noun

fold

An enclosure in which a flock is kept together.

The shepherd leads the sheep into the fold before dark.

Etymology

The Old English word names an enclosure for livestock. This sense retains the bounded space in which a flock is brought together and kept.

More examples

  • A wooden gate keeps the lambs inside the fold.
  • The farmer repairs the stone walls around the fold.
  • The sheep spend the night in separate folds.

Forms

fold · folds

sheepfold noun — An enclosure where sheep are kept together.

Similar words

pen
A broader term for a small enclosure holding animals.
corral
Usually holds horses or cattle rather than a flock.