traffic: [16] The ultimate origins of traffic are not known. It was acquired from French traffique, which in turn was borrowed from Old Italian traffico, a derivative of the verb trafficare ‘trade’, but there the trail goes cold. It is generally assumed that the word’s first element goes back to the Latin prefix trāns- ‘across’.
traffic (n.)
c. 1500, "trade, commerce," from Middle French trafique (15c.), from Italian traffico (14c.), from trafficare "carry on trade," of uncertain origin, perhaps from a Vulgar Latin *transfricare "to rub across," from Latin trans- "across" (see trans-) + fricare "to rub" (see friction), with the original sense of the Italian verb being "touch repeatedly, handle."
Or the second element may be an unexplained alteration of Latin facere "to make, do." Klein suggests ultimate derivation of the Italian word from Arabic tafriq "distribution." Meaning "people and vehicles coming and going" first recorded 1825. Traffic jam is 1917, ousting earlier traffic block (1895). Traffic circle is from 1938.
traffic (v.)
1540s, "to buy and sell," from traffic (n.) and preserving the original commercial sense. Related: Trafficked; trafficking; trafficker. The -k- is inserted to preserve the "k" sound of -c- before a suffix beginning in -i-, -y-, or -e- (compare picnic/picnicking, panic/panicky, shellacshellacked).
双语例句
1. The volume of scheduled flights is straining the air traffic control system.
定期航班的数量正让空中交通指挥系统不堪重负。
来自柯林斯例句
2. Southbound traffic tailed back for twenty miles on the M5 near Bristol.
在布里斯托尔附近的5号高速公路上，南行的车辆排成了绵延20英里的长龙。
来自柯林斯例句
3. The traffic on the approach road slowed to a crawl.
引路上车辆行驶缓慢。
来自柯林斯例句
4. The wide road was blocked solid with traffic that moved along sluggishly.
宽阔的马路被缓慢前行的车辆堵得严严实实。
来自柯林斯例句
5. Traffic into London on the M11 was backed up for several miles.