Search for crossword answers and clues
Disgraceful family member
Answer for the clue "Disgraceful family member ", 11 letters:
black sheep
Word definitions for black sheep in dictionaries
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
Word definitions in Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
by 1822 in figurative sense of "member of some group guilty of offensive conduct and unlike the other members," supposedly because a real black sheep had wool that could not be dyed and was thus worth less. But one black sheep in a flock was considered ...
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Word definitions in The Collaborative International Dictionary
Black \Black\ (bl[a^]k), a. [OE. blak, AS. bl[ae]c; akin to Icel. blakkr dark, swarthy, Sw. bl["a]ck ink, Dan. bl[ae]k, OHG. blach, LG. & D. blaken to burn with a black smoke. Not akin to AS. bl[=a]c, E. bleak pallid. [root]98.] Destitute of light, or incapable ...
Wikipedia
Word definitions in Wikipedia
Black Sheep is a Regency romance novel by Georgette Heyer which was first published in 1966. The story is set in 1816/1817.
WordNet
Word definitions in WordNet
n. a reckless and unprincipled reprobate [syn: scapegrace ] sheep with a black coat
Wiktionary
Word definitions in Wiktionary
n. 1 (&lit black sheep English) 2 (context idiomatic English) a nonconformist; an unusual or unconventional person 3 (context idiomatic English) a disliked person; one who is disfavored
Usage examples of black sheep.
I vaguely knew that he was the black sheep younger son of a titled Irish family, and that he had walked many strange ways.
I said nothing against the buccaneer, whom I knew to be the disinherited black sheep of a powerful Irish family, but I experienced a strange sensation of pleasure to learn from her lips just what their relationship was to each other.
I do not wish to offend you, but I fancy he is more the black sheep of your family than you are!
He was a trick rider in the Wild West Show, and was considered a black sheep by the stuffier members of the clan in his day.