Swingletree
/ˈswɪŋ.ɡəl.triː/noun
A crossbar attached to a harness that allows draft animals to pull evenly.
Did you know?Swingletree is a surprisingly old English compound built from the idea of a “swinging tree,” with tree meaning a wooden bar or beam, not a living tree.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
swingan
“to swing, move to and fro”
Old English
OE
trēow
“tree; also, in some compounds, a wooden piece or beam”
Middle English
ME
swinge-tre
“a swinging wooden crossbar for harnessing animals”
16th Century
English
swingletree
“a crossbar in a harness to which traces are attached”
Modern English
English
swingletree
“a crossbar attached to a harness that allows draft animals to pull evenly”