The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Travail \Tra`vail"\, n. [Cf. F. travail, a frame for confining a
   horse, or OF. travail beam, and E. trave, n. Cf. Travail,
   v. i.]
   Same as Travois.
   [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Travail \Trav"ail\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Travailed; p. pr. &
   vb. n. Travailing.] [F. travailler, OF. traveillier,
   travaillier, to labor, toil, torment; cf. Pr. trebalhar to
   torment, agitate. See Travail, n.]
   1. To labor with pain; to toil. [Archaic] "Slothful persons
      which will not travail for their livings." --Latimer.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To suffer the pangs of childbirth; to be in labor.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Travail \Trav"ail\, v. t.
   To harass; to tire. [Obs.]
   [1913 Webster]

         As if all these troubles had not been sufficient to
         travail the realm, a great division fell among the
         nobility.                                --Hayward.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Travail \Trav"ail\ (?; 48), n. [F. travail; cf. Pr. trabalh,
   trebalh, toil, torment, torture; probably from LL. trepalium
   a place where criminals are tortured, instrument of torture.
   But the French word may be akin to L. trabs a beam, or have
   been influenced by a derivative from trabs (cf. Trave). Cf.
   Travel.]
   1. Labor with pain; severe toil or exertion.
      [1913 Webster]

            As everything of price, so this doth require
            travail.                              --Hooker.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Parturition; labor; as, an easy travail.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

travail
    n 1: concluding state of pregnancy; from the onset of
         contractions to the birth of a child; "she was in labor for
         six hours" [syn: parturiency, labor, labour,
         confinement, lying-in, travail, childbed]
    2: use of physical or mental energy; hard work; "he got an A for
       effort"; "they managed only with great exertion" [syn:
       effort, elbow grease, exertion, travail, sweat]
    v 1: work hard; "She was digging away at her math homework";
         "Lexicographers drudge all day long" [syn: labor,
         labour, toil, fag, travail, grind, drudge,
         dig, moil]