trekker

Forms

trekker m (plural trekkers, diminutive trekkertje n)^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle Dutch trecker, formed from Middle Dutch trecken + -ere, the agent and instrument noun of the verb now spelled trekken (“to pull”).^[2][3][1] In the sense of a tractor the word is a calque: from about 1930 it rendered English tractor, whose sound it also resembles.^[2][4][1]

English trigger, earlier tricker (1620s), was borrowed from the Dutch word in the sense of the catch of a gun.^[5][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

The oldest record, from Brabant in 1300, is trecker for one who draws a weapon from its sheath: a forfeit falls on the trecker.^[3]

Semantic evolution

Middle Dutch used trecker for anyone or anything that pulls: a dredger who drags mud up with a net (1384), a grasping or thieving person (1438), and a cord or handle one pulls, such as those of a bell (1548).^[3] Early Modern Dutch added the drawer of a bill of exchange (1598), a man or animal towing a boat (1677), and the catch of a gun, de Trecker van het Slot van de Musketten (1672).^[2] Steam brought the senses “tug” and “locomotive” in the 19th century.^[2]

The 20th century gave the modern main senses.^[2] From about 1930 trekker translated English tractor.^[2] From about 1945 it was used for a truck that pulls a semi-trailer.^[2] A trekker is also a hiker on a walking tour: Dutch hikers called themselves so after 1918, and the hunger marchers of 1944–45 were called trekkers too.^[2] Of birds and animals it means one that migrates.^[2][7]

Apart from English trigger, Scots has tricker, and English trekker “hiker” came through Afrikaans;^[6] Indonesian trékker is the catch of a gun.^[6]

Timeline

• 1300 – Trecker is recorded in Brabant for one who draws a weapon.^[3]
• 1384 – A Flemish record of treckers as dredgers.^[3]
• 1548 – Treckers are cords pulled to ring a bell.^[3]
• 1620s – English tricker “trigger” is borrowed from Dutch.^[5]
• 1672 – The catch of a musket lock is called Trecker.^[2]
• c. 1930 – Trekker begins to translate English tractor.^[2]
• 1931 – Hikers are called trekkers.^[2]
• c. 1945 – Trekker is used for a truck pulling a semi-trailer.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. A tractor.^[7][1]
2. A truck that pulls a semi-trailer.^[7][8]
3. The trigger of a gun: Hij haalde de trekker over.^[7][1]
4. One who goes on a long walk or journey; a hiker.^[7][1]
5. A migratory bird.^[7][1]
6. (commerce) The drawer of a bill of exchange.^[7][2]
7. A crowd-puller, a publiekstrekker.^[7][8]
8. A rubber squeegee for drying floors.^[7][1]

Word family

• deeltrekker
• kurkentrekker
• aftrekker
• doortrekker
• trekkerstent
• publiekstrekker
• laarzentrekker

Related words

• trekken
• English trigger

Usage notes

De trekker overhalen is to pull the trigger, to shoot.^[7]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Vries, Matthias de; Winkel, L. A. te, et al. (1882–1998), Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal, 29 vols., 's-Gravenhage / Leiden: Nijhoff / Sijthoff / SDU; supplement 2001; gtb.ivdnt.org
3. ^ a b c d e f Verwijs, Eelco; Verdam, Jacob (1885–1929), Middelnederlandsch woordenboek, 11 vols., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff; gtb.ivdnt.org
4. ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2005), Groot leenwoordenboek, Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale
5. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
6. ^ a b c Sijs, Nicoline van der (2010), Nederlandse woorden wereldwijd, Den Haag: Sdu; with additions from the Uitleenwoordenbank (2015)
7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Van Dale Groot woordenboek hedendaags Nederlands (2014), Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Uitgevers
8. ^ a b WikiWoordenboek (Dutch Wiktionary), nl.wiktionary.org