'arrastra' originates from Spanish, specifically the word 'arrastre' (from the verb 'arrastrar'), where the root 'arrastr-' meant 'to drag'.

'arrastra' developed from Spanish 'arrastre' (and ultimately from Late Latin forms such as '*adrastrare', related to Latin 'rastrum' meaning 'rake'), and was borrowed into English mining vocabulary in the 18th–19th century as 'arrastra'.

Initially it referred to 'the action or device for dragging'; over time it came to denote specifically the 'primitive ore‑crushing mill' used in mining.