broadshare

English

Etymology

broad +‎ share, that is, a wide share (cutting blade), as on a plow.

Noun

broadshare (plural broadshares)

1. A heavy cultivator with wide V-shaped shares, used to loosen and dig up stubble and weeds after a harvest.
   • 1853, Royal Agricultural Improvement Society of Ireland, Royal Agricultural Improvement Society of Ireland, page 64:

     This plough possesses the recommendations of being a Broadshare, Scarifier, and Subsoil Plough, combined in one and the same implement.

   • 1860, Henry S. Olcott, Outlines of the First Course of Yale Agricultural Lectures, page 85:

     Immediately after the broadshare, the harrow is twice used to free the ground from the stubble, which is gathered in rows every fifteen or twenty rods, according to quantity, and if thought worth the labor, or in default of straw enough, this is carried to the yards, to be trodden into manure; otherwise it is burnt.

   • 1944 ·, Arthur John Brookes, Farming Equipment, page 52:

     The surface is first broken with a cultivator fitted with broad blades, a plough, or a broadshare.

Verb

broadshare (third-person singular simple present broadshares, present participle broadsharing, simple past and past participle broadshared)

1. To go over a field with a broadshare.
   • 1864, William Bland (of Hartlip.), The Principles of Agriculture, page 23:

     When land proves to be very foul after harvest, it is best, first to shallow, spuddle, or broadshare the surface, harrow up the weeds, cart them to a mixen, or burn them on the spot:

   • 1866, Irwin Edward Bainbridge Cox, The Farm, Garden, Stable, and Aviary, page 4:

     The cheapest way is to broadshare the stubble immediately after harvest.

   • 1882, Robert Warington, The Chemistry of the Farm, page 71:

     The most effectual plan of doing so is to broadshare the stubbles.

   • 1929, “A Great Sheep Country”, in Australia To-day, volume 24, page 61:

     A further difference is that in Britain farmers would endeavour to plough, or at least to broadshare, their wheat stubbles immediately after harvest, so as to do some clearing.