Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SHED, v.t.¹ [pret. and pp. shed. Sax. scedan, to pour out. If s is a prefix, this word coincides in elements with D. gieten, to pour, to cast, G. giessen, Eng. gush. It coincides also in elements with shoot. See the Noun.]

1. To cause or stiffer to flow out; as, to shed tears; to shed blood. The sun sheds light on the earth; the stars shed a more feeble light. This is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. – Matth. xxvi.
2. To let fall; to cast; as the trees shed their leaves in autumn; fowls shed their feathers; and serpents shed their skin.
3. To scatter; to emit; to throw off; to diffuse; as, flowers shed their sweets or fragrance. [The peculiar sense of this word is to cast off something that belongs to the body, either a substance or a quality. Applied to animals and plants, it expresses a periodical casting off of a natural covering.]

SHED, v.t.²

To keep off; to prevent from entering; as a hut, umbrella or garment that sheds rain.

SHED'DER, n.

One that sheds or causes to flow out; as, a shedder of blood.

SHED'DING, n.

1. That which is cast off.
2. The act of casting off or out.

SHED'DING, ppr.

Effusing; causing to flow out; letting fall; casting; throwing off; sending out; diffusing; keeping off.

SHEEN, or SHEEN-Y, a. [Sax. scene, scen, bright. This is the old orthography of Shine, – which see.]

Bright; glittering; showy. Up rose each warrior bold and brave, / Glist'ring in filed steel and armor sheen. – Fairfax. [This word is used only in poetry.]

SHEEN, n.

Brightness; splendor. – Milton.

SHEEP, n. [sing. and plur. Sax. sceap, scep; G. schaf; D. schaap; Bohemian, skope, a wether.]

1. An animal of the genus Ovis, which is among the most useful species that the Creator has bestowed on man, as its wool constitutes a principal material of warm clothing, and its flesh is a great article of food. The sheep is remarkable for its harmless temper and its timidity. The varieties are numerous.
2. In contempt, a silly fellow. – Ainsworth.
3. Figuratively, God's people are called sheep, as being under the government and protection of Christ, the great Shepherd. – John x.

SHEEP-BITE, v.t. [sheep and bite.]

To practice petty thefts. [Not in use.] – Shak.

SHEEP-BIT-ER, n.

One who practices petty thefts. [Not in use.] – Shak.

SHEEP-COT, n. [sheep and cot.]

A small inclosure for sheep; a pen. – Milton.

SHEEP-FOLD, n. [sheep and fold.]

A place where sheep are collected or confined. – Prior.

SHEEP-HOOK, n. [sheep and hook.]

A hook fastened to pole, by which shepherds lay hold on the legs of their sheep. – Bacon. Dryden

SHEEP-ISH, a.

1. Like a sheep; bashful; timorous to excess; over-modest; meanly diffident. – Locke.
2. Pertaining to sheep.

SHEEP-ISH-LY, adv.

Bashfully; with mean timidity or diffidence.

SHEEP-ISH-NESS, n.

Bashfulness; excessive modesty or diffidence; mean timorousness. – Herbert.

SHEEP-MAR-KET, n.

A place where sheep are sold.

SHEEP-MAS-TER, n. [sheep and master.]

A feeder sheep; one that has the care of sheep.

SHEEP'S-EYE, n. [sheep and eye.]

A modest, diffident look, such as lovers cast at their mistresses. – Dryden.

SHEEP-SHANK, n. [sheep and shank.]

Among seamen, a knot in a rope made to shorten it, as on a runner or tie. – Mar. Dict.

SHEEP'S-HEAD, n. [sheep and head.]

A fish caught on the shores of Connecticut and of Long Island, so called from the resemblance of its head to that of a sheep. It is esteemed delicious food.

SHEEP-SHEAR-ER, n. [sheep and shear.]

One that shears or cuts off the wool from sheep. – Gen. xxxviii.

SHEEP-SHEAR-ING, n.

1. The act of shearing sheep.
2. The time of shearing sheep; also, a feast made on that occasion. – South.

SHEEP-SKIN, n.

The skin of a sheep; or leather prepared from it.

SHEEP-STEAL-ER, n. [sheep and steal.]

One that steals sheep.