| 释义 |
ˈsheep-ˌshearing, vbl. n.
1. The act or practice of shearing sheep.
1607Topsell Four-f. Beasts 623 In auncient times there were great feastes at their sheepe-shearings. 1611Cotgr. s.v. Brebis, Sheepe-sheering is not euer in season. a1722Lisle Husb. (1757) 319 Two or three days before my sheep⁓shearing. 1809J. Lawrence Treat. Cattle 312 Sheep shearing is performed twice a year in some..countries. 1829Chapters Phys. Sci. 56 The shears used in sheep⁓shearing.
†b. fig. Fleecing. Obs.
1632Massinger Maid of Hon. i. i, His sheepe sheering, nay shaving to the quicke.
2. The season for shearing sheep.
1688Holme Armoury ii. ix. 176/2 Sheep shearing, is that time wherein the Wooll is cut off them, which..was ever accounted days of Mirth and Feasting. 1771Foote Maid of B. iii. Wks. 1799 II. 230 Poul. That must be a good forty years since. Flint. Come sheep-shearing next. 1837Youatt Sheep ii. 34 The sheep-shearing was the season of peculiar rejoicing.
3. The feast held at the shearing-season.
1611Shakes. Wint. T. iv. iii. 125, I must go buy Spices for our sheepe-shearing. 1611Shuttleworths' Acc. (Chetham Soc.) 194 Twoe hinder quarters of veale, for provicion against sheepe shearinge. 1655Stanley Hist. Philos. iii. (1687) 108/1, I took a Lute and bid him Sing the Ship⁓shearing of Simonides. 1797A. Young in Autobiogr. (1898) 276, I went to the Duke of Bedford's sheep-shearing. 1837Penny Cycl. VIII. 223/2 Cumbrian peasantry have various festive meetings, called the kirn, or harvest-home, sheep⁓shearing, merry nights, and upshots. 1846Baxter Libr. Pract. Agric. (ed. 4) II. p. xxvii, The sheep-shearing of Woburn or Holkham, in the last century, where nobles, gentlemen, and labourers met together.
4. attrib. esp. in sheep-shearing feast.
1586J. Ferne Blazon Gentrie i. 71 If you come, to our sheep⁓shering veast..yous taste of our cheese cake. 1611Shakes. Wint. T. iv. iii. 39. 1763 Museum Rust. I. 12 It being merry-making time,..like vintage, or sheep-shearing time. 1847T. Miller Pict. Country Life 58 An old practical farmer, one who..has his sheep-shearing feast and harvest-home. 1886C. Scott Sheep-farming 141 A steam sheep⁓shearing machine. |