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Though such specimens are actually members of the genus *Homo* and the species *domesticus*, this ubiquitous biped is often referred to, figuratively and derogatively, as a ***sheep*** (to the consternation of many even-toed ungulates). Note: political activists, ironically, refer to such as *citizens*. ;-)
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[**The race of man, while sheep in credulity, are wolves for conformity**.](http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/sheep_2.html)–--Carl Clinton Van Doren
[**We need more people speaking out. This country is not overrun with rebels and free thinkers. It's overrun with sheep and conformists**.](http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/sheep_2.html)---Bill Maher
[**What do you get for pretending the danger's not real! Meek and obedient you follow the leader... into the valley of steel**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqlsVZ1zxMk)---Pink Floyd
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>[**sheep**](http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sheep) *noun, often attributive*:
>1: any of various hollow-horned typically gregarious ruminant mammals (genus Ovis) related to the goats but stockier and lacking a beard in the male; specifically: **one** (*O. aries*) **long domesticated especially for its flesh** and wool**
>2a: **a timid defenseless creature**
>2b: **a timid docile person; especially: one easily influenced or led** (Merriam-Webster *online*)
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**Etymology**
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>[**sheep**](http://etymonline.com/index.php?term=sheep&allowed_in_frame=0) (*noun*) ruminant mammal, Old English *sceap*, *scep*, from West Germanic *skæpan* (cognates: Old Saxon *scap*, Old Frisian *skep*, Middle Low German *schap*, Middle Dutch *scaep*, Dutch *schaap*, Old High German *scaf*, German *Schaf*), of unknown origin. Not found in Scandinavian (Danish has *faar* for "sheep") or Gothic (which uses lamb), and with no known cognates outside Germanic. The more usual Indo-European word for the animal is represented in English by ewe.
>The plural form was leveled with the singular in Old English, but Old Northumbrian had a plural *scipo*. **Used since Old English as a type of timidity** and figuratively of those under the guidance of God. **The meaning "stupid, timid person" is attested from 1540s**. The image of the wolf in sheep's clothing was in Old English (from Matt. vii:15); that of separating the sheep from the goats is from Matt. xxv:33. To count sheep in a bid to induce sleep is recorded from 1854 but seems not to have been commonly written about until 1870s. It might simply be a type of a tedious activity, but an account of shepherd life from Australia from 1849 ["*Sidney's Emigrant's Journal*"] describes the night-shepherd ("hut-keeper") taking a count of the sheep regularly at the end of his shift to protect against being answerable for any animals later lost or killed.
>Sheep's eyes "loving looks" is attested from 1520s (compare West Frisian *skiepseach*, Dutch *schaapsoog*, German *Schafsauge*). A sheep-biter was "a dog that worries sheep" (1540s); "a mutton-monger" (1590s); and "a whore-monger" (1610s, i.e. one who "chases mutton"); hence Shakespeare's *sheep-biting* "thieving, sneaky."
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(etymonline)
[1]: https://i.sstatic.net/egdQ0.png