ˈsheep-shears, n. pl.
[f. sheep + shear1. Cf. NFris. sjappsjur, MDu. schaepschare (Du. schaapschaar), G. schafschere.]
Shears for shearing sheep.
| 1688 Holme Armoury ii. ix. 176/2 Sheep shares, or Wooll shares. 1757 Phil. Trans. I. 108 It [lightning] melted an old copper skillet, a pair of sheepshears. 1842 S. C. Hall Ireland II. 397 Small shears, like the modern sheep-shears. 1875 Knight Dict. Mech. III. 2140 A sheep-shears with a six-fingered comb and a revolving bladed disk. |
| Comb. 1797 J. Robinson's Directory of Sheffield 116 Edge⁓tool and sheep sheer maker. |