the sheath of a sword a piece of wire covered with a plastic sheath
Recent Examples on the WebCampaign star Paloma Elsesser shut down the show in a black sheath dress with contrasting panels, while guests like Emily Ratajkowski looked on. Halie Lesavage, Harper's BAZAAR, 14 Sep. 2022 The top half of the dress featured an iridescent silvery strapless bustier that flared out into rippled, structured tiers; meanwhile, the bottom half featured a slinky sheath skirt composed of glittering black fabric. Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 31 Aug. 2022 The immune system attacks myelin—a protective sheath that covers nerve fibers—which disrupts communication between the body and the brain. Beth Krietsch, SELF, 22 July 2022 His grandfather showed him how to stitch and work leather for a knife sheath. Jacques Kelly, Baltimore Sun, 16 July 2022 In Newton, a doctor who had been planning to wear a lacy black sheath and platform sandals was thrown into sartorial panic when the formal invite to the event arrived. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 16 May 2022 Leoni, 38, reinvents the 1990s sheath dress-jacket twinset combo with a plisse dress that falls into jagged hem, worn with a pleated cape, all in an elegant tan. Colleen Barry, ajc, 27 Feb. 2022 Deputies who searched the bus observed blood spattered in several areas and found a knife sheath in the back of the bus, as well as a knife with a wooden handle that was covered in what appeared to be blood. Alex Groth, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2 Feb. 2022 Wipe the end with a clean cloth, replace the dipstick fully back into its sheath, and pull it out again. Gary Witzenburg, Car and Driver, 13 Apr. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English shethe, going back to Old English scǣþ, scēaþ (Northumbrian sceǣþ), scēþ, going back to Germanic *skaiþjō or *skaiþō (whence also Old Frisian skēthe "sheath," Old Saxon skēdia, skēthia, Old High German skeida, Old Icelandic skeiðir, plural), probably noun derivative of *skaiđan-/skaiþan- "to separate, divide" — more at shed entry 1
Note: The original meaning of the Germanic noun was presumably "something split, separated," i.e., two pieces that are split (literally or metaphorically) and that together held the blade; note that the Old Norse noun was plural (the singular skeið meant "weaver's reed, silver spoon").
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of sheath was before the 12th century