sheepskin

[ sheep-skin ]

noun

1. the skin of a sheep, especially such a skin dressed with the wool on, as for a garment.
2. leather, parchment, or the like, made from the skin of sheep.
3. Informal. a diploma.

adjective

1. made from the skin of a sheep.
2. (of a garment) lined with the skin of a sheep dressed with the wool on.

sheepskin

/ ˈʃiːpˌskɪn /

noun

1. 1. the skin of a sheep, esp when used for clothing, etc, or with the fleece removed and used for parchment
   2. ( as modifier )

      a sheepskin coat

Word History and Origins

Origin of sheepskin¹

First recorded in 1150–1200, sheepskin is from the Middle English word shepskinn. See sheep, skin

Example Sentences

He covered himself with a sheepskin before the wolf in front of him who had attacked his institution with “falsehoods.”

From Washington Blade

In one notorious incident, half a dozen young condors were found playing tug of war with a sheepskin rug on a back porch in Santa Barbara, he recalled.

From Washington Post

The new study adds to evidence that sheepskin helped to prevent fraudsters from pulling the wool over English officials’ eyes.

From Science News

Several 12th and 17th century documents describe sheepskin as useful in detecting changes to an original document, such as tampering with a property owner’s name.

From Science News

They have a platform rubber sole and sheepskin leather exterior with a dyed shearling lining to keep you looking put-together on a snowy sidewalk.

From Popular-Science

The decision maker turned out to be a gray-haired Cossack ataman, or commander, in a traditional sheepskin hat.

From The Daily Beast

So where might the next Carol Bartz or Jeff Bezos get their sheepskin?

From The Daily Beast

On the sheepskin rug before the fire a Manx cat was dozing beside a pair of carpet slippers.

From Project Gutenberg

The sheepskin is very short for me, and closely cropped, and looks like a worn-out mat!!

From Project Gutenberg

They generally wore turbans of lambswool, and jackets of sheepskin with the wool inwards.

From Project Gutenberg

He had taken care to remove from the box of clothing his sheepskin, his loose coat with a hood, and his waterproof overalls.

From Project Gutenberg

Which runs directly into the throat of said Pragmatic Sanction; and engages to make it, mere waste sheepskin, so to speak!

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• affidavit
• authentication
• authorization
• certification
• coupon
• credential
• deed
• diploma
• documentation
• guarantee
• license
• paper
• permit
• receipt
• ticket
• voucher
• warrant
• warranty