Travail meaning : Arduous or painful exertion; excessive labor, suffering, hardship. Specifically, the labor of childbirth. An act of working; labor (US), labour (British). The eclipse of a celestial object. The act of traveling; passage from place to place. (in the plural) A series of journeys. (in the plural) An account of one's travels. The activity or traffic along a route or through a given point. The working motion of a piece of machinery; the length of a mechanical stroke. Labour; parturition; travail. A traditional North American Indian sled-like vehicle, pulled by person, dog, or horse.