Plough

Plough
    n 1: a group of seven bright stars in the constellation Ursa
         Major [syn: {Big Dipper}, {Dipper}, {Plough}, {Charles's
         Wain}, {Wain}, {Wagon}]
    2: a farm tool having one or more heavy blades to break the soil
       and cut a furrow prior to sowing [syn: {plow}, {plough}]
    v 1: move in a way resembling that of a plow cutting into or
         going through the soil; "The ship plowed through the water"
         [syn: {plow}, {plough}]
    2: to break and turn over earth especially with a plow; "Farmer
       Jones plowed his east field last week"; "turn the earth in
       the Spring" [syn: {plow}, {plough}, {turn}]
    

Plow \Plow\, Plough \Plough\ (plou), n. [OE. plouh, plou, AS.
   pl[=o]h; akin to D. ploeg, G. pflug, OHG. pfluog, pfluoh,
   Icel. pl[=o]gr, Sw. plog, Dan. ploug, plov, Russ. plug',
   Lith. plugas.]
   1. A well-known implement, drawn by horses, mules, oxen, or
      other power, for turning up the soil to prepare it for
      bearing crops; also used to furrow or break up the soil
      for other purposes; as, the subsoil plow; the draining
      plow.
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            Where fern succeeds ungrateful to the plow.
                                                  --Dryden.
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   2. Fig.: Agriculture; husbandry. --Johnson.
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   3. A carucate of land; a plowland. [Obs.] [Eng.]
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            Johan, mine eldest son, shall have plowes five.
                                                  --Tale of
                                                  Gamelyn.
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   4. A joiner's plane for making grooves; a grooving plane.
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   5. (Bookbinding) An implement for trimming or shaving off the
      edges of books.
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   6. (Astron.) Same as {Charles's Wain}.
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   {Ice plow}, a plow used for cutting ice on rivers, ponds,
      etc., into cakes suitable for storing. [U. S.]

   {Mackerel plow}. See under {Mackerel}.

   {Plow alms}, a penny formerly paid by every plowland to the
      church. --Cowell.

   {Plow beam}, that part of the frame of a plow to which the
      draught is applied. See {Beam}, n., 9.

   {Plow Monday}, the Monday after Twelth Day, or the end of
      Christmas holidays.

   {Plow staff}.
      (a) A kind of long-handled spade or paddle for cleaning
          the plowshare; a paddle staff.
      (b) A plow handle.

   {Snow plow}, a structure, usually [Lambda]-shaped, for
      removing snow from sidewalks, railroads, etc., -- drawn or
      driven by a horse or a locomotive.
      [1913 Webster] Plow
    

Plough \Plough\, n. & v.
   See {Plow}.
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Plow \Plow\, Plough \Plough\ (plou), v. i.
   To labor with, or as with, a plow; to till or turn up the
   soil with a plow; to prepare the soil or bed for anything.
   --Shak.
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         Doth the plowman plow all day to sow ?   --Isa. xxviii.
                                                  24.
   [1913 Webster] Plowable
    

Plow \Plow\, Plough \Plough\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Plowed}
   (ploud) or {Ploughed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Plowing} or
   {Ploughing}.]
   1. To turn up, break up, or trench, with a plow; to till
      with, or as with, a plow; as, to plow the ground; to plow
      a field.
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   2. To furrow; to make furrows, grooves, or ridges in; to run
      through, as in sailing.
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            Let patient Octavia plow thy visage up
            With her prepared nails.              --Shak.
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            With speed we plow the watery way.    --Pope.
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   3. (Bookbinding) To trim, or shave off the edges of, as a
      book or paper, with a plow. See {Plow}, n., 5.
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   4. (Joinery) To cut a groove in, as in a plank, or the edge
      of a board; especially, a rectangular groove to receive
      the end of a shelf or tread, the edge of a panel, a
      tongue, etc.
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   {To plow in}, to cover by plowing; as, to plow in wheat.

   {To plow up}, to turn out of the ground by plowing.
      [1913 Webster] Plow
    

Plough
first referred to in Gen. 45:6, where the Authorized Version has
"earing," but the Revised Version "ploughing;" next in Ex. 34:21
and Deut. 21:4. The plough was originally drawn by oxen, but
sometimes also by asses and by men. (See {AGRICULTURE}.)