traction

Forms

traction f (plural tractions)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Late Latin tractiō (“action of pulling”), a noun formed on tractum, the supine of trahō (“to pull, draw”).^[2][3][4][5] In classical Latin the noun meant the derivation of one word from another, a grammatical term.^[2][3] The borrowing is dated 1503 by Rey, Bloch and Wartburg and the Grand Robert, and 1515 by the TLFi.^[3][6][4][2] The Latin verb is also the source of the inherited traire.^[2][3]

Rey notes that the French words ending in ⟨-traction⟩, such as distraction and attraction, were taken from Latin compounds and go with verbs in ⟨-traire⟩.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The word was first a technical term for the action of pulling: the GLLF dates it to 1503 in a French version of Guy de Chauliac's surgery, and the TLFi's first record is from Jean Falco's commentaries of 1515.^[7][2]

Semantic evolution

For three centuries traction stayed a technical word for the action of a force that pulls a body; scientific uses date from 1876, and a general sense “action of pulling” spread from about 1890, with traction mécanique.^[3][8] In medicine, rhythmic pulling of the tongue to restart breathing was called traction rythmique de la langue (1904) and traction rythmée (1933).^[7] In gymnastics the word names, from 1909, the exercise of raising the body by pulling on the arms, as in faire des tractions.^[3]

On the railways traction named from 1876 the service in charge of moving trains and of the rolling stock.^[2][3] In motoring traction avant “front-wheel drive” is recorded from 1934 (1936 in a toy catalogue, says the TLFi), and then the car built with it (1941–1949); shortened to traction, it came to mean the front-wheel-drive Citroën.^[3][2][9]

Timeline

• 1503 – First recorded, in a French version of Guy de Chauliac.^[7][3]
• 1515 – Jean Falco uses it for the action of pulling.^[2]
• 1611 – Cotgrave records the word.^[8]
• 1876 – The Larousse records the railway sense “traction service”.^[2][3]
• 1890 – Traction mécanique shows the general sense “pulling”.^[3]
• 1909 – The gymnastic sense “pull-up” appears.^[3]
• 1934 – Traction avant “front-wheel drive” is recorded.^[3][7]
• 1952 – Traction alone names the front-wheel-drive car.^[2]
• 1961 – The derivative tractionnaire “member of the traction service” is first recorded.^[2][3]

Meanings

Noun

1. (technical) The action of pulling on a body so as to stretch or move it, and the tensile force so produced.^[9][8]
2. The action of pulling something towards oneself, as in rhythmic pulling of the tongue against asphyxia.^[9][2]
3. (gymnastics) A pull-up, or a press-up: il fait vingt tractions chaque matin.^[9][1]
4. The action of hauling or drawing a vehicle: animal, steam or electric traction.^[9]
5. (railways) The service in charge of locomotives and the moving of trains.^[9][2]
6. Traction avant: front-wheel drive, and a car with it;^[9][3] (familiar) une traction, the old front-wheel-drive Citroën.^[9][3]

Word family

• tractionnaire

Related words

• attraction
• tracter
• traire
• Latin trahō

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 13/2, 184b
6. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
7. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ a b c d e f g h Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert