KING JAMES BIBLE DICTIONARY

The wool of a sheep, whether shorn off or still attached to the skin (Deuteronomy 18:4; Job 31:20). The miracle of Gideon's fleece (Judges 6:37-40) consisted in the dew having fallen at one time on the fleece without any on the floor, and at another time in the fleece remaining dry while the ground was wet with dew.

FLEECE, noun flees. [Latin vellus, from vello, to pluck or tear off.]

The coat of wool shorn from a sheep at one time.

FLEECE, verb transitive

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.

FLEE'CED, participle passive Stripped by severe exactions.

FLEE'CED, adjective Furnished with a fleece or with fleeces; as, a sheep is well fleeced

FLEE'CER, noun One who strips or takes by severe exactions.