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

1. (astronomy, British, 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)

1. A surname.

Statistics

• According to the 2010 United States Census, Plough is the 38801^st 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.