From Middle English plouh, plow, plugh(e), plough(e), plouw, from Old English plōh (“hide of land, ploughland”) and Old Norse plógr (“plough (the implement)”), both from Proto-Germanic *plōgaz, *plōguz (“plough”). Cognate with Scots pleuch, plou, North Frisian plog, West Frisian ploech, Low German Ploog, Dutch ploeg, Russian плуг (plug), German Pflug, Danish plov, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish plog, Icelandic plógur. Replaced Old English sulh (“plough, furrow”); see sullow.
Meanings
A device pulled through the ground in order to break it open into furrows for planting.
The horse-drawn plough had a tremendous impact on agriculture.
It's been three hours since a plough came through here, and now you can hardly even tell that it did! [the snow keeps falling heavily]
Any of several other tools or implements that cut and push material. ▸ A joiner's plane for making grooves.
Any of several other tools or implements that cut and push material. ▸ A bookbinder's implement for trimming or shaving off the edges of books.
The use of a plough; tillage.
If you get it early ploughed and it lies all winter possibly, you find it an advantage to give it a second plough; but it does not invariably follow that we plough twice for our green crop. 1919, Commonwealth Shipping Committee, Report, volume 8, page 47:
(alt-of, alternative) Alternative form of Plough (Synonym of Ursa Major)
To many generations of rice farmers in rural Java, Indonesia, it was not the stars of Ursa Major that formed the plough, but the stars of Orion. 2005, Clive L. N. Ruggles, Ancient Astronomy: An Encyclopedia of Cosmologies and Myth, →ISBN:
Across the Atlantic, what we call the Big Dipper has been called many other names. In England, this grouping of stars is seen as the plough. 2007, Mike Lynch, Florida Starwatch, →ISBN, page 52:
Consider the Big Dipper, or as it is also known, the plough or the wagon. 2010, John Turner, Exploring the Other Island: A Seasonal Guide to Nature on Long Island, →ISBN:
Rising in the north-east fairly high in the sky, Arcturus may be found by following round the curve of the plough. 2004, Amazing Physics Quiz, →ISBN, page 32:
(alt-of, alternative) Alternative form of ploughland, an alternative name for a carucate or hide.
hi हल (device pulled through the ground) · he מַחְרֵשָׁה (device pulled through the ground) · pi hala (device pulled through the ground) · izh adra (device pulled through the ground) · ltg orklys (device pulled through the ground) · grc ἄροτρον (device pulled through the ground) · grt lang-gol (device pulled through the ground) · te గొర్రు (device pulled through the ground) · sco plou (device pulled through the ground) · de Pflug (device pulled through the ground) · lld cadria (device pulled through the ground) · sa हल (device pulled through the ground) · th ไถ (device pulled through the ground) · pdt Pluach (device pulled through the ground) · ast llabiegu (device pulled through the ground) · tg сипор (device pulled through the ground) · te నాగలి (device pulled through the ground) · sh јоре (device pulled through the ground) · jv waluku (device pulled through the ground) · el άροτρο (device pulled through the ground) · nn plog (device pulled through the ground) · lez куьтен (device pulled through the ground) · sw plau (device pulled through the ground) · cy aradr (device pulled through the ground) · sh plȕg (device pulled through the ground) · pl Wielka Niedźwiedzica (alternative name for Ursa Major) · xmf გუთანი (device pulled through the ground) · yi אַקער (device pulled through the ground) · ba һуҡа (device pulled through the ground) · it Grande Carro (alternative name for Ursa Major) · oc araire (device pulled through the ground) · fur vuàrgine (device pulled through the ground) · eu golde (device pulled through the ground) · id bajak (device pulled through the ground) · xto āre (device pulled through the ground) · sa लाङ्गल (device pulled through the ground) · bbl გუთა^ნ (device pulled through the ground) · os гу́тон (device pulled through the ground) · ta ஞாஞ்சில் (device pulled through the ground) · tsg araru (device pulled through the ground) · fi aura (device pulled through the ground) · alt салда (device pulled through the ground) · nl ploeg (device pulled through the ground) · nds-de Ploog (device pulled through the ground) · hi नांगल (device pulled through the ground) · ba һабан (device pulled through the ground) · fa خیش (device pulled through the ground) · shn ထႆ (device pulled through the ground) · el αλέτρι (device pulled through the ground) · sv plog (device pulled through the ground) · rm arader (device pulled through the ground) · lv arkls (device pulled through the ground) · ar مِحْرَاث (device pulled through the ground) · kaw waluku (device pulled through the ground) · ta உழுபடை (device pulled through the ground) · ko 쟁기 (device pulled through the ground) · fi Iso Karhu (alternative name for Ursa Major) · ga céachta (device pulled through the ground) · gl vesadoiro (device pulled through the ground) · es arado (device pulled through the ground) · bcl arado (device pulled through the ground) · ota قوطان (device pulled through the ground) · az sapan (device pulled through the ground) · tl araro (device pulled through the ground) · mr नांगर (device pulled through the ground) · sdc aradu (device pulled through the ground) · rup plug (roa-rup) (device pulled through the ground) · uk плуг (device pulled through the ground) · ga arathar (device pulled through the ground) · et ader (device pulled through the ground) · ota پلوغ (device pulled through the ground) · fa گاوآهن (device pulled through the ground) · eo plugilo (device pulled through the ground) · fi urahöylä (plane for making grooves) · krc гатон (device pulled through the ground) · ro arat (device pulled through the ground) · lb Plou (device pulled through the ground) · rup paramendã (device pulled through the ground) · ml കലപ്പ (device pulled through the ground) · fr araire (swing-plough) (device pulled through the ground) · is plógur (device pulled through the ground) · krc плуг (device pulled through the ground) · nb plog (device pulled through the ground) · az kotan (device pulled through the ground) · grt nang-gol (device pulled through the ground) · ota صبان (device pulled through the ground) · bho हर (device pulled through the ground) · ur نانگل (device pulled through the ground) · mn ᠠᠨᠵᠢᠰᠤ (device pulled through the ground) · cmn 犁 (device pulled through the ground) · ta ஏர் (device pulled through the ground) · hy գութան (device pulled through the ground) · udi коьтаьн (device pulled through the ground) · liv addõrz (device pulled through the ground) · sk pluh (device pulled through the ground) · fur vuarzine (device pulled through the ground) · be плуг (device pulled through the ground) · es Carro Mayor (alternative name for Ursa Major) · ro plug (device pulled through the ground) · fi tasausleikkuri (bookbinder's implement) · mk плуг (device pulled through the ground) · ms bajak (device pulled through the ground) · pl pług (device pulled through the ground) · da plov (device pulled through the ground) · mi parau (device pulled through the ground) · ja 鍬 (device pulled through the ground) · mr अऊत (device pulled through the ground) · izh pluuga (device pulled through the ground) · gl garfela (device pulled through the ground) · mt moħriet (device pulled through the ground) · ka გუთანი (device pulled through the ground) · ca arada (device pulled through the ground) · ast aráu (device pulled through the ground) · my ထယ် (device pulled through the ground) · egy h-b-U13 (device pulled through the ground) · os готон (device pulled through the ground) · grt nanggri (device pulled through the ground) · vec varsuro (device pulled through the ground) · gl lavega (device pulled through the ground) · vot adrõ (device pulled through the ground) · kw arader (device pulled through the ground) · fo plógv (device pulled through the ground) · bg Голя́ма ме́чка (alternative name for Ursa Major) · gur nii-kũure (device pulled through the ground) · dsb chołuj (device pulled through the ground) · km អង្គ័ល (device pulled through the ground) · mzn ازال (device pulled through the ground) · uz plug (device pulled through the ground) · sq plug (device pulled through the ground) · nrf tchéthue (device pulled through the ground) · wym fłüg (device pulled through the ground) · la aratrum (device pulled through the ground) · ta கலப்பை (device pulled through the ground) · ab акуаҭана (device pulled through the ground) · gl arado (device pulled through the ground) · az cüt (device pulled through the ground) · as হাল (device pulled through the ground) · ce гота (device pulled through the ground) · hu eke (device pulled through the ground) · abq кӏватан (device pulled through the ground) · inh нух (device pulled through the ground) · tr saban (device pulled through the ground) · sl plug (device pulled through the ground) · dar гутан (device pulled through the ground) · om maarashaa (device pulled through the ground) · cs pluh (device pulled through the ground) · mn анжис (device pulled through the ground) · nrf kyerüü (device pulled through the ground) · sco pleuch (device pulled through the ground) · vi cày (device pulled through the ground) · sh плу̏г (device pulled through the ground) · txb āre (device pulled through the ground) · bg плуг (device pulled through the ground) · orv плугъ (device pulled through the ground) · mr हल (device pulled through the ground) · ceb daro (device pulled through the ground) · olo adru (device pulled through the ground) · id waluku (device pulled through the ground) · rm criec (device pulled through the ground) · ky соко (device pulled through the ground) · krc сабан агъач (device pulled through the ground) · arz محرات (device pulled through the ground) · skb ไถ่ (device pulled through the ground) · rup aletrã (device pulled through the ground) · ur ہل (device pulled through the ground) · wa tcherowe (device pulled through the ground) · av кутан (device pulled through the ground) · ast aladru (device pulled through the ground) · gu હળ (device pulled through the ground) · as নাঙল (device pulled through the ground) · it aratro (device pulled through the ground) · hy արոր (device pulled through the ground) · xcl արօր (device pulled through the ground) · lo ໄຖ (device pulled through the ground) · inh гота (device pulled through the ground) · udm геры (device pulled through the ground) · rup aratru (device pulled through the ground) · lt plūgas (device pulled through the ground) · gl lavego (device pulled through the ground) · pi naṅgala (device pulled through the ground) · nrf qùérue (device pulled through the ground) · fr charrue (device pulled through the ground) · gv keeaght (device pulled through the ground) · fy ploech (device pulled through the ground) · ka ერქვანი (device pulled through the ground) · nrf tchérue (device pulled through the ground) · ja 鋤 (device pulled through the ground) · ab акәаҭан (device pulled through the ground) · tt сабан (device pulled through the ground) · kk соқа (device pulled through the ground) · br arar (device pulled through the ground) · sl ralo (device pulled through the ground) · kmr kotan (device pulled through the ground) · ru плуг (device pulled through the ground) · km នង្គ័ល (device pulled through the ground) · wa eraire (swing-plough) (device pulled through the ground) · ruq ărat (device pulled through the ground) · sq parmendë (device pulled through the ground) · pt arado (device pulled through the ground) · cmn 犁頭 /犁头 (device pulled through the ground) · sh jore (device pulled through the ground) · it aratrice (device pulled through the ground)
From Middle English plouh, plow, plugh(e), plough(e), plouw, from Old English plōh (“hide of land, ploughland”) and Old Norse plógr (“plough (the implement)”), both from Proto-Germanic *plōgaz, *plōguz (“plough”). Cognate with Scots pleuch, plou, North Frisian plog, West Frisian ploech, Low German Ploog, Dutch ploeg, Russian плуг (plug), German Pflug, Danish plov, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish plog, Icelandic plógur. Replaced Old English sulh (“plough, furrow”); see sullow.
Meanings
(transitive) To use a plough on soil to prepare for planting.
That there is and from time immemorial has been within that part of the parish called Mablethorpe St. Mary's a laudable custom that, if any outdweller take ancient pasture ground, he shall pay a modus of 4d. an acre, and so in proportion, on the 1st of August, in lieu of all manner of tithe; and that if any of the ancient pasture be once ploughed up or meadowed, it shall, when restored to pasture again, pay 4d. the acre in the hands of such outdweller. 1917, The English Reports: Exchequer, page 789:
I've still got to plough that field.
(intransitive) To use a plough.
Some days I have to plough from sunrise to sunset.
To move with force.
Trucks ploughed through the water to ferry flood victims to safety.
Thirteen people were injured in August 1957 when this Bristol freighter skidded on the runway at Southend Airport when landing with a flight from Calais. It ploughed through the boundary fence, but thankfully stopped short of the railway and the 1,500V overhead wires. A tripwire was installed on this section of Shenfield-Southend line to warn train drivers of instances such as this. 2020 December 30, Tim Dunn, “The railway's mechanical marvels”, in Rail, page 58, photo caption:
Wolves continued to plough forward as young Belgian midfielder Mujangi Bia and Ronald Zubar both hit shots wide from good positions. 2011 January 18, “Wolverhampton 5 - 0 Doncaster”, in BBC:
(colloquial, transitive) To knock over or run over (someone) without stopping.
My brother ploughed me over.
Three people were ploughed down when he lost control of the truck.
To furrow; to make furrows, grooves, or ridges in.
Let patient Octavia plough thy visage up / With her prepared nails. c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene xii]:
To run through, as in sailing.
With speed we plough the watery way. 1725, Homer, “Book II”, in [William Broome], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. […], volume I, London: […] Bernard Lintot, →OCLC:
To trim, or shave off the edges of, as a book or paper, with a plough.
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.
(UK, obsolete, qualifier:university slang, transitive) To fail (a student).
You see, Miss Dodd, an university examination consists of several items: neglect but one, and Crichton himself would be ploughed; because brilliancy in your other papers is not allowed to count; that is how the most distinguished man of our day got ploughed for Smalls. 1863, Charles Reade, Hard Cash:
The good Professor scolded, predicted that they would all be either gulfed or ploughed. 1863, Henry Kingsley, Austin Elliot, page 123:
I knew one of that lot at Corpus; in fact, we were crammed by the same tutor for "smalls," and both got ploughed. 1895, Roger Pocock, The Rules of the Game:
(transitive, vulgar) To sexually penetrate, typically in a vigorous manner.
I love just getting ploughed face down on my bed.
If you don't use rubbers when you're plowing someone's throat, don't bother answering this ad. 1990 February 11, “Working Up An Appetite (personal advertisement)”, in Gay Community News, volume 17, number 30, page 13:
mn хагалах (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · sq lëroj (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · sv plöja (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · egy s-kA-A-U13 (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · ro ara (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · grc ἀρόω (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · es rejacar (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · be узара́ць (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · et kündma (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · de pflügen (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · th ไถ (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · my ထယ်ထိုး (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · ckb کێڵان (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · cu орати (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · qu yapuy (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · la arō (use a plough) · da pløje (use a plough) · he חָרַשׁ (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · no pløye (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · nrf tchéthuer (use a plough) · hu ekéz (use a plough) · sc manixài (use a plough) · he חָרַשׁ (use a plough) · pt lavrar (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · ru вспаха́ть (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · fi jyystää (vulgar: have sex with) · es labrar (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · tr becermek (vulgar: have sex with) · af ploeg (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · lv art (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · it arare (use a plough) · sl orati (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · pt arar (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · no pløye (use a plough) · fi kynsiä (furrow) · fr labourer (use a plough) · bg ора́ (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · mi parau (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · sh о̀рати (use a plough) · es jabrir (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · sk orať (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · ltg art (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · grc ἀροτριάω (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · th ไถ (use a plough) · sdn laurà (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · sc manizare (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · ta உழு (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · tg шудгор кардан (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · fr labourer (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · wa tcherwer (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · fa شخم زدن (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · az şumlamaq (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · cy aredig (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · ang erian (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · fr pilonner (vulgar: have sex with) · fo pløga (use a plough) · ru вспа́хивать (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · de pflügen (use a plough) · la arō (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · sh о̀рати (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · es aricar (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · ruq ar (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · eo plugi (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · sdc sdc (use a plough) · es roturar (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · ca llaurar (use a plough) · ar حَرَثَ (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · my ထွန် (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · fi jyrätä (move with force) · sat ᱥᱤ (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · sh òrati (use a plough) · uk ора́ти (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · hy հերկել (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · oc arar (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · mk ора (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · sdn laurà (use a plough) · ja 耕す (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · az kotanlamaq (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · ky жер айдоо (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · da pløje (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · fi köyriä (vulgar: have sex with) · sc arai (use a plough) · orv пахати (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · nrf tchéthuer (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · sdc laurà (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · ko 쟁기질하다 (use a plough) · grc ἀροτριάω (use a plough) · sco plou (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · frr pluuge (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · es aladrar (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · sc arai (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · pt arar (use a plough) · sc laurare (use a plough) · ary حرت (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · ru паха́ть (use a plough) · cmn 耕 (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · chr ᎦᏓᎷᎩᎠ (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · sc laurare (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · is plægja (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · om qotuu (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · mk ора (use a plough) · mr नांगरणे (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · fr labourer (vulgar: have sex with) · sq plugoj (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · rup ar (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · as হাল বোৱা (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · es arar (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · ca llaurar (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · de ficken (vulgar: have sex with) · es arrejacar (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · dsb wóraś (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · fi kyntää (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · kk айдау (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · wa rabourer (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · mi parau (use a plough) · ko 갈다 (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · fo pløga (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · te దున్ను (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · sv plöja (use a plough) · fur arâ (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · ml ഉഴുക (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · cmn 耕田 (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · uga 𐎈𐎗𐎘 (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · uk зо́рювати (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · oc laurar (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · orv орати (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · fi aurata (use a plough) · lo ໄຖ (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · ga treabh (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · es barbechar (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · hu szánt (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · sq plugoj (use a plough) · ru паха́ть (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · fi kyntää (use a plough) · nl ploegen (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · es arar (use a plough) · it solcare (nautical: run through water) · sc manixài (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · vi cày (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · sc manizare (use a plough) · ur ہل چلانا (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · yi אַקערן (use a plough) · lt arti (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · fi tasata (bookbinding: trim) · uz er haydamoq (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · ang erian (use a plough) · grc ἀρόω (use a plough) · pl orać (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · hy վարել (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · sv ploga (use a plough) · gl arar (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · hu szánt (use a plough) · be ара́ць (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · km ភ្ជួរដី (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · tr sikmek (vulgar: have sex with) · sco pleuch (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · mi kōriparipa (nautical: run through water) · fi urittaa (furrow) · arz حرت (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · tr düzmek (vulgar: have sex with) · sc laorare (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · fi kyntää (nautical: run through water) · ca solcar (furrow) · hi हल चलाना (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · fi tehdä ura (joinery: cut a groove in) · ro ara (use a plough) · uk зора́ти (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · km ភ្ជួរ (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · my ခွဲ (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · hy արորել (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · it arare (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · nl ploegen (use a plough) · ru ора́ть (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · dsb zwóraś (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · kk жырту (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · pt lavrar (use a plough) · uz haydamoq (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · ta உழு (use a plough) · mn ᠬᠠᠭᠠᠯᠬᠤ (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · da pløje (vulgar: have sex with) · sc laorare (use a plough) · cmn 耕地 (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · cs orat (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting) · sh òrati (use a plough on soil to prepare for planting)