coulter

1 of 2

noun (1)

coul·​ter ˈkōl-tər 

: a cutting tool (such as a knife or sharp disc) that is attached to the beam of a plow, makes a vertical cut in the surface, and permits clean separation and effective covering of the soil and materials being turned under

colter

2 of 2

noun (2)

col·​ter

variants or less commonly coulter

ˈkōltə(r) 

plural -s

: a knife, sharp disc, or other cutting tool that is attached to the beam of a plow to cut the sward in advance of the plowshare and moldboard

Examples of coulter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Nature protects history and human life Inside the remarkable medieval settlement, archaeologists found moats, remains of buildings, and artifacts, 244 to be exact, including 66 knives, sickles, iron coulters, arrowheads, spearheads, and personal accessories were identified, as per Heritage Daily. — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 1 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English colter, from Old English culter & Old French coltre, both from Latin culter plowshare; akin to Greek skallein to hoe — more at shell

Noun (2)

Middle English colter, from Old English culter & Old French coltre, both from Latin culter plowshare, knife; akin to Old High German scala husk, Old Norse skilja to separate, Gothic skilja butcher, Greek skalis hoe, mattock, Lithuanian skélti to split

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for coulter

• bolter
• boulter
• colter
• holter
• poulter