Obs. Forms: 6 bitesheepe, byteschiep, 7 bite-shappe, 6–7 bite-sheep. [f. BITE v. + SHEEP sb. Cf. Ger. beiszschaf, beischaf.] A once-favorite pun upon bishop, as if = One who bites the sheep which he ought to feed. Also attrib.

1

1553–87.  Foxe, A. & M., II. 466. Ye are become rather bite-sheeps than true bishops.

2

c. 1575.  Leg. Bp. St. Androis (Dalyell), II. 313. Then to the court this craftie lown, To be a byteschiep maid him boun.

3

1683.  J. Barnard, Life Heylyn, 184.

        Your Bishops are bite-Sheep,
Your Deans are Dunces.
Your Preists are the Preists of Baal.
The Devil fetch them all by bunches.

4