πρόβατον
Alt. πρόβα^τον, ου, τό,
Etym. προβαίνω
1. mostly in pl. πρόβατα, properly, "anything that walks forward;" in Hom. generally of "cattle, flocks" and "herds;" in Hdt. and Pind. also of "horses;" τὰ λεπτὰ τῶν προβάτων "small cattle", i. e. sheep and goats, Hdt.; but in attic always of "sheep", Ar., Thuc.
2. proverb. of stupid, lazy people, πρόβατ᾽ ἄλλως a set of "sheep", Ar.; so, προβατίου βίος, i. e. a lazy do-nothing life, id=Ar.