colter
Definition
Noun A sharp, blade-like attachment fixed to the front of a plowshare. Its primary function is to cut vertically through the soil, sod, or crop residue ahead of the plow's main body, creating a clean, straight furrow wall and reducing the draft (pulling force) required.
Examples of Usage
- The farmer replaced the worn colter before beginning the spring plowing.
- A sharp colter is essential for cutting through tough, unplowed ground.
- The plow was equipped with a rolling disk colter to handle the heavy stubble.
Advanced Usage
- Colter depth: Refers to how deeply the colter blade is set to cut into the soil, which can be adjusted based on soil conditions.
- Disc colter / Rolling colter: A common modern variant where the cutting blade is a concave disc that rotates as it cuts, which is more effective at slicing through residue and is less prone to clogging than a fixed knife colter.
Variants and Related Words
- Coulter: An alternative, and equally correct, spelling of colter.
- Plowshare (or ploughshare): The main cutting blade of the plow, located directly behind the colter, which lifts and turns the soil.
- Jointer: A smaller, secondary blade sometimes mounted behind the colter to cut and turn a small slice of sod, ensuring a clean furrow bottom.
Synonyms
- Knife
- Plow knife
- Cutting blade (in the specific context of plow equipment)
Related Phrases
- To fit a colter: To attach or install a colter onto a plow.
- Colter adjustment: The process of setting the correct angle and depth for the colter blade.
Noun
-
a sharp steel wedge that precedes the plow and cuts vertically through the soil
