Where does “workhorse” come from?

Workhorse comes from Middle English work and horse, with work deriving from Middle English -en and Proto-Germanic wurkijaną, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ḱers- meaning to turn or bend.

workhorse (English): A horse used primarily for manual labor; a draft...

Definitions

  1. A horse used primarily for manual labor; a draft...

Ancestry of “workhorse”, step by step

workhorse traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English work

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishwork"Employment."; "Effort."; Sustained effort to...
2Middle Englishwerkwork
3Old Englishweorcwork, in various senses, including
4Proto-West Germanicwerkwork
5Proto-Germanicwerkąwork
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwérǵomwork
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwerǵ-to make

via English horse

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishhorseAny of several animals related to "Equus ferus...
2Middle EnglishhorseAlternative form of hors; Alternative form of...
3Old Englishhorshorse
4Proto-West Germanichrosshorse
5Proto-Germanichrussąhorse
6Proto-Indo-Europeanḱers-to run
Every word from Proto-Indo-European werǵ- →