fli:s n. & v. --n. 1 a
the woolly covering of a
sheep or a
similar animal. b the
amount of
wool sheared
from a sheep at
one time. 2
something resembling a fleece, esp.: a a woolly or
rough head of
hair. b a
soft warm fabric with a pile, used
for lining coats etc. c a
white cloud, a
blanket of
snow, etc. 3
Heraldry a
representation of a fleece suspended from a ring. --v.tr. 1 (often foll. by of) strip (a person) of
money, valuables,
etc.;
swindle. 2
remove the fleece from (a sheep etc.);
shear. 3
cover as if with a fleece (a
sky fleeced with clouds). øfleece-picker
Austral. & NZ =
FLEECY.
Golden Fleece see GOLDEN. øøfleeceable adj. fleeced adj. (also in comb.). [OE fleos, fles f. WG]