war-horse

[wawr-hawrs]

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.

Origin of war-horse

First recorded in 1645–55; war¹ + horse

And why does the great Minister start to his feet like a war-horse?
Punchinello, Vol. 1, No. 11, June 11, 1870
Various
The sound of the traffic is like music, and I feel like a war-horse that wants to be marching to it.
The Christian
Hall Caine
If you ask me what horse, I can reply with some pride that it was a war-horse.
The Napoleon of Notting Hill
Gilbert K. Chesterton
Norman raised his head like a war-horse at the sound of a trumpet-call.
The Opal Serpent
Fergus Hume
He was mounted on the war-horse presented to him by Don Augustin Peña.
Wood Rangers
Mayne Reid