Fleece (?), n. [OE. flees, AS. fleos; akin to D. flies, vlies .]

1.

The entire coat of wool that covers a sheep or other similar animal; also, the quantity shorn from a sheep, or animal, at one time.

Who shore me Like a tame wether, all my precious fleece. Milton.

2.

Any soft woolly covering resembling a fleece.

3. Manuf.

The fine web of cotton or wool removed by the doffing knife from the cylinder of a carding machine.

Fleece wool, wool shorn from the sheep. -- Golden fleece. See under Golden.

 

© Webster 1913.


Fleece, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fleeced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Fleecing.]

1.

To deprive of a fleece, or natural covering of wool.

2.

To strip of money or other property unjustly, especially by trickery or frand; to bring to straits by oppressions and exactions.

Whilst pope and prince shared the wool betwixt them, the people were finely fleeced. Fuller.

3.

To spread over as with wool.

[R.]

Thomson.

 

© Webster 1913.

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