sheepskin
Americannoun
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sheepskins
plural
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the skin of a sheep, especially such a skin dressed with the wool on, as for a garment.
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leather, parchment, or the like, made from the skin of sheep.
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Informal. a diploma.
adjective
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made from the skin of a sheep.
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(of a garment) lined with the skin of a sheep dressed with the wool on.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of sheepskin
First recorded in 1150–1200, sheepskin is from the Middle English word shepskinn. See sheep, skin
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Zanjani—a former sheepskin trader who became one of Iran’s wealthiest men and most famous sanctions busters—ratcheted up activity on Binance through his crypto firm, Zedcex, in 2024, Binance compliance reports show.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026
The move lower came even though Deckers, the brand behind Hoka running shoes and Ugg sheepskin boots, beat Wall Street’s earnings and revenue targets for the quarter ended Sept. 30.
From Barron's ● Oct. 24, 2025
As Elizabethan folk songs replaced Aldous' voice, Francis took a chrysanthemum and held it to Matthew's nose before scattering its petals across the sheepskin rug.
From Salon ● Apr. 19, 2025
A vast ocean of stars glitters in the night sky over traditional sheepskin tents in remote Mongolia.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 4, 2023
A man wearing a cowboy hat and a sheepskin jacket plunged into sight a short way ahead and waved, then veered out of sight again speaking rapid-fire Spanish into his walkie-talkie.
From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols
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For sale in a small shop next to the farm is wool for knitting or felting sheepskins, socks, blankets and pillows.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 18, 2022
They can also swim, drink, play Ludo and shop for sheepskins.
From New York Times ● Oct. 14, 2021
He then moved on to work with Tescan, a processor of sheepskins, but found himself out of work when the firm closed in 1981.
From BBC ● Dec. 22, 2018
Kris Kobach’s collection of sheepskins suggests a pretty big brain to go with his tall, broad-shouldered frame.
From Washington Post ● Jun. 19, 2018
On this he rose and placed the bed of balsam near the fire, strewing sheepskins on top, and skins of goats.
From "The Odyssey" by Homer
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.