[App. the same as F. travail, which in Canada (pronounced travày) is applied to the space between the two shafts of a vehicle in which the horse runs (cf. TRAVE sb. 1 b); this may well be originally the same word as prec., and ult. from L. trabs, trabem beam. Travaux is a false plural, found in books, for travails.] See quotations, and cf. TRAVOIS.
1865. Milton & Cheadle, N. W. Passage by Land, 171. A travaille is an Indian contrivance, consisting of two poles fastened together at an acute angle, with crossbars between. The point of the angle rests upon the back of the dog or horse, the diverging ends of the poles drag along the ground, and the baggage is put on to the crossbars. The Indians use these contrivances instead of carts.
1889. Century Mag., Jan., 339/2. In a month ‘Richard’s himself again,’ ready to fly over the grassy sward with his savage master or to drag the travaux and pack the buxom squaw.
1891. Cent. Dict., Travail, A means of transportation, commonly used by North American Indians…. Also called travois, travee.
