shearing gang: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Agricultural
Quick answer
What does “shearing gang” mean?
A group of workers, typically in agriculture, who travel together to shear sheep.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A group of workers, typically in agriculture, who travel together to shear sheep.
A mobile team of shearers employed to remove wool from sheep, often moving from farm to farm during the shearing season. Can also refer metaphorically to any coordinated group performing a specific, repetitive task in a systematic way.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used in both varieties but is more common in UK, Australian, and New Zealand English due to their larger sheep industries. In the US, where large-scale sheep farming is less prevalent, the term is rarer and may be unknown outside agricultural circles.
Connotations
In both varieties, it is a technical term without strong additional connotations.
Frequency
Significantly more frequent in UK, Australian, and NZ English. Very low frequency in American English.
Grammar
How to Use “shearing gang” in a Sentence
The [ADJECTIVE] shearing gang VERB the sheep.The farmer hired a shearing gang.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “shearing gang” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The farm was sheared by a travelling gang.
American English
- They had the flock sheared by a contract gang.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial use]
American English
- [No standard adverbial use]
adjective
British English
- The shearing-gang contractor booked the next job.
American English
- The shearing gang schedule was packed for spring.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in agricultural business contexts relating to livestock management and wool production contracts.
Academic
Used in agricultural science, historical studies of rural economies, and labour history.
Everyday
Rare in everyday conversation unless discussing farming.
Technical
Core term in sheep farming and wool industry technical manuals and discussions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “shearing gang”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “shearing gang”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “shearing gang”
- Using 'sheep shearing gang' (redundant).
- Confusing with 'shearing shed' (the building).
- Using 'gang' with negative connotations.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is typically a temporary, seasonal, and often itinerant group hired for the shearing season.
No, in this context 'gang' is a neutral term for a group of people working together, similar to 'work gang' or 'road gang'.
It is highly specific to sheep shearing. Metaphorically, it might describe any coordinated group doing repetitive physical work, but this is rare.
A 'shearing gang' is the group of people who do the shearing. A 'shearing shed' is the building on a farm where the shearing takes place.
A group of workers, typically in agriculture, who travel together to shear sheep.
Shearing gang is usually technical/agricultural in register.
Shearing gang: in British English it is pronounced /ˈʃɪərɪŋ ɡæŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈʃɪrɪŋ ɡæŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms for this specific term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a 'gang' not of criminals, but of skilled workers moving in a line, 'shearing' sheep like a production line.
Conceptual Metaphor
A HUMAN GROUP IS A MACHINE (for efficient, repetitive production).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would you most likely encounter the term 'shearing gang'?