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Added 7 October 2026

trail

/tɹeɪl/ noun

In Latin: vestīgia Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about trail at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A track or mark left by something that has passed.
there as a trail of blood
A path or track roughly blazed through wild or hilly country.
Evidence pointing to a possible solution.
the police are following a promising lead

verb

To lag or linger behind.
But in so many other areas we still are dragging
Go after with the intent to catch.
The policeman chased the mugger down the alley
Move, proceed, or walk draggingly or slowly.
John trailed behind his class mates

Origin

From Middle English trailen, from Old French trailler (“to tow; pick up the scent of a quarry”), from Vulgar Latin *tragulāre (“to drag”), from Latin tragula (“dragnet, javelin thrown by a strap”), probably related to Latin trahere (“to pull, drag along”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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