ewe

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈyü 

in rural dialects also

ˈyō 

: the female of the sheep especially when mature

also : the female of various related animals

Ewe

2 of 2

noun (2)

ˈā-ˌwā 

ˈā-ˌvā

plural Ewe also Ewes

: a people of Ghana and Togo speaking a Kwa language

also : the language itself

Examples of ewe in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In total, three ewes contributed to Dolly’s creation. —Sarah Holzmann, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Feb. 2025

This Al casein, largely present in mass-market dairy products, is toxic to the body, unlike A2 casein, which comes from the milk of goats, ewes and non-hybridized cows. —Marie Bladt, Vogue, 24 Dec. 2024

Part 3 describes a potpourri of modern attempts to produce silk via biotechnology: the genetic reengineering of cows and ewes to produce silk proteins in milk, the creation of hybrid worms that produce mixtures of Bombex and spider silk with favorable properties, and even more adventuresome forays. —William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024

The overall livestock number has also gone down, from 600 cows to about 80 cows and 50 ewes. —Christine Ro, Forbes, 16 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English ēowu; akin to Old High German ouwi ewe, Latin ovis sheep, Greek ois

Noun (2)

Ewe eβe, βe, a self-designation

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1861, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing ewe

• ewe-neck

Rhymes for ewe

• blew
• blue
• boo
• brew
• chew
• chou
• clue
• coo
• coup
• crew
• cue
• dew

Kids Definition

ewe

noun

ˈyü 

: a female of the sheep or a related animal especially when mature

Medical Definition

ewe

noun

ˈyü  ˈyō 

: the female of the sheep especially when mature

also : the female of various related animals