Hercynian
(Her*cyn"i*an) a. [L. Hercynia silva, Hercynius saltus, the Hercynian forest; cf. Gr. .] Of or
pertaining to an extensive forest in Germany, of which there are still portions in Swabia and the Hartz
mountains.
Herd
(Herd) a. Haired. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Herd
(Herd) n. [OE. herd, heord, AS. heord; akin to OHG. herta,G. herde, Icel. hjör, Sw. hjord,
Dan. hiord, Goth. haírda; cf. Skr. çardha troop, host.]
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.
Coleridge. Herd's grass (Bot.), one of several species of grass, highly esteemed for hay. See under Grass.
Herd
(Herd), n. [OE. hirde, herde, heorde, AS. hirde, hyrde, heorde; akin to G. hirt, hirte, OHG.
hirti, Icel. hirir, Sw. herde, Dan. hyrde, Goth. haírdeis. See 2d Herd.] One who herds or assembles
domestic animals; a herdsman; — much used in composition; as, a shepherd; a goatherd, and the like.
Chaucer.
Herd
(Herd), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Herded; p. pr. & vb. n. Herding.] [See 2d Herd.]
1. To unite or associate in a herd; to feed or run together, or in company; as, sheep herd on many hills.
2. To associate; to ally one's self with, or place one's self among, a group or company.
I'll herd among his friends, and seem
One of the number.
Addison. 3. To act as a herdsman or a shepherd. [Scot.]
Herd
(Herd), v. t. To form or put into a herd.
Herdbook
(Herd"book`) n. A book containing the list and pedigrees of one or more herds of choice
breeds of cattle; — also called herd record, or herd register.
Herder
(Herd"er) n. A herdsman. [R.]
Herderite
(Her"der*ite) n. [Named after Baron von Herder, who discovered it.] (Min.) A rare fluophosphate
of glucina, in small white crystals.
Herdess
(Herd"ess) n. A shepherdess; a female herder. Sir P. Sidney. Chaucer.
Herdgroom
(Herd"groom`) n. A herdsman. [Obs.]
Herdic
(Her"dic) n. [Named from Peter Herdic, the inventor.] A kind of low-hung cab.
