travois
[truh-voi]
- a transport device, formerly used by the Plains Indians, consisting of two poles joined by a frame and drawn by an animal.
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Origin of travois
1840–50; Americanism; pseudo-French spelling of earlier travoy < North American French; compare Canadian French travail shaft of a cart to which the horse is hitched, French: frame in which unruly horses are held while they are shod (probably < Late Latin trepālium; see travail)
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for travois
Historical Examples
Figs. 204 and 205 show the famous Indian mode of packing by travois.
The Book of Camp-Lore and WoodcraftDan Beard
“There are no travois, only mounted men, no women,” St. Antoine remarked.
South from Hudson BayE. C. [Ethel Claire] Brill
A dog could draw more on a travois, or pole-frame, than he could carry on his back.
The Way to the WestEmerson Hough
Whenever the camp moved the stone and travois were taken along.
Myths and Legends of the SiouxMarie L. McLaughlin
At this point Blake joined Helen and Bill, and as he did so he espied the travois.
The OrphanClarence E. Mulford
travois
- a sled formerly used by the Plains Indians of North America, consisting of two poles joined by a frame and dragged by an animal
- Canadian a similar sled used for dragging logs
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Word Origin
from Canadian French, from French travail trave
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for travois
n.
1847, said to be ultimately from a Canadian Indian pronunciation of travail.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper