sheaf

sheaf
noun (plural sheaves) Etymology: Middle English sheef, from Old English scēaf; akin to Old High German scoub sheaf, Russian chub forelock Date: before 12th century 1. a quantity of the stalks and ears of a cereal grass or sometimes other plant material bound together 2. something resembling a sheaf of grain <
a sheaf of papers
>
3. a large amount or number <
won a sheaf of awards
>
sheaflike adjective

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Sheaf — Sheaf, v. t. To gather and bind into a sheaf; to make into sheaves; as, to sheaf wheat. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sheaf — Sheaf, n.; pl. {Sheaves}. [OE. sheef, shef, schef, AS. sce[ a]f; akin to D. schoof, OHG. scoub, G. schaub, Icel. skauf a fox s brush, and E. shove. See {Shove}.] 1. A quantity of the stalks and ears of wheat, rye, or other grain, bound together;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sheaf — Sheaf, v. i. To collect and bind cut grain, or the like; to make sheaves. [1913 Webster] They that reap must sheaf and bind. Shak. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sheaf — [ʃi:f] n plural sheaves [ʃi:vz] [: Old English; Origin: sceaf] 1.) several pieces of paper held or tied together sheaf of ▪ He laid a sheaf of documents on the desk. 2.) a bunch of wheat, corn etc tied together after it has been cut …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • sheaf — O.E. sceaf sheaf of corn, from P.Gmc. *skaubaz (Cf. M.Du. scoof, O.H.G. scoub, Ger. Schaub sheaf; O.N. skauf fox s tail; Goth. skuft hair on the head, Ger. Schopf tuft ). Also used in Middle English for two dozen arrows …   Etymology dictionary

  • Sheaf — Sheaf, n. (Mech.) A sheave. [R.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sheaf — [ ʃif ] (plural sheaves [ ʃivz ] ) noun count 1. ) stems of grain that have been cut and tied together: a sheaf of wheat 2. ) a large number of pieces of paper that are kept together …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • sheaf — index assemblage Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • sheaf — has the plural form sheaves. The verb meaning ‘to make into sheaves’ is sheave …   Modern English usage

  • sheaf — ► NOUN (pl. sheaves) 1) a bundle of grain stalks laid lengthways and tied together after reaping. 2) a bundle of objects, especially papers. ► VERB ▪ bundle into sheaves. ORIGIN Old English, related to SHOVE(Cf. ↑shove) …   English terms dictionary

  • sheaf — [shēf] n. pl. sheaves [ME schefe < OE sceaf, akin to Ger schaub < IE base * skeup , * skeubh , a bundle, clump > SHOP] 1. a bunch of cut stalks of grain, etc. bound up in a bundle 2. a collection of things gathered together; bundle, as… …   English World dictionary

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