disapproval If you describe someone as the black sheep of their family or of a group that they are a member of, you mean that they are considered bad or worthless by other people in that family or group. someone who is regarded by other members of their family or group as a failure or embarrassment
a nursery rhyme (=old song or poem for young children) The rhyme goes: Baa, Baa, Black Sheep,/ Have you any wool?/Yes, sir, yes, sir/ Three bags full./ One for the master,/ One for the dame,/ and one for the little boy/ who lives down the lane
[ 'blak ] (adjective.) before 12th century. Middle English blak, from Old English blæc; akin to Old High German blah black, and probably to Latin flagrare to burn, Greek phlegein.