Flock

Flock (?), n. [AS. flocc flock, company; akin to Icel. flokkr crowd, Sw. flock, Dan. flok; prob. orig. used of flows, and akin to E. fly. See Fly.] 1. A company or collection of living creatures; -- especially applied to sheep and birds, rarely to persons or (except in the plural) to cattle and other large animals; as, a flock of ravenous fowl. Milton.

The heathen . . . came to Nicanor by flocks.

2. A Christian church or congregation; considered in their relation to the pastor, or minister in charge.

As half amazed, half frighted all his flock.

Flock, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flocked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flocking.] To gather in companies or crowds.

Friends daily flock.

Flocking fowl (Zoöl.), the greater scaup duck.

Flock, n. [OE. flokke; cf. D. vlok, G. flocke, OHG. floccho, Icel. flōki, perh. akin to E. flicker, flacker, or cf. L. floccus, F. floc.] 1. A lock of wool or hair.

I prythee, Tom, beat Cut's saddle, put a few flocks in the point [pommel].

2. Woolen or cotton refuse (sing. or pl.), old rags, etc., reduced to a degree of fineness by machinery, and used for stuffing unpholstered furniture.

3. Very fine, sifted, woolen refuse, especially that from shearing the nap of cloths, used as a coating for wall paper to give it a velvety or clothlike appearance; also, the dust of vegetable fiber used for a similar purpose.

Flock bed, a bed filled with flocks or locks of coarse wool, or pieces of cloth cut up fine. "Once a flock bed, but repaired with straw." Pope. -- Flock paper, paper coated with flock fixed with glue or size.

Flock, v. t. To flock to; to crowd. [Obs.]

Good fellows, trooping, flocked me so.

Flock, v. t. To coat with flock, as wall paper; to roughen the surface of (as glass) so as to give an appearance of being covered with fine flock.