packhorse n a workhorse used as a pack animal Usage(s) Originally designed (by Boeing) as a combat plane, Grandpappy long since has been only a packhorse. Throughout the Colonies, flourishing circulating libraries and packhorse booksellers spread novels to eager readers, mostly female. Crudely he dug out three sacks of ore, trekked them out by packhorse and sent them to the San Francisco Mint.