ewe

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈyü 

in rural dialects also

ˈyō 

: the female of the sheep especially when mature

also : the female of various related animals

Ewe

2 of 2

noun (2)

ˈā-ˌwā 

ˈā-ˌvā

plural Ewe also Ewes

: a people of Ghana and Togo speaking a Kwa language

also : the language itself

Examples of ewe in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The overall livestock number has also gone down, from 600 cows to about 80 cows and 50 ewes. —Christine Ro, Forbes, 16 Sep. 2024

The Transhumance, which takes place each year on Pentecost Monday, sees thousands of ewes paraded through the town centre. —Sarah James, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Aug. 2024

Another slightly newer cuneiform tablet in the Met’s collection, dating to about 2039 B.C.E., documents the selling of some sheep, ewes and goats. —Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Aug. 2024

At the desert lab that day, the wildlife team sampled five bighorn rams and seven ewes. —Jon Cohen, science.org, 29 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English ēowu; akin to Old High German ouwi ewe, Latin ovis sheep, Greek ois

Noun (2)

Ewe eβe, βe, a self-designation

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1861, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing ewe

• ewe-neck

Kids Definition

ewe

noun

ˈyü 

: a female of the sheep or a related animal especially when mature

Medical Definition

ewe

noun

ˈyü  ˈyō 

: the female of the sheep especially when mature

also : the female of various related animals