american-englishdialectsregionalusagevernacular
As far as AmEng is concerned, does "trace" mean just about the same as "trail" in "break/blaze a trace", and — if indeed it does — can "trace" be used pretty much interchangeably in every which literal sense of "trail"?
It takes about two people to break a trace through the brush ahead… source
Only tortuous paths and blazed traces led over the Appalachians…
source
Agreed, at least in the US, “linens” refers to multiple individual articles of linen-made items (tablecloths, sheets, napkins, etc.), while "linen” refers to the fabric itself.
This interesting extract says the term "pocketbook", referring to a purse, is becoming less common also in the U.S. where it is used to refer to a (hard sided) handbag
The largest difference between Canadians and Americans was the American use of the old English term ‘pocketbook’ which originated from a type of wallet that fit into the pocket in the 18th century The term was first used to describe a woman’s hard sided handbag in 1816, as opposed to a drawstring closed soft-sided reticule (aka dorothy bag).
Pocketbook is now an archaic word in England and Canada and becoming increasingly scarce in the U.S. but is still used by some to describe the difference between a soft and hard sided handbag.
For the English, a wallet is a masculine style of purse, whereas in North America there are men’s and ladie’s wallets, with men’s wallets (aka billfolds) being smaller to fit into back pockets of trousers (or as Americans would say – pants).
(kickshawproductions.com)
a pocketbook purse.
Best Answer
'trace' does have a meaning similar to 'trail'. It is uncommon - probably the most famous is the Natchez Trace from Nashville to Natchez in Mississippi, set out in the early 1800s.
The implication is that a trail is more 'improved' and used than a trace. If I make a trace and others use it, it becomes a trail. The trace is more akin to the route you took than any kind of improved path.
I would not use the words interchangeably because of the rarity and this difference in meaning.