Definition of the word plough

The word "plough" is of Old English origin, derived from the Old Frisian word "plōgā" and the Old Saxon word "plōh." These words all share a common Proto-Germanic root, "plōhō," which means "to scratch, dig, or grope." In Old English, the word was "plōh," and it referred not only to the agricultural implement but also to the act of plowing. The Old English form evolved into the Middle English "plough" and eventually the modern English "plough" in the 16th century. The spelling "plough" originally referred to the implement, while "ploughing" (from Old French "plougen" or "plogeyn") referred to the activity. Later, the spelling became interchangeable, as the verb form also came to be spelled "plough." In other Germanic languages, words for plow have similar etymologies: "Pflug" in German, "ploeg" in Afrikaans, "plog" in Danish, "pera" in Estonian, and "ploh" in both Dutch and Frisian. The Polish word "prąd" and the Czech word "pros" also originate from the Proto-Slavic root "prosŭ," meaning "to plow." In summary, the word "plough" has its roots in Proto-Germanic and has had a similar meaning and pronunciation in related Germanic languages, where the word ultimately derives from "to scratch, dig, or grope."