travois

[ truh-voi ]

noun

, plural tra·vois [tr, uh, -, voiz].

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

travois

/ trəˈvɔɪ /

noun

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. a similar sled used for dragging logs

Word History and Origins

Origin of travois¹

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; travail )

Word History and Origins

Origin of travois¹

from Canadian French, from French travail trave

Example Sentences

Now our worldly goods were increasing, so I cut down two lodge poles and made a little travois for the dog.

From Project Gutenberg

Travois were loaded with household goods, or carried women too old and children too young to walk or ride horseback.

From Project Gutenberg

These Indians have a large number of ugly dogs, and sometimes they hitch them to their travois.

From Project Gutenberg

She snatched him off the travois, but he struggled out of her arms to look upon his dog lovingly and admiringly.

From Project Gutenberg

The youthful Gall was in a travois, a basket mounted on trailing poles and harnessed to the sides of the animal.

From Project Gutenberg