Meaning & use

muleskinner

noun·Advanced

Last updated

A person who drives or handles mules, especially as a job transporting freight in the American West.

See it in a sentence

The muleskinner cracked his whip to keep the pack train moving up the mountain trail.

Old mining towns relied on muleskinners to haul ore and supplies over rugged terrain.

A note on using this word

An American English term dating to the 19th century; despite the name, it has nothing to do with actually skinning mules, referring instead to snapping a whip near their hide.

Words with a similar meaning

mule driverteamster

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