The parchment diploma received by students for taking their degree at college. In the back settlements are many clergymen who have not had the advantages of a liberal education, and who consequently have no diploma. Some of these look upon their more favored brethren with a little envy. A clergyman is said to have a sheepskin, or to be a sheepskin, when educated at college.
This apostle of ourn never rubbed his back agin a college, nor toted about no sheepskins--no, never ..... How you'd a perished in your sins, if the first preachers had stayed till they got sheepskins.--Carlton's New Purchase.
I can say as well as the best on them sheepskins, if you don't get religion and be saved, you'll be lost, tetotally and for ever. [Sermon of an itinerant preacher at a camp-meeting].--Ibid. Vol. I. p. 203.