wether

Everyday

A wether is a male sheep (or goat) that has been castrated, so it cannot become a father; farmers keep wethers for wool or meat. tree →

In the lessons

In farming lessons and old country stories, «wether» is one of the words for sheep: ewe (female), ram (male), lamb (young), wether (castrated male). The word «bellwether» comes from a wether wearing a bell that led the flock; today a «bellwether» is something that shows which way things are going. Phrases: «a flock of wethers», «bellwether».

Examples

• The farmer kept the wethers for their wool. tree →
• A ewe is a female sheep, a ram is a male, and a wether is a castrated male. tree →
• The old shepherd hung a bell on the leading wether. tree →
• Wethers are usually calmer than rams. tree →
• The wethers grazed on the hillside. tree →
• This town is a bellwether: whoever wins here often wins the election. tree →

Note

Countable. Say «WETH-er», with the soft «th» as in «the». Homophone trap: «wether» (sheep), «weather» (rain, sun), «whether» (if) — all sound the same. A rare farming word.