from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Herd \Herd\ (h[~e]rd), n. [OE. herd, heord, AS. heord; akin to
OHG. herta, G. herde, Icel. hj["o]r[eth], Sw. hjord, Dan.
hiord, Goth. ha['i]rda; cf. Skr. [,c]ardha troop, host.]
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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.
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The lowing herd wind slowly o'er the lea. --Gray.
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Note: 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.
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2. A crowd of low people; a rabble.
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But far more numerous was the herd of such
Who think too little and who talk too much.
--Dryden.
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You can never interest the common herd in the
abstract question. --Coleridge.
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{Herd's grass} (Bot.), one of several species of grass,
highly esteemed for hay. See under {Grass}.
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