A piece of metal bent in the form of an oxbow, with the two ends perforated to receive a pin, used on the end of the tongue of a plow, wagen, etc., to attach it to a draft chain, whiffletree, etc.; -- called also clavel, clevy. [1913 Webster]
clevis, n.
1 a U-shaped piece of metal at the end of a beam for attaching tackle etc.
2 a connection in which a bolt holds one part that fits between the forked ends of another.