belwether

belwether

1. Archaic form of bellwether (“the leading sheep of a flock”).
   • 1591, Edmund Spenser, "Prosopopoia, or Mother Hubbard's Tale", line 294, in Complaints: Containing Sundrie Small Poemes of the Worlds Vanitie:

     Thereto right well this Curdog...will serve, my sheepe to gather and drive to follow after their Belwether.