Female sheep (3) Crossword Clue
Answer: DAM (3 letters)
The answer to the crossword clue "Female sheep" with 3 letters is "DAM".A dam is a female sheep, typically used to refer to the mother of lambs in farming or animal husbandry. The term is commonly used in the context of breeding to identify the mother in the production of offspring.
Why “Dam” Fits
The clue asks for a single word (3 letters) meaning “female sheep.” The answer, DAM, fits exactly:
- Female sheep: While “ewe” is the more familiar term for an adult female sheep, in agricultural contexts, dam is the correct word specifically used to identify the female parent of a lamb.
- Direct match: With 3 letters, dam perfectly fits the clue’s enumeration.
- Precise use: In farming and breeding terminology, the female parent of an animal (sheep, horses, or cattle) is always referred to as the “dam.”
The term dam has broad application in animal husbandry:
- Origin and usage: From Middle English damme, meaning “mother,” the term has been used for centuries in breeding contexts.
- Animals: Widely applied not only to sheep but also horses, dogs, and cattle when referring to female parents. The male counterpart is the sire.
- Examples: “The dam of the prize lamb was a strong mountain ewe,” or “The horse’s dam won several races before breeding.” Both highlight “dam” as the female parent.
Quick crossword clues like “female sheep (3)” lean on precise farming or breeding terms:
- The obvious alternative, ewe (3), is very common — but crosswords often expand to more specialized words.
- Here, dam is chosen because it gives a slightly technical twist, and the clue’s straightforward definition makes it accessible.
- With only three letters, and its exact fit in meaning, dam is the correct solution.
