The word "tray" has a direct lineage from Old English, where it referred to a simple wooden platter. It is descended from the Proto-Germanic traujam, a term for a wooden vessel, which itself may be linked to the Proto-Indo-European root deru-/dreu-, meaning "wood" or "tree." This etymological path highlights the original material from which trays were commonly made. Over time, the meaning broadened from a specific wooden object to encompass shallow containers of any material designed for carrying items, while retaining the core concept of a flat, supportive surface.

The word is a simplex form. It is a loanword from Old English 'trēg' or 'trīg', meaning a wooden board or platter. Its ultimate origin is the Proto-Germanic traujam, likely related to the concept of a wooden vessel.