Fleece \Fleece\ (fl[=e]s), n. [OE. flees, AS. fle['o]s; akin to
   D. flies, vlies.]
   1. The entire coat of wool that covers a sheep or other
      similar animal; also, the quantity shorn from a sheep, or
      animal, at one time.
      
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            Who shore me
            Like a tame wether, all my precious fleece.
                                                  --Milton.
      
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   2. Any soft woolly covering resembling a fleece.
      
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   3. (Manuf.) The fine web of cotton or wool removed by the
      doffing knife from the cylinder of a carding machine.
      
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   {Fleece wool}, wool shorn from the sheep.

   {Golden fleece}. See under {Golden}.
      
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Fleece \Fleece\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Fleeced}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Fleecing}.]
   1. To deprive of a fleece, or natural covering of wool.
      
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   2. To strip of money or other property unjustly, especially
      by trickery or fraud; to bring to straits by oppressions
      and exactions.
      
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            Whilst pope and prince shared the wool betwixt them,
            the people were finely fleeced.       --Fuller.
      
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   3. To spread over as with wool. [R.] --Thomson.
      
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