- 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.
- 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.
- to sheathe.
Origin of sheath
- 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
Examples from the Web for sheathed
Many gyms are in conspicuous downtown locations and sheathed in clear glass so passersby can watch people working out.Downsize Fitness, the Gym for Overweight Members Only
October 14, 2013
Despite the anguish, his life was sheathed in mother love, family love, and survived and did more than that.Best of the Memorial Service
The Daily Beast
July 7, 2009
"An incompetent populist," was the most sheathed answer I heard.The Right-Wing Primal Scream
October 24, 2008
"That God knows alone," answered Peter gravely as he sheathed his sword.Fair Margaret
H. Rider Haggard
The knife looked terrible; but it was sheathed and tucked into a belt.It Happened in Egypt
C. N. Williamson
Her body was sheathed in a grey dress, and seemed to have been moulded into the material.My Double Life
He was sheathed from head to foot in a tight-fitting garment, black as Erebus!A Nest of Spies
"Thou shouldst first have sheathed it in mine," she whispered.Sir Henry Morgan, Buccaneer
Cyrus Townsend Brady
- 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
- (tr) another word for sheathe
- 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
Word Origin and History for sheathed
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.
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.
- An enveloping tubular structure, such as the tissue that encloses a muscle or nerve fiber.
- An enveloping tubular structure, such as the base of a grass leaf that surrounds the stem or the tissue that encloses a muscle or nerve fiber.