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sheepskin

[sheep-skin]
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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.
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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.
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Origin of sheepskin

First recorded in 1150–1200, sheepskin is from the Middle English word shepskinn. See sheep, skin
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for sheepskin

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • I didn't blame him for stopping up there on his sheepskin, eye to eye with the girl.

    It Happened in Egypt

    C. N. Williamson

  • The coachman had mounted to his box, and was wrapping a sheepskin about his knees.

  • The footman (who survived) had no time to see the face of the man in the sheepskin coat.

    Under Western Eyes

    Joseph Conrad

  • The sheepskin blankets with the wool on were almost as black as soot.

  • Each one took off his sheepskin jacket, reversed it and put it on again.

    Debts of Honor

    Maurus Jkai

British Dictionary definitions for sheepskin

sheepskin

noun
    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
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for sheepskin

n.

c.1200, "the skin of a sheep," from sheep + skin (n.). Meaning "diploma" dates from 1804; so called because formerly made of sheepskin parchment.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper