bull tongue: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareTechnical/Specialist (Agriculture, Metalworking, Botany)
Quick answer
What does “bull tongue” mean?
A heavy, wide plough blade shaped like a tongue, used for breaking and turning over soil.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A heavy, wide plough blade shaped like a tongue, used for breaking and turning over soil.
The phrase can also refer to a large, long file used in metalworking, or a specific, broad-leaved plant.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is primarily found in historical/technical contexts in both varieties. In modern agriculture, more specific technical terms may be used.
Connotations
Connotes traditional farming, manual labour, or specific tool shapes.
Frequency
Very low frequency in contemporary general use; mostly historical or specialised.
Grammar
How to Use “bull tongue” in a Sentence
The [noun] was fitted with a bull tongue.He sharpened the bull tongue.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Potentially in historical or agricultural engineering papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used in historical farming contexts or in describing specific tool shapes in metalworking or botany.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bull tongue”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bull tongue”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bull tongue”
- Using 'bull tongue' to refer to a person's blunt speech (that's 'bull-headed' or 'speaking frankly').
- Confusing it with 'cow tongue' (the plant or food).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a rare, specialised term mostly found in historical or technical contexts related to farming or toolmaking.
Yes, it can refer to a specific type of large file used in metalworking or to a broad-leaved plant, but these uses are also highly specialised.
A bull tongue is a specific type of ploughshare—typically a single, pointed, and solid blade, often used for breaking new ground.
The name derives from its shape, which resembles the large, broad tongue of a bull, and its association with strength and heavy-duty work.
A heavy, wide plough blade shaped like a tongue, used for breaking and turning over soil.
Bull tongue is usually technical/specialist (agriculture, metalworking, botany) in register.
Bull tongue: in British English it is pronounced /bʊl tʌŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /bʊl tʌŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a strong BULL using its wide TONGUE to lick and turn over a whole field of soil.
Conceptual Metaphor
TOOL IS A BODY PART (tongue as a cutting/digging implement).
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'bull tongue' primarily?