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, torment2: labor, parturition

synonyms see work