I. ˈshēf noun
( plural sheaves -ēvz ; also sheafs )
Etymology: Middle English sheef, from Old English scēaf; akin to Old High German scoub sheaf, Old Norse skauf fox's tail, Russian chub forelock
1.
a. : a quantity of the stalks and ears of wheat, rye, or other grain bound together : a bundle of grain or straw
b. : a bundle of other plant stalks or flowers bound together
the altar banked with sheaves of lilies
2. : something resembling or likened to a sheaf of grain: as
a. : a collection of things bound together : bundle
b. : a quantity of arrows sufficient to fill a quiver ; also : the allowance of arrows (as 24) allotted to each archer
c. : a cluster of similar items associated but not bound together
a sheaf of letters in her hand
d. : a representation of a sheaf (as of arrows) used as a crest
e. : planes of gunnery fire of two or more pieces of a battery as a group
a converged sheaf
parallel sheaf
3. sheaves plural : a large number or quantity
II.
variant of sheave
III. ˈshēf noun
( plural sheaves -ēvz)
Etymology: by alteration
: sheath
had another knife with a blade better than this, a leather sheaf to keep it in — Donald Windham