Main Entry: ¹tra·vail

Pronunciation: \trə-ˈvāl, ˈtra-ˌvāl\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from travailler to torment, labor, journey, from Vulgar Latin *trepaliare to torture, from Late Latin trepalium instrument of torture, from Latin tripalis having three stakes, from tri- + palus stake — more at pole

Date: 13th century

1 a : work especially of a painful or laborious nature : toil b : a physical or mental exertion or piece of work : task, effort c : agony, torment
2 : labor, parturition

synonyms see work