Late 19th century. From Russian provodnik leader, guide, conductor on a train from pro- through, across, past (from the same Indo-European base as classical Latin prō) + vod- to lead (from the same Indo-European base as Latvian vadīt, Avestan vāδaiieiti) + inserted -n- + -ik, suffix forming agent nouns; originally (in form prowodnik) via German Prowodnik.