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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Plow alms

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.

    Where fern succeeds ungrateful to the plow.
    --Dryden.

  2. Fig.: Agriculture; husbandry.
    --Johnson.

  3. A carucate of land; a plowland. [Obs.] [Eng.]

    Johan, mine eldest son, shall have plowes five.
    --Tale of Gamelyn.

  4. A joiner's plane for making grooves; a grooving plane.

  5. (Bookbinding) An implement for trimming or shaving off the edges of books.

  6. (Astron.) Same as Charles's Wain. 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.

    1. A kind of long-handled spade or paddle for cleaning the plowshare; a paddle staff.

    2. 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.