workhorse

Plural: workhorses

Noun

• machine that performs dependably under heavy use
  • "the IBM main frame computers have been the workhorse of the business world"
• a horse used for plowing and hauling and other heavy labor
• A horse used primarily for manual labor; a draft horse.
• Someone or something that does a lot of work; something or someone who works consistently or regularly.

Examples

• Those old machines are not very glamorous, but even 20 years after their introduction, they are still the workhorses of the industry.

Synonyms

aver, draft horse

Related Words

powerhouse, warhorse, wheelhorse, yardhorse