Standard Lemma guide

sheepskin

noun · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • CMU ARPABET: SH IY1 P S K IH2 N Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The skin of a sheep, especially an adult sheep, and especially when used to make parchment or in bookbinding.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Examples

  • Near-synonym: lambskin

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: lambskin

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: skin, hide, leather

2

noun

Meaning 2

The skin of a sheep, especially an adult sheep, and especially when used to make parchment or in bookbinding.

The tanned skin of a sheep with the fleece left on, especially when used for clothing, rugs, etc.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: lambskin

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: skin, hide, leather

3

noun

Meaning 3

A diploma, especially the one representing a university or college degree.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, countable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

a document certifying the successful completion of a course of study

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: diploma

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: certificate, certification, credential, credentials

Narrower terms: Higher National Diploma, HND

5

noun

Meaning 5

skin of a sheep or goat prepared for writing on

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: parchment, lambskin

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: animal skin

Narrower terms: vellum

6

noun

Meaning 6

tanned skin of a sheep with the fleece left on; used for clothing

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: fleece

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: leather

Narrower terms: Golden Fleece

History

Etymology

From sheep + skin.

Across languages

Translations

40 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: حَوَر (ḥawar) — skin of a sheep
  • Bulgarian: овча кожа (ovča koža) — skin of a sheep
  • Catalan: badana — skin of a sheep
  • Chinese Cantonese: 羊皮 (joeng4 pei4) — skin of a sheep
  • Gan Chinese: 羊皮 — skin of a sheep
  • Hakka Chinese: 羊皮 (yòng-phì) — skin of a sheep
  • Chinese Mandarin: 羊皮 (yángpí) — skin of a sheep
  • Min Nan Chinese: 羊皮 (iûn-phôe) — skin of a sheep
  • Esperanto: ŝafofelo — skin of a sheep
  • French: peau de mouton — skin of a sheep
  • Galician: pelica — skin of a sheep
  • German: Schafspelz — skin of a sheep
  • German: Schaffell — skin of a sheep
  • German: Schafsfell — skin of a sheep
  • German: Schafleder — skin of a sheep
  • German: Schafsleder — skin of a sheep
  • Greek: μηλωτή (milotí) — skin of a sheep
  • Ancient Greek: μηλωτή (mēlōtḗ) — skin of a sheep
  • Japanese: 羊の毛皮 (hitsuji no kegawa) — skin of a sheep
  • Latin: mastrūca — skin of a sheep
  • Māori: kiri hipi — skin of a sheep
  • Classical Nahuatl: ichcaēhuatl — skin of a sheep
  • Nogai: яргак (yargak) — skin of a sheep
  • Old Church Slavonic: милотьи (milotĭi) — skin of a sheep
  • Persian: پوستین (pustin) — skin of a sheep
  • Persian: وت (vat) — skin of a sheep
  • Polish: baran — skin of a sheep
  • Polish: baranica — skin of a sheep
  • Portuguese: pele de ovelha — skin of a sheep
  • Russian: овчи́на (ovčína) — skin of a sheep
  • Russian: ове́чья шку́ра (ovéčʹja škúra) — skin of a sheep
  • Southern Altai: кой терези (koy terezi) — skin of a sheep
  • Southern Altai: койдыҥ терези (koydïŋ terezi) — skin of a sheep
  • Southern Altai: јаргак (ǰargak) — skin of a sheep
  • Spanish: carnero — skin of a sheep
  • Spanish: badana — skin of a sheep
  • Spanish: zalea — skin of a sheep
  • Spanish: piel de oveja — skin of a sheep
  • Swedish: fårskinn — skin of a sheep
  • Turkish: koyun derisi — skin of a sheep
Real reading context

sheepskin in complete knowledge articles

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