dictionary help1. 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.
<botany>" (Coleridge) Herd's 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.
(01 Mar 1998)
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