sheep

[ sheep ]

noun

, plural sheep.

1. any of numerous ruminant mammals of the genus Ovis, of the family Bovidae, closely related to the goats, especially O. aries, bred in a number of domesticated varieties.
2. leather made from the skin of these animals.
3. a meek, unimaginative, or easily led person.

sheep

¹

/ ʃiːp /

noun

1. any of various bovid mammals of the genus Ovis and related genera, esp O. aries ( domestic sheep ), having transversely ribbed horns and a narrow face. There are many breeds of domestic sheep, raised for their wool and for meat ovine
2. See aoudad
   Barbary sheep
   Barbary sheep another name for aoudad
3. a meek or timid person, esp one without initiative
4. separate the sheep from the goats
   separate the sheep from the goats to pick out the members of any group who are superior in some respects

SHEEP

²

abbreviation for

1. Sky High Earnings Expectations Possibly: applied to investments that appear to offer high returns but may be unreliable

Derived Forms

• ˈsheepˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• sheepless adjective
• sheeplike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sheep¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English (north) scēp; cognate with Dutch schaap, German Schaf

Word History and Origins

Origin of sheep¹

Old English sceap; related to Old Frisian skēp, Old Saxon scāp, Old High German scāf

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. separate the sheep from the goats, to separate good people from bad or those intended for a specific end from unqualified people.

More idioms and phrases containing sheep

see black sheep ; hanged for a sheep ; separate the sheep from the goats ; wolf in sheep's clothing .

Example Sentences

It will be less remembered as a year featuring a diverse roster of scientific anniversaries, ranging from the 1300th birthday of a prolific writer to the 25th birthday of a celebrity sheep.

From Science News

Merino wool is made from a variety of sheep known for its fine, soft fibers.

From Outside Online

Around 3,000 years ago a drought in central China drove Mongol herders a thousand miles north into the steppes of Khakassia, in Siberia, where they remained raising horses and sheep for centuries.

From ProPublica

And, also like Orwell, he diverged from his social set, avoiding college for a career as a sheep farmer in South Africa … even though all he ever wanted was to be a writer.

From Ozy

Merino sheep, to be precise, and the wool that is shorn from them in New Zealand that ends up in the comfy sneaker-slippers made by Allbirds.

From Fortune

You will find winding pasture for sheep and highland cattle.

From The Daily Beast

I had to pause for sheep crossing the road, which is a common occurrence when driving through the Highlands of Scotland.

From The Daily Beast

Farmers, fearing ISIS attacks, have left the city with their sheep.

From The Daily Beast

He notes that on Naxos sheep have very large gallbladders, but on Euboea they do not.

From The Daily Beast

The Ivy League and other top schools are producing no more than ‘excellent sheep,’ says William Deresiewicz.

From The Daily Beast

A flock of weary sheep pattered along the road, barnward bound, heavy eyed and bleating softly.

From Project Gutenberg

Harry took his bed into the spare-room, and Black Sheep lay down to die.

From Project Gutenberg

The Griffin carried off one sheep a day from a German village, till a man came with a "falchion" and split the Griffin open.

From Project Gutenberg

A little corral for the sheep, and a rough shed for the pony, and the home was complete: far the prettiest home they had ever had.

From Project Gutenberg

And with these, and the society of Jane on board-wages, Black Sheep was left alone for a month.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• darkness
• fog
• gloom
• mist
• puff
• smog
• smoke
• steam
• vapor
• veil