draft horse

noun

A horse used for muscular work other than carrying a rider and/or load, such as pulling a cart, plow, or log.

Similar
draught horsedray horse
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

noundraft horse (plural draft horses)

plural draft horses · alternative UK draught horse

  1. USA horse used for muscular work other than carrying a rider and/or load, such as pulling a cart, plow, or log.
  2. A horse of a race specifically bred for such work, heavier and stronger than a mount.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounhorse adapted for drawing heavy loads

Similar
draught horsedray horse
Broader
workhorse
Also see
draught horse

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From draft (itself from to draw) + horse.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek ζύγιος
  • ζύγιος (zúgios)horse used for muscular work
Dutch trekpaard
  • trekpaardhorse used for muscular work
Finnish työhevonen, kylmäverihevonen
  • työhevonenhorse used for muscular work
  • kylmäverihevonenhorse used for muscular work
  • työhevonenhorse of a race specifically bred for such work
  • kylmäverihevonenhorse of a race specifically bred for such work
French cheval de trait, cheval de trait
  • cheval de traithorse used for muscular work
  • cheval de traithorse of a race specifically bred for such work
  • étalon de traithorse of a race specifically bred for such work
  • jument de traithorse of a race specifically bred for such work
German Zugpferd, Arbeitspferd
  • Zugpferdhorse used for muscular work
  • Arbeitspferdhorse used for muscular work
  • Zugpferdhorse of a race specifically bred for such work
  • Zughengsthorse of a race specifically bred for such work
  • Zugstutehorse of a race specifically bred for such work
  • Arbeitspferdhorse of a race specifically bred for such work
  • Arbeitshengsthorse of a race specifically bred for such work
  • Arbeitsstutehorse of a race specifically bred for such work
Hungarian igásló
  • igáslóhorse used for muscular work
Icelandic dráttarhestur, púlshestur
  • dráttarhesturhorse used for muscular work
  • púlshesturhorse used for muscular work
Italian cavallo da tiro
  • cavallo da tirohorse used for muscular work
Māori hōiho tarāwhe
  • hōiho tarāwhehorse used for muscular work
Polish koń pociągowy, koń pociągowy
  • koń pociągowyhorse used for muscular work
  • koń pociągowyhorse of a race specifically bred for such work
Russian тя́гловая ло́шадь, ломова́я ло́шадь
  • тя́гловая ло́шадь (tjáglovaja lóšadʹ)horse used for muscular work
  • ломова́я ло́шадь (lomovája lóšadʹ)horse used for muscular work
Spanish caballo de tiro
  • caballo de tirohorse used for muscular work
Swedish draghäst
  • draghästhorse used for muscular work
Turkish beygir, koşum atı
  • beygirhorse used for muscular work
  • koşum atıhorse used for muscular work
  • yük beygirihorse used for muscular work
Cite this entry
APA

draft horse. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/draft%20horse

MLA

“draft horse.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/draft%20horse. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “draft horse,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/draft%20horse.

Source: draft horse on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.