Herd
Herd (hẽrd) , adjective
Haired. [Obsolete] — Chaucer
Herd (hẽrd) , noun
[Old English herd, heord, Anglo-Saxon heord; akin to Old High German herta, German herde, Icelandic hjore, Swedish hjord, Danish hiord, Gothic haírda; compare Sanskrit cardha 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.
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.
You can never interest the common herd in the abstract question.
Collocations (1)
Herd , noun
[Old English hirde, herde, heorde, Anglo-Saxon hirde, hyrde, heorde; akin to German hirt, hirte, Old High German hirti, Icelandic hir{not transcribed}ir, Swedish herde, Danish hyrde, Gothic haírdeis. 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 , intransitive verb
[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.
3.
To act as a herdsman or a shepherd. [Scottish]
Herd , transitive verb
To form or put into a herd.