herd

n. [ OE. herd, heord, AS. heord; akin to OHG. herta, G. herde, Icel. hjörð, Sw. hjord, Dan. hiord, Goth. haírda; cf. Skr. çardha troop, host. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A number of beasts assembled together; as, a herd of horses, oxen, cattle, camels, elephants, deer, or swine; a particular stock or family of cattle. [ 1913 Webster ]

The lowing herd wind slowly o'er the lea. Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Herd is distinguished from flock, as being chiefly applied to the larger animals. A number of cattle, when driven to market, is called a drove. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A crowd of low people; a rabble. [ 1913 Webster ]

But far more numerous was the herd of such
Who think too little and who talk too much. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

You can never interest the common herd in the abstract question. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

Herd's grass (Bot.), one of several species of grass, highly esteemed for hay. See under Grass. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. hirde, herde, heorde, AS. hirde, hyrde, heorde; akin to G. hirt, hirte, OHG. hirti, Icel. hir&unr_;ir, Sw. herde, Dan. hyrde, Goth. haírdeis. See 2d Herd. ] One who herds or assembles domestic animals; a herdsman; -- much used in composition; as, a shepherd; a goatherd, and the like. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Herded; p. pr. & vb. n. Herding. ] [ See 2d Herd. ] 1. To unite or associate in a herd; to feed or run together, or in company; as, sheep herd on many hills. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To associate; to ally one's self with, or place one's self among, a group or company. [ 1913 Webster ]

I'll herd among his friends, and seem
One of the number. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To act as a herdsman or a shepherd. [ Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To form or put into a herd. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A book containing the list and pedigrees of one or more herds of choice breeds of cattle; -- also called herd record, or herd register. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A herdsman. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Named after Baron von Herder, who discovered it. ] (Min.) A rare fluophosphate of glucina, in small white crystals. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A shepherdess; a female herder. Sir P. Sidney. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]