Lexic.us

Definition of Black sheep

1. Noun. A reckless and unprincipled reprobate.

Definition of Black sheep

1. Noun. (&lit black sheep) ¹

2. Noun. (idiomatic) a nonconformist; an unusual or unconventional person ¹

3. Noun. (idiomatic) a disliked person; one who is disfavored ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Lexicographical Neighbors of Black Sheep

Literary usage of Black sheep

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Works of A. Conan Doyle by Arthur Conan Doyle (1902)
"THE WHITE COMPANY CHAPTER I HOW THE black sheep CAME FORTH FROM THE FOLD THE great bell of Beaulieu was ringing. Far away through the forest might be heard ..."

2. The Journal of Heredity by American Genetic Association (1914)
"... of hybrid at that) and that some black longtail sheep (the blackest of all black sheep on earth) played an important part in the formation of the breed. ..."

3. Daniel Deronda by George Eliot (1876)
"... House....12mo 1 25 WYOMING so YATES'S black sheep ".'."'.'.". 50 Dr. Wainwright's Patient 50 Kissing the Rod 75 Land at Last 50 Wrecked in Port 50 ..."

4. Science by American Association for the Advancement of Science (1905)
"THE phrase ' Every flock has its black sheep ' connotes the sporadic nature of their appearance. They crop out in flocks of breeding ewes and ..."

5. The Writings in Prose and Verse of Rudyard Kipling by RUDYARD. KIPLING (1899)
"BAA BAA, black sheep hatless in the direction of the sound of the sea. Downe Villa was almost the last of a range of newly-built houses running out, ..."

6. Modern American Poetry by Louis Untermeyer (1921)
"black sheep From their folded mates they wander far, Their ways seem harsh and wild; They follow the beck of a baleful star, Their paths are dream-beguiled. ..."

7. Modern American Poetry by Louis Untermeyer (1921)
"Besides his verse, Burton has written several books of essays, a life of Whittier and various volumes on the drama. black sheep From their folded mates they ..."

8. The Works of A. Conan Doyle by Arthur Conan Doyle (1902)
"THE WHITE COMPANY CHAPTER I HOW THE black sheep CAME FORTH FROM THE FOLD THE great bell of Beaulieu was ringing. Far away through the forest might be heard ..."

9. The Journal of Heredity by American Genetic Association (1914)
"... of hybrid at that) and that some black longtail sheep (the blackest of all black sheep on earth) played an important part in the formation of the breed. ..."

10. Daniel Deronda by George Eliot (1876)
"... House....12mo 1 25 WYOMING so YATES'S black sheep ".'."'.'.". 50 Dr. Wainwright's Patient 50 Kissing the Rod 75 Land at Last 50 Wrecked in Port 50 ..."

11. Science by American Association for the Advancement of Science (1905)
"THE phrase ' Every flock has its black sheep ' connotes the sporadic nature of their appearance. They crop out in flocks of breeding ewes and ..."

12. The Writings in Prose and Verse of Rudyard Kipling by RUDYARD. KIPLING (1899)
"BAA BAA, black sheep hatless in the direction of the sound of the sea. Downe Villa was almost the last of a range of newly-built houses running out, ..."

13. Modern American Poetry by Louis Untermeyer (1921)
"black sheep From their folded mates they wander far, Their ways seem harsh and wild; They follow the beck of a baleful star, Their paths are dream-beguiled. ..."

14. Modern American Poetry by Louis Untermeyer (1921)
"Besides his verse, Burton has written several books of essays, a life of Whittier and various volumes on the drama. black sheep From their folded mates they ..."

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