shearling

A farmer shears a shearling in the spring.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A young sheep that has been shorn once: "shearling" refers to a sheep that has been sheared for the first time, typically at around one year of age.
   • The skin or wool from such a sheep: "shearling" can also denote the processed skin or fleece of a shearling, often used for making clothing or rugs.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The farmer sold the shearling at the market. (A young sheep shorn once.)
  • She bought a coat made from shearling for the winter. (The skin or wool of a shearling.)

Advanced Usage

• "Shearling coat": a garment made from the tanned skin of a shearling, typically with the wool left on for warmth.
  • He wore a shearling coat to protect against the cold. (A coat made from shearling wool-skin.)

Variants and Related Words

• Shear (verb): to cut the wool off a sheep.
  • The farmer must shear the sheep every spring. (To remove wool from the sheep.)
• Shorn (adj): having had the wool cut off.
  • The shorn sheep looked smaller without its thick fleece. (The sheep after shearing.)

Synonyms

• Hogget: a young sheep, typically between one and two years old, that has not yet been shorn twice.
• Lamb: a young sheep, usually under one year old, but not necessarily shorn.

Related Idioms

• To shear a sheep: a common agricultural expression meaning to remove wool from a sheep.
  • Shearing a sheep requires skill and patience. (The act of cutting off wool.)