King James Bible Dictionary

SHEATH, noun

1. A case for the reception of a sword or other long and slender instrument; a scabbard. A sheath is that which separates, and hence a defense.

2. In botany, a membrane investing a stem or branch, as in grasses.

3. Any thin covering for defense; the wing-case of an insect.

SHEATH, verb transitive

SHEATHE,

1. To put in a case or scabbard; as, the sheathe a sword or dagger.

2. To inclose or cover with a sheath or case.

The leopard-deeps the claws of his fore feet turned up from the ground, and sheathed in the skin of his toes. Grew.

'Tis in my breast she sheathes her dagger now. Dryden.

3. To cover or line; as, to sheathe the bowels with demulcent or mucilaginous substances.

4. To obtund or blunt, as acrimonious or sharp particles.

5. To fit with a sheath.

6. To case or cover with boards or with sheets of copper; as, to sheathe a ship to protect it from the worms.

To sheathe the sword, a figurative phrase, to put an end to war or emnity; to make peace. It corresponds to the Indian phrase, to bury the hatchet.

SHE'ATHED, participle passive

1. Put in a sheath; inclosed or covered in a case; covered; lined; invested with a membrane.

2. adjective In botany, vaginate; invested by a sheath or cylindrical membranaceous tube, which is the base of the leaf, as the stalk or culm in grasses.

SHE'ATHING, participle present tense Putting in a sheath; inclosing in a case; covering; liningl investing with a membrane.

SHE'ATHING, n, The casing or covering of a ship's bottom and sides; or the materials for such covering.

SHE'ATHLESS, adjective Without a sheath or case for covering; unsheathed.

SHE'ATH-WINGED, adjective [sheath and wing.] Having cases for covering the wings; as a sheath-winged insect.

SHE'ATHY, adjective Forming a sheath or a case.