train

train · noun, verb¹

1. Proto-Indo-European*dʰregʰ-der.?
2. Latintrahere
3. Vulgar Latin*tragīnāre
4. Old Frenchtraïner
5. Old Frenchtrain
6. Middle Englishtrayne
7. English todaytrain

From Middle English trayne (“train”), from Old French train (“a delay, a drawing out”), from traïner (“to pull out, to draw”), from Vulgar Latin *traginō, from *tragō, from Latin trahō (“to pull, to draw”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *tregʰ- (“to pull, draw, drag”). The verb was derived from the noun in Middle English. For the meaning to teach compare typologically Russian ната́скивать (natáskivatʹ) (akin to тащи́ть (taščítʹ)).

train · noun, verb²

1. Middle French · derived fromtraïne
2. Anglo-Norman · derived fromtraine
3. Middle English · inherited fromtrayne“treachery”
4. English todaytrain

From Middle English trayne (“treachery”), from Anglo-Norman traine, Middle French traïne, from traïr (“to betray”).

train · noun³

1. Proto-West Germanic · derived from*trahnu“tear”
2. Old Dutch · derived fromtrān
3. Middle Dutch · derived fromtrâen
4. Dutch · borrowed fromtraan“tear, drop”
5. English todaytrain

From Dutch traan (“tear, drop”), from Middle Dutch trâen, from Old Dutch trān, from Proto-West Germanic *trahnu (“tear”). Compare German Träne (“tear”), Tran (“train oil”).

Train · proper noun⁴

As an English surname, from the noun train (“hunter's trap, snare”). Also from the Middle English phrase atte trewen (“at the trees”).

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 14th c. The elongated back portion of a dress or skirt (or an ornamental piece of material added to similar effect), which drags along the ground.
• from 15th c. A trail or line of something, especially gunpowder.
• from 16th c. An animal's trail or track.
• from 14th c. A group of people following an important figure such as a king or noble; a retinue, a group of retainers.
• from 15th c. A group of animals, vehicles, or people that follow one another in a line, such as a wagon train; a caravan or procession.
• from 16th c. The men and vehicles following an army, which carry artillery and other equipment for battle or siege.
• from 15th c. A sequence of events or ideas which are interconnected; a course or procedure of something.
• 18th–19th c. State of progress, status, situation (in phrases introduced by in a + adjective); also proper order or situation (introduced by in or in a alone).