Herd, n.
Etymology: [OE. herd, heord, AS. heord; akin to OHG. herta,G. herde, Icel. hjör, Sw. hjord, Dan. hiord, Goth. haírda; cf. Skr. çardha troop, host.]
1. A number of beasts assembled together; as, a herd of horses, oxen, cattle, camels, elephants, deer, or swine; a particular stock or family of cattle. The lowing herd wind slowly o'er the lea. Gray.
Note: Herd is distinguished from flock, as being chiefly applied to the larger animals. A number of cattle, when driven to market, is called a drove.
2. A crowd of low people; a rabble. But far more numerous was the herd of such Who think too little and who talk too much. Dryden. You can never interest the common herd in the abstract question. Coleridge. Herd's grass (Bot.), one of several species of grass, highly esteemed for hay. See under Grass.
4 other Webster entries under this spelling
Herd, a.
Haired. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Herd, n.
One who herds or assembles domestic animals; a herdsman; -- much used in composition; as, a shepherd; a goatherd, and the like. Chaucer.
Herd, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Herded; p. pr. & vb. n. Herding.]
1. To unite or associate in a herd; to feed or run together, or in company; as, sheep herd on many hills.
2. To associate; to ally one's self with, or place one's self among, a group or company. I'll herd among his friends, and seem One of the number. Addison.
3. To act as a herdsman or a shepherd. [Scot.]
Herd, v. t.
To form or put into a herd.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for herd; he lists it under flock.
Where he writes about it:
Flock is applied to birds and to some of the smaller animals; herd is confined to the larger animals; we speak of a bevy of quail, a covey of partridges, a flock of blackbirds, or a flock of sheep, a herd of cattle, horses, buffaloes, or elephants, a pack of wolves, a pack of hounds, a swarm of bees. — from flock