sheathe

verb

ˈshēṯẖ 

variants or less commonly sheath

ˈshēth 

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

ˈshē-ṯẖər 

-thər

noun

Synonyms

• clad
• face

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

Rihanna, in an archival Christian Lacroix couture hat, sheathed her mid-length black hairdo with the exception of two face-framing strands. —India Espy-Jones, Essence, 3 Dec. 2024

The cables consist of copper wires surrounded by a layer of lead sheathing. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Nov. 2024

Surveillance footage shared with The Athletic shows two men walking through a hallway in the building, with one man sheathing and unsheathing the sword and the other spinning the red and white bullhorn in his left hand. —Mark Puleo, The Athletic, 22 Aug. 2024

The home also boasts a wooden staircase with black detailing on the railings, while another room has black and white tiling sheathing the walls. —Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 13 Aug. 2024

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

Kids Definition

sheathe

verb

ˈshēt͟h 

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