sumpter

American  

[suhmp-ter] / ˈsʌmp tər /

noun

1. a packhorse or mule.

---

sumpter British  

/ ˈsʌmptə /

noun

1. archaic a packhorse, mule, or other beast of burden

---

Etymology

Origin of sumpter

1275–1325; Middle English sompter < Old French sometier pack-horse driver < Vulgar Latin *saumatārius, equivalent to Latin sagmat- (stem of sagma; see summer ²) + -ārius -ary

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sumpter

As one of the sumpter cattle that carried his tent had fallen into a river, Themistokles's servants hung up the rich hangings, which were dripping with wet, in order to dry them.

From Plutarch's Lives, Volume I by Stewart, Aubrey

They had three saddle-horses and four sumpter mules.

From Great African Travellers From Mungo Park to Livingstone and Stanley by Kingston, William Henry Giles

This, however, is on the supposition that there are a few sumpter horses loaded with provisions, as is generally the case when the party is a large one.

From Life of Schamyl And Narrative of the Circassian War of Independence Against Russia by Mackie, John Milton

One of them held up an authoritative hand to the sumpter train which followed.

From The Great Mogul by Tracy, Louis

We started, my uncouth guide sitting tailor-fashion on the sumpter mule, upon the baggage. 

From The Bible in Spain Vol. 1 [of 2] by Borrow, George Henry