Middle English Dictionary Entry

shẹ̄p n.
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Entry Info

Forms shẹ̄p n. Also shep(p)e, sheip, shiep(e, ship(pe, chep(e, chip(p)e, szep, (SW & K) ssep, (SEM) sep, (chiefly N & early) scep; pl. shep(e, sheppe, sheip(p)e, shiepe, shipe, ship(pe, shape, scip, chep(e, cep, (N) ? skape, (K & SW) ssep(e, (chiefly SEM & early SWM) sep, (chiefly N & early) scep & (early) sceap, scepen, (early SWM) sheapen, sheop, seop, (early infl.) sceape & shepes & (error) shceep; in names only (sg. or pl.) sheth-, shap-, shop-, shup-, shaup-, scip(p)e-, scape-, skip(e)-, skippe-, chip-, chap-, sep(p)e-, sip(e)-, sippe-, sap(e)-, shib-, skib(e)-, shi(f)-, scif-, sib-, sab-, sef-, si(f)-, she-.
Etymology OE scēap, scǣp, scēp, scīep, scȳp, (Nhb.) scīp, pl. scāp.

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1.
(a) A ruminant of the genus Ovis, a domestic sheep; (b) a male sheep, a ram; also, Aries, a sign of the zodiac; ~ wether, wether ~; (c) a female sheep, a ewe; moder ~.
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2.
(a) In genitive phrases referring to parts of a sheep, products from a sheep, etc.: shepes hed (guttes, leg, livere, etc.); shepes fel (fles, pellet); shepes lether (milk, taloue, etc.); shepes dong (tirdels); shepes skin, a sheepskin; also, leather made from the skin of a sheep; also, a piece of parchment with writing on it; (b) in other genitive phrases: shepes crok, a crook used in tending sheep; shepes herde, a shepherd; shepes lous, an insect that infests sheep; shepes name; shepes salve, ?an ointment made of sheep tallow; shepes scabbe, a skin disease affecting sheep; shepes silver (tak), a pasture rent for sheep; shepes strenges, strings of a musical instrument made of sheep's intestines; (c) bok of ~, St. Augustine's Sermo xlvii, De Ovibus; criing of a ~, a sheep's cry; -- glossing L balans; flok of ~; fold of ~, a sheepfold.
Show 44 Quotations
3.
In cpds. & combs.: (a) ~ fel, a sheepskin or fleece; ~ lether; ~ lous (tik); ~ milk; ~ skin; ~ taloue; ~ thigh; ~ tirdel; yer ~, a yearling lamb; (b) ~ belle; ~ clipping; ~ corn, fodder for sheep; ~ cote (hous), a shed for sheep; ~ crok (hok), a shepherd's crook; ~ feire, a gathering for buying and selling sheep; ~ fold, an enclosure for sheep; ~ gavel (silver), a pasture rent for sheep; ~ hacche (rak), a rack for sheep fodder; ~ kepinge; ~ lond; ~ reve, an overseer of sheep, a principal shepherd; ~ wash [OE scēap-wæsce], a place for washing sheep; -- used fig. in phrase: gon to ~ wash, to be slain.
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4.
Fig. (a) A member of a religious group, usu. Christian; a follower of Jesus; (b) a parishioner; a subordinate member of a religious order; scabbede (shabbede) ~, a sinner, sinful parishioner; (c) one of the elect on Judgment Day; also, a virtuous person; also, a meek, long-suffering person [quot.: c1395].
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5.
?A shepherd; ?a sheep, used fig.: one who wanders or goes astray.
Show 1 Quotation
6.
(a) In proverbs; (b) in conventional comparisons; (c) in a parable; (d) in phrases involving deceptive clothing; (e) as an emblem of meekness or harmlessness.
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7.
(a) In surnames; (b) in place names [see Smith PNElem.2.100.
Show 66 Quotations

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: In shep n. 1.(a), the Hrl.H.Apul. quots. belong to shape 6.(a); they will be the only quots. there with the forms: (early infl) sceapa(n.--per MP
Note: Sense 3.(b) ~ wash: note phrase gon to ~ wash. In the actual quot., c1450 Lond. Chron. Cleo (Cleo C.4), the verb is not gon, but went, that is wenden v.]. So the aforementioned phrase ought to be corrected to wenden to ~ wash.--per MJW

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 2.(b)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. sheep's louse.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 3.(a)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. sheep louse.

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