sheathing

noun

sheath·​ing ˈshē-t͟hiŋ 

-thiŋ

1

: the action of one that sheathes something

2

: material used to sheathe something

especially : the first covering of boards or of waterproof material on the outside wall of a frame house or on a timber roof

Examples of sheathing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Wooden ceilings, which are visible from the ground, complement the reddish Corten sheathing. —Fred A. Bernstein, Architectural Digest, 16 June 2026

That’s where Revitalize Milwaukee came in, having students like Green complete the exterior of a house over 48 class days, including sheathing, siding, doors, windows, drywall, trim and more. —Jack Albright, jsonline.com, 6 May 2026

The building’s shiny, dark metal sheathing might have appeared sinister in any other environment, but not here, set against the sparkling white. —Cree Lefavour, New Yorker, 7 Mar. 2026

Winter weather can cause multiple issues with your hose and spigot, from frozen pipes to cracked sheathing. —Blythe Copeland, Martha Stewart, 31 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sheathing

• breathing
• teething
• rebreathing

Kids Definition

sheathing

noun

sheath·​ing ˈshē-t͟hiŋ 

-thiŋ

: material used to sheathe something

especially : the first covering of boards or of waterproof material on the outside wall of a frame house or on a timber roof