workhorse
|work-horse|
🇺🇸
/ˈwɝk.hɔrs/
🇬🇧
/ˈwɜːk.hɔːs/
reliable heavy worker
Etymology
'workhorse' originates from Old English elements 'weorc' (meaning 'work') and 'hors' (meaning 'horse').
'workhorse' changed from the Middle English compound 'werkhors' and eventually became the modern English word 'workhorse'.
Initially, it meant a literal horse used for labor; over time it evolved to include the figurative meaning of a dependable person, machine, or thing that does heavy or routine work.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a horse used for heavy work such as ploughing or pulling loads.
In the 19th century, the workhorse was essential on farms.
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Noun 2
a person, machine, or system that reliably performs a lot of routine or heavy work; a dependable worker.
The old van has been the workhorse of our delivery fleet for years.
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Last updated: 2025/12/21 09:25