workhorse

work +‎ horse

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workhorse (plural workhorses)

1. A horse used primarily for manual labor; a draft horse
2. (by extension) Anyone or anything that does a lot of work; something or someone who works consistently or regularly.

   Those old machines are not very glamorous, but even 20 years after their introduction, they are still the workhorses of the industry.

   • 2018 October 15, Phil McNulty, “Spain 2-3 England”, in BBC Sport‎:

     Captain Harry Kane was the workhorse and creator, while Sterling and Rashford provided the finishing flourishes that put England in dreamland at the interval.

• draft horse

• powerhouse
• wheelhorse
• wheelhouse