'Sheep' has no clear origin outside West Germanic — possibly pre-Indo-European, an ancient mystery word.
A domesticated ruminant mammal (Ovis aries) with a thick woolly coat, kept in flocks for its wool, meat, and milk. Also used figuratively for a person who is meek or easily led.
The word 'sheep' comes from Old English 'scēap,' from Proto-West-Germanic *skāpan, of uncertain ultimate origin. It is attested in the West Germanic languages (German 'Schaf,' Dutch 'schaap') but not in North Germanic or Gothic, suggesting it may have entered Germanic from a non-Indo-European source. The original Indo-European word for sheep, *h₃éwis (giving Latin