Dictionary

drayhorse en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈdreɪhɔːs/ (UK)
• /ˈdreɪˌhɔrs/ (US)
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

First attested in 1645; compound of dray + horse.

Meanings

1. A large, powerful horse used for pulling drays.
   • Then his dray-horſe and he, in the ſtreets we did ſee, With his hanger, his ſling, and bis jacket; Long time he did watch, to meet with his match; For he'd ever a mind to the placket. (Can we date this quote?), Alexander Brome, The New Knight Errant, line 6:
2. (broadly) Someone who undergoes or underwent many a hardship, who suffers some great burden; a burdened, beleaguered, downtrodden man.
   • "Archbiſhops, Biſhops," (ſo ſays Doctor Parr) "By delta, Beta, merely, have been made : "Why from the mitre then am I ſo far; "So long a dray-horſe in this thundering trade ? "O Pitt, ſhame on thee !—art thou ſtill to ſeek "The ſoul of wiſdom in the ſound of Greek ?" (Can we date this quote?), Peter Pindar, Ode to my Ass, Peter:

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