The English word ‘to travel’(“to journey”) and French ‘travailler’ (“to work”) are notorious false friends: they look similar but their meanings are very different.
However, they’re real cognates, as they stem from the same word: Old French ‘travaillier’, which meant “to toil”.
This verb had a sinister origin: it came from a Latin word meaning “to torture on a three-staked instrument”.
My new infographic tells you all about it.
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@yvanspijk@toot.community
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How did ‘to travel’ end up meaning “to go on a journey”? This meaning isn’t found in any of the Romance languages.
What was the original English word for it?
And what were the original Romance words for ‘to work’?
In the short article on my Patreon (580 words, tier 1), you’ll read all the answers:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/when-suffering-138280753
El Murciélago 
FCK|NZSIn Valenciano treballar the meaning is also to work / torment
Je kan er “travakken” nog bijzetten. In mijn brondialect: heel hard werken.
