Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Fleece
Fleece
(flēs)
, Noun.
[OE.
flees
, AS. fleós
; akin to D. flies
, vlies
.] 1.
The entire coat of wool that covers a sheep or other similar animal; also, the quantity shorn from a sheep, or animal, at one time.
Who shore me
Like a tame wether, all my precious
Like a tame wether, all my precious
fleece
. Milton.
2.
Any soft woolly covering resembling a fleece.
3.
(Manuf.)
The fine web of cotton or wool removed by the doffing knife from the cylinder of a carding machine.
Fleece
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Fleeced
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Fleecing
.] 1.
To deprive of a fleece, or natural covering of wool.
2.
To strip of money or other property unjustly, especially by trickery or fraud; to bring to straits by oppressions and exactions.
Whilst pope and prince shared the wool betwixt them, the people were finely
fleeced
. Fuller.
3.
To spread over as with wool.
[R.]
Thomson.
Webster 1828 Edition
Fleece
FLEECE
,Noun.
The coat of wool shorn from a sheep at one time.
FLEECE
, v.t.1.
To shear off a covering or growth of wool.2.
To strip of money or property; to take from, by severe exactions, under color of law or justice, or pretext of necessity, or by virtue of authority. Arbitrary princes fleece their subjects; and clients complain that they are sometimes fleeced by their lawyers.This word is rarely or never used for plundering in war by a licentious soldiery; but is properly used to express a stripping by contributions levied on a conquered people.
3.
To spread over as with wool; to make white.