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

abbreviation for

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

sheep

²

/ 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. 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

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

For them, the desert is home, where they cultivate date palms and raise herds of goats, sheep and camels.

From Salon

Wild inhabitants include vulnerable bighorn sheep and desert tortoises, as well as the stocky Chuckwalla lizard that enjoys basking in the sun.

From Los Angeles Times

In handing down a harsher sentence, Anderson referred to Moore as a “wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

From Los Angeles Times

I ask my partner as he rounds a corner with sheep grazing on one side and a cascading waterfall on the other.

From Salon

Berhane had veered off the usual mountain footpath because he had spotted his family’s sheep and goats grazing - and had gone over to stop them entering someone else’s plot of land.

From BBC

Related Words

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