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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

TRAVISE, n., v. Also travis, travice, traves(s)(e), traives(e), trevasse, -es(s)e, -ice, -ise, -iss, trivess, -ise, -iss, treffice, triffise, trivage. [′trevɪs, ′trɪ-, -fɪs, ′trɪvɪdʒ]

I. n. 1. (1) The wooden partition between two stalls in a stable or cowshed (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 197, treviss; Ayr. 1923 Wilson D. Burns 191; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., treviss, trivage; I.Sc., Cai. (treffice), ne., m. and s.Sc.1973). Also attrib.Sc. 1710 W. Fraser Chiefs of Grant (1883) II. 92:
All the timber for loafting my stable, for the hacks, mangers, and travises.Rnf. 1757 Session Papers, Govan v. Govan (29 Nov.) 13:
There was only one other stable upon the north side of the closs, which there was trevises in.Ayr. 1786 Session Papers, Cunningham v. Montgomery (17 Jan.) 5:
The bowsing-stones which serve as a kind of trevice to keep the cattle separate.Sc. 1818 Scott H. Midlothian xxvi.:
Beyond the “treviss,” which formed one side of the stall, stood a cow.Slk. 1827 Hogg Shep. Cal. (1874) xi.:
My auld master standing leaning against the trivage.Sc. 1842 J. C. Loudon Encycl. Archit. 526, 531:
1½-inch trevise boards . . . the trivess boarding to be 7 feet high in front.Fif. 1868 St Andrews Gazette (4 Jan.):
The haikes, mangers, and doors to be repaired, instead of renewed, the trevasses also repaired.Ork. 1911 J. Omond 80 Years Ago 16:
There is no travis or division of any kind.Per.⁴ 1950:
The coo squeezed me up agin the trevis.Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick ii.:
The bull hid been claain ‘is hin' hoch upo the traivis.

(2) A board, shutter or the like used as a check or stop for a load on a cart.Ayr. 1895 J. Walker Old Kilmarnock 38:
They were common carts; the hind door was simply taken off, and a wooden trevis set in to hold the milk barrels.

†2. A stall or loose-box in a stable.Sc. 1706 Foulis Acct. Bk. (S.H.S.) 427:
Putting up the triffice in the stable for the 2 new coatchhorss.Fif. 1727 Caled. Mercury (18 Sept.):
A large Stable with 9 close Travesses.Sc. 1756 M. Calderwood Journey (M.C.) 152:
There was fifty-eight treveses in one end, and thirty in another.Slg. 1772 Edb. Ev. Courant (11 May):
Stables containing eight trivices.wm.Sc. 1853 Laird of Logan 162:
When I gaed into the trevis to gie them their corn.e.Lth. 1896 J. Lumsden Battles 13:
Her neibor in the nearer triviss, The maist redoubted naig alive is!

3. A counter or desk in a shop (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.).

II. v. To fit (a stable or byre) up into stalls (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 197).