A farming implement used to turn over soil in preparation for planting crops.
From Old English plōg, related to Old Norse plógr. The word comes from a Germanic root meaning 'to break up' or 'to tear', referring to the action of breaking up soil.
The invention of the heavy wheeled plough in medieval Europe was revolutionary because it could handle the dense, clay soils of northern Europe that Mediterranean farming tools couldn't manage, literally reshaping the agricultural and social landscape of the continent.
Agricultural labor historically divided by gender; ploughing coded as 'male work' in European tradition, while sowing/harvesting involved both. This division shaped land ownership and inheritance law.
Use without gendered framing; recognize agricultural work as historically mixed-gender. Avoid 'he ploughed' as default.
["till","cultivate","prepare soil"]
Women performed significant agricultural labor globally; exclusion from ploughing narratives erased women's farming contributions and land stewardship.
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