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

Both arise from Schwann cells, the sheathing around nerves, and both hide from the immune system by switching off their MHC molecules. — John Drake, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026

To remedy the issue, owners can take their vehicle to Ford dealerships, where sheathing will be installed over the wiring free of charge. — Julia Gomez, USA Today, 24 July 2026

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

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