noun
sheaf
SHEEF/ʃiːf/
A bundle of similar items held together.
Plain twine holds a sheaf of golden wheat tightly together.
Etymology
Old English sceaf meant grain stalks bound together after reaping. That concrete bundle became the model for collections of other things, including papers.
In context
By stepping on stray uncut stalks, they tear them free and add them to complete the sheaf, which can then be tied.
More examples
- She hands me a sheaf of papers clipped together.
- The workers gather the cut stalks into sheaves.
- He unties a sheaf of letters and reads the first one.
Forms
sheaf · sheaves