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plough
plough often used emblematically, as in follow the plough meaning be a ploughman or farmer.
From late Middle English, the Plough has been the name given to a prominent formation of seven stars in the constellation Ursa Major (the Great Bear), containing the Pointers that indicate the direction to the Pole Star. Also called (in North America) the Big Dipper and (formerly, in Britain) Charles's Wain. plough a lonely furrow carry on without help or companionship. The earliest recorded form of this phrase is found in a speech by Lord Rosebery of July 1901. Plough Monday the first Monday after Epiphany, formerly marked by popular festivals or observances in some regions, especially the north and east of England, named from the custom of dragging a plough through the streets to mark the beginning of the ploughing season. ploughshare the main cutting blade of a plough, often with biblical allusion to Isaiah 2:4 (see beat swords into ploughshares). plough the sands undertake an impossible or pointless task; first recorded in Robert Greene's Never Too Late (1590). See also put one's hand to the plough. |
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "plough." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "plough." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-plough.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "plough." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-plough.html |
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plough
plough, U.S. plow implement for cutting furrows in soil. Late OE. plōh — ON. plógr = OS. plōg (Du. ploeg), OHG. phluog (G. pflug):- Gmc. *plōʒaz.
Hence vb. XV. ploughland XIII unit of land assessment based on the area tillable by a team of eight oxen in a year. ploughshare XIV. |
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T. F. HOAD. "plough." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "plough." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-plough.html T. F. HOAD. "plough." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-plough.html |
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plough
plough When the Israelites settled in Canaan, they were obliged to learn agricultural arts and sought help from their neighbours (1 Sam. 13: 20). Ploughing took place in the winter in preparation for planting seed. Jesus used ploughing as a metaphor for total dedication to the cause (Luke 9: 62).
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W. R. F. BROWNING. "plough." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. W. R. F. BROWNING. "plough." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-plough.html W. R. F. BROWNING. "plough." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-plough.html |
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Plough
Plough Popular name for the shape formed by the stars Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon, Zeta, and Eta Ursae Majoris, which resembles the outline of an old horse-drawn plough. An alternative name for the same shape is the Big Dipper.
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"Plough." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Plough." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-Plough.html "Plough." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-Plough.html |
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plough
plough / plou/ • n. & v. British spelling of plow. ∎ (the Plough) British term for Big Dipper. |
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"plough." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "plough." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-plough.html "plough." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-plough.html |
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plough
plough see plow . |
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"plough." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "plough." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-plough.html "plough." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-plough.html |
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plough
plough •allow, avow, Bilbao, Bissau, bough, bow, bow-wow, brow, cacao, chow, ciao, cow, dhow, Dow, endow, Foochow, Frau, Hangzhou, Hough, how, Howe, kowtow, Lao, Liao, Macao, Macau, miaow, Mindanao, mow, now, ow, Palau, plough (US plow), pow, prow, row, scow, Slough, sough, sow, Tao, thou, vow, wow, Yangshao
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"plough." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "plough." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-plough.html "plough." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-plough.html |
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