herd
UK[hɜːd]US[hɜːrd]
n
A large group of animals of the same type that live and feed together
v
To make animals move together as a group
v
To move or come together in a large group, or to make people do this
Etymology
The word 'herd' originates from the Old English 'heord', which referred to a flock or company of domestic animals. This term is derived from the Proto-Germanic 'herdō', a common source for similar words in other Germanic languages, such as Old High German 'herta' and Gothic 'hairda'. The Proto-Germanic root is further traced back to the Proto-Indo-European 'kerdhe-', meaning a 'herd' or 'row', which itself is an extension of the base 'ker-', meaning 'to gather' or 'to put together'. This etymological journey from a PIE root meaning 'to gather' directly explains the modern English meanings related to groups of animals or people moving or being kept together.
Analysis
The word 'herd' is a simplex word of Germanic origin. It functions as both a noun and a verb.
Examples
A herd of elephants was moving slowly across the plain.
The cowboys worked to herd the cattle back to the ranch.
Tourists tend to herd around the main square in the afternoon.