Dictionary.com
definitions

war-horse

[ wawr-hawrs ]
/ ˈwɔrˌhɔrs /
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR war-horse ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a horse used in war; charger.
Informal. a veteran, as a soldier or politician, of many struggles and conflicts.
a musical composition, play, etc., that has been seen, heard, or performed excessively.

RELATED CONTENT

World War IRead more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
READ MORE
7 Books Written About World War IRead more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
READ MORE

RELATED WORDS

experienced, talented, capable, efficient, knowledgeable, proficient, licensed, accomplished, trained, equipped, competent, adequate, disciplined, certified, proved, tried, fit, tested, practiced, fitted

Nearby words

  1. war room,
  2. war story,
  3. war surplus,
  4. war whoop,
  5. war zone,
  6. war-weary,
  7. war.,
  8. waragi,
  9. warangal,
  10. waratah

Origin of war-horse

First recorded in 1645–55; war1 + horse
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Culture definitions for war horse

war horse

A person or thing that has seen long service or has lived through many hardships and can be relied on: “That teacher is a real war horse; he has seen the dismissal of ten different principals.”

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Idioms and Phrases with war horse

war horse

Also, old war horse. A dependable, frequently performed attraction, as in The opera company is doing nothing but old war horses this season, like, Aïda and La Bohème. This term originated in the mid-1600s for a military charger that had been through many battles. In the 1800s it began to be used for human veterans, and in the mid-1900s for popular productions, especially of musical works.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.