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).
例文
1. The volume of scheduled flights is straining the air traffic control system.
定期便の数は、航空交通指揮システムを重荷に耐えられないようにしている。
2.Southbound traffic tailed back for twenty miles on the M 5 near Bristol.
ブリストル近くの5番高速道路では、南行の車両が20マイルも続く長蛇の列になっていた。
3.The traffic on the approach road slowed to a crawl.
誘導路では車両の走行が遅い。
4.The wide road was blocked solid with traffic that moved along sluggishly.
広々とした道路は、ゆっくりと進む車によってしっかりと塞がれている。
5. Traffic into London the M 11 was backed up for several miles.