Definition

Noun: 1. A British breed of hornless sheep: "Hampshire Down" refers to a specific breed of domestic sheep originating in England. The breed is characterized by its lack of horns (polled) and its dark brown or black face and legs. It is primarily raised for meat production.

Usage Notes

• "Hampshire Down" is a proper noun and is typically capitalized.
• It is used as a singular noun to refer to the breed as a whole (e.g., ) or as a plural noun to refer to multiple animals (e.g., ).
• It can also function as a modifier before another noun (e.g., , ).

Examples

• Noun:
  • The Hampshire Down is valued for its rapid growth and high-quality meat.
  • Several purebred Hampshire Downs were grazing in the field.
  • He purchased a Hampshire Down ewe to improve his flock.

Advanced Usage

• Breed Standard: The term is used in agricultural and livestock contexts to describe animals that conform to the official characteristics of the breed.
  • The judge awarded the prize to the Hampshire Down that best met the breed standard.

Variants and Related Words

• Hampshire (noun): A common shortened, informal name for the breed.
  • He specializes in breeding Hampshires.

Synonyms

• None: As a proper noun referring to a specific breed, it has no true synonyms. Descriptive phrases like "a dark-faced British sheep breed" can convey a similar meaning but are not direct synonyms.

Noun

1. British breed of hornless dark-faced domestic sheep