Dictionary entry

Travail

Webster's Dictionary 1913

Trav″ail (?; 48), n. [F. travail; cf. Pr. trabalh, trebalh, toil, torment, torture; probably from LL. trepalium a place where criminals are tortured, instrument of torture. But the French word may be akin to L. trabs a beam, or have been influenced by a derivative from trabs (cf. Trave). Cf. Travel.] 1. Labor with pain; severe toil or exertion.

As everything of price, so this doth require travail. Hooker.

2. Parturition; labor; as, an easy travail.