travois

(trə vo̵i)

noun pl. travois or travoises

a crude sledge of the North American Plains Indians, consisting of a net or platform dragged along the ground on the two poles that support it and which serve as shafts for the horse or, orig., the dog pulling it
also travoise

Origin: CdnFr < travail, a brake, load < Fr: see travail

See travois in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. tra·vois (trə-voizˈ, trăvˈoizˌ)
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.

Origin:

Origin: Canadian French

Origin: , alteration of obsolete travoy

Origin: , from travail, cart-shaft

Origin: , from French, frame for restraining horses

Origin: , alteration of Late Latin tripālium, device with three stakes

Origin: , probably from Latin tripālis, having three stakes; see travail

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travois

photogravure from a photograph by Edward Sheriff Curtis (1868-1952)

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