# Schaf
## Alemannic German
### Etymology

Probably borrowed from German Schaf, or else influenced by it. Doublet of Schooff, which was inherited.

### Noun

Schaf n
* (Uri, rare) sheep

### References

* Abegg, Emil, (1911) Die Mundart von Urseren (Beiträge zur Schweizerdeutschen Grammatik. IV.) [The Dialect of Urseren], Frauenfeld, Switzerland: Huber & Co., page 73.

## Central Franconian
### Alternative forms

* Schaaf (Colognian Academy spelling)

### Etymology

From Middle High German schaf, from Proto-Germanic *skapą.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ʃaːf/
* Homophone: Schav (may be distinguished by tone)

### Noun

Schaf m or n (plural Schäf or Schafer, diminutive Schäfje or Schäfche)
* (Ripuarian, western Moselle Franconian) cupboard
    Synonym: (eastern Moselle Franconian) Schank

#### Usage notes

* Masculine in Moselle Franconian. Traditionally neuter in Ripuarian, but now sometimes masculine after Standard German Schrank m. (This latter word may also be heard nowadays, but is not native.)

#### Derived terms

* Köcheschaf
* Kleederschaf

### See also

* Schof

## German
### Etymology

From Middle High German schâf, from Old High German scāf.
Akin to Bavarian Schåf, Luxembourgish Schof, Hunsrik Schof, German Low German Schaap, Dutch schaap, Afrikaans skaap, English sheep, and West Frisian skiep. See sheep for more.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ʃaːf/
* Rhymes: -aːf
* Audio (Germany):(file)
* Homophone: scharf (some speakers)

### Noun

Schaf n (strong, genitive Schafes or Schafs, plural Schafe, diminutive Schäfchen n or Schäflein n)
* sheep
    Schafwolle ― sheep's wool
    ein Schaf scheren ― to shear a sheep

#### Usage notes

* The singular means especially, though not exclusively, a female sheep (modern standard German having no generally applicable word for ewe).

#### Declension

$^1$Now rare, see notes.

#### Hypernyms

* Tier n
* Säugetier n
* Nutztier n

#### Derived terms

* Hausschaf n
* Mutterschaf n
* Schafaufzucht f
* Schafbock m
* Schäfer m
* Schäferhund m
* Schaffell n
* Schaffleisch n
* Schafgarbe f
* Schafherde f
* Schafhirte m
* Schafkäse m
* Schafleder m
* Schäflein n
* Schafmilch f
* Schafschur f
* Schafskleid n
* Schafskopf m
* Schafweide f
* Schafwolle f
* Schafzucht f
* schwarzes Schaf n

#### Related terms

* (female sheep): Mutterschaf n (chiefly with young); Zibbe f (regional); Aue f (obsolete)
* (male sheep): Bock m, Schafbock m, Widder m; Hammel m (castrated)
* (young sheep): Lamm n

#### Descendants

* → Alemannic German: Schaf

### Further reading

* “Schaf” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
* “Schaf” in Duden online
* “Schaf” in Deutsches Wörterbuch von Jacob und Wilhelm Grimm, 16 vols., Leipzig 1854–1961.
* Friedrich Kluge (1883) “Schaf”, in John Francis Davis, transl., Etymological Dictionary of the German Language, published 1891
* Schaf on the German Wikipedia.Wikipedia $^{de}$

## Luxembourgish
### Etymology

From Middle High German schaf, from Old High German scaf, from Proto-West Germanic *skap, from Proto-Germanic *skapą. Cognate with regional German Schaff (“tub, vat; cupboard”), Dutch schap.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ʃaːf/
* Rhymes: -aːf

### Noun

Schaf m (plural Schief)
* cupboard; cabinet

#### Derived terms

* Kicheschaf
* Kleederschaf
* Wandschaf