> as lemmas

c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Jonah iv. 11 Shal Y not spare to the grete citee Nynyue, in whiche ben more than a hundred and twenti thousand of men..and many werk beestis [L. iumenta]?

?a1450 (?c1400) Lay Folks' Catech. (Lamb.) (1901) 55 Thow schalt not coueyte þy neyȝborys wyf..ne his oxe ne his werk-best.

1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Surueyeng xi. f. xxi A husbande his tenure and his werke beestes.

1614 G. Markham 2nd Bk. Eng. Husbandman ii. vii. 98 For worke-beasts, except necessitie constraine, let them haue Hay simple of it selfe.

1747 tr. F. Hutcheson Short Introd. Moral Philos. ii. v. 148 Nor could men unassisted by work-beasts..employ any cares or labour in their defence.

1813 Sporting Mag. Jan. 156/1 The shelties..still preserve their character of excellent work-beasts.

1921 Retail Coalman June 115/1 The exemption law of the state of Kentucky allows a man his work beasts of the field.

2005 T. K. Seung Nietzsche's Epic of Soul vi. 298 In the Bible, the ass was perhaps the most important work beast for carrying heavy loads.