'traineeship' originates from Modern English, specifically formed from 'trainee' + the suffix '-ship', where 'trainee' meant 'a person undergoing training' and '-ship' meant 'state or condition.'

'traineeship' evolved from the noun 'trainee' (formed from the verb 'train' + the agentive suffix '-ee') and the Old English/Old Norse-derived suffix '-ship' (Old English 'scipe'/'sciepe'). The verb 'train' itself derived from Old French 'trainer', ultimately from Latin 'trahere'. Over time these elements combined to produce the modern English word 'traineeship'.

Initially, the root verb 'trahere' meant 'to pull/drag', and 'train' once had senses related to drawing or dragging; over time the sense shifted to 'to teach, prepare, or discipline', and 'traineeship' came to mean 'a period or position for training'.