travois

travois [truh-voi] ExamplesWord Origin noun, plural tra·vois [truh-voiz] /trəˈvɔɪz/.

1. a transport device, formerly used by the Plains Indians, consisting of two poles joined by a frame and drawn by an animal.

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) Examples from the Web for travois Historical Examples of travois

Figs. 204 and 205 show the famous Indian mode of packing by travois.

The Book of Camp-Lore and Woodcraft

Dan Beard

“There are no travois, only mounted men, no women,” St. Antoine remarked.

South from Hudson Bay

E. 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 West

Emerson Hough

Whenever the camp moved the stone and travois were taken along.

Myths and Legends of the Sioux

Marie L. McLaughlin

At this point Blake joined Helen and Bill, and as he did so he espied the travois.

The Orphan

Clarence E. Mulford

British Dictionary definitions for travois travois noun plural -vois (-ˈvɔɪz)

1. a sled formerly used by the Plains Indians of North America, consisting of two poles joined by a frame and dragged by an animal
2. Canadian a similar sled used for dragging logs

Word Origin for travois from Canadian French, from French travail trave Word Origin and History for travois n.

1847, said to be ultimately from a Canadian Indian pronunciation of travail.