(βοσκοί ), monks in Syria and Mesopotamia who lived upon roots and herbs. They inhabited no houses, nor ate flesh or bread, nor drank wine. They professed to spend their time in the worship of God, in prayers and in hymns, till eating-time arrived; then every man went, with his knife in his hand, to provide himself food of the herbs of the field. This is said to have been their only diet, and constant way of living. See Bingham, Orig. Eccles. bk. 7:ch. ii, § ii.