Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “sheath” come from?

Sheath comes from Middle English shethen, from Old English scēaþian, a verb meaning to put into a case or covering.

sheath (English): A holster for a sword; a scabbard; Anything that...

Definitions

  1. A holster for a sword; a scabbard; Anything that...

Ancestry of “sheath”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsheatheTo put into a sheath; To encase with a...
2Middle Englishshethento put into a sheath, sheathe; to provide with a...
3Middle Englishsheth—
4Old Englishsċēaþsheath
5Proto-West Germanicskaiþijusheath
6Proto-Germanicskaiþizsheath, covering
7Proto-Indo-Europeansḱēy-to shine; to shimmer; shadow; luster, gloss,...
8Proto-Germanicskaidąseparation, distinction
9Proto-Indo-EuropeanskÁit-to cut, part, spearate, divide; to cut, part,...

Words derived from “sheath”

  • heliosheath
  • unsheath
  • magnetosheath
  • sheathless
  • presheath
  • sheathlike
  • sheathbill
  • sheatfish
  • resheath
  • sheather
  • desheath
  • sheathy
  • astrosheath
  • sheathfish
  • insheath
Every word from Proto-Indo-European skÁit- →