Shepherd

Pronunciation

• US IPA: /ˈʃɛp.É™rd/

Origin

From Old English sceaphierde, a compound of scēap ("sheep") and hierde ("herdsman").

Full definition of shepherd

Noun

1. A person who tends sheep, especially a grazing flock.
2. (figurative) Someone who watches over, looks after, or guides somebody.
• 1769, Oxford Standard text, , , 23, i,The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
3. (figurative) The pastor of a church; one who guides others in religion.

Synonyms

• sheepherder

Coordinate terms

• shepherdess

Derived terms

• archshepherd, Archshepherd (Koine Greek: ἀρχιποιμήν (arkhipoimḗn), 1 Peter 5:4)
• chief shepherd, Chief Shepherd
• shepherd's crook
• shepherd's pie
• undershepherd

Related terms

• bearherd
• cowherd
• goatherd
• gooseherd
• herd
• herder
• herding dog
• herd instinct
• herd's grass
• herdsman
• Herdsman (the constellation Boötes)
• herdswoman
• neatherd
• hogherd
• horseherd
• oxherd
• swanherd
• swineherd

Verb

1. To watch over; to guide
2. (Australian rules football) For a player to obstruct an opponent from getting to the ball, either when a teammate has it or is going for it, or if the ball is about to bounce through the goal or out of bounds.