sheep

Where does the word "sheep" come from? It comes from Proto-Germanic skēpą, passing through Old English before entering English (1500s).

Sheep’s story begins in Proto-Germanic: skēpą meant “sheep.” Of unknown origin; German 'Schaf' is a cousin. By 700s-1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as scēap. The plural was already the same as the singular. It reached English by 1500s as sheep. The meat is 'mutton', from French: the same split as 'cow' and 'beef'. Today, sheep means a domesticated animal kept for its wool and meat.

1. Stage 1 · Proto-Germanic · ancient skēpą "sheep", of unknown origin; German 'Schaf' is a cousin.
2. Stage 2 · Old English · 700s-1000s scēap "sheep", the plural was already the same as the singular.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s sheep "sheep", the meat is 'mutton', from French: the same split as 'cow' and 'beef'.