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

The carpenters may install a strip of adhesive tape over the top of the flashing securing it to the Zip sheathing. —Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 9 Aug. 2025

Senior Project Executive Brian Campbell said the color is a liquid air and vapor barrier that was painted on the five-inch-thick exterior sheathing that sits behind the metal panels, which are thin. —Sydney Franklin, The Enquirer, 29 July 2025

The pictures show a sink covered in ants; rat droppings in the kitchen and on some of the produce; tomatoes and avocados that had been partially eaten by vermin; and a gas line with its protective sheathing dangerously frayed. —John McDermott, HollywoodReporter, 19 June 2025

Water gets into sheathing and insulation, which triples the cost of repair within six months. —Jamie Gold, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sheathing

• breathing
• teething
• bequeathing
• 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