travois

noun

tra·​vois trə-ˈvȯi How to pronounce travois (audio) ˈtra-ˌvȯi How to pronounce travois (audio)
plural travois also travoises trə-ˈvȯiz How to pronounce travois (audio)
ˈtra-ˌvȯiz
: a simple vehicle used by Plains peoples consisting of two trailing poles serving as shafts and bearing a platform or net for the load

Illustration of travois

Illustration of travois

Examples of travois in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The footprints are of varying size along the tracks, researchers said, meaning an adult and children were moving together while the adult pulled the travois. — Irene Wright, Sacramento Bee, 27 Feb. 2025 The researchers concluded that the tracks were likely carved into the sediment by prehistoric humans who were dragging a travois on the ground to transport items. — Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 25 Feb. 2025 But researchers have not discovered any evidence of animals near the travois marks in New Mexico. — Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Mar. 2025 The discovery of travois marks, however, has introduced the possibility that human migration began thousands of years earlier. — Tessa Solomon For Artnews, Robb Report, 5 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

American French travail, from Canadian French, shaft of a cart, from Middle French traveil catafalque, prop, from Late Latin trepalium instrument of torture — more at travail

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of travois was in 1847

Rhymes for travois

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Browse Nearby Words

travis
travois
travoy
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Cite this Entry

“Travois.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/travois. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

travois

noun
tra·​vois trə-ˈvȯi How to pronounce travois (audio) ˈtrav-ˌȯi How to pronounce travois (audio)
plural travois
-ˈvȯiz, 
-ˌȯiz
 also travoises -ˈvȯiz How to pronounce travois (audio)
-ˌȯiz
: an animal-drawn vehicle made of two crossed trailing poles used by the Plains people to transport a load

More from Merriam-Webster on travois

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about travois

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