Packhorse
/ˈpækˌhɔːrs/noun
A horse used for carrying loads, especially on a pack saddle.
Did you know?The word is simply a transparent compound of pack + horse, and for centuries packhorses were essential to trade routes, mountain travel, and military supply chains before modern roads.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
pæc
“A bundle or load to be carried”
Old English
OE
hors
“Horse, the animal”
Middle English
ME
pack hors
“A horse used for carrying loads”
16th Century
English
packhorse
“A horse employed to transport goods on its back”
Modern English
English
packhorse
“A horse used for carrying loads, especially in places without carts or roads”