Origin and history of travel

late 14c., trauel; mid-15c., travell, "make a journey, go from place to place," from travailen (1300) "make a journey," originally "to struggle, toil, labor" (see travail (v.)). It is a variant form of travail, used in a specific sense, which has flourished while the old word faded.

The semantic development may have been via the notion of "go on a difficult journey," but it also may reflect the difficulty of any journey in the Middle Ages. The Old English verb faran (see fare (v.)).

The general sense of "move, go, or pass from one place or position to another" is by 1660s, also in mechanical use. Related: Traveled; traveling.

To travel light "travel with little luggage" is by 1921, also figurative. Traveling library is attested by 1910. Traveling salesman is attested by 1885, from the verb in the specific commercial sense of "go from place to place to solicit orders for goods" (by 1830), inspiration for farmer's daughter jokes and a knotty math problem. Earlier travailing-man was "workman, laborer" (late 14c.) also "wayfarer."

c. 1400, trauel, "the action of traveling" (also "labor, toil, suffering," senses now obsolete); from travel (v.). Earlier Middle English used travail for "a journey, a trip."

As "the passage or concourse of travelers, persons traveling" is by 1830 (passing into "business of hosting and accommodating travelers"). Travels "accounts of journeys" is recorded from 1590s. Travel-agent is attested by 1925.