3. pl. Fig.: The people of God, as being under the government and
protection of Christ, the great Shepherd.
Rocky mountain sheep.(Zoöl.) See Bighorn. -- Maned sheep. (Zoöl.) See
Aoudad. -- Sheep bot (Zoöl.), the larva of the sheep botfly. See
Estrus. -- Sheep dog (Zoöl.), a shepherd dog, or collie. -- Sheep
laurel (Bot.), a small North American shrub (Kalmia angustifolia) with
deep rose-colored flowers in corymbs. -- Sheep pest (Bot.), an
Australian plant (Acæna ovina) related to the burnet. The fruit is
covered with barbed spines, by which it adheres to the wool of sheep.
-- Sheep run, an extensive tract of country where sheep range and
graze. -- Sheep's beard (Bot.), a cichoraceous herb (Urospermum
Dalechampii) of Southern Europe; -- so called from the conspicuous
pappus of the achenes. -- Sheep's bit (Bot.), a European herb (Jasione
montana) having much the appearance of scabious. -- Sheep pox (Med.), a
contagious disease of sheep, characterixed by the development of
vesicles or pocks upon the skin. -- Sheep scabious. (Bot.) Same as
Sheep's bit. -- Sheep shears, shears in which the blades form the two
ends of a steel bow, by the elasticity of which they open as often as
pressed together by the hand in cutting; -- so called because used to
cut off the wool of sheep. -- Sheep sorrel. (Bot.), a prerennial herb
(Rumex Acetosella) growing naturally on poor, dry, gravelly soil. Its
leaves have a pleasant acid taste like sorrel. -- Sheep's-wool (Zoöl.),
the highest grade of Florida commercial sponges (Spongia equina,
variety gossypina). -- Sheep tick (Zoöl.), a wingless parasitic insect
(Melophagus ovinus) belonging to the Diptera. It fixes its proboscis in
the skin of the sheep and sucks the blood, leaving a swelling. Called
also sheep pest, and sheep louse. -- Sheep walk, a pasture for sheep; a
sheep run. -- Wild sheep. (Zoöl.) See Argali, Mouflon, and Oörial.
Sheep"back` (?), n. (Geol.) A rounded knoll of rock resembling the back
of a sheep. -- produced by glacial action. Called also roche moutonnée;
-- usually in the plural.
Sheep"ber`ry (?), n. (Bot.) The edible fruit of a small North American
tree of the genus Viburnum (V. Lentago), having white flowers in flat
cymes; also, the tree itself. Called also nannyberry.
Sheep"bite` (?), v. i. To bite or nibble like a sheep; hence, to
practice petty thefts. [Obs.] Shak.
Sheep"bit`er (?), n. One who practices petty thefts. [Obs.] Shak.
There are political sheepbiters as well as pastoral; betrayers of
public trusts as well as of private.
L'Estrange.
{ Sheep"cot` (?), Sheep"cote` (?), } n. A small inclosure for sheep; a
pen; a fold.
Sheep"-faced` (?), a. Over-bashful; sheepish.
Sheep"fold` (?), n. A fold or pen for sheep; a place where sheep are
collected or confined.