Difference between revisions of "Bellwether"
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==Origin== | ==Origin== | ||
[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English], leading sheep of a flock, leader, from belle bell + wether; from the [[practice]] of belling the [[leader]] of a flock. | [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English], leading sheep of a flock, leader, from belle bell + wether; from the [[practice]] of belling the [[leader]] of a flock. | ||
| − | + | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13th_century 13th Century] | |
We usually think of sheep more as followers than [[leaders]], but in a flock one sheep must lead the way. Long ago, it was common [[practice]] for [[shepherds]] to hang a bell around the neck of one sheep in their flock, thereby designating it the lead sheep. This [[animal]] was called the bellwether, a [[word]] formed by a combination of the Middle English words belle (meaning "bell") and wether (a noun that refers to a [[male]] sheep that has been [[castrate]]d). It [[eventually]] followed that bellwether would come to refer to someone who takes [[initiative]] or who actively establishes a [[trend]] that is taken up by others. This usage first appeared in [[English]] in the 13th century. | We usually think of sheep more as followers than [[leaders]], but in a flock one sheep must lead the way. Long ago, it was common [[practice]] for [[shepherds]] to hang a bell around the neck of one sheep in their flock, thereby designating it the lead sheep. This [[animal]] was called the bellwether, a [[word]] formed by a combination of the Middle English words belle (meaning "bell") and wether (a noun that refers to a [[male]] sheep that has been [[castrate]]d). It [[eventually]] followed that bellwether would come to refer to someone who takes [[initiative]] or who actively establishes a [[trend]] that is taken up by others. This usage first appeared in [[English]] in the 13th century. | ||
==Definition== | ==Definition== | ||
Revision as of 13:17, 12 April 2018
Origin
Middle English, leading sheep of a flock, leader, from belle bell + wether; from the practice of belling the leader of a flock.
We usually think of sheep more as followers than leaders, but in a flock one sheep must lead the way. Long ago, it was common practice for shepherds to hang a bell around the neck of one sheep in their flock, thereby designating it the lead sheep. This animal was called the bellwether, a word formed by a combination of the Middle English words belle (meaning "bell") and wether (a noun that refers to a male sheep that has been castrated). It eventually followed that bellwether would come to refer to someone who takes initiative or who actively establishes a trend that is taken up by others. This usage first appeared in English in the 13th century.
Definition
- 1: one that takes the lead or initiative : leader; also : an indicator of trends
Description
In politics, the term is more often applied in the passive sense to describe a geographic region where political tendencies match in microcosm those of a wider area, such that the result of an election in the former region might predict the eventual result in the latter. In a Westminster-style election, for example, a constituency, the control of which tends frequently to change, can mirror in its popular vote the result on a national scale.
