What is "pack animal"

Pack \Pack\, n. [Akin to D. pak, G. pack, Dan. pakke, Sw. packa, Icel. pakki, Gael. & Ir. pac, Arm. pak. Cf. Packet.]

1. A bundle made up and prepared to be carried; especially, a bundle to be carried on the back; a load for an animal; a bale, as of goods.
   --Piers Plowman.

2. [Cf. Peck, n.] A number or quantity equal to the contents of a pack; hence, a multitude; a burden. ``A pack of sorrows.'' ``A pack of blessings.''
   --Shak.

   Note: ``In England, by a pack of meal is meant 280 lbs.; of wool, 240 lbs.''
   --McElrath.

3. A group or quantity of connected or similar things; as, a pack of lies; specifically:

   1. A full set of playing cards; a deck; also, the assortment used in a particular game; as, a euchre pack.

   2. A number of wolves, hounds or dogs, hunting or kept together; as, a wolf pack.

   3. A number of persons associated or leagued in a bad design or practice; a gang; as, a pack of thieves or knaves.

   4. A shook of cask staves.

   5. A bundle of sheet-iron plates for rolling simultaneously.

4. A large area of floating pieces of ice driven together more or less closely.
   --Kane.

5. An envelope, or wrapping, of sheets used in hydropathic practice, called dry pack, wet pack, cold pack, etc., according to the method of treatment.

6. [Prob. the same word; but cf. AS. p[=ae]can to deceive.] A loose, lewd, or worthless person. See Baggage. [Obs.]
   --Skelton.

7. (Med.) In hydropathic practice, a wrapping of blankets or sheets called dry pack, wet pack, cold pack, etc., according to the condition of the blankets or sheets used, put about a patient to give him treatment; also, the fact or condition of being so treated.

8. (Rugby Football) The forwards who compose one half of the scrummage; also, the scrummage.

   Pack animal, an animal, as a horse, mule, etc., employed in carrying packs.

   Pack and prime road or Pack and prime way, a pack road or bridle way.

   Pack cloth, a coarse cloth, often duck, used in covering packs or bales.

   Pack horse. See Pack animal (above).

   Pack ice. See def. 4, above.

   Pack moth (Zo["o]l.), a small moth ( Anacampsis sarcitella) which, in the larval state, is very destructive to wool and woolen fabrics.

   Pack needle, a needle for sewing with pack thread.
   --Piers Plowman.

   Pack saddle, a saddle made for supporting the load on a pack animal.
   --Shak.

   Pack staff, a staff for supporting a pack; a peddler's staff.

   Pack train (Mil.), a troop of pack animals.

n. 1 A domesticated animal used to carry heavy items. 2 A wild animal that lives and hunts in packs

n. an animal such as a mule or burro or horse used to carry loads [syn: sumpter]

A pack animal or beast of burden is an individual or type of working animal used by humans as means of transporting materials by attaching them so their weight bears on the animal's back, in contrast to draft animals which pull loads but do not carry them.

Traditional pack animals are diverse, including camels, goats, yaks, reindeer, water buffalo, and llamas, as well as the more familiar horses, donkeys and mules.