chilver

A female lamb.

Noun

  1. A female lamb.
    • The chilver and pur lambs, at 2d. per head for about 40 weeks, will cost - 1812, General View of the Agriculture of the County of Dorset, page 407:
    • For the last few years I have put out my Chilver lambs to keep from the middle of October til Lady-day upon a dry, sheltered, and healthy farm, andd as the result of this plan, I have found that the lambs did quite as...
    • Among the purchasers of the Chilver lambs were Mr. Morrison, a lot at £170; Mr. Taylor, £80; Mr. Buxton, :£33 10s, Mr Holdsworth £34 - 1874, The Farmer's Magazine - Volume 76, page 259:

Origin

From Old English ċilfor (or ċeolfor).

Forms

chilvers