'traitor' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'traitour', where 'trait-' comes from Latin roots meaning related to 'handing over'.

'traitor' changed from Latin 'traditor' (one who hands over) to Old French 'traitour' and entered Middle English as 'traitour' before becoming the modern English 'traitor'.

Initially, it meant 'one who hands over (someone) to an enemy', but over time it has come to mean more generally 'a person who betrays trust' (including political, personal, or organizational betrayal).