Trav″erse (?), a. [OF. travers, L. transversus, p. p. of transvertere to turn or direct across. See Transverse, and cf. Travers.] Lying across; being in a direction across something else; as, paths cut with traverse trenches.
Oak... being strong in all positions, may be better trusted in cross and traverse work. Sir H. Wotton.
The ridges of the fallow field traverse. Hayward.
Traverse drill(Mach.), a machine tool for drilling slots, in which the work or tool has a lateral motion back and forth; also, a drilling machine in which the spindle holder can be adjusted laterally.