Whippletree

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Whippletree \Whip"ple*tree`\, n. [See {Whip}, and cf.
     {Whiffletree}.]
     [1913 Webster]
     1. The pivoted or swinging bar to which the traces, or tugs,
        of a harness are fastened, and by which a carriage, a
        plow, or other implement or vehicle, is drawn; a


        whiffletree; a swingletree; a singletree. See
        {Singletree}.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              [People] cut their own whippletree in the woodlot.
                                                    --Emerson.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Bot.) The cornel tree. --Chaucer.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  whippletree
       n : a crossbar that is attached to the traces of a draft horse
           and to the vehicle or implement that the horse is pulling
           [syn: {whiffletree}, {swingletree}]