An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A person who takes care of sheep; a pastor. → shepherd moon.

Etymology (EN): From M.E. shepherde; O.E. sceaphierde, from sceap “sheep” + hierde “herder,” from heord “a herd;” cf. M.L.G., M.Du. schaphirde, M.H.G. schafhirte, Ger. dial. schafhirt.

Etymology (PE): Cupân “shepherd,” variants šobân, šabân; Mid.Pers. šubân, from šu + -bân. The first component from Av. pasu-, fšu- “sheep;” Mid.Pers. pâh, pasvīk “cattle;” Laki and Tâti pas “sheep;”

Kurd. pez/paz; Ossetain (Digor.) fus, (Iron.) fys; Zazaki pes “small cattle;” Lâri pah; Qasrâni cu; Sogd. psw “cattle, sheep;”

cf. Skt. paśu- “cattle;” L. pecu “flock, farm animals, cattle,”
pecunia “money, property;” Goth. faihu “money, fortune;” O.E. feoh “cattle, money;” Ger. Vieh “cattle;” Lith. pekus “cattle;” PIE base *peku- “cattle.” The second component -pân/-bân a suffix denoting “keeper, guard,” sometimes forming agent nouns or indicating relation, → host.