travois

travois


tra·vois    Audio Help   (trə-voi', trāv'oi')   

n.   pl. tra·vois (trə-voiz', trāv'oiz')
A frame slung between trailing poles and pulled by a dog or horse, formerly used by Plains Indians as a conveyance for goods and belongings.

[Canadian French, alteration of obsolete travoy, from travail, cart-shaft, from French, frame for restraining horses, alteration of Late Latin tripālium, device with three stakes, probably from Latin tripālis, having three stakes; see travail.]
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