noun
sheepskin
Sheepskin (noun) means the hide of a sheep, especially tanned with the wool left on, used for clothing, rugs, or bookbinding. Example: “She lined her boots with soft sheepskin for the winter.”
noun
1
The hide of a sheep, especially tanned with the wool left on, used for clothing, rugs, or bookbinding.
"She lined her boots with soft sheepskin for the winter."
2
Informal American term for a diploma or degree certificate.
"After four years of study, he finally had his sheepskin framed on the wall."
How to use sheepskin
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTanned sheep hide used for warm clothing or rugs; also old-fashioned slang for a university diploma.
Common pairings
sheepskin rug
sheepskin boots
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Word forms
- Plural
- sheepskins
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She lined her boots with soft _____ for the winter.
Etymology
From "sheep" plus "skin" — diplomas were historically written on sheepskin parchment, which is where the informal "diploma" sense comes from.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “sheepskin” mean?
The word “sheepskin” means the hide of a sheep, especially tanned with the wool left on, used for clothing, rugs, or bookbinding. In plain terms, tanned sheep hide used for warm clothing or rugs; also old-fashioned slang for a university diploma.
How do you use “sheepskin” in a sentence?
Here is “sheepskin” used in a sentence: “She lined her boots with soft sheepskin for the winter.”
What part of speech is “sheepskin”?
“Sheepskin” is a noun.
How many meanings does “sheepskin” have?
“Sheepskin” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the hide of a sheep, especially tanned with the wool left on, used for clothing, rugs, or bookbinding.
