Snowploughing

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Clearing snow from roads or paths by pushing it aside with a vehicle fitted with a large blade
2. Removing accumulated snow from a surface by driving a plough-equipped vehicle through it
3. The act of moving snow off a road, runway or driveway using a plough attached to a truck or tractor

Etymology: Snowploughing is the present participle and gerund of "snowplough", so the real story belongs to that base word. A snowplough is a plough (the farm tool that cuts and turns earth) adapted to clear snow from roads and railway lines. The first element, "snow", is an ancient Germanic word, while "plough" comes from Old English "ploh", which itself came from Germanic roots connected to the idea of turning and cutting the soil. The compound is transparent: the tool does what a field plough does, only the material it pushes aside is snow. The verb "snowplough" was formed by adding the noun to the verb, so "snowploughing" simply names the activity of driving or working such a machine. Its meaning stays close to the physical act, with no leap into abstract territory.

Synonyms: clear