FLEECE, the covering of wool, shorn off the bodies of sheep. See WOOL.
Order of the Golden FLEECE, an order of knighthood instituted by Philip II. duke of Burgundy. These knights at first were twenty-four, besides the duke himself, who reserved the nomination of six more: but Charles V. increased them to fifty. He gave the guardianship of this order to his son Philip king of Spain, since which the Spanish monarchs are chiefs of the order. The knights had three different mantles ordained them at the grand solemnity, the collar and fleece.