Early 17th century (as an adjective): from modern Latin locomotivus, from Latin loco (ablative of locus 'place') + late Latin motivus 'motive', suggested by medieval Latin in loco moveri 'move by change of position'.

• local from Late Middle English:

  Local is from Latin locus ‘place’. At first used to mean ‘concerned with place or position’, it was applied more specifically to a small area with respect to its inhabitants from the late 17th century. Locals described the inhabitants themselves from the mid 19th century. The same root is found in allocation (Late Middle English) from allocare ‘allot’, dislocate (late 16th century) ‘displace’, locate (early 16th century), locomotive (early 17th century), something that could move its place, and locale (late 18th century). This is from French local, the same as the English word, but with an ‘e’ added to show the change in pronunciation (compare moral and morale).