A sharp blade or wheel attached to a plow that cuts through the soil vertically before the main plowshare turns it over.
From Old English 'culter' and Latin 'culter' meaning 'knife' or 'plowshare', related to 'cultus' (cultivation). The word reflects the ancient connection between cutting tools and agriculture, fundamental to human civilization.
The coulter is often overlooked, but it's crucial for effective plowing - without it, the soil would bunch up rather than turn over cleanly. Modern farmers still use the same basic principle that medieval peasants relied on, though today's coulters might be made of hardened steel and precisely engineered.
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