Flock

n. [A-S. flocc, flock, company, crowd, troop, Icel. flockr, Sw. flock, Dan. flok, allied to Eng. folk, q. v.; N. H. Ger. flocke, a lock of wool or hair, flake, O. H. Ger. flocco, M. H. Ger. vlocke, D. vlok, from Lat. floccus, a lock or flock of wool. Cf. FLAKE.]

1Sense 1. A company or collection of living creatures; — especially applied to sheep and birds, rarely to persons or (except in the plural) to cattle and other large animals. “A flock of ravenous fowl.” Milton.

2Sense 2. A Christian congregation.

3Sense 3. A lock of wool or hair.

“I prythee, Tom, beat Cut’s saddle, put a few flocks in the point.” Shak.

4Sense 4. Finely powdered wool or cloth, used when colored for making flock-paper.

5Sense 5. (pl.) The refuse of cotton and wool, or the shearing of woolen goods, as kerseymers, used for stuffing mattresses, furniture, &c. Simmonds.