Fleece

//fliːs// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Hair or wool of a sheep or similar animal uncountable

    "The Sun ſhall change, the Moon to change ſhall ceaſe; / The Gaits to clim-----the Sheep to yield the Fleece, / Ere ought by me be either ſaid or done, / Shall do thee Wrang, I ſwear by all aboon."

  2. 2
    outer coat of especially sheep and yaks wordnet
  3. 3
    Insulating skin with the wool attached uncountable
  4. 4
    a soft bulky fabric with deep pile; used chiefly for clothing wordnet
  5. 5
    A textile similar to velvet, but with a longer pile that gives it a softness and a higher sheen. countable
Show 6 more definitions
  1. 6
    tanned skin of a sheep with the fleece left on; used for clothing wordnet
  2. 7
    An insulating wooly jacket countable
  3. 8
    the wool of a sheep or similar animal wordnet
  4. 9
    Mat or felts composed of fibers, sometimes used as a membrane backer. countable, uncountable
  5. 10
    Any soft woolly covering resembling a fleece. countable, uncountable

    "Alas! in the morning the eaglet was gone; and, full of sorrow, they stooped to pick up the shining fleece with which the floor was spread. At their touch, every feather became a golden coin."

  6. 11
    The fine web of cotton or wool removed by the doffing knife from the cylinder of a carding machine. countable, uncountable
Verb
  1. 1
    To con or trick (someone) out of money. transitive

    "There is a difference between bookmaking, an entirely respectable profession, and fleecing people, which isn’t."

  2. 2
    shear the wool from wordnet
  3. 3
    To cut off the fleece from (a sheep or other animal). transitive

    "During spring shearing we have to fleece all the sheep in just a few days."

  4. 4
    rip off; ask an unreasonable price wordnet
  5. 5
    To cover with, or as if with, wool. transitive

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English flees, flese, flus, fleos, from Old English flēos, flīes, flȳs, from Proto-West Germanic *fleus.

Etymology 2

From Middle English flees, flese, flus, fleos, from Old English flēos, flīes, flȳs, from Proto-West Germanic *fleus.

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