ewe

noun \ ˈyü , in rural dials also ˈyō \

Definition of ewe

:the female of the sheep especially when mature; also :the female of various related animals

See ewe defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of ewe from the Web

With hands stretched wide, Meng Baoyindaogetao backs the ewe into a corner, seizes it by the horns and swings his leg over its back.

— charlie campbell / baotou, Time, "China's Greening of the Vast Kubuqi Desert is a Model for Land Restoration Projects Everywhere," 27 July 2017
A Holstein cow can supply nine gallons a day; a good ewe, on a good day, may part with three quarts.

— janet fletcher, New York Times, "Sheep’s Milk Cheeses in U.S. Earn Ribbons but Little Profit," 27 Dec. 2016
She was cloned using somatic cell nuclear transfer from a cell taken from a 6-year-old ewe.

— tony long, WIRED, "Feb. 22, 1997: Hello, Dolly," 22 Feb. 2007

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ewe.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of ewe

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

Other Mammals Terms

dormouse, dugong, gibbon, grimalkin, sable, stoat, ungulate, vole

Ewe

noun \ ˈā-ˌwā , ˈā-ˌvā \

Definition of Ewe

plural Ewe also Ewes

:a people of Ghana and Togo speaking a Kwa language; also :the language itself

Recent Examples of ewe from the Web

With hands stretched wide, Meng Baoyindaogetao backs the ewe into a corner, seizes it by the horns and swings his leg over its back.

— charlie campbell / baotou, Time, "China's Greening of the Vast Kubuqi Desert is a Model for Land Restoration Projects Everywhere," 27 July 2017
A Holstein cow can supply nine gallons a day; a good ewe, on a good day, may part with three quarts.

— janet fletcher, New York Times, "Sheep’s Milk Cheeses in U.S. Earn Ribbons but Little Profit," 27 Dec. 2016
She was cloned using somatic cell nuclear transfer from a cell taken from a 6-year-old ewe.

— tony long, WIRED, "Feb. 22, 1997: Hello, Dolly," 22 Feb. 2007

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'Ewe.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.