war horse
n.— «Don’t expect your new canoe to do it all though, because canoes are like cars. Some are built for speed, some will haul the family and its gear, and others are workhorses for fishermen and nature lovers. Canoes that measure more than 18 feet are called “war horses.”» —“Find the right canoe for you” by Barbara Baird News-Leader (Springfield, Missouri) June 20, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
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