English edit

Etymology edit

sheep +‎ skin

Noun edit

sheepskin (countable and uncountable, plural sheepskins)

  1. (uncountable) The skin of a sheep, especially when used to make parchment or in bookbinding.
    • 1891, Outing: Sport, Adventure, Travel, Fiction, volume 17, page 137:
      I confess to having felt a prejudice against sleeping in a bag, more especially a sheepskin bag, which would probably have a muttony odor; but it was pronounced to be the warmest and least cumbersome form of bedding we could have []
  2. (US, countable) A diploma.
  3. (countable or uncountable) The tanned skin of a sheep with the fleece left on, especially when used for clothing, rugs, etc.

Hypernyms edit

Coordinate terms edit

Derived terms edit

Translations edit

References edit

  • OED