Plough-Monday, Plow-
(ˈplaʊˈmʌndeɪ)
The first Monday after Epiphany, on which, esp. in the N. and E. of England, the commencement of the ploughing season is, or till recently was, celebrated by a procession of disguised ploughmen and boys (plough-bullocks, -jags, -stots, -witchers, etc.) drawing a plough from door to door.
| 1542 Bale Yet a Course 28 Than ought my lorde [Bonner] to suffre the same selfe ponnyshment..for not sensinge the plowghes vpon Plowgh mondaye. 1573 Tusser Husb. (1878) 180 Plough Monday, next after that Twelftide is past, Bids out with the plough, the woorst husband is last. 1674 Blount Glossogr. (ed. 4), Plow-Monday,..on which day, in the North of England, the Plowmen themselves draw a Plough from door to door, and beg Plow-money to drink. 1892 Times 12 Jan. 6/2 Yesterday being ‘Plough-Monday’, as the first Monday after the Epiphany is called. |