In early 1800s, portable engines were first farm engines that were powered. These were steam engines using wheels that helped in driving mechanical farm machinery using a flexible belt. From these, the first traction engines developed around 1850. They were readily adopted for use in agriculture.

This word “tractor” is an agent noun of a Latin word trahere which literally means “to pull”. It was 1901 that the use of term “tractor” as used and it replaced the term that was used until then: traction engine (1859).

The tractor can be used to tow or mount agricultural implements and additionally it may also be a source of power for a mechanized implement – perhaps a plough for example.

Portable engines were the first farm implements that were powered in the early 1800s. These were steam engines that made use of wheels and were used to drive the mechanical farm machines using a flexible belt. Then in about 1850, these were modernized to give the first traction engines and of course they were readily adopted for use in agriculture.