sheathing

Pluralsheathings

1. 1
   nouncountable or uncountable

   A covering that wraps around or encloses something, the way a sheath encloses a blade.

   The roofers laid down new sheathing before putting on the shingles.

   Copper sheathing protected the hulls of the old warships from worms.

   Similarcovering, cladding, casing

   Note

   Builders use it for the layer fixed over a frame before the finish goes on: once the sheathing is up, a house shows where its outer walls will be, though siding and trim still have to follow. Roofs take it under the shingles, and old warships wore copper sheathing on their hulls. As a material it is uncountable; sheathings are particular kinds or layers.

2. 2
   verb

   Present participle and gerund of sheathe.

   The soldier wiped his blade clean before sheathing it.

   Workers are sheathing the new tower in panels of glass and steel.

   Note

   The verb is spelled sheathe, with an e that the noun sheath lacks, and that e drops before -ing, leaving a form that looks exactly like the covering. Besides putting a blade away, it can describe a cat drawing in its claws or, figuratively, someone setting aside anger, as in sheathing his resentment for the sake of peace.

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