fleece (n.) Look up fleece at Dictionary.com
O.E. fleos, from W.Gmc. *flusaz (cf. M.Du. vluus, M.H.G. vlius, Ger. Vlies), probably from PIE *plus- (cf. L. pluma "feather, down," Lith. plunksna "feather"). The verb is 1537 in the literal sense of "to strip a sheep of fleece" and 1577 in the fig. meaning "to cheat, swindle."