plough starplow starn.
/ˈplaʊ stɑː/, U.S. /ˈplaʊ ˌstɑr/ Originally: the brightest star (Dubhe) in the most readily identifiable part of the constellation Ursa Major, which corresponds to the coulter when the constellation is seen as a plough and is the nearest to the north celestial pole; (also) the bright star Arcturus in the adjacent constellation Boötes. In recent use: any of the seven prominent stars in the Plough.
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the world > the universe > constellation > Northern constellations > [noun] > Ursa Major
Ursac888
Arcturusc1374
beara1398
Ursa Major1398
ploughc1425
Septentrionc1425
seven starsc1425
Great Bear1555
plough star1558
Helice1596
polar bear1648
dipper1842
Big Dipper1856
the world > the universe > star > kind of star > giant > [noun] > Arcturus
Arcturusc1374
bearward?c1475
Arthur's hufea1522
plough star1558
1558 T. Phaer tr. Virgil Seuen First Bks. Eneidos iii. sig. H.ijv The wayne, the plowstar, and the seuen that stormes and tempests poures [ Æneid3. 516 Arcturum pluviasque Hyadas geminosque Triones].
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis iii. 59 Thee lights starrye noting in globe celestial hanging: Thee seun stars stormy, twise told thee plowstar, eke Arcture.
1958 P. Moore Boy's Bk. Astron. ix. 88/1 The Plough stars are going to be very useful to us, so it is as well to remember their names: starting with the Plough-handle, they are Alkaid, [etc.].
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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