What does mouldboard mean?
A mouldboard is the curved, blade-like part of a plough that lifts and turns soil as the implement cuts through the ground. Its shape and angle determine how effectively the plough forms a clean furrow, making it one of the most important working components of a traditional plough. The word is chiefly encountered in agricultural and historical contexts, although it also appears in discussions of plough design, farm machinery, and cultivation. In British English it is normally spelled mouldboard; the American spelling is moldboard. Because the component both turns the earth and gives the furrow its form, the term combines the ideas of moulding or shaping and a flat wooden or metal construction. It is usually a technical noun rather than part of everyday conversation.
nounA curved blade on a plough that lifts, turns, and shapes the soil as the plough moves across a field.
- The curved blade of a plough that cuts into the ground, lifts the soil, and turns it over to form a furrow.
"The plough's mouldboard caught the damp soil and turned it neatly into furrows."
"He inspected the worn mouldboard before beginning to plough the field."
"The modern plough uses a mouldboard that rolls the soil more effectively than older designs."
The plural is used when referring to the blades of several ploughs or to replaceable components in general.
"The mechanics inspected all the ploughs and replaced the damaged mouldboards."
A mouldboard is the earth-turning blade that gives a traditional plough its distinctive furrow.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does mouldboard come from?
Mouldboard is an English compound formed from mould, in the sense of shaping or forming, and board, referring to a flat piece of material. The word mould comes through Old French from Latin, while board derives from Old English bord. The compound originally referred to a board used to shape the soil and developed into the name for the plough component that turns a furrow.
How mouldboard is actually used
Chiefly used in agriculture, historical writing, and discussions of plough design. British English normally uses the spelling mouldboard, while American English uses moldboard.
Easily confused with mouldboard
Moldboard is the American spelling of the same agricultural term: a plough blade that turns and shapes the soil.