warhorse

a person with long experience in a specified area a warhorse who's survived far nastier campaigns in his long political career Synonyms doyen, old hand, old-timer, stager, vet, veteranRelated Words doyenne; adept, dab hand [chiefly British], expert, guru, hand, master, maven (also mavin), past master, pro, professionalNear Antonyms apprentice, cub; boot, novitiate; amateur, dilettante; learner, student, trainee; candidate, entrant, probationerAntonyms beginner, colt, fledgling, freshman, greenhorn, neophyte, newbie, newcomer, novice, recruit, rookie, tenderfoot, tyro