n. [ OE. schepherde, schephirde, AS. sceáphyrde; sceáp sheep + hyrde, hirde, heorde, a herd, a guardian. See Sheep, and Herd. ] 1. A man employed in tending, feeding, and guarding sheep, esp. a flock grazing at large. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The pastor of a church; one with the religious guidance of others. [ 1913 Webster ]

Shepherd bird (Zool.), the crested screamer. See Screamer. --
Shepherd dog (Zool.), a breed of dogs used largely for the herding and care of sheep. There are several kinds, as the collie, or Scotch shepherd dog, and the English shepherd dog. Called also shepherd's dog. --
Shepherd dog, a name of Pan. Keats. --
Shepherd kings, the chiefs of a nomadic people who invaded Egypt from the East in the traditional period, and conquered it, at least in part. They were expelled after about five hundred years, and attempts have been made to connect their expulsion with narrative in the book of Exodus. --
Shepherd's club (Bot.), the common mullein. See Mullein. --
Shepherd's crook, a long staff having the end curved so as to form a large hook, -- used by shepherds. --
Shepherd's needle (Bot.), the lady's comb. --
Shepherd's plaid, a kind of woolen cloth of a checkered black and white pattern. --
Shephered spider (Zool.), a daddy longlegs, or harvestman. --
Shepherd's pouch, or
Shepherd's purse (Bot.), an annual cruciferous plant (Capsella Bursapastoris) bearing small white flowers and pouchlike pods. See Illust. of Silicle. --
Shepherd's rod, or
Shepherd's staff (Bot.), the small teasel. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Shepherded; p. pr. & vb. n. Shepherding. ] To tend as a shepherd; to guard, herd, lead, or drive, as a shepherd. [ Poetic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

White, fleecy clouds . . . [ 1913 Webster ]

Shepherded by the slow, unwilling wind. Shelley. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A woman who tends sheep; hence, a rural lass. [ 1913 Webster ]

She put herself into the garb of a shepherdess. Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Shepherdias [ NL. So called from John Shepherd, an English botanist. ] (Bot.) A genus of shrubs having silvery scurfy leaves, and belonging to the same family as Elaeagnus; also, any plant of this genus. See Buffalo berry, under Buffalo. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Resembling a shepherd; suiting a shepherd; pastoral. Sir T. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Pastoral life or occupation. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A little shepherd. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Resembling, or becoming to, a shepherd; pastoral; rustic. [ R. ] Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]