shepherdess

Everyday

1. A woman or girl who looks after sheep. tree →
2. (stories, art) A figure of a pretty shepherdess in old paintings, poems and china ornaments. tree →

In the lessons

In stories, nursery rhymes and old art, shepherdesses tend sheep in the fields, like Little Bo-Peep who lost her sheep. Today the word "shepherd" is often used for both men and women. In the Bible, Rachel looked after her father's sheep. Phrases: a china shepherdess, little shepherdess.

Examples

• Little Bo-Peep was a shepherdess who lost her sheep. tree →
• The shepherdess led the flock up the hill. tree →
• Gran has a china shepherdess on her shelf. tree →
• In the Bible, Rachel was a shepherdess. tree →
• The shepherdess whistled to her dog. tree →
• The story is about a shepherdess and a chimney sweep. tree →
• "This is terrible," said the little shepherdess. tree →

Note

Plural: shepherdesses. Today many people say "shepherd" for any person who looks after sheep. Spelling: shep-herd-ess, silent h in "shepherd" (said "SHEP-erd").