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ploughshare
This term refers to the specific metal blade of a plough. While it is a technical agricultural term, it is most frequently encountered in modern English within a metaphorical or biblical context. The phrase "beating swords into ploughshares" is a well-known idiom for disarmament and the transition from a state of war to a state of peace.
In a literal sense, the word describes a heavy-duty tool designed for soil inversion. Because it is a physical object, it is treated as a standard countable noun, though its usage is increasingly rare outside of historical or specialized farming discussions.
Meanings
The heavy cutting blade of a plough, designed to slice through the soil and turn it over.
The farmer replaced the worn ploughshare to ensure a deeper furrow.
A symbolic representation of peace, specifically referring to the conversion of weapons of war into agricultural tools.
The treaty promised that swords would be beaten into ploughshares.