Sow-thistle

SOW'-THISTLE, n. A plant of the genus Sonchus. The downy sow-thistle is of the genus Andryala.
SOW, v.t. pret. sowed; pp. sowed or sown. [L. sevi. This word is probably contracted.]
1. To scatter on ground, for the purpose growth and the production of a crop; as, to sow good seed; to sow a bushel of wheat or rye to the acre; to sow oats, clover or barley; to sow seed in drills, or to sow it broad cast. Oats and flax should be sown early in the spring.
2. To scatter seed over for growth; as, to sow ground or land; to sow ten or a hundred acres in a year.
3. To spread or to originate; to propagate; as, to sow discord. Born to afflict my Marcia's family, and sow dissension in the hearts of brothers.
4. To supply or stock with seed. The intellectual faculty is a goodly field, and it is the worst husbandry in the world to sow it with trifles.
5. To scatter over; to besprinkle. He sow'd with stars the heaven. Morn now sow'd the earth with orient pearl.
SOW, v.i. To scatter seed for growth and the production of a crop. In New England, farmers begin to sow in April. They that sow in tears, shall reap in joy. Psa 126.
SOW, for sew, is not in use. [See Sew.]

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