S. Africa. [Cape Du., f. Du. trek sb. or vb.-stem (see TREK) + touw rope, cord, tow.] The central chain or cable of twisted hide attached to a wagon-pole, to which the yokes of the oxen are fastened.
1834. Pringle, Afr. Sk., ii. 141. A strong central trace (trektow), formed of twisted thongs of bullock’s or buffalo’s hide.
1850. R. G. Cumming, Hunter’s Life S. Afr. (ed. 2), I. 24. The waggon is steered by a pole, called the dissel-boom, to the end of which is fastened the trektow, a stout rope formed of raw buffalo-hide.
