pack-horse
Definition
Noun: A "pack-horse" is a horse used for carrying goods, supplies, or equipment, typically over long distances or through difficult terrain where wheeled vehicles cannot easily travel.
Usage Examples
- (A horse used for carrying loads.)
- (A horse employed for freight transport.)
Advanced Usage
- "to work like a pack-horse": to carry heavy burdens or perform hard labour.
- She felt she worked like a pack-horse, hauling groceries and luggage for the entire family. (To labour under a heavy load.)
Variants and Related Words
- Pack-animal (n): any animal used for carrying loads, such as a mule, donkey, or llama.
- The mule is a common pack-animal in desert regions. (An animal for transporting goods.)
- Pack-saddle (n): a saddle designed for securing loads on a pack-horse.
- He adjusted the pack-saddle to balance the weight evenly. (A special saddle for carrying cargo.)
Synonyms
- Beast of burden: an animal used for carrying heavy loads.
- Sumpter horse: an older term for a pack-horse or horse used for baggage.
Related Idioms
- "A pack-horse's life": a life of heavy, unceasing labour.
- He complained that his job was a pack-horse's life, with endless tasks and no rest. (A metaphor for exhausting work.)