Ploughshare

Share of a plow: Chisel (5) and share (6) mostly integrated as a whole tool piece

Double share plow with plow carts for horse pulling

The ploughshare ( which , rarely that ) is the cutting edge of the plow . The plow body in its entirety is also imprecisely referred to as a share . One speaks of multi-blade plows, but actually means plows with several bodies.

With the reinforcement of the ploughshare with iron , it became possible to work on heavier soils .

Coat of arms with ploughshare

The ploughshare is a common figure in heraldry and is represented in different numbers (one to three are common) and positions in the coat of arms. Pointing down is standard, pointing up is reported as fallen . The entire plow is strongly stylized as a work tool and can also be found in the coat of arms ; Details such as wheel or six must be reported.

The frequent use in coats of arms testifies to the importance and the connection between agriculture and the people of the region. An old superstition was based on the fact that a ploughshare could ward off evil spells. In spring, fields or even district boundaries were plowed over to keep evil spirits away. For this reason it is originally a heraldic symbol of luck.