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noun, plural sheep.
Idiom1.
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.
4.
separate the sheep from the goats, to separate good people from bad or those intended for a specific end from unqualified people.
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Sheeplike
is always a great word to know.
So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:
| a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc. |
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
Origin:
before 900; Middle English; Old English (north) scēp; cognate with Dutch schaap, German Schaf
before 900; Middle English; Old English (north) scēp; cognate with Dutch schaap, German Schaf
Related forms
sheep·less, adjective
sheep·like, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To sheeplike
Collins
World English Dictionary
| sheep (ʃiːp) | |
| —n , pl sheep | |
| 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 meatRelated: ovine |
| 2. | Barbary sheep another name for aoudad |
| 3. | a meek or timid person, esp one without initiative |
| 4. | separate the sheep from the goats to pick out the members of any group who are superior in some respects |
| Related: ovine | |
| [Old English sceap; related to Old Frisian skēp, Old Saxon scāp, Old High German scāf] | |
| 'sheeplike | |
| —adj | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
sheep
O.E. sceap, scep, from W.Gmc. *skæpan (cf. O.S. scap, O.Fris. skep, M.L.G. schap, M.Du. scaep, Du. schaap, O.H.G. scaf, Ger. Schaf), of unknown origin. Not found in Scand. or Goth., and with no known cognates outside Gmc. The more usual I.E. word for the animal is represented by
EXPAND ewe. As a type of timidity, from O.E.; the meaning "stupid, timid person" is attested from 1542. The image of the wolf in sheep's clothing was in O.E. (from Matt. vii.15); that of separating the sheep from the goats is from Matt. xxv.33. To count sheep in a bid to induce sleep is recorded from 1854. Sheep's eyes "loving looks" is attested from 1529 (cf. W.Fris. skiepseach, Du. schaapsoog, Ger. Schafsauge).
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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