History, Wonder Tales, Fairy Tales, Myths and Legends The Flemish | Page 145

there is no evidence that this sense was developed out of that of pack or bundle of
hides.
3. 12.
An important group of words is that dealing with the method and conduct of trade. The
following three words, which were introduced into Middle English, may have been
borrowed by English merchants in their trading journeys and residence in the Low
Countries. Two of them refer to the manner of transport of goods.
Trail, vb. (1302, Robert of Brunne), the senses in ME. are to draw behind one, to drag
along the ground, to hang down so as to drag along the ground; the word agrees in
form with OE. traegelian (only in Prudentius Glosses, glossing L. carpere, to pluck,
snatch, tear off), but not in sense; it is apparently the same word as ONF. trailler (14th
century in Godefroy), M.Flem. treylen, treilen, treelen, MLG. treilen, tröilen, all
meaning to haul or tow a boat; it is possible that though the form existed in OE., this is
a fresh borrowing in ME. from Low Dutch.
Sled (1388), a drag used for the transport of heavy goods; (1586), a sledge or sleigh
used as a vehicle in travelling; ad. M.Flem. or MLG. sledde, related to slede, slead.
Mart (1437), a periodical gathering of people for the purpose of buying and selling, in
early use chiefly with reference to the Low Countries; later used with special reference
to the German booksellers' fair held at Easter, originally at Frankfurt and afterwards at
Leipzig; ad. Du. markt, M.Du. marct (formerly also written mart, and still commonly so
pronounced). The vb. Mart (1553) is much later; to do business at a fair; from the sb.,
though Du. has the vb. markten.
Three other Middle English words