ploughman

Ploughman is a term for a person who works the land using a plough. Historically, ploughmen were farm laborers who guided teams of oxen or horses to turn over soil and prepare a seedbed. With the mechanization of agriculture, the specific occupation of driving a plough has diminished in many regions, but the term remains in use in British and other English-speaking farming contexts.

Etymology and usage: The word combines plough (the tool) with man, and is typically spelled ploughman in British English. American English tends to use plowman. In modern contexts, ploughman may still refer to someone who ploughs as part of agricultural work, though the description often overlaps with broader roles in farming and field labor.

Ploughman’s lunch: A traditional British cold meal associated with pubs and countryside culture. A typical plate features crusty bread, a substantial cheese such as cheddar, pickles or onions, and sometimes apples or other accompaniments, served with beer or ale. The concept emphasizes simple, portable food for rural workers and travelers. The phrase gained popularity in the 20th century through pub menus and marketing, though it reflects older food traditions of rural England.

In culture and usage, ploughman can denote both the historical worker in the field and, in culinary contexts, a recognizable, stereotypical countryside meal. The term remains primarily historical or descriptive outside of specific references to the lunch dish.