wheel horse

or wheel-horse

noun

1. Also called wheeler. a horse, or one of the horses, harnessed behind others and nearest the front wheels of a vehicle.
2. Chiefly South Atlantic States. the left-hand horse of a pair hitched to a wagon or plow.
3. Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. a reliable, diligent, and strong worker.

wheel horse

noun

1. another word for wheeler
2. a person who works steadily or hard

Word History and Origins

Origin of wheel horse¹

First recorded in 1700–10

Example Sentences

One of the wheel horses was down, and the others, frightened by the dragging harness, were rearing and plunging.

From Project Gutenberg

He was a wheel horse in the party and for forty years had supported the caucus nominees.

From Project Gutenberg

She was seated almost directly above the two wheel horses, and not very far from the leaders.

From Project Gutenberg

They were of solid rock broken off in ledges, very hard to travel with artillery, especially with the wheel horses.

From Project Gutenberg

Assessor to him upon the box, sate an old fisherman who made himself useful to the concern by leaning forward and flagellating the wheel horses with one of the captured cart whips.

From Project Gutenberg