull, draw'.
Early noun senses were 'trailing part of a robe' and 'retinue'; the latter gave rise to 'line of travelling people or vehicles', later a connected series of things'. The early verb sense 'cause a plant to grow in a desired shape' was the basis of the sense 'instruct'. |
train (n.)
early 14c., "a drawing out, delay;" late 14c., "trailing part of a skirt, gown, or cloak;" also "retinue, procession," from Old French train "tracks, path, trail (of a robe or gown); act of dragging," from trainer "to pull, drag, draw," from Vulgar Latin *traginare, extended from *tragere "to pull," back-formation from tractus, past participle of Latin trahere "to pull, draw" General sense of "series, progression, succession, continuous course" is from late 15c.; train of thought is attested from 1650s. The railroad sense "locomotive and the cars coupled to it" is recorded from 1820 (publication year, dated 1816), from the notion of a "trailing succession" of wagons or carriages pulled by a mechanical engine. train (v.) "to discipline, teach, bring to a desired state by means of instruction," 1540s, probably from earlier sense of "draw out and manipulate in order to bring to a desired form" (late 14c.), specifically of the growth of branches, vines, etc. from mid-15c.; from train (n.). Sense of "point or aim" (a firearm, etc.) is from 1841. Sense of "fit oneself for a performance by a regimen or exercise" is from 1832. The meaning "to travel by railway" is recorded from 1856. Related: Trained; training. |
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