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.).
tract (n.2)
"little book on a particular topic, short treatise" late Old English tracte, probably a shortened form of Latin tractatus "a handling, treatise, treatment," from tractare "to handle" (see treat (v.)).
Also in liturgy, an anthem consisting of verses of Scripture used at certain occasions. In later use, "a short pamphlet" (by 1806). Related: Tractarian.
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updated on May 27, 2024
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Dictionary entries near tract
trachoma
tracing
track
tracker
trackless
tract
tractable
tractarian
tractation
tractile
traction
