'arrastre' originates from Spanish, specifically the word 'arrastre', where the verb 'arrastrar' meant 'to drag'.

'arrastre' comes from Spanish 'arrastrar' (to drag), which itself developed from Late Latin roots related to 'rastrare'/'rastrum' (a scraper or rake); the noun entered English as a loanword in the 19th century in mining contexts.

Initially it referred generally to the action of dragging; over time, in English use it became specialized to denote the particular ore‑crushing apparatus (and, by extension in some regions, related hauling charges).