- swingletree
- noun Etymology: Middle English swyngyll tre, from swyngyll rod for beating flax (from Middle Dutch swengel) + tre tree Date: 15th century whiffletree
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
swingletree
Look at other dictionaries:
Swingletree — Swin gle*tree , n. [So named in allusion to its swinging. See {Swingle}, v. i., and cf. {Swingtree}.] A whiffletree, or whippletree. See {Singletree}. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
swingletree — [swiŋ′g ltrē΄] n. SINGLETREE … English World dictionary
Swingletree — A swingletree (British Isles) or singletree (North America) is a wooden or metal bar used to balance the pull of a draught horse or other draught animal when pulling a vehicle. It is a kind of whippletree, and the term is also used sometimes for… … Wikipedia
swingletree — /swing geuhl tree /, n. Chiefly Midland and Southern U.S. a whiffletree. Also called swiveltree. [1425 75; late ME; see SWINGLE1, TREE] * * * … Universalium
swingletree — noun a whippletree … Wiktionary
Swingletree — A kind of shock absorber of reins and tracers, which equalised the strains when horse and cart changed directions. It was also known later as a whippletree. [< OldEngl. swingle = piece of wood] … Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases
swingletree — [ swɪŋg(ə)ltri:] noun chiefly Brit. a crossbar pivoted in the middle, to which the traces are attached in a horse drawn cart or plough … English new terms dictionary
swingletree — swin·gle·tree … English syllables
swingletree — swin•gle•tree [[t]ˈswɪŋ gəlˌtri[/t]] n. dial. whiffletree • Etymology: 1425–75 … From formal English to slang
swingletree — /ˈswɪŋgəlˌtri/ (say swingguhl.tree) noun a crossbar, pivoted at the middle, to which the traces of the harness are fastened in a cart, carriage, plough, etc.; whippletree. Also, swinglebar …
