swingletree

American

[swing-guhl-tree] / ˈswɪŋ gəlˌtri /

noun

Chiefly Midland and Southern U.S.

a whiffletree.

swingletree British

/ ˈswɪŋɡəlˌtriː /

noun

Also called: whippletree. whiffletree. a crossbar in a horse's harness to which the ends of the traces are attached

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of swingletree

late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75; see origin at swingle ¹, tree

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

I sat in the buggy, holding the reins over the trembling, wild-eyed bay, while William descended and, with great dignity, tied up the disabled swingletree.

From A Circuit Rider's Wife by Harris, Corra

The cow is attached to each shaft and a small single-tree, or swingletree, by means of a broad strap harness.

From Nye and Riley's Wit and Humor (Poems and Yarns) by Nye, Bill

The mare crashed into the rockaway on one side and the bay shattered the swingletree on the other with the forewheel of our buggy.

From A Circuit Rider's Wife by Harris, Corra

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023