garron

noun

gar·​ron ˈger-ən 

ˈga-rən,

gə-ˈrȯn 

Scotland and Ireland

: a small sturdy workhorse

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Irish gearrán & Scottish Gaelic gearran "gelding, small horse," going back to Middle Irish gerrán, from gerr "short, castrated" (of uncertain origin) + -án, nominalizing suffix

Note: Earlier comparisons of Irish gerr (< *gers-?) with Greek cheírōn "worse, weaker" (nominative plural chérēes "of lower rank") or with Sanskrit hrasati "(it) is diminished, becomes small" are doubtful.

First Known Use

1540, in the meaning defined above