noun / verb
sleeve
SLEEV/sliːv/
A fitted covering around an arm.
The blue shirt on the hanger has a highlighted sleeve.
Etymology
Old English sliefe probably meant literally “that into which the arm slips.” Its relationship to verbs for slipping on clothes suggests the garment part was named for the action of putting an arm into it.
In context
Then I mark the sleeve length. In this part, I measure the wrist circumference based on exactly where the sleeve length was marked on the arm.
More examples
- She rolls up her sleeves before washing the dishes.
- My jacket sleeve catches on the door handle.
- A rubber sleeve protects the cable from rubbing against metal.
- The technician sleeves the exposed wire to prevent damage.
Forms
sleeve · sleeves · sleeved · sleeving
sleeveless adjective — Having no garment parts covering the arms.
Similar words
- covering
- A broader term for something placed over a surface.
- liner
- An inner protective layer, not necessarily a tube-shaped covering.