Etymology of Trailer (As in Movie Trailer)

By Xah Lee. Date: .

etymology of trailer

trailer, as in movie trailer, one of the most idiotic term.

  • The meaning "advertisement run alongside a motion picture" was first attested in 1916, though the concept of a promotional film predates this.
  • The term "trailer" for film previews originated because these clips were originally shown after the main feature film, effectively "trailing" behind it.
  • This practice was common until the 1930s, when audiences often left after the main film, prompting theaters to move trailers to before the feature for better visibility.
  • The word's etymology is linked to the Latin trahere, meaning "to pull," and ultimately to Vulgar Latin tragulare, meaning "to drag".
  • The term "tractor-trailer," referring to a motor truck paired with a trailer, dates from 1914.

(2025-10-22 from AI)