Obs. [Origin of name obscure; in quot. 1703 referred to obs. F. ‘travers crosse, crosse-wise, thwart, ouerthwart, ill-placed, out of order’ (Cotgr.).] See quots.
1703. T. N., City & C. Purchaser, 273. Travers. These Tyles are (by our common Bricklayers) call’d Travis, or Travas Tyles; but I suppose it should rather be Travers Tyles; for the word Travers is perfect French, signifying Irregularity; these … Travers Tyles are … irregular plain Tyles, viz. Such as have the Pin-holes broken out, or one of the lower Corners broken off.
1725. Bradley’s Fam. Dict., s.v. Tiles, Travers, which they lay with the broken Ends upwards upon Rafters where pinn’d Tyles cannot hang.
1727–41. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Tyle, Traverse Tyles.
