n. [ OE. schethe, AS. sc&aemacr_;ð, sceáð, scēð; akin to OS. skēðia, D. scheede, G. scheide, OHG. sceida, Sw. skida, Dan. skede, Icel. skeiðir, pl., and to E. shed, v.t., originally meaning, to separate, to part. See Shed. ] 1. A case for the reception of a sword, hunting knife, or other long and slender instrument; a scabbard. [ 1913 Webster ]

The dead knight's sword out of his sheath he drew. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Any sheathlike covering, organ, or part. Specifically: (a) (Bot.) The base of a leaf when sheathing or investing a stem or branch, as in grasses. (b) (Zool.) One of the elytra of an insect. [ 1913 Webster ]

Medullary sheath. (Anat.) See under Medullary. --
Primitive sheath. (Anat.) See Neurilemma. --
Sheath knife, a knife with a fixed blade, carried in a sheath. --
Sheath of Schwann. (Anat.) See Schwann's sheath. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) Either one of two species of birds composing the genus Chionis, and family Chionidae, native of the islands of the Antarctic seas. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ They are related to the gulls and the plovers, but more nearly to the latter. The base of the bill is covered with a saddle-shaped horny sheath, and the toes are only slightly webbed. The plumage of both species is white. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Sheathed p. pr. & vb. n. Sheating. ] [ Written also sheath. ] 1. To put into a sheath, case, or scabbard; to inclose or cover with, or as with, a sheath or case. [ 1913 Webster ]

The leopard . . . keeps the claws of his fore feet turned up from the ground, and sheathed in the skin of his toes. Grew. [ 1913 Webster ]

'T is in my breast she sheathes her dagger now. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To fit or furnish, as with a sheath. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To case or cover with something which protects, as thin boards, sheets of metal, and the like; as, to sheathe a ship with copper. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To obtund or blunt, as acrimonious substances, or sharp particles. [ R. ] Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

To sheathe the sword, to make peace. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Povided with, or inclosed in, sheath. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) Invested by a sheath, or cylindrical membranaceous tube, which is the base of the leaf, as the stalk or culm in grasses; vaginate. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who sheathes. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) Same as Sheatfish. [ 1913 Webster ]

p. pr. & a. from Sheathe. Inclosing with a sheath; as, the sheathing leaves of grasses; the sheathing stipules of many polygonaceous plants. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. That which sheathes. Specifically: (a) The casing or covering of a ship's bottom and sides; the materials for such covering; as, copper sheathing. (b) (Arch.) The first covering of boards on the outside wall of a frame house or on a timber roof; also, the material used for covering; ceiling boards in general. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Without a sheath or case for covering; unsheathed. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Zool.) Having elytra, or wing cases, as a beetle. [ 1913 Webster ]