Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

beast of burden

noun phrase

Definition of beast of burden 

: an animal employed to carry heavy loads or to perform other heavy work (such as pulling a plow)

First Known Use of beast of burden

1740, in the meaning defined above

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about beast of burden

Share beast of burden

Statistics for beast of burden

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for beast of burden

The first known use of beast of burden was in 1740

See more words from the same year

More from Merriam-Webster on beast of burden

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with beast of burden

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about beast of burden

Comments on beast of burden

What made you want to look up beast of burden? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

nomothetic

involving abstract or general statements

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Liar, Liar Quiz

  • alt-5761dbe2ba986
  • Someone who pretends to be sick in order to avoid work is a:
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games