track English · revision 3297

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1470, Malory|origins=frm trac}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /træk/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|trak]],^(AHD 2000)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|frm|trac|t=track of horses, trace]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) a word of uncertain origin,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) perhaps Germanic:^(AHD 2000) the OED (1989) calls it generally thought to be from the source of Middle Low German and Middle Dutch trek, treck “drawing, pull”,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) and so related to [[trek]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021) The verb is from the noun or from French traquer.^(SOED 2002)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A footprint or mark left by anything: before 1470, in Malory's ''Morte d'Arthur'', originally of a horse.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its sense development parallels that of [[trace]].^(Etymonline) A line of travel or motion is from the 1570s,^(OED 1989) and a beaten path from 1643.^(OED 1989) A course for racing is by 1827,^(Etymonline) and the line of rails for trains is from 1805;^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021) ''the wrong side of the tracks'', the poorer part of a town divided by a railroad, is American English by 1901.^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) ''Track and field'' is from 1905.^(Barnhart 1988) The meaning “single recorded item” is from 1904, originally of phonograph records.^(Etymonline) ''Track record'' was a record of speed in a race from 1915, and any record of achievement from 1957.^(Barnhart 1988) The verb, “to follow the traces of”, is from 1565,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) “to follow the course of a distant object” by telescope or radar by 1920,^(Etymonline) and “to leave a trail”, as with muddy feet, by 1838 in the United States.^(Etymonline) The track marks of drug injection are from 1964.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1470 – a footprint, mark.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1565 – verb, to follow the track of.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1643 – a beaten path.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1805 – railway lines.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1827 – a racecourse.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1901 – ''wrong side of the tracks''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1904 – a recorded item.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1905 – ''track and field''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1957 – ''track record'', any record of achievement.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A mark or line of marks left by something that has passed; a [[trail]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A rough [[path]] or road.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # A course of action or line of thought: ''on the right track''.^(AHD)

+ # A pair of [[rail|alt=rails]] on which a train runs.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ # A course laid out for racing; [[athletics|alt=athletic]] events held on one.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A single song or piece on a [[record]] or recording.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A continuous band around the wheels of a tank or tractor.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To follow the tracks of; to [[pursue]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # To follow the course or progress of, as by [[radar]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To leave a trail of dirt or mud: ''track mud into the house''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[trackable]]

+ * [[tracker]]

+ * [[trackless]]

+ * [[trackability]]

+ * [[tracking shot]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[trek]]

+ * [[trace]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A separate verb ''track'', “to tow a boat from the bank”, from 1727, is apparently from Dutch trekken, assimilated in form to this word.^(SOED 2002)^(OED 1989)^(COED 2004)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}