ˈsheep-wash, n.
1. The washing of sheep before shearing; the place where sheep are washed.
| 749 in Birch Cartul. Sax. (1885) I. 257 Of þam stane on sceapwæscan. 764–75 Ibid. 291 Juxta fluvium qui dicitur Stur ad vadum nomine Scepesuuasce. 1640 R. Brathwait Two Lancs. Lovers 19 (Halliw.) A seed-cake at fastens; and a lusty cheese-cake at our sheepe-wash. 1877 N.W. Linc. Gloss., Sheep-wesh, a place in a stream or pond where sheep are washed. 1890 Melbourne Argus 9 Aug. 4/2 They would start shearing in three weeks. He would..get me booked for a good billet in the sheepwash. 1898 Trask Norton-sub-Hamdon 189 The sheepwash was for the use of all who kept sheep. |
2. A preparation used in washing sheep, sheep-dip.
| 1858 Simmonds Dict. Trade, Sheep-wash,..a mixture of arsenious acid and soft soap in water, in which sheep are dipped. 1882 D. Wood Sheep-dipping (1885) 16 It has..been customary to employ tobacco-water as a sheep-wash. |
Hence
ˈsheepwash v.,
ˈsheepwasher,
ˈsheepwashing vbl. n. (also
attrib.).
| 1891 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Sydney-side Saxon x, He can't dig or *sheep-wash or plough there. |
| 1890 ― Col. Reformer (1891) 122 Men..were employed as *sheepwashers. |
| 1826 J. Wilson Noct. Ambr. Wks. 1855 I. 174 The murmurs o' the *sheepwashing Yarrow. 1866 Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc. Ser. ii. II. 371 A sheep-washing day on the Wye. 1899 Allbutt's Syst. Med. VIII. 929 Workmen exposed to the use of arsenical pigments..as in sheep-washing. |