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Herd

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. The lowing herd wind slowly o'er the lea. (Gray)

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.

2. A crowd of low people; a rabble. But far more numerous was the herd of such who think too little and who talk too much. (Dryden) You can never interest the common herd in the abstract question.

(Science: botany) (Coleridge) herds grass, one of several species of grass, highly esteemed for hay. See grass.

Origin: oe. Herd, heord, as. Heord; akin to OHG. Herta,G. Herde, Icel. Hjor, Sw. Hjord, dan. Hiord, goth. Hairda; cf. Skr. Cardha troop, host.