πρόβατον

A. cattle, Hdt. 2.41, etc.; πάντων τῶν π. βόες μάλιστα ἀτονέουσι Hp. Art. 8; τὰ ἄλλα π. καὶ ἵππους μάλιστα Hdt. 4.61, cf. Pi. Fr. 316, IG 12(1).677.31 (Rhodes, iv/iii B.C.); of Europa's bull, Simon. 28: in Hom. generally of cattle, flocks and herds, Il. 14.124, 23.550, h.Merc. 571, cf. IG 12(7).62.35 (Amorgos, iv B.C.); τὰ π. καὶ καρταίποδα Leg.Gort. 4.35; opp. ἄνθρωποι, Hes. Op. 558, Hdt. 1.203; τὰ λεπτὰ τῶν π. small cattle, i.e. sheep and goats, ib.133, 8.137; τὸ μὲν μέζον π. . . , τὸ δὲ μεῖον IG 5 (2).3.14 (Tegea, iv B.C.); so later, π. ἀπὸ τῶν ἀρνῶν καὶ τῶν ἐρίφων λήψεσθε LXX Ex. 12.5: but in Att. Prose and Com. (never in Trag.) almost invariably of sheep, Ar. Av. 714, Th. 2.14, IG 22.1672.289, etc.; ὥσπερ π. βῆ βῆ λέγων βαδίζει Cratin. 43; so in later Boeot., IG 7.3171.39,44 (Orchom. Boeot.): generally, animals for slaughter, whether for sacrifices, Hdt. 6.56; or for food, Id. 1.207; cf. Antipho 5.29.

2. prov. of stupid, lazy people, ἀριθμός, πρόβατ’ ἄλλως Ar. Nu. 1203, cf. V. 32: Com. Comp., προβάτου προβάτερον more sheepish than a sheep, dub. cj. in Sophr. 122; χρυσοῦν π., = Lat. pecus aurea, as nickname, D.C. 59.8: in other provs., τοὺς γευομένους κύνας τῶν π. κατακόπτειν φασὶ δεῖν D. 25.40; λέων ἐν προβάτοις Plu. Cleom. 33, cf. Plb. 5.35.13.

II. name of a sea-fish, Opp. H. 1.146, 3.139, Ael. NA 9.38. (Orig. of small cattle, sheep and goats, which in primitive mixed herds walk in front (προβαίνει) of the larger animals.)