beast of burden
noun phrase
: an animal employed to carry heavy loads or to perform other heavy work (such as pulling a plow)
Examples of beast of burden in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Not welcome in his own house, just the ox to plow the field, the beast of burden.
—
Claire Messud, Harper's Magazine, 2 May 2024
This term was borrowed in the 16th century, reflecting the idea of a donkey as a supportive beast of burden, akin to how an easel supports a canvas for painting.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
They have been used as beasts of burden for thousands of years—hauling goods, protecting herds, carrying Jesus into Jerusalem.
—The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024
The erstwhile beast of burden sat for six months in a customs warehouse before agents cleared its passage.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2024
Lacking seaworthy craft or effective beasts of burden (the llama is a prickly porter), Native American communities were largely unable to travel, and so most became inward-oriented.
—Jeremy Adelman, Foreign Affairs, 1 May 2012
In the 19th century, horses, ubiquitous beasts of burden in the pre-automotive age, were whipped mercilessly and forced to haul impossibly heavy loads.
—Ben Goldfarb, The Atlantic, 18 Apr. 2024
Half of the more than 7,000 elephants that live in Thailand are captive, the result of generations used as beasts of burden in the logging industry until it was outlawed in 1989.
—Melissa Klurman, Parents, 1 Dec. 2023
While South American llamas are beasts of burden that haul bushels of corn through the mountainside, North American ones are more apt to be fussed-over pets that are shampooed regularly and rented out as photogenic wedding guests or even golf caddies.
—Jennifer A. Kingson Peter Fisher, New York Times, 14 Oct. 2023
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Claire Messud, Harper's Magazine, 2 May 2024
This term was borrowed in the 16th century, reflecting the idea of a donkey as a supportive beast of burden, akin to how an easel supports a canvas for painting.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
They have been used as beasts of burden for thousands of years—hauling goods, protecting herds, carrying Jesus into Jerusalem.
—The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024
The erstwhile beast of burden sat for six months in a customs warehouse before agents cleared its passage.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2024
Lacking seaworthy craft or effective beasts of burden (the llama is a prickly porter), Native American communities were largely unable to travel, and so most became inward-oriented.
—Jeremy Adelman, Foreign Affairs, 1 May 2012
In the 19th century, horses, ubiquitous beasts of burden in the pre-automotive age, were whipped mercilessly and forced to haul impossibly heavy loads.
—Ben Goldfarb, The Atlantic, 18 Apr. 2024
Half of the more than 7,000 elephants that live in Thailand are captive, the result of generations used as beasts of burden in the logging industry until it was outlawed in 1989.
—Melissa Klurman, Parents, 1 Dec. 2023
While South American llamas are beasts of burden that haul bushels of corn through the mountainside, North American ones are more apt to be fussed-over pets that are shampooed regularly and rented out as photogenic wedding guests or even golf caddies.
—Jennifer A. Kingson Peter Fisher, New York Times, 14 Oct. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Beast of burden.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beast%20of%20burden. Accessed 28 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share