noun
sheepskin
noun
1
The hide of a sheep, especially tanned with the wool left on, used for clothing, rugs, or bookbinding.
"She lined her boots with soft sheepskin for the winter."
2
Informal American term for a diploma or degree certificate.
"After four years of study, he finally had his sheepskin framed on the wall."
How to Use Sheepskin
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTanned sheep hide used for warm clothing or rugs; also old-fashioned slang for a university diploma.
Common pairings
sheepskin rug
sheepskin boots
Word Forms
sheepskins plural
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Etymology
From "sheep" plus "skin" — diplomas were historically written on sheepskin parchment, which is where the informal "diploma" sense comes from.