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

Similar marks in bones from early Native American horses can help prove they carried a rider, wore a bridle, or pulled a travois—a frame, made of two poles and a net, that Plains people used to drag loads.

From Science Magazine

I was more than a little smug, trundling down the hill, helping to maneuver the weight of a full-grown buck on the travois we’d strapped together out of branches and sinew.

From Literature

Elizabeth Glynn, the CEO of Travois, a consulting firm that works with Native American and Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian communities, said incremental changes were not enough, and that without changing the team name entirely, little progress could be made.

From Reuters

Travois works with more than 100 tribes in 22 states.

From Washington Times

Elizabeth Glynn, the CEO of Travois, which helps create affordable housing and economic development opportunities for American Indians, has spoken to leaders of tribal nations and said most are against the use of any imagery that depicts Native Americans in a bad light.

From Washington Times