Phrase guide

draft horse

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

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

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A horse of a race specifically bred for such work, heavier and stronger than a mount.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

horse adapted for drawing heavy loads

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: draught horse, dray horse

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: workhorse

Narrower terms: carthorse, cart horse, drayhorse, Clydesdale, Percheron, shire, shire horse, pole horse, poler, wheel horse, wheeler, coach horse

History

Etymology

From draft (itself from to draw) + horse.

Across languages

Translations

41 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Azerbaijani: araba atı — horse used for muscular work
  • Azerbaijani: ağır yük atı — horse used for muscular work
  • Bashkir: екке ат (yekke at) — horse used for muscular work
  • Dutch: trekpaard — horse used for muscular work
  • Finnish: työhevonen — horse used for muscular work
  • Finnish: kylmäverihevonen — horse used for muscular work
  • French: cheval de trait — horse used for muscular work
  • German: Zugpferd — horse used for muscular work
  • German: Arbeitspferd — horse used for muscular work
  • Ancient Greek: ζύγιος (zúgios) — horse used for muscular work
  • Hungarian: igásló — horse used for muscular work
  • Icelandic: dráttarhestur — horse used for muscular work
  • Icelandic: púlshestur — horse used for muscular work
  • Ingrian: tööhepoin — horse used for muscular work
  • Italian: cavallo da tiro — horse used for muscular work
  • Macedonian: запрежен коњ (zaprežen konj) — horse used for muscular work
  • Māori: hōiho tarāwhe — horse used for muscular work
  • Polish: koń pociągowy — horse used for muscular work
  • Russian: тя́гловая ло́шадь (tjáglovaja lóšadʹ) — horse used for muscular work
  • Russian: ломова́я ло́шадь (lomovája lóšadʹ) — horse used for muscular work
  • Spanish: caballo de tiro — horse used for muscular work
  • Swedish: draghäst — horse used for muscular work
  • Turkish: beygir — horse used for muscular work
  • Turkish: koşum atı — horse used for muscular work
  • Turkish: yük beygiri — horse used for muscular work
  • Volapük: halajevod — horse used for muscular work
  • Finnish: työhevonen — horse of a race specifically bred for such work
  • Finnish: kylmäverihevonen — horse of a race specifically bred for such work
  • French: cheval de trait — horse of a race specifically bred for such work
  • French: étalon de trait — horse of a race specifically bred for such work
  • French: jument de trait — horse of a race specifically bred for such work
  • German: Zugpferd — horse of a race specifically bred for such work
  • German: Zughengst — horse of a race specifically bred for such work
  • German: Zugstute — horse of a race specifically bred for such work
  • German: Arbeitspferd — horse of a race specifically bred for such work
  • German: Arbeitshengst — horse of a race specifically bred for such work
  • German: Arbeitsstute — horse of a race specifically bred for such work
  • Polish: koń pociągowy — horse of a race specifically bred for such work
  • Volapük: halajevod — horse of a race specifically bred for such work
  • Volapük: halahijevod — horse of a race specifically bred for such work
  • Volapük: halajijevod — horse of a race specifically bred for such work