verb
sheathe
SHEETHE/ʃiːð/
To enclose something in a protective covering.
The hands sheathe the knife, sliding its blade into the fitted leather covering.
Etymology
Middle English shethen meant furnishing a sword with a sheath. The meaning shifted from providing the protective covering to putting the blade inside it.
More examples
- She sheathed the blade before putting the knife away.
- We will sheathe the exterior walls in plywood.
- Plastic sheathes each wire to protect it from damage.
Forms
sheathe · sheathes · sheathed · sheathing
sheath noun — A protective covering fitted around an object.
Similar words
- encase
- Emphasizes surrounding something completely with a case or covering.
- cover
- Can involve partial concealment rather than a fitted protective covering.
- enclose
- Means surrounding on all sides, without necessarily providing protection.