O.E. sceað, scæð, from P.Gmc. *skaithiz (cf. O.S. scethia, O.N. skeiðir (pl.), O.Fris. skethe, M.Du. schede, Du. schede, O.H.G. skaida, Ger. scheide "scabbard"), possibly from base *skaith "divide, split" (see shed (v.)) on notion of a split stick with the sword blade inserted. Meaning "condom" is recorded from 1861; sense of "close-fitting dress or skirt" is attested from 1904.
sheathAudio Help (shēth) Pronunciation Key
An enveloping tubular structure, such as the base of a grass leaf that surrounds the stem or the tissue that encloses a muscle or nerve fiber.
Main Entry: sheath Pronunciation: 'shEth Function: noun Inflected Form: pluralsheaths/'shEthz, 'shEths/ 1:
an investing cover or case of a plant or animal body or body part: as a: the tubular fold of skin into which the penis of many mammals is retracted b: the connective
tissue of an organ or part that binds together its component elements and holds it in place 2:CONDOM 1
—sheathedadjective
Sheath\, n. [OE. schethe, AS. sc[=ae][eth], sce['a][eth], sc[=e][eth]; akin to OS. sk[=e][eth]ia, D. scheede, G. scheide, OHG. sceida, Sw. skida, Dan. skede, Icel. skei[eth]ir, 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. The dead knight's sword out of his sheath he drew. --Spenser. 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) (Zo["o]l.) One of the elytra of an insect. 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.
Shed\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shed; p. pr. & vb. n. Shedding.] [OE. scheden, sch?den, to pour, to part, AS. sc[=a]dan, sce['a]dan, to pert, to separate; akin to OS. sk??an, OFries. sk?tha, G. scheiden, OHG. sceidan, Goth. skaidan, and probably to Lith. sk["e]du I part, separate, L. scindere to cleave, to split, Gr. ???, Skr. chid, and perch. also to L. caedere to cut. [root]159. Cf. Chisel, Concise, Schism, Sheading, Sheath, Shide.]1. To separate; to divide. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] --Robert of Brunne. 2. To part with; to throw off or give forth from one's self; to emit; to diffuse; to cause to emanate or flow; to pour forth or out; to spill; as, the sun sheds light; she shed tears; the clouds shed rain. Did Romeo's hand shed Tybalt's blood? --Shak. Twice seven consenting years have shed Their utmost bounty on thy head. --Wordsworth. 3. To let fall; to throw off, as a natural covering of hair, feathers, shell; to cast; as, fowls shed their feathers; serpents shed their skins; trees shed leaves. 4. To cause to flow off without penetrating; as, a tight roof, or covering of oiled cloth, sheeds water. 5. To sprinkle; to intersperse; to cover. [R.] "Her hair . . . is shed with gray." --B. Jonson. 6. (Weaving) To divide, as the warp threads, so as to form a shed, or passageway, for the shuttle.
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Audio Help [sheeth] Pronunciation Key noun, plural sheaths 
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