sheep-shearingn.
1. † b. figurative. Fleecing. Obsolete.
a. The act or practice of shearing sheep.
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the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > sheep-farming > sheep-shearing > [noun]
shearing?1523
sheep-shearing1607
sheep-shear1616
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 623 In auncient times there were great feastes at their sheepe-shearings.
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues at Brebis Sheepe-sheering is not euer in season.
a1722 E. Lisle Observ. Husbandry (1757) 319 Two or three days before my sheep~shearing.
1805 J. Lawrence Gen. Treat. Cattle 367 Sheep shearing is performed twice a year in some..countries.
1829 Chapters Physical Sci. 56 The shears used in sheep~shearing.
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1632 P. Massinger Maid of Honour i. i. sig. B1v His sheepe sheering, nay shaving to the quicke.
2. The season for shearing sheep.
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the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > sheep-farming > sheep-shearing > [noun] > season for shearing sheep
sheep-shearing1688
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory 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.
c1771 S. Foote Maid of Bath iii. 50 Poul. That must be a good forty years since. Flint. Come sheep-shearing next.
1837 W. Youatt Sheep ii. 34 The sheep-shearing was the season of peculiar rejoicing.
3. The feast held at the shearing-season.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > meal > feast > [noun] > feasts for other occasions
plough feast1355
king ale1472
natal1484
primifeste1551
mayor's feast1578
sheep-shearing feast1586
sheep-shearing1611
christening1617
bean-feast1805
updrinking1819
Thanksgiving dinner1830
bump supper1845
potlatch1858
stag1904
rehearsal dinner1906
1611 in J. Harland House & Farm Accts. Shuttleworths (1856) I. 194 Twoe hinder quarters of veale, for provicion against sheepe shearinge.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Winter's Tale (1623) iv. iii. 116 I must go buy Spices for our sheepe-shearing . View more context for this quotation
1655 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. I. iii. 89 I took a lute and bid him Sing the Sheep-shearing of Simonides.
1797 A. Young in Autobiogr. (1898) 276 I went to the Duke of Bedford's sheep-shearing.
1837 Penny Cycl. VIII. 223/2 Cumbrian peasantry have various festive meetings, called the kirn, or harvest-home, sheep~shearing, merry nights, and upshots.
1846 J. Baxter 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. attributive esp. in sheep-shearing feast.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > meal > feast > [noun] > feasts for other occasions
plough feast1355
king ale1472
natal1484
primifeste1551
mayor's feast1578
sheep-shearing feast1586
sheep-shearing1611
christening1617
bean-feast1805
updrinking1819
Thanksgiving dinner1830
bump supper1845
potlatch1858
stag1904
rehearsal dinner1906
1586 J. Ferne Blazon of Gentrie i. 71 If you come, to our sheep~shering veast..yous taste of our cheese cake.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Winter's Tale (1623) iv. iii. 36.
1763 Museum Rusticum (1764) 1 12 It being merry-making time,..like vintage, or sheep-shearing time.
1847 T. Miller Pict. Country Life 58 An old practical farmer, one who..has his sheep-shearing feast and harvest-home.
1886 C. Scott Pract. Sheep-farming 141 A steam sheep~shearing machine.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
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