Etymology
Advertisement

trailer (n.)

1580s, "hound or huntsman that follows a trail," agent noun from trail (v.). From 1610s as "Something that trails." From 1890 as "vehicle pulled by another;" originally a small carriage drawn along by a bicycle. Meaning "preview of a coming movie" first attested 1928. Trailer park "mobile home community" recorded by 1936. Trailer trash in use by 1986.

Entries linking to trailer

trail (v.)
c. 1300, "to hang down loosely and flow behind" (of a gown, sleeve, etc.), from Old French trailler "to tow; pick up the scent of a quarry," ultimately from Vulgar Latin *tragulare "to drag," from Latin tragula "dragnet, javelin thrown by a strap," probably related to trahere "to pull" (see tract (n.1)). Transitive sense of "to tow or pull along the ground" is from c. 1400. The meaning "follow the trail of" (an animal, etc.) is first recorded late 14c. Meaning "to lag behind" is from 1957. Related: Trailed; trailing.
semi-trailer (n.)

also semitrailer, 1910 in reference to motor vehicles (late 19c. in botany), from semi- + trailer. The short form semi is attested by 1942.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Definitions of trailer

trailer (n.)
someone who takes more time than necessary; someone who lags behind;
Synonyms: dawdler / drone / laggard / lagger / poke
trailer (n.)
an advertisement consisting of short scenes from a motion picture that will appear in the near future;
Synonyms: preview / prevue
trailer (n.)
a large transport conveyance designed to be pulled by a truck or tractor;
trailer (n.)
a wheeled vehicle that can be pulled by a car or truck and is equipped for occupancy;
Synonyms: house trailer
From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near trailer

tragi-comedy

tragi-comic

tragus

trail

trailblazer

trailer

train

trainable

trainee

trainer

training

© 2001-2022 Douglas Harper