sheepshagger

See also: sheep-shagger and sheep shagger

English

Alternative forms

• sheep-shagger, sheep shagger

Etymology

From sheep +‎ shagger; originally military slang. First used in the 1950s.

Noun

sheepshagger (plural sheepshaggers)

1. (British, slang) A man who engages in sexual intercourse with sheep; usually used as a slur for a rural person seen as unsophisticated.
   • 1958, John Le Carré, The Naive and Sentimental Lover:

     "Landlord, you're a lowlander and a sheep-shagger and you come from Gerrard's Cross. Goodnight."

   • 1958, Mark Bence-Jones, Paradise Escaped, iv. 73:

     I used to know a Rockburn once... He was in the Sheep Shaggers.

   • 1982, Private Eye, 2 July, 11/1:

     She is now back and planning a Victory Parade not to mention her own visit to the newly reconquered territories to receive the homage of the grateful sheepshaggers, all fifty-nine of them.

   • 1992, Ian Pattison, More Rab C. Nesbitt Scripts, section 62:

     Who are you calling a sheepshagger?

   • 2003, Ian Rankin, The Falls:

     ...he'd yelled from his window, giving each sheep-shagger and country bumpkin the finger as he got on the mobile...

2. (British, slang, derogatory) A term of abuse for inhabitants of various countries or regions which have large populations of sheep.
   1. A person from Wales.
      • 2007, Extras (TV series), Christmas Special:

        Shaun: It's so easy to have a go at a bloke who looks like you, you're just easy pickings, and it's... [trails off and shakes his head]
        Darren: "Sheepshagger" they've said sometimes as well.
        Shaun: I thought "sheepshagger" was Welsh.
        Darren: No, it can be Bristol as well.

   2. A person from New Zealand.
   3. A supporter of Derby County F.C., a reference to the club nickname of The Rams.

See also

• goatfucker
• woolly back