| 释义 |
ˈsheep-ˌbiter
[Cf. WFris. skieppebiter in sense 1.]
1. A dog that bites or worries sheep. (Also attrib.) ? Obs.
1548Patten Exped. Scot. M viij b, Lyke shepe byter curres to snach vp and it wear but a sory lambe for their prey. 1575tr. Marlorat's Apoc. 25 Not shepherds, but sheepe⁓byters & woolues which spare not the Lords flocke. 1602Breton Mother's Blessing (Grosart) 9/2 No slouen, sluggard, nor sheep-biter dogge. 1664Homer A la Mode 39 Their eares like sheep-biters they hang'd. 1831Gen. P. Thompson Exerc. (1842) I. 418 The public..are running in upon them as at the last hour of a parish sheep-biter.
†2. fig.
a. ? A malicious or censorious fellow.
b. A shifty, sneaking, or thievish fellow. (Cf. sheep-biting ppl. a. below.) Obs.
1589[? Nashe] Almond for Parrat 17 b, What say you to that zealous sheepebyter of your owne edition in Cambridge. 1601Shakes. Twel. N. ii. v. 6 Wouldst thou not be glad to haue the niggardly Rascally sheepe-biter, come by some notable shame? 1656Heylin Surv. France 40, I was fain sometimes to put on a little impudence, that I might avoid the suspicion of a gelding or a sheep-biter. 1692R. L'Estrange Fables cccxxx. 288 There are Political Sheep⁓biters as well as Pastoral; Betrayers of Publique Trusts, as well as of Private. a1700B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, Sheep⁓biter, a poor, sorry, sneaking, ill-lookt Fellow. 1778Sheridan Camp i. i, I'll throttle you, you sheep-biter.
†3. A great mutton-eater. Obs.
1599Nashe Lenten Stuffe 37 Then the sly sheepe-biter issued into the midst. 1640Wandering Jew 38 The Character of the Glutton..a tormenter of Poultry,..a terrible Sheep-biter; a horrible Mutton-monger.
†4. One who runs after ‘mutton’; a woman-hunter, whoremonger. Obs.
1611Chapman May Day iii. i, I wish all such old sheepe⁓biters might alwaies dippe their fingers in such sauce to their mutton. 1630R. Johnson's Kingd. & Commw. 56 You shall see an old sheep-biter..with a slavering lip, a bleare-eye.., courting of a comely Lady. 1719D'Urfey Pills II. 345 You that are plying for Sheepbiters here, And hope to sell your Mutton Loyns so dear.
So ˈsheep-ˌbiting vbl. n. (rare); † ppl. a., given to biting or worrying sheep; fig. thieving, sneaking (in Scott an echo of Shakes.).
1603Shakes. Meas. for M. v. i. 359 Show your sheepe⁓biting face, and be hang'd an houre. 1620Middleton Chaste Maid ii. ii. (1630) 22 Sheepe-biting Mungrels. 1623Fletcher Rule a Wife v. iv, How like a sheep-biting Rogue taken i'th' manner, And ready for the halter dost thou look now! 1817J. Mayer Sportsman's Direct. (ed. 2) 209 To cure a Dog of Sheep-biting. 1821Scott Kenilw. xxix, That pitiful sheep-biting visage of thine. |