Sūmp'ter, n.

[O. Fr. somier, sumer, N. Fr. sommier, Pr. saumier, It. somiere, somero, somaro, a beast of burden, Lat. sagmarius, a pack-horse, from Fr. somme, It. soma, salma, Sp. salma, calma, a burden, Pr. sauma, an ass, from Lat. sagma, Gr. σάγμα, a pack-saddle, L. Lat. sagma, load.]

1. A pack; a burden. [Obs. and rare.] B. & Fl.
2. An animal, especially a horse, that carries packs or burdens; a baggage-horse;—rarely used alone, but generally prefixed to another word; as, sumpter-horse, sumpter-mule, and the like.