Is to be articulate the same as an articulated lorry - or is it a coincidence the 2 words are similar?

Question

Do they have a common origin

Answer 1

Common origin, yes.
[Origin: 1545–55; < L articulātus, ptp. of articulāre to divide into distinct parts. See article, -ate1]

articulate -
uttered clearly in distinct syllables.

articulated lorry -
Consisting of sections united by joints; jointed.
An articulated truck or lorry consisting of a towing engine (tractor in the U.S., prime mover in Australia, and truck in the UK, Canada and New Zealand), and joined to a semi-trailer (plus possible additional trailers) that carries the freight.

Answer 2

Yes, they're the same word - ultimately from the Latin verb "articulāre", "to put together using joints".

If someone is articulate (adjective), or can articulate (verb), it means they can put words together to form a sentence.

An articulated lorry is so-called because, unlike a lorry/trailer combination, the trailer is carried by "partial superimposition". That just means that part of the weight of the trailer is borne by the tractor. So it's legally one jointed vehicle (although they can of course be separated), rather than two vehicles joined together. There was a time when it made a difference in law - for instance, you needed a different licence to drive it.

Answer 3

Like many words there are those with many meanings often this is because the basis for the primary part of the word is derived from another language or because the word can apply to many things as in this case. Articulated means united by joins or joints which applies to words language and many other things like lorries that have flexible joints.

Answer 4

Nope, two different words. the lorry 'articulated' means it has segments that bend - a bit like some insects which have articulated bodies.

Answer 5

Both are from the Latin articultus, past participle of articulre, to divide into joints, utter distinctly, from articulus, small joint.

It is also related to the word ARTICLE which is Middle English, from Old French, from Latin articulus, joint, article, diminutive of artus, joint (translation of Greek arthron, joint).