wheelhorse

Meaning

Noun

• One of a team of horses which is nearest to the wheels of a carriage, as opposed to a leader or forward horse.
• A person who labors heavily for a particular cause, without being concerned about recognition.
• A foot-propelled vehicle; a bicycle.

Related

Similar words

• wheeler

Origin

• wheel + horse. Sense 2 (“person who labors heavily for a cause”) is from the fact that a horse nearest to the wheels of a carriage that it is drawing does much of the pulling work.