sheathing

[shee-thing]

noun

1. the act of a person who sheathes.

2. 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.

3. material for forming any such covering.

sheathing

/ ˈʃiːðɪŋ /

noun

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

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

Other Word Forms

• undersheathing noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sheathing¹

First recorded in 1490–1500; sheathe + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

“They cannot get away from me again!” he said, sheathing his knife.

Read more on Literature

When they came upon the iron bars and the distinctive copper sheathing that was also mentioned in the documents they had studied, they knew they had found the São José.

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A graduate of music videos, Saxon — like the Gondrys and Jonzes before him — excels at sheathing his yarn in idiosyncratic humor, atmosphere and technique.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Some of this metal was embedded into the mortar joints of the chimney, and the rest of the flashing was attached to the wooden roof sheathing.

Read more on Seattle Times

Was it because, while each character dresses conservatively, Flo’s wardrobe obliterates any trace of curves by sheathing her in a bulky apron?

Read more on New York Times

Related Words

• bark 
• coating 
• crust 
• fur 
• husk 
• jacket 
• membrane 
• rind 
• sheath 
• surface