Definitions for: Herd


[n] a group of cattle or sheep or other domestic mammals all of the same kind that are herded by humans
[n] a group of wild animals of one species that remain together: antelope or elephants or seals or whales or zebra
[n] a crowd especially of ordinary or undistinguished persons or things; "his brilliance raised him above the ruck"; "the children resembled a fairy herd"
[v] move together, like a herd
[v] cause to herd, drive, or crowd together; "We herded the children into a spare classroom"
[v] keep, move, or drive animals; "Who will be herding the cattle when the cowboy dies?"



Webster (1913) Definition: Herd, a.
Haired. [Obs.] --Chaucer.


Herd, n. [OE. herd, heord, AS. heord; akin to OHG.
herta,G. herde, Icel. hj["o]r?, Sw. hjord, Dan. hiord, Goth.
ha['i]rda; cf. Skr. [,c]ardha troop, host.]
1. A number of beasts assembled together; as, a herd of
horses, oxen, cattle, camels, elephants, deer, or swine; a
particular stock or family of cattle.

The lowing herd wind slowly o'er the lea. --Gray.

Note: Herd is distinguished from flock, as being chiefly
applied to the larger animals. A number of cattle, when
driven to market, is called a drove.

2. A crowd of low people; a rabble.

But far more numerous was the herd of such Who think
too little and who talk too much. --Dryden.

You can never interest the common herd in the
abstract question. --Coleridge.

Herd's grass (Bot.), one of several species of grass,
highly esteemed for hay. See under Grass.


Herd, n. [OE. hirde, herde, heorde, AS. hirde, hyrde,
heorde; akin to G. hirt, hirte, OHG. hirti, Icel. hir?ir, Sw.
herde, Dan. hyrde, Goth. ha['i]rdeis. See 2d Herd.]
One who herds or assembles domestic animals; a herdsman; --
much used in composition; as, a shepherd; a goatherd, and the
like. --Chaucer.


Herd, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Herded; p. pr. & vb. n.
Herding.] [See 2d Herd.]
1. To unite or associate in a herd; to feed or run together,
or in company; as, sheep herd on many hills.

2. To associate; to ally one's self with, or place one's self
among, a group or company.

I'll herd among his friends, and seem One of the
number. --Addison.

3. To act as a herdsman or a shepherd. [Scot.]


Herd, v. t.
To form or put into a herd.

Synonyms: ruck

See Also: animal group, Bos taurus, cattle, concourse, cows, crowd, crowd together, displace, keep, kine, move, multitude, overcrowd, oxen, remuda, sheep, throng, wrangle

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