whippletree

/ˈwɪpəlˌtri/
noun
  1. A pivoted crossbar in a horse-drawn vehicle or plow to which the traces of the harness are attached, allowing the horse to pull evenly.
    • In the museum, an old carriage still had its original whippletree attached.
    • The farmer checked the whippletree before hitching the horse to the plow.
    • The blacksmith forged a new whippletree for the team of draft horses.
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