Plough

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

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

From plough, a metonymic occupational surname for a plowwright or plowman.

Plough (plural Ploughs)

1. A surname.

• 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.

• Hanks, Patrick, editor (2003), “Plough”, in Dictionary of American Family Names, volume 3, New York City: Oxford University Press, →ISBN.