SHEAR

shear. Shear, v.t. sheared, shore, pret. sheared, shorn, pa. to clip, cut, snip, take off, reap, mow

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Shear (?), v. t. [imp. Sheared (?) or Shore (�);p. p. Sheared or Shorn (�); p. pr. & vb. n. Shearing.] [[OE. sheren, scheren, to shear, cut, shave, AS. sceran, scieran, scyran; akin to D. & G. scheren, Icel. skera, Dan. ski�re, Gr. ���. Cf. Jeer, Score, Shard, Share, Sheer to turn aside.]] 1. 1. To cut, clip, or sever anything from with shears or a like instrument; as, to shear sheep; to shear cloth.
☞ It is especially applied to the cutting of wool from sheep or their skins, and the nap from cloth. 2. 2. To separate or sever with shears or a similar instrument; to cut off; to clip (something) from a surface; as, to shear a fleece.
Before the golden tresses . . . were shorn away. Shak. 3. 3. To reap, as grain. Jamieson.
4. 4. Fig.: To deprive of property; to fleece.
5. 5. (Mech.) To produce a change of shape in by a shear. See Shear, n., 4.