Plough
See also: plough
English
The Plough
Etymology 1
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Proper noun
the Plough
- (astronomy, Britain, common name) The brightest seven stars of the constellation Ursa Major. They are Alkaid, Mizar, Alioth, Megrez, Dubhe, Merak, and Phecda.
- Synonyms: (especially US) Big Dipper, (old, UK) Charles' Wain, (old, US) Drinking Gourd, (Asia) Northern Ladle, (old) Northern Waggoner, (old, UK) Wain, triones, (astronomy; archaic) septentriones
- 1998, Belle and Sebastian (lyrics and music), “Ease Your Feet in the Sea”, in The Boy with the Arab Strap:
- Later on, as I walked home / The Plough was showing, and Orion
Translations
brightest seven stars of the constellation Ursa Major — see Big Dipper
Etymology 2
From plough, a metonymic occupational surname for a plowwright or plowman.
Proper noun
Plough (plural Ploughs)
- A surname.
Statistics
- According to the 2010 United States Census, Plough is the 38801st most common surname in the United States, belonging to 569 individuals. Plough is most common among White (96.31%) individuals.
Further reading
- Hanks, Patrick, editor (2003), “Plough”, in Dictionary of American Family Names, volume 3, New York City: Oxford University Press, →ISBN.