Definition

Noun: 1. The curved plate on a plow that turns over the soil: The "mouldboard" is the curved part of a plowshare that lifts, turns, and inverts the slice of soil (the furrow slice) cut by the plow's coulter and share. Its primary function is to break up and aerate the soil.

Usage

• The "mouldboard" is a critical component of a traditional plow, responsible for the complete inversion of the soil.
• It is specifically the part that receives the cut soil from the share and flips it over.

Examples

• The farmer adjusted the angle of the mouldboard to achieve a better furrow.
• A well-designed mouldboard reduces the draft (pulling force) required by the tractor.
• The mouldboard on this old plow is made of polished steel.

Advanced Usage

• Mouldboard plow: This is a compound term for the complete implement. A mouldboard plow is characterized by its use of this specific component to turn the soil, as opposed to a disc plow or chisel plow.
• The design and curvature (e.g., general purpose, stubble, sod) of the mouldboard are engineered for different soil types and conditions.

Variants and Related Words

• Moldboard: The American English spelling variant of "mouldboard".
• Plowshare (or Share): The sharp, leading cutting part of the plow that slices the soil horizontally. The share and mouldboard are often a single, integrated piece.
• Coulter: A vertical disc or blade mounted ahead of the share and mouldboard to cut the soil vertically.
• Landside: The flat plate on the side of the plow opposite the mouldboard that slides against the unplowed land, providing stability.

Synonyms

• Turn-furrow (less common, descriptive)
• Breast (archaic or technical term for the curved surface)

Notes

• The term is almost exclusively used in the context of agriculture and plow design.
• The effectiveness of a plow is heavily dependent on the shape and condition of its mouldboard.

Noun

1. wedge formed by the curved part of a steel plow blade that turns the furrow