What is "shepherd"

Shepherd \Shep"herd\, n. [OE. schepherde, schephirde, AS. sce['a]phyrde; sce['a]p sheep + hyrde, hirde, heorde, a herd, a guardian. See Sheep, and Herd.]

1. A man employed in tending, feeding, and guarding sheep, esp. a flock grazing at large.

2. The pastor of a church; one with the religious guidance of others.

   Shepherd bird (Zo["o]l.), the crested screamer. See Screamer.

   Shepherd dog (Zo["o]l.), a breed of dogs used largely for the herding and care of sheep. There are several kinds, as the collie, or Scotch shepherd dog, and the English shepherd dog. Called also shepherd's dog.

   Shepherd dog, a name of Pan.
   --Keats.

   Shepherd kings, the chiefs of a nomadic people who invaded Egypt from the East in the traditional period, and conquered it, at least in part. They were expelled after about five hundred years, and attempts have been made to connect their expulsion with narrative in the book of Exodus.

   Shepherd's club (Bot.), the common mullein. See Mullein.

   Shepherd's crook, a long staff having the end curved so as to form a large hook, -- used by shepherds.

   Shepherd's needle (Bot.), the lady's comb.

   Shepherd's plaid, a kind of woolen cloth of a checkered black and white pattern.

   Shephered spider (Zo["o]l.), a daddy longlegs, or harvestman.

   Shepherd's pouch, or Shepherd's purse (Bot.), an annual cruciferous plant ( Capsella Bursapastoris) bearing small white flowers and pouchlike pods. See Illust. of Silicle.

   Shepherd's rod, or Shepherd's staff (Bot.), the small teasel.

Shepherd \Shep"herd\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shepherded; p. pr. & vb. n. Shepherding.] To tend as a shepherd; to guard, herd, lead, or drive, as a shepherd. [Poetic]

White, fleecy clouds . . .

Shepherded by the slow, unwilling wind.
--Shelley.

Old English sceaphierde, from sceap "sheep" (see sheep) + hierde "herder," from heord "a herd" (see herd (n.)). Similar formation in Middle Low German, Middle Dutch schaphirde, Middle High German schafhirte, German dialectal Schafhirt. Shepherds customarily were buried with a tuft of wool in hand, to prove on Doomsday their occupation and be excused for often missing Sunday church. Shepherd's pie is recorded from 1877.

1790, "to herd sheep," from shepherd (n.). The metaphoric sense of "watch over or guide" is first recorded 1820. Related: Shepherded; shepherding.

n. 1 A person who tends sheep, especially a grazing flock. 2 (lb en figurative) Someone who watch over, look after, or guides somebody. 3 (lb en figurative) The pastor of a church; one who guides others in religion. vb. 1 To watch over; to guide 2 (context Australian rules football English) For a player to obstruct an opponent from getting to the ball, either when a teammate has it or is going for it, or if the ball is about to bounce through the goal or out of bounds.

1. n. a clergyman who watches over a group of people

2. a herder of sheep (on an open range); someone who keeps the sheep together in a flock [syn: sheepherder, sheepman]

1. v. watch over like a shepherd, as a teacher of her pupils

2. tend as a shepherd, as of sheep or goats

A shepherd is a person who herds sheep.

Shepherd may also refer to:

Shepherd, Shepard, Sheppard, Shephard and Shepperd are surnames and given names, and alternative spellings and cognates of the English word "Shepherd".

A shepherd or sheepherder is a person who tends, herds, feeds, or guards herds of sheep. Shepherd derives from Old English sceaphierde (sceap 'sheep' + hierde ' herder').

Shepherd (first name and dates unknown) was an English cricketer who played in first-class cricket for Caterham Cricket Club and Surrey during the 1760s. He is recorded in the Caterham v. Hambledon match at Guildford Bason in July 1769.

As Shepherd had established his reputation by 1768, he must have been active for some years previously and his career may have begun in the 1750s. He is not mentioned in 1770s reports and very few players were mentioned by name in contemporary reports before then. There are no other references to Shepherd.