English

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a sheepfold next to Strans Gill (Yorkshire, England).

Etymology

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Inherited from Middle English shepefald, perhaps from Late Old English sċēapa falde (literally sheep's fold), equivalent to sheep +‎ fold.[1]

Pronunciation

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Noun

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sheepfold (plural sheepfolds)

  1. An enclosure for keeping sheep.
    • 1981, William Irwin Thompson, The Time Falling Bodies Take to Light: Mythology, Sexuality and the Origins of Culture, London: Rider/Hutchinson & Co., page 180:
      If civilized life had covered over the ancient verities, Dumuzi learns in his tragic death that the sheepfold is still there to reclaim him.
  2. A flock of sheep.

Translations

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References

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  1. ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “sheepfold”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.