beasts of burden
Animals carrying loads
Beasts of burden are animals used to carry heavy loads or perform laborious work—horses, mules, donkeys, oxen, camels, elephants.
The phrase often appears in discussions of agricultural history or developing economies.
Figuratively, it describes people who do thankless physical labor: The warehouse workers were treated like beasts of burden.
- oxenCastrated male cattle
- muleEquine hybrid, often sterile
- pack muleLoad-bearing equine
- donkeyLong-eared equine
- reindeerArctic deer species
camel · caravan route · buffalo · pack animal · elephant · draft horse · work horse · llama · panniers · hauling · heavy lifting · yokes · plowing · farm labor · working animal · breaking in · harnesses · porterage
beasts of burdenmachines
Devices that perform tasks
vehicles · automobiles · trucks · engines · robots
beasts of burdenpets
Domesticated companion animals
companion animals · lap dogs · lapdogs · house cats · mounts
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