packhorse
Americannoun
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a horse used for carrying goods, freight, supplies, etc.
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a person who works hard or bears a heavy load of responsibility.
noun
Etymology
Origin of packhorse
Explanation
A large animal that's used to help carry goods is known as a packhorse. In the 19th century, North American gold prospectors used packhorses to carry their supplies over difficult terrain. It may seem obvious that a packhorse is a type of horse (clearly, one that carries a pack loaded with goods) — in fact, you can also describe a mule, pony, or donkey as a packhorse. Most of these working animals haul supplies in bags that hang down along both sides of their bodies. Packhorses have played an important part through history, accompanying explorers, traders, and anyone without access to a vehicle or a paved road.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He hiked in with a packhorse or employed helpers to haul his gear on their backs.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 20, 2023
When it owned robotics firm Boston Dynamics, the company was attempting to make a robotic packhorse for ground troops, which was ultimately rejected by the US marines because it was too noisy.
From The Guardian ● Mar. 7, 2018
Don’t miss the incredible photo gallery of packhorse librarians at the start of the piece.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 28, 2017
Not so much a reporter as a packhorse.
From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2013
Cohollo was leading a packhorse behind him, with the carcass of a great white lion slung across its back.
From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
