whippletree

Whip"ple*tree`, n. Etym: [See Whip, and cf. Whiffletree.] 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. [People] cut their own whippletree in the woodlot. Emerson. 2. (Bot.) Defn: The cornel tree. Chaucer.

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