> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://goodoil.news/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# The BFD Word of the Day
- URL: https://goodoil.news/the-bfd-word-of-the-day-189/
- Published: 2020-08-02T18:15:00.000Z
- Updated: 2020-08-02T11:32:27.000Z
- Author: Peter Andersen
- Tags: General, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2024-07-17 03:00

The word for today is…

bellwether (noun) – One that serves as a leader or as a leading indicator of future trends

Source : [The Free Dictionary](https://www.thefreedictionary.com/bellwether?ref=goodoil.news)

Etymology : We usually think of sheep more as followers than leaders, but in a flock one sheep must lead the way. Long ago, it was common practice for shepherds to hang a bell around the neck of one sheep in their flock, thereby designating it the lead sheep. This animal was called the bellwether, a word formed by a combination of the Middle English words belle (meaning “bell”) and wether (a noun that refers to a male sheep that has been castrated). It eventually followed that bellwether would come to refer to someone who takes initiative or who actively establishes a trend that is taken up by others. This usage first appeared in English in the 15th century.

***If you enjoyed this BFD word of the day please consider sharing it with your friends.***