sheathing

[shee-th ing]

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noun

the act of a person who sheathes.

something that sheathes; a covering or outer layer of metal, wood, or other material, as one of metal plates on a ship's bottom, the first covering of boards on a house, etc.

material for forming any such covering.

RELATED WORDS

encase, wrap, cover, enclose, surround

Nearby words

Origin of sheathing

First recorded in 1490–1500; sheathe + -ing¹

Related formsun·der·sheath·ing, noun

sheath

[sheeth]

noun, plural sheaths [sheeth z] /ʃiðz/.

a case or covering for the blade of a sword, dagger, or the like.

any similar close-fitting covering or case.

a condom.

Biology. a closely enveloping part or structure, as in an animal or plant.

Botany. the leaf base when it forms a vertical coating surrounding the stem.

a close-fitting dress, skirt, or coat, especially an unbelted dress with a straight drape.

Electricity. the metal covering of a cable.

Electronics.

the metal wall of a wave guide.
a space charge formed by ions near an electrode in a tube containing low-pressure gas.
the region of a space charge in a cathode-ray tube.

verb (used with object)

to sheathe.

Origin of sheath

before 950; Middle English s(c)heth(e), Old English scēath; cognate with German Scheide; see shed²

Related formssheath·less, adjectivesheath·like, sheath·y, adjective

Can be confusedsheath sheathe

sheathe

[sheeth]

verb (used with object), sheathed, sheath·ing.

to put (a sword, dagger, etc.) into a sheath.

to plunge (a sword, dagger, etc.) in something as if in a sheath.

to enclose in or as if in a casing or covering.

to cover or provide with a protective layer or sheathing: to sheathe a roof with copper.

to cover (a cable, electrical connector, etc.) with a metal sheath for grounding.

Origin of sheathe

1350–1400; Middle English shethen, derivative of sheath

Related formssheath·er, noun

Can be confusedsheath sheathe

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for sheathing

Another peculiar feature of the Cat family is the power of sheathing their talons.
Natural History of the Mammalia of India and Ceylon|Robert A. Sterndale
"So ends our quarrel, then," said Aylward, sheathing his sword.
The White Company|Arthur Conan Doyle
Tongue and groove joint; used in flooring and for sheathing.
Carpentry and Woodwork|Edwin W. Foster
They are very small, either separate or in clusters; and each flower or cluster has a dry, sheathing bract at its base.
Field and Woodland Plants|William S. Furneaux

“I am fairly entrapped,” he said, sheathing his sword, and advancing towards them.
Guy Fawkes|William Harrison Ainsworth

British Dictionary definitions for sheathing

sheathing

noun

any material used as an outer layer, as on a ship's hull

boarding, etc, used to cover the wall studding or roof joists of a timber frame

sheath

noun plural sheaths (ʃiːðz)

a case or covering for the blade of a knife, sword, etc

any similar close-fitting case

biology an enclosing or protective structure, such as a leaf base encasing the stem of a plant

the protective covering on an electric cable

a figure-hugging dress with a narrow tapering skirt

another name for condom

verb

(tr) another word for sheathe

Word Origin for sheath

Old English scēath; related to Old Norse skeithir, Old High German sceida a dividing; compare Old English scādan to divide

sheathe

verb (tr)

to insert (a knife, sword, etc) into a sheath

(esp of cats) to retract (the claws)

to surface with or encase in a sheath or sheathing

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for sheathing

sheath

Old English sceað, scæð, from Proto-Germanic *skaithiz (cf. Old Saxon scethia, Old Norse skeiðir (plural), Old Frisian skethe, Middle Dutch schede, Dutch schede, Old High German skaida, German scheide "a sheath, scabbard"), according to OED, possibly from root *skei- "divide, split" (see shed (v.)) on notion of a split stick with the sword blade inserted. Meaning "condom" is recorded from 1861; sense of "close-fitting dress or skirt" is attested from 1904.

sheathe

c.1400, "to furnish (a sword, etc.) with a sheath," from sheath; meaning "to put (a sword, etc.) in a sheath" is attested from early 15c. Related: Sheathed; sheathing.

Medicine definitions for sheathing