variants or less commonly sheath
sheathed; sheathing

transitive verb

1
: to put into or furnish with a sheath
2
: to plunge or bury (a weapon, such as a sword) in flesh
3
: to withdraw (a claw) into a sheath
4
: to case or cover with something (such as sheets of metal) that protects
sheather noun

Examples of sheathe in a Sentence

sometimes shipbuilders sheathe a ship's bottom with copper for extra protection from barnacles and other threats
Recent Examples on the Web Agnes spends the series sheathed in a drab, severe outfit that effaces her as a person, couture from the House of Orwell. James Poniewozik, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024 Dealers will install sheathing over the wiring, free of charge. Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 8 Jan. 2024 Juicy and sheathed in a crackly, parmesan-herb crust, these pork chops are a completely foolproof, quick-and-easy weeknight meal. Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 23 Feb. 2024 Many bathrooms from the 1930s to the ’60s were sheathed in pink tile. Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024 The weather crisps, green and yellow leaves sheathe the sidewalks, and the city looks more out of a film than ever. Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 31 Dec. 2023 There are two guest bedrooms on the fourth floor, while the 1,500-square-foot primary suite sprawls across the entire fifth floor with two walk-in closets, a private laundry room, and a bathroom sheathed in travertine marble. Mark David, Robb Report, 1 Dec. 2023 The samurai immediately sheathed his sword and walked away. Shivshankar Menon, Foreign Affairs, 16 Nov. 2023 There were quiet moments of coloring mermaids together, and others that induced squeals of delight, such as a massive cone of vanilla gelato sheathed in rainbow sprinkles at Anita Gelato in Manly. Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 12 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sheathe.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English shethen, derivative of shethe sheath

Note: Middle English Dictionary cites Old English unscēaþian, but the source for this word is not established.

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sheathe was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near sheathe

Cite this Entry

“Sheathe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sheathe. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sheathe

verb
sheathed; sheathing
1
: to put into a sheath
sheathe your sword
2
: to cover with something that protects
sheathe a ship's bottom with copper
sheather noun

More from Merriam-Webster on sheathe

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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