butcher's horse
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
That must have been a butcher's horse, by his carrying a calf so well; a vulgar joke on an awkward rider.
Era: ca. 1811 (Georgian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1811 edition, public domain; Project Gutenberg #5402, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “butcher's horse” mean?
That must have been a butcher's horse, by his carrying a calf so well; a vulgar joke on an awkward rider.
Is “butcher's horse” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.