'plowman' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'plōgmann', where 'plōg' meant 'plow' and 'mann' meant 'man'.

'plōgmann' transformed into the Middle English word 'plouman', and eventually became the modern English word 'plowman'.

Initially, it meant 'a man who uses a plow', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.