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Origin and history of tractor

tractor(n.)

"something that pulls, that which draws or is used for drawing," 1856, from Modern Latin tractor "that which draws," agent noun from past-participle stem of Latin trahere "to pull, draw" (see tract (n.1)).

Earlier the word was used of a quack device consisting of two metal rods which were supposed to relieve rheumatism (1798, in full Perkins's metallic tractor); this is still the specific sense of the noun in Century Dictionary (1891).

The sense of "an engine or vehicle for pulling wagons or plows" is recorded by 1896, from earlier traction engine (1855) "movable steam engine for dragging heavy loads," also used in agriculture. The meaning "powerful truck for pulling a freight trailer" is by 1926.

also from 1856

Entries linking to tractor

tract(n.1)

[area], mid-15c., "extent, continued passage or duration," in phrase tract of time "period or lapse of time" (now obsolete), from Latin tractus "course, progress, movement, a train or course, a space drawn out, duration," etymologically "a drawing out or pulling," from stem of trahere "to pull, draw." This is said [Watkins] to be from a PIE root *tragh- "to draw, drag, move" (source also of Slovenian trag "trace, track," Middle Irish tragud "ebb;" perhaps with a variant form *dhragh-; see drag (v.)). Compare trait and trace (n.1).

The meaning "territory, region of indefinite extent, stretch of land or water" in English is recorded by 1550s. Latin tractus also had a sense of "territory, district, region of land." The specific U.S. sense of "plot of land for development" is recorded from 1912; tract housing is attested by 1953.

Also by 1680s in anatomy, in reference to regions of the body having particular functions (digestive, respiratory, etc.).

amtrac(n.)

amphibious assault vehicle, 1944, contraction of amphibious tractor (n.).

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