travois

• travoise, travoy

From Canadian French, from an alteration of travail (etymology 2), from Medieval Latin trepalium (“instrument of torture”), probably a calque from Ancient Greek. See πάσσαλος (pássalos, “peg”).

• IPA^(key): /tɹəˈvɔɪ/

travois (plural travoises or travois)

1. A traditional North American Indian sled-like vehicle, pulled by person, dog, or horse.
   • Julian Ralph

     On the plains they will have horses dragging travoises, dogs with travoises, women and children loaded with impedimenta.

   • 1994, Cormac McCarthy, The Crossing

     Riding out for wood he watched his shadow and the shadow of the horse and travois cross those palings tree by tree.

• travois on Wikimedia Commons.Wikimedia Commons

• Viators, viators