Definition

1. Noun:
   • A horse used in war: A horse that is trained for and used in military combat or battle.
   • An experienced person: A person who has been through many struggles or has long experience in a particular field, especially one who is dependable and seasoned.
   • A standard, frequently performed work: A piece of music, drama, or other artistic work that is considered a classic and is performed very often, sometimes to the point of being overly familiar or clichéd.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Horse):

  • The general rode his trusted warhorse into battle.
  • Medieval knights depended on their strong warhorses.

• Noun (Experienced Person):

  • The senator is a political warhorse who has served for decades.
  • She's a real warhorse of the industry, having seen it through many changes.

• Noun (Standard Work):

  • Beethoven's Fifth Symphony is a beloved warhorse of the classical repertoire.
  • The play has become a theatrical warhorse, performed by every major company.

Advanced Usage

• "Old warhorse": Often used as a term of affection or respect for a veteran person or a reliable, if old-fashioned, thing.
  • The old warhorse of a reporter asked the toughest questions.
  • That song is an old warhorse, but the crowd still loves it.

Variants and Related Words

• War-horse (noun): An alternative hyphenated spelling of "warhorse."
• Veteran (noun): A person with long experience, especially in military service.
• Staple (noun): A basic or essential item, often used for standard works in a repertoire.

Synonyms

• Steed (noun): A horse, especially one that is spirited or ridden in battle. (Closer synonym for the "horse" meaning).
• Veteran (noun): A person with long experience.
• Standard (noun): Something established as a model or point of reference. (For the artistic work meaning).
• Chestnut (noun, informal): A joke, story, or piece of music that is old and repeated too often. (Similar to the "overly familiar work" sense).

Related Phrases

• Battle-hardened: Made tough and experienced through difficult struggles. (Describes a person similar to a warhorse).
• Tried and true: Proven to be reliable or effective through long experience. (Describes a dependable person or thing, like a warhorse).

Related Idioms

• To trot out the old warhorses: To bring out or perform the familiar, standard works, often implying a lack of new material.
  • For the anniversary concert, the orchestra decided to trot out all the old warhorses.

Noun

1. horse used in war
2. an experienced person who has been through many battles; someone who has given long service
3. a work of art (composition or drama) that is part of the standard repertory but has become hackneyed from much repetition