drayhorse

• dray horse
• dray-horse

First attested in 1645; compound of dray +‎ horse.

• IPA^(key): (UK) /ˈdreɪhɔːs/, (US) /ˈdreɪˌhɔrs/

• Audio (Southern England):

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drayhorse (plural drayhorses)

1. A large, powerful horse used for pulling drays.
   • (Can we date this quote?), Alexander Brome, The New Knight Errant, line 6:

     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.

2. (by extension) Someone who undergoes or underwent many a hardship, who suffers some great burden; a burdened, beleaguered, downtrodden man.
   • (Can we date this quote?), Peter Pindar, Ode to my Ass, Peter:

     "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 ?"