The Collaborative International Dictionary
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.]
A man employed in tending, feeding, and guarding sheep, esp. a flock grazing at large.
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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.
Usage examples of "shepherd's staff".
The shepherd's staff may now be found more in the hands of bishops than of kings.
And now in a sympathetic voice Heidi began to read of the son when he was happily at home, and went out into the fields with his father's flocks, and was dressed in a fine cloak, and stood leaning on his shepherd's staff watching as the sun went down, just as he was to be seen in the picture.
He struck the hard threshold with his shepherd's staff and cried: ".
He picked up his shepherd's staff of oak and went back to the entrance and stood there.