A wooden frame to confine a horse while the smith is setting his shoes.
"The blacksmith secured the restless mare in the travis before beginning to hammer her new horseshoes into place."
"Travis is coming over to help me move this weekend."
Usage: The term travis refers specifically to a horseshoeing tool, not a person's name or general type of restraint. Use it only in contexts involving blacksmiths and equine care rather than as a synonym for other confinement devices like stocks or stanchions.
Lying across, traverse.
"The heavy log was laid tramping across the narrow bridge to support its weight."
A surname, from occupations.
"The Travis family name originated as a occupational surname for those who worked in military or cavalry roles."
The surname Travis likely originated from an Old French term meaning "to cross over." It was probably first used as a nickname for a gatekeeper or the person who collected tolls at a bridge.