Sheath Meaning
/ʃiːθ/Definition, CEFR level C2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA holster for a sword; a scabbard.
nounAnything that has a similar shape to a scabbard that is used to hold an object that is longer than it is wide.
Sentence Examples
Eventually, he returned the sword to its sheath.
A sheath for a sword is a scabbard.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The knight carefully placed his sword back into its leather ____ after the fight.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The hunter carefully placed his knife back into its leather ____ after cleaning the game.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English sheth, shethe (“holder for a sword, knife, etc., scabbard, sheath”) [and other forms], from Old English sċēaþ (“sheath”), from Proto-West Germanic *skaiþiju, from Proto-Germanic *skaiþiz (“sheath; covering”), from Proto-Indo-European *skey- (“to dissect, split”) (possibly from the notion of a split stick with a sword inserted). The English word is cognate with Danish skede, Dutch schede, Icelandic skeið, German Scheide, Low German scheed, Norwegian skjede.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Nay, neuer beare me hence, diſpatch me heere: / Here ſheath thy Sword, Ile pardon thee my death: [...]"
— c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene v], page 171, column 1:
"Sheath your Dagger: / Be angry when you will, it ſhall haue ſcope: [...]"
— 1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii], page 125, column 1:
"So when the gen'rous Lyon has in ſight / His equal match, he rouſes for the fight; / But when his foe lyes proſtrate on the plain, / He ſheaths his paws, uncurls his angry mane; / And, plea'd with bloudleſs honours of the day, / Walks over, and diſdains th' inglorious Prey, [...]"
— 1687, [John Dryden], “The Third Part”, in The Hind and the Panther. A Poem, in Three Parts, 2nd edition, London: […] Jacob Tonson […], →OCLC, page 88:
"At Sight of thee, the Villain ſheaths his Sword, / Nor ſcales the Wall, to ſteal the wealthy Hoard."
— [1716], [John] Gay, “Book III. Of Walking the Streets by Night.”, in Trivia: Or, The Art of Walking the Streets of London, London: […] Bernard Lintott, […], →OCLC, page 53:
"And the poet lifts his pen
While the soldier sheaths his sword."
— 1972, “Thick As A Brick”, Ian Anderson (lyrics), performed by Jethro Tull:
Explore More C2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The knight carefully placed his sword back into its leather ____ after the fight.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The hunter carefully placed his knife back into its leather ____ after cleaning the game.